Westmalle Trappist Tripel - Brouwerij Westmalle

CLAUD

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip.

A - Golden and hazy, some suspended yeast visible. Big initial head that crawls downward but never fully leaves the scene. Barely any lacing except for little clusters that polkadot the sides.

S - Standard for a tripel. Nice phenol presence. Not too strong on the hops, good platform for the banana and clove to dance on.

T - Very well balanced. Esters and phenols at the forefront that lead into a nice and subtle sweet caramel. Hopped just enough to balance the sweetness. Alcohol there but hiding behind the incredible balance.

M - Pleasant carbonation. No astrigency. Lightly dry finish.

O - It's reputation is well deserved. Not the biggest fan of tripels but this one is deserving of being an exception. One I would return to.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 23:34:38 | More by CLAUD

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally had a chance to pick this up from Totowa and give it a try. I liked the Dubbel a lot and figured that this would be another one that would be complex and strong. Sure enough, that was the case too but this was so wonderful to behold and admire that it took a while just to take the first sip. A beer like this deserved to be sipped a pretty warm temperature too, so that wasn't a bad thing.

This had a beautiful golden hue to it with a head that was full and long-lasting. The lacing was nice too and once I got past the booze, the array of flavors was nice to behold. Peach, banana, pear, and some spice to go along with the hint of spice found here. The carbonation was on the level of soda but not too strong while the alcohol complemented everything nicely. Just a bit of tartness in the back too, which made each sip face nicely into the one afterwards.

The bitterness is present but underneath everything. Not a lot to dwell on while the alcohol is a bit more up-front. This had a great balanced to it but while the flavors and mild spice work well together, this is not something to be enjoyed quickly. Seasoned aficionados of beer will love this once it fully warms up and the it can be enjoyed to its potential.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 21:15:52 | More by JerzDevl2000

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours the color of honey. Quite murky. The head on this beer is staggering. Looks like someone stuffed a muffin into my glass. The head is nearly solid. It retains its stature in legendary fashion.

S-A lot to decipher. Beligan yeast and Belgian hops first and foremost. Tons of spice. Bananas and cloves. The nose of a finely crafted Belgian brew.

T-This is a stalwart Tripel. Belgian hops and yeast are vivid. Fruits and spice pop up continually. Sweetness and bitterness match each other well. Wheaty and bready. Very intricate.

M-Full bodied. Carbonation is soothing. Understated bitterness. Alcohol is downed out by the feel and flavor.

O/D-Tripels generally don't excite me very much but this one is obviously special. So deep and multidimensional. This is one of those beers I shouldn't have skipped over when I first started out. Perhaps I would enjoy the style better if I had this Tripel when I was still a gumshoe.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:57:19 | More by VelvetExtract

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml served into a Karmeliet tulip
Bottled on 25/08/13

A - Pours honey golden with sediment floating around. Giant 3 finger head that's bone-white in color and is very slow to sink and never dies completely. Chunks of 3D lacing around the top of the glass.

S - Tangy fruity esters. Pears, apples, grapes, taffy, wheat bread, damp hay, banana liquor, pepper, various unknown spices.

T - Spiced yeast, pears, tangy taffy, acidic and grapes, muted stone fruit. It grows spicier toward the middle with pepper and coriander. Thick pilsener malt, grassy with a citrus bite toward the end. Finishes spicy and dry.

M - Moderate prickly carbonation, heavy side of medium, alcohol is evident but welcomed, dry finish.

Super complex nose. The flavor is is very layered as well but does not match the nose.
I know it sounds cliche, but complex is the main word to describe this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 00:37:35 | More by StaveHooks

lnashsig

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

#BOTG 35!

Believe it or not, this is the first time for me to ever try Westmalle Tripel. My belgium self education continues! Poured from 12oz bottle into my Chimay Chalice. Pours a golden cloudy color, nice head with superior creamy retention. It blankets the top fully with lacing all over the glass. Beautiful. Smell- pears, sauvignon blanc grapes, dark fruits like prunes or raisins. Taste- so much going on here: sugar coated apricots, a sweet bready grain, nice sweet fruitiness. Super drinkable for the ABV, dangerously so. This is great, but I don't think I'm all that into the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 00:36:43 | More by lnashsig

yamar68

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 11.2oz bottle to tulip:

Pours a glowing straw gold with a massive, white, loose-gauge head and distinctive lacing.

The nose on this one is unsurpassed. I pray to god Westmalle comes out with an air freshener someday. Sweet bread and esters, clove, banana, subtle fig, cereal, more yeast.

The taste is almost equally as impressive. It's more pronounced than more tripels I've had. Huge yeast, some alcohol, sweet bread, pear, banana, very good.

