Oude Zuipers Tripel - Papago Brewing

nickfl

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - poured with a small head of white foam that guideposts quickly and leaves no lace. The body is a clear, deep golden color.

S - earthy, spicy yeast aromas of pepper, clove, anise, and pineapple.

T - thick, bready malt up front with a touch of clove. Some licorice and red apple in the middle. Finishes with thick, bready malt, pineapple, pepper, anise and an earthy note.

M - medium thick body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - complex and well made with a fairly good balance for a beer of this strength.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 03:45:32 | More by nickfl

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap at Papago into tulip. Legend has it this is actually brewed in Belgium. I believe it...
Pours a reddish/brown/golden. Fizzy head, no lacing.
It looks thin but has a slight haze.
Smells of typical belgian yeasts; banana and pepper.
Taste is of almost chocolatey belgian yeasts, with a bit of fruity banana. Pretty darn good.
Smooth smooth...very smooth. No obvious signs of 11 abv.
Easy on the palate for sure.
Overall, a very good and respectable triple. Not the most amazing but very very good! Nice job!

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2012 00:39:51 | More by DrinkSlurm

birchstick

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours orangeish with a huge head on it. Sweet and fruity from the Belgian yeast. Starts off fruity with coriander and sweet fruits. These fade to more sweetness mixed in with caramel malts to further dial up the sweet flavors. Ends with a little bit of grazzy bitterness on the finish. Full bodied with a lot of carbonation. Solid triple with a lot of nice fruitiness throughout. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 20:50:35 | More by birchstick

arizcards

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a caged and corked 750ml bottle from Magnums on the 4th of July 2010 for $11.99. This has been resting in my wine fridge since then and i am ready to pop the cork.

Beer poured amber-orange, darker than the normal tripel. Massive soapy head that is leaving rings behind in my Duvel tulip.

Nose is somewhat musty, hints of apples and candi sugar linger.

Taste is very sweet, grape wine, apples, perhaps a hint of black pepper. Alcohol was very noticeable on the initial sip and continues to heat me up.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and not overly smooth. Carbonation is moderate.

Overall not a bad beer but nothing to seek out again. 11.0 abv stretches and maybe exceeds the limits of the style. Check it out if you like the style and are curious.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 22:57:53 | More by arizcards

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oude Zuipers - Brewed by Van Steenberge Brewery in Belgium for Papago in Arizona.

Appearance: Bright gold in color, clear, solid soapy head and lacing.

Smell: Aroma is of sweet malts, candi sugar, floral hops and a vague fruityness.

Taste: Initially sweet, with hop bitterness coming in the finish. White grape skin, candi sugar, pear, and a leafy herbal hop. Alcohol is fairly well hidden, and the flavors work well together here.

Mouthfeel: Lighter bodied, clean flavors, even carbonation.

Overall: Quite enjoyed this beer, alittle on the sweet side but the 11% is deceptively well hidden. Belgian yeast leaves a big footprint on this beer, and overall a nice brew made by Jef at Van Steenberge.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 14:19:29 | More by Stinkypuss

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml caged/corked bottle, one of three sent a couple summers ago by psprings - then of Arizona and Papago, huge thanks to Paul for his generosity. Poured three ways to stemless glasses, split between me, my wife and our friend Bryce. The last bottle during an epic Sunday evening spent noshing on witbier-based steamed mussels and sausage-topped stoemp, all homemade firsts.

This beer is clearly labeled: 'Brewed & Bottled: Br. Van Steenberge B-9940 Ertvelde', which makes me wonder why this awesome Belgian brewer isn't given the credit it deserves over Papago (they slapped a their own label on it?!?!?)...

A: Nice 'pop' from the cork and a sluggish gush that allowed me to catch every last drop. Darker, deeper shade than many tripels I've seen; this one barely holds some goldenness amidst the slightly fuzzy amber. A brilliant white cap stacks up above a finger, holds well and remains as a puffy swirl until the last sip. Good lacing, too, iridescent rings and patches, dimples and thick spots seem puzzlingly random.

S: Likeable scent, plump and well-fruited grains and spices. A little cherry that comes off as slightly sour - cherry-limeade, perhaps? Zesty and grassier with, after warming sufficiently, some notable alcohol/phenol fumes tweaking the nose.

T: The same mildly tart cherry found in the aroma greets my taste buds. Sugars like apple flesh and honey, a little raisin and more undefined spice (that VS yeast). Dusting of pepper. Mineral dryness, with a fickle tang, at the finish. Pretty damn delicious when colder, a downturn once it nears room temperature.

M: Creamy feel that's on the heavier side for a tripel (duh, ELEVEN percent!). Lively carbonation and a long-lasting spicy zing resting squarely in the middle of the tongue.

O: I recall having this beer at Papago (March '09) and thought that it was a fine tripel, a well-done commission by a respected Belgian brewery. After my share of this bottle, I'm still feeling that way, although this beer shows some nuanced variances thanks to a couple years cellared. Glad to have finally gotten around and, more importantly, to have shared it with two people who appreciated it as much as (if not more than) I did.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 04:26:08 | More by msubulldog25

trappistlover

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(750ml bottle at Total Wine). Pours hazy copper color with massive chunky off-white head. Aroma is very sweet with honey, hard candy and cherry being noticeable. Taste is sweet with some hop bitterness at the end. Medium bodied with a sticky texture. Finish is smooth, but I’m detecting an off-note-maybe slight medicinal? Overall, its still a pretty good brew and worth a try

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 05:45:25 | More by trappistlover

DPFRD

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 in a Westmalle Goblet.

A- Cork came off like a rocket, so the head came out very active, calmed a bit and laced the glass nicely. Poured Golden, very clean looking

S- Yeast and fruit come out, definite candi presence