Dragonmead Final Absolution Trippel - Dragonmead Microbrewery

GlennSt

Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Smoky yellow in color; slightly cloudy but not heavy or dirty in appearance. Bright smell with definite scent of bananas and clove, slightly less so of citrus. The taste starts both sweet and peppery; then the hops kick in before finishing with a creamy mix of both sweet and bitter. This beer has all the taste of a Belgian beer you'd ever want.

This is the tastiest tripel I've had. I'd love to stock my fridge with this stuff. Better still, the brewery is 5 miles away.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 18:03:00 | More by GlennSt

proc

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A truly wondeful beer. Sampled several times over at the Polar Beer Fest. A nice presence of clove, nutmeg and pepper spice up this yeasty, malty treat. This is a liquid meal that is filling and satisfying. Complex and delicious. A beer to have when you are having one. Well-done.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

02-17-2003 09:15:34 | More by proc

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This poured with an ivory colored head over clear brassy/amber liquid. Banana and tropical fruitiness in the nose amidst a malty background. Taste was more tropical/banana flavors, malty sweetness with nice hoppy bitterness behind it all...almost a lighter bodied Quadrupel in taste. Gentle carbonation gives a smooth flowing mouthfeel. Alcohol looms in the back, not to steal the show, but rather as a reminder of the power of this beer style. Finishes fruity and sweet with lingering alcohol notes. A slightly ballsy take on the style, well done.

Thanks to CRJM for the bottles!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2004 19:17:00 | More by beerluvr

TheBierBand

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

OK.... all I can say is... I LOVE this bier!

OK...I'll say more.... The Bier Band (well 5 of us...) stopped by Dragonmead Microbrewery this past Saturday between Tony's wedding and reception. This was the second bier I tried.

It arrived at the table in a 12 oz goblet with a 1/2" creamy off white head over the top of a hazy light amber colored bier. The head dissipated to a foamy ring.

The aroma was spicey with a tiny citrusy note.

OK...the TASTE!.... HEAVENLY! For me, a definate 5. Right on style and very good...no, EXCELLENT! BA says 8.5% ABV.... but their menu says 10% ABV... whatever.... it was masked very well, and didn't have that alcohol aftertaste... Bold taste with hints of spice and citrus.... a tiny malt taste mixed in for a wonderful balanced flavor. This is kind of like a very bold wheat bier. Perfect hoppiness for this style.

Mouthfeel was nice and chewey.... not too thick... just very robust! Perfect carbonation.

Drinkability.... VERY NICE! I could get used to this... should have brought a growler home with me.... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2007 12:36:54 | More by TheBierBand

Rickk

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was poured into a pint glass from the bottle. Deserved a tulip glass but the bar tender did not give this fine nectar justice.

A - Pours out with a half finger head with a nice lasting lacing, cloudy and light golden.

S - Malt, banana and bubble gum come to the nose. Followed by a some candy sugar sweetness.

T - Phenolic, fruity and spicy with Strong banana and clove with hints of cinnamon sugar and ginger.

M - medium body with good carbonation and slightly sticky.

D - great example of the tripel style; I enjoyed it very much and wanted another, but too much alcohol for that!

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2008 14:15:56 | More by Rickk

lurpy1

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Tuba Museum in Okemos. Final Absolution was the big revelation of the night, as most of the drinkers in our large contingent gravitated towards drinking this beer.

In both smell and test, there's an intriguing combination of banana (normally I hate nanners, no problem here), spice, and caramel, all carried through in a nice smooth texture, which masks the alcohol wallop this bitch carries.

I'm no expert on Belgian beers (yet), but I have to think this is a damn solid rendition of the style.

The Dragonmead footprint seems small, and that is a shame. In my opinion, this is a candidate for Michigan's top beer. Go get.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 23:10:12 | More by lurpy1

HarrySTruman

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a tulip

Gold color, near yellow, small head with minimal lacing. Looks very clear and crisp.

Smells of fruits and malt. Banana is very apparent, other tropical fruits seem hidden.

The taste is truly fantastic. This is the only tripel that I have had from the states that I feel rivals the best of Belgium. It is very close to the Belgian style, but it has it's own unique take. The alcohol is apparent in the taste, but not overbearing. Banana, apricot, tropical fruits, malt, a slight hoppy bitter flavor. It's a very complex taste, but very drinkable.

Not too carbonated. Very drinkable. Slightly "thick", but it matches the style well.

About as good a tripel as I have ever had. Certainly the best I have made in Michigan, and unless I am forgetting one, the best I have had made in the U.S. I honestly believe it competes favorably with La Fin Du Monde for the best tripel made in NA.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 18:12:04 | More by HarrySTruman

vinyljunkee

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I am not that skilled at waxing poetic on beer characteristics, but I do know beer and very specifically Belgian ales. Like the Bros have weighed in on this one, it is truly an exceptional Trippel. Very balanced and not overly sweet as you can sometimes find. I would like to feel a little more body (mouthfeel).

Lookout Ommegang (Love these guys)...Dragonmead might be in it to win it from right here in Michigan..."craft brewery" capital of the world.

Oh, get back on your feet carefully after a couple of these.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2012 19:02:58 | More by vinyljunkee

poland7

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I have been going to Dragonmead for a while and this beer is by far one of my top ten.

The color is very nice and golden, it drinks smooth and has a little bit of a fruity taste (al be it a very slight fruity taste)

As is the case with all triples the ABV is nice and high but the beauty with this beer is that it doesn't have a very strong overpowering alcohol taste. This beer is perfect for just sitting outside on a hot day.

I have never had it in a bottle so I cannot speak to that, however on tap or from a freshly filled Growler this beer is on of my favorites.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2009 15:05:57 | More by poland7

DerekStek

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Final Absulution has an opaque butterscotch color with bits of sentiment floating around in it. A thin yet frothy head quickly fizzed away. The smells are sweet, fruity, and almost waxy like. It has a light and creamy fruity and nutty taste to it. The beer does well in masking the alcohol with flavor. A top choice for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 02:57:35 | More by DerekStek

SportsandJorts

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

on tap at paint creek tavern. although i have had it on tap other places and bottled multiple times.

appearance- copper colored and a medium foamy head that slowly recedes leaving almost nothing behind. some leftover sediment at the bottom. medium carbonation, as it had some bubbles throughout its survival

smell- yeast and spices, maybe a touch of alcohol

taste- belgian yeast along with spices. possibly some honey sweetness up front followed by a bitterness that could be from some hops. the finish is dry as well as bitter.

mouthfeel- medium bodied. it seems heavier but it is drinkable.

overall- excellent beer. a good tripel that is drinkable and enjoyable. a semi-common beer at the more multi-tap-like places in my area and a beer that i find myself revisiting a lot. definitely worth a shot to anyone who is a fan of the style

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2013 04:37:08 | More by SportsandJorts

mynie

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very clear and dark gold into a Westy chalice. Nice head, but it fades quickly into nothingness.

Smells great! You go the same whitepepper honey spice wheatishness of Duvel only with a wonderfully crisp, weedy background. Mix a Duvel with a great all Keller and you kind the idea.

Tastes very nearly as good as it smells. Big nodes of weeds, pollen, and wild flowers backing up a spicy, crisp, lightly lemony Belgian pale.

Not exactly what I expect from a tripel, but who cares when the beer tastes as good as this?

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2007 07:19:33 | More by mynie

DrBell

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first Dragonmead experience and I must say I like it. I purchased this in a 4-pack and upon first pour into my Red Salamander goblet, I observed it to be fairly clear (not cloudy as in other reviews) with a nice golden color and a nice white head.

Nose indicated a floral bouquet with a hint of spices, particularly cloves. First taste confirmed what the nose told me: mild overall mouth feel with floral, banana, and cloves coming forward. Then a hint of pepper and and spice, but nothing too overpowering. Nothing was ever too overpowering and was quite mild compared to many trippels. Not much lacing on the glass, but what there was was nice.

Those who are looking for more "oomph" mat be a tad disappointed, but I found this to be very drinkable and would buy this again. Not great, but not offensive, either... just a good, drinkable Belgian trippel.

I truly enjoyed this brew and look forward to trying more from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 21:05:48 | More by DrBell

Michigan

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into an Ommegang long-tulip. Left most yeast in the bottle

A- Orange glow. Opaque. Small frothy head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves a ring. no lacing

S- BANANA!!! This thing is like a banana smoothie. As it warms, and after a rather sweet cigar, even more banana comes out along with clove, and some tropical fruits.

T- I love this beer. It's a nice American take on a Belgian classic. Good fruity flavor and Belgian yeast. Leaves a mildly crisp taste after the banana smoothie. I think I'm getting some pineapple in this too. Solid finish with fresh tree-fruit

M- Great! I really like this. It's not to thick but not too thin. I feel like I'm drinking a real beer. It's right where it's supposed to be. Similar to skim milk mouthfeel without the linger. Leaves the mouth with a happy and fruity feel.

O- Good Tripel. The alcohol was masked well. Dragonmead website has this listed at 10%. BA has it at 8.5%. I say it's around 9.5%. I will be stocking 4-packs of this throughout the summer. Good representation of the style

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 03:50:16 | More by Michigan

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This monumental Belgian representation combines a sweet light ester quality with a bold, but uncannily smooth alcoholic warmth. Just a fantastic enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2002 17:57:19 | More by beernut7

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in the 12 oz. bottle into a goblet. The color is amber, with a wispy white head. The smell is very cotton candy sweet. The taste is a very floral cotton candy sweetness with a very slight hoppiness, and no alcohol readily present. Mouthfeel is well-carbed. As for drinkability, could have a few of these.

Thanks to trbeer for the bottle. This reminds me a lot of the young Great Lakes Anniversary Ale....the bubblegum/cotton candy sugar sweetness is quite nice. Quite good, and one I hope to have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2004 03:03:46 | More by beergeek279

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:

"'Tis better to curse the darkness than to light thy hand on fire," sayeth the label.

Pours a fairly clear, rich golden color with slightly hazy, burnt orange hues, topped with a most-worthy, creamy head that drops to a healthy looking lace with stick. Aroma drops notes of yeast, fresh apples, must, peppery alcohol, green banana and soft bubble gum or even taffy. Smooth and even consistency on the palate, medium-bodied, with a building creaminess. Some hoppiness up front with a gentle dose of bitterness, leafiness, and more raw banana and lingering taffy. Soft floral. Quite yeasty, too, providing some roughness and breadiness. Thin candy sweetness, but well attenuated, like a good Tripel should be, and dry, with just enough residuals to keep it from being bone-dry. Finishes bready with a light peppery back.

Pretty damn spot-on, especially for an American brewer. Many tend to allow their Tripels to finish way too sweet and often fruity, and not so Belgian. We'll gladly light our hands on fire for another.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 05:10:44 | More by BeerAdvocate

blackthistle

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. brown bottle; no freshness date; $2.79 for single bottle

Pours crystal clear orange color with a creamy looking white head that dissipates slowly. Sweet malty and fruity aroma with a slight clove/coriander/spice character. Medium body, good carbonation, sweet malty background with a moderate fruity flavor and warming alcohol feeling. The light bitterness and spices balance out the maltiness and the candi sugar sweetness quite well. Not to miss for trippel fanatics!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2005 02:23:17 | More by blackthistle

tab021

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dragonmead came highly recommended from a couple of guys on here so I found a few and this one caught my fancy... marked at 10% abv... good stuff

A: Pours hazy honey yellow cloudy with a head that disappears in seconds and fizzes just a bit

S: OH MAN how complex. spices and cloves with some fruit and all sorts of stuff on the nose. sweetness comes through and it comes to a uniquely intriguing sweet/spice scent. good good

M: Medium body with very little carbonation and a creamy but clean finish

T: Taste like it smells... that same complex mix of cloves and spices with sweet fruitiness with a slight slight bight from the alcohol, but it is very very well balanced.

D: The first I have had of tripel belgians but this is really good. I would definitely have it again. Just from sampling this beer is going to cause me to travel to the brewery! Highly recommended, although drinking the 4 from the box might be a challenge due to the 10%...

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 01:56:08 | More by tab021

stoutman

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

ABV = 8.5%.. Darker than I was expecting. Malty aroma and a noticeable fruity clove yeast aftertaste. Candy sugar is also quite noticeable in the taste. This is one alcohol laden, STRONG beer. Whew! Makes you sweat after 2 pints...

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2002 18:44:33 | More by stoutman

marburg

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Where're the monkies!?!? Seriously, this is the beer for monkies. Why? Because it's like a freakin' bunch of bananas shoved into some glassware.

Amber/orange-ish color. Big fruit, jungle banana aroma. Tastes more or less the same. Very candied sugar sweet. For the strength, not too overwhelmingly alcoholic -- though it's definitely there in abundance. Drinkability is only hampered by the fact that after 2-3 of them and no food, you're in the bag already. :)

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2003 10:09:10 | More by marburg

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub.

Pours a clear gold color with a thin brite-white head and some great retention around the edges and spotty lacing. The aroma is apples, bananas, spice, sweet maltiness, and yeast.

The tastes is similar to the aroma profile, with an in your face fruit one-two punch of banana and apple, clove and coriander notes, candied sweetness, and some pleasant yeasty accents. The mouthfeel is unbelievably smooth and creamy with just about a hint of alcohol beef in the body and that's absolutley it.

This is one of the best American Tripels I've had, with some lively flavors and an unbelievable drinkibility for a 9% beer. This was the gem of our visit when we checked out this surprising gem of a brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2008 16:41:23 | More by Kegatron

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

GLASS: Snifter
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 50 degrees

Pours a very nice, slightly cloudy, golden orange color. Two fingers of creamy white foam sit on top. The head recedes to a solid surface film. Lacing is plentiful, but somewhat slick.

A wonderful nose, filled with white fruits, candi sugars and a pleasant yeastiness. Peaches, apples, white grapes and a hint of pineapples. Very light hint of phenols.
This smells like candy.

My mouth is filled with orchard fruits. A very healthy amount of candi sugar sweetness, also. Big, bready, yeastiness. A mild kiss of hops, on the middle to back-end, give a nice touch of balance.

Full-bodied with beautiful carbonation level. Wonderfully creamy and very smooth and easy to drink.

Okay, for 8.50%abv, this is very drinkable. I can't detect the abv, at all. It's very tasty and smooth. This presumes that you don't mind sweeter, not so hoppy beers, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2009 02:46:00 | More by coldmeat23

Mavigo

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the Travelers Club restaurant in Okemos. They have a huge selection of international beers and wines, surprising for a small town joint. Ordered this with my brother, was a very good Trippel indeed.

A: Poured a nice honey gold with a short white head that dissipated almost instantly with a small amount of lacing.

S: Smells yeasty, fruity and somewhat like bananas to me.

T: Tastes golden, very sweet, like honey, fruity, a lot of warmth from the alcohol.

M: very fulfilling, good carbonation but well balanced with the alcohol, just a perfect warm finish, great for a cold night.

O: Can't believe this is from Warren, this is an excellent fall beer, and a great Trippel.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 02:41:37 | More by Mavigo

beerinator

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Light yellow-copper, slightly hazy beer with a firm whitish head.

Aroma: Banana and spicyness kick hard on the original sniff. There is a malty presence here that backs up the fruit and spice.

Taste: The upfront flavors are banana (heavy banana) and caramel cakeyness. The spicing is there, but muted slightly at the beginning. The spices (clove and cinnamon?) show up in the finish. The mouthfeel is nice and solid.

Notes: I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It was very drinkable and seemed close to what I interpret to be the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2006 22:29:45 | More by beerinator