The alcohol is more prominent than others in the style but it doesn't detract from the overall perfection of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 00:49:54 | More by yamar68

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Lots of fruity esters, mostly mild orange and lemon. Pepper. Mild alcohol. Mild floral hops. Sweet light malts.

Appearance: Pale hold in color. Cloudy. Some larger bubbles slowly rising from the bottom. Medium white head dissolves slowly leaving lots of lacing and a thin layer that doesn't want to go away.

Taste: Bold well-rounded flavor. There's those esters in orange and lemon. Some clove and mild pepper spice. Mild phenols.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Lots of carbonation. Mildly drying.

Overall: Bold yet easily drinkable. Starts with the bold bittersweet fruits and ends with a light malt flavor. Never harsh.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 01:50:48 | More by soulfly1492

BigPlay1824

New York

4.65/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in a chalice

A: pours a crystal clear light straw yellow color with a nice amount of carbonation bubbles and a finger of fizzy and fine bubbled pure white head which lingers beautifully before dissipating and leaving a beautiful amount of lacing which literally covers the whole side of the glass
S: a very nice tartness and brightness which i would compare to green grapes
T: definitely finishes with a noticeable spiciness from the yeast, the beginning is nicely fruity and bright, the middle hits with a nice smooth maltiness which is very briefly followed by a slight alcohol bite which sneaks in just before the spiciness at the tail end, truly enjoyable and spot on for the style; after allowing the beer to warm up just slightly i have begun to see just the faintest hints of banana peel which hit just after the fruitiness in the taste
M: fizzy carbonation hits the palate a bit aggressively up front but is then backed off by a smooth creaminess which slides into a bit of a sticky and dry feeling which lingers on the palate long afterwards
O: top to bottom this beer is spot on for the style, its really incredibly well rounded and has wonderful depth and complexity on the palate

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 23:38:59 | More by BigPlay1824

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Let me start by stating that this is a damn good beer. Wonderful appearance as richly colored golden orangy look without much translucence. Big white foamy that looks gorgeous on top.

There's nothing wrong with the aroma, I just didn't catch anything strong or distinct just a little citrusy.

But Westmalle delivered flavor galore on the first taste. Citrus orange apricot and sweetness with a touch of maltiness & nice contrasting alcohol or hoppy bitterness that provides a perfecting balance.

This is a very refreshing beer in the classic Belgian tradition. This brewery makes a helluva dubbel and tripel. Niiice.

I drank this beer to the counds of Francisco Lopez' and the sounds of his Costa Rican rain forests.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 00:28:02 | More by frankiepop

animalchin

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been waiting to try this. Good mood + desire to try expensive beer = buying expensive beer.

A - Pours a beautiful golden hazy body that leaves a surprisingly brief presentation of a rather sparse head that is quick to dissipate.

S - Has a rather pungent aroma of alcohol and white grape up front, but all-in-all is very fruity. Very estery, clove-like...awesome.

T - This is indeed a very strong tripel, stronger than any other I have had. Not sure if it's a "Trappist" thing or not, or if it just particular to Westmalle. The strength subsides in a rather modest subtle sweetness yet the heaviness maintains.

M - Rather loose and mobile, but I would want it any other way.

O - I try not to contextualize this beer considering where it is from; what goes into it. Of course, it's a very enjoyable beer - a prized possession. Economically speaking, it isn't exactly something I can get every weekend, but I don't regret making this a treat for myself.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 00:19:36 | More by animalchin

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A-cloudy yellow with a thin white head

S-subtle but bold taste of raw pale belgian malts. smells a bit boozy

T-comes in with a raw bitterness and pale belgian malts. has a touch of dog breath and banana as well. none of the tastes are strong but they work well and taste extremely authentic. has a matching and bitter after-taste.

M-high carbonation with a dry finish

O-its definitely a good belgian. this is something that i think any belgian fan would appreciate. it keeps its authenticity while tasting a bit different. more bitter than others i've had.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 20:50:53 | More by AdamBear

Grenache

Australia

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A beautiful looking golden beer, a head that lasted till the end of the bottle, and an initially sweet beginning which seamlessly shifted to a very dry finish. The balance is just exquisite and it's easily the best tripel I've tasted. The only downside for me was the obvious alcohol, but man, this is a great drop. Not sure you'd want to drink more than one though.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 11:30:40 | More by Grenache

draheim

Washington

4.65/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle (bottled 8/25/2011; best before 8/25/2013) into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy pale golden color w/ a fluffy white head, vigorous champagne carbonation. Leaves a beautiful gossamer web of lace clinging to the glass.

Aroma is spicy, bready Belgian yeast, white pepper, and lemon with floral and herbal notes.

Taste is crisp, clean pale malt, delicate Belgian yeast, citrus & spice. So clean and pure. Alcohol is completely hidden.

Mouthfeel is refreshing and light w/ a dry finish and a nice sharp bite from the carbonation.

Overall, this beer defines the style. Hard to image a tripel much better than this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 05:11:05 | More by draheim

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours yellow and hazy topped by two fingers of lacy and fairly retentive white head. Delicate aroma; notes of apricot, wildflowers, honey, green apple, and clove. A little whiff of alcohol adds complexity. Orchard fruits and a hint of banana are joined by a peppery note on the palate, with lemon zest and moderate bitterness in the short finish. Light-bodied and vigorously carbonated. Feels crisp, light, and bone dry. The feel of the alcohol detracts from that crispness just a little bit. A world class beer, deservedly a classic beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 04:59:49 | More by mintjellie

julian89

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank on 3/14/12
Poured from bottle into Chimay sniffer.

Appearance: A nice inch of head with minimal lacing (what I love to see). Clear translucent amber gold. A good consistent bubbling from base of sniffer.

Smell: A crispy citrus smell. I get a hint of herbs and flowers which gives me a spring feeling.

Mouthfeel: Wow, fresh with excellent carbonation. A light and almost fluffy like feel. A nice "zing" hit on the front with a smooth feeling on the back.

Taste: High alcohol taste and very citrus like. The flavors seem almost enhanced by the mouthfeel.

Overall: Excellent, one of the better Trappist beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 13:56:26 | More by julian89

iSip

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Westmalle Tripel, 22oz bomber: To celebrate Tom Boonen’s victory in the biggest Belgian sporting event (the Tour of Flanders), I popped the cork on one of Beer Advocate’s most highly rated Tripels, the Westmalle Trappist Tripel. While Tom Boonen’s victory for Belgium was fantastic, the Westmalle Tripel was not. No head developed, the aroma was thin and while the flavor was OK with tones of honey and almonds, there was not the complexity I was expecting from such a highly rated beer. The Westmalle Tripel was caramel in color and very hazy. The last glass from the bottle was near brown in color and thick with particulates. So maybe this bottle came from the bottom of the barrel, and not up to snuff. There were two dates on the label 7/1/2008 and 7/1/2010. I do not know what these dated referred to, but this bottle was purchased on 3/2012 and tasted on 4/2012, so another reason for the lackluster performance may be the age of this bottle. Anyway, I need to call them as I taste them, so the Westmalle will get a low score and one disappointed fan.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 20:27:47 | More by iSip

KevinSP

Ontario (Canada)

4.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I first enjoyed this at the Bier Market in Toronto and not a week later was stunned to see it actually stocked at my local LCBO. There are a number of excellent reviews on this beer and I'm not sure I can add any more what has already been said about this spectacular brew. Complex and yet incredibly accessible. It is truly a treat for all senses - visually beautiful, tickles the nose with tempting sensations and finally it stuns the palette. Suffice to say that is truly one of the best beers available.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 23:13:47 | More by KevinSP

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle from the LCBO. Poured into a Chimay goblet in keeping with our Trappist theme. Light, hazy golden in colour, with a thick foamy head that possesses great retention. Sheets of lacing abound on the sides of the glass, and carbonation scurries forth from the depths. A great-looking brew indeed.

Light and airy, a bit of hops, fruit (apple and pear), yeast, pepper, clove and spices.

Wonderfully light and dry, Westmalle Tripel is certainly a pleasure to drink. The fruit is certainly there, but sweetness is not an issue, and so the hops and yeast flavor endemic to Belgium are allowed their chance at full attention. Again, pepper, banana, and floral hops are also present. Medium bodied, vigorous carbonation.

Complex and satisfying, this is certainly a brew worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 21:32:54 | More by JohnnyBarman

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: hazy golden color with a one finger head and a lasting lacing that covers the top.

S: smell is spicy yeast, orange peel, and sweet malt.

T: tough to describe the initial taste, but it is yeasty and spicy with some fruity flavor. Malt takes over on the back end. The taste is also slightly bitter.

M: high carbonation and medium body give it a crisp feeling for a great summer beer.

O: tripels are great, and this is right at the top of my list. Excellent beer, even at more than $5 per bottle (33cl?).

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 21:25:33 | More by Holland

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a hazy golden with some particles in suspension, but I accidentally mishandled the bottle, so I won't dock it for that. Huge creamy-looking eggshell white head doesn't budge an inch. Thick rings of lacing are left in its wake.

S: Light fruity aromatics of pear and perhaps apple. A touch of white pepper and some other vague spices. Chalky yeast and a light musty scent. Over-ripe banana comes out more as it warms. Spicy alcohol is barely perceptible. Textbook.

T: Bite of clove initially, white pepper and spicy yeast take over quickly. Estery fruit tastes of sliced apple and pear. Spike of alcohol comes with some tropical fruity notes in tow. Some green and grassy hop bitterness. Chalky yeast toward the end. Malt flavors are biscuity, cracker-like, and faint. Finishes very dry with a touch of lingering bitterness and chalky yeast.

M: Highly effervescent, the lively carbonation is sharp and scrubbing. Medium bodied, very creamy. Slight suggestion of warmth from the alcohol.

O: This is it, the OG. The beer that popularized the style, and a trappist classic. Readily available, and a must-try for anyone interested in the style or in Belgian beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 03:57:39 | More by ryan1788a5

vkv822

Oregon

3.15/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

11.2oz bottle into tulip snifter.

Pours a bright golden yellow with quite a bit of yeast sediment throughout and an extremely thick, foamy white head.

The aroma is quite estery and boozy.

Taste follows the nose, estery and boozy for the most part with some spicy phenols.

Medium light, fluffy mouthfeel.

A decent beer, though I feel the alcohol and phenol notes are too prominent at times.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 08:13:46 | More by vkv822

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before 05/19/2012

A: Pours a cloudy straw yellow with some light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall off-white head that reduces to about a half finger tall head with a slight thicker patch in the center and significantly thicker at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: The Belgian yeast is very much front and center in the aroma and that is something that really draws me into this beer. There is a lot of the spiciness contributed by the yeast, more pepper than clove but both are present. There is also some presence of banana and citrus.

T: Very well balanced and nice complexity to the flavor. I get lots of citrus and banana fruit presence along with the spiciness of the Belgian yeast - definitely more pepper than clove but both are there. I also get some almost some saison like flavors as well.

M: Light to medium bodied with heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly dry in the finish.

O: A very enjoyable beer and one of the best in the style, very easy to drink and hides the presence of high ABV alcohol very well (very little noticed in either in the taste or the aroma). This has a great complexity and nice balance of flavor. Definitely one to get again.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 21:52:29 | More by dbrauneis

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

look ~ pours a straw color and is fairly hazy. actually, it looks a lot like a wit. The head is good: two fingers of white moussy head off a hard pour, falls very slowly, and leaves some nice lacing. No real visible carbonation in the glass.

smell ~ really, really nice. belgian yeast is front-and-center for this one: bubblegum, spices (mostly pepper rather than clove), and fruits (banana and citrus). not a lot of the malt character comes through. some nice hop crispness, which falls into the same spicy-fruity range as the yeast and is hard to pin-point exactly in relation to the yeast.

flavor ~ also exceptional and very well balanced. pretty much the same characters as the i got on the nose, but with a bit more of the grainbill coming through. malt-wise, i get some light breadcrust and a bit of wheatiness. The yeast character is the same balance of spices (pepper) and fruit (banana and citrus). hop bitterness is medium-high and has a bit more of a floral and herbal character than on the nose, which plays well into the finish. not as much heat as i'd expect from the abbv, but some nice high-alcohol floral notes. finish is fairly dry.

feel ~ light body and higher carbonation support the lighter flavors (i think it would feel more 'muddled' with a heavier body). the higher carbonation also dries out the finish and plays well with the hops.

a real treat. complex without being muddled: the flavor has a lot to offer and explore with each sip. highly tasty and drinkable, this one is really sneaky given the abv.

i really love trips and this one is quite literally the grand-daddy of them all!

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 01:30:49 | More by Rijtjeshuis

jsulko

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass

Pours a yellow straw color with a decent amount of slight off white head.

Smell is fruity with a sweetness and the distinctive yeast as well.

Taste is very smooth with the sweetness and a hint of spice on the finish. No alcohol burn on the finish.

One of the best of the style that I have had.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 03:34:16 | More by jsulko

mjord23

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

(from notes, 3/26/12) Poured from a bottle into a Westmalle Trappist glass.

Happy Birthday to me! Looked up all the beers that they had, and it appeared this one was not to be missed... and it didn't let me down!

A: Pours a beautiful hazy golden straw, with a light foamy head. The massive carbonation level keeps the beer from settling and just gives it a great appearance.

S: Sweet and citrusy, with subtle floral notes. Bananas and belgian yeast also are really prominent. Definitely makes you want to drink it!

T: Wow. All that was there in the smell really stands out in the taste. Malty, floral, honey, citrus... it's really flavorful and interesting. I keep going back for more. Definitely get the yeast, with some grassy notes and grapefruit towards the end. Finishes slightly bitter, but I like that, given the sweetness.

M: Highly carbonated, which I think works well for this beer. With such strong flavors, the high carbonation really keeps them moving and delivers them well. Drinks far to easily for a beer with this ABV!

O: Outstanding. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the beer. I think the rest of the comments speak for themselves. If you can get your hands on it, do it.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 00:02:59 | More by mjord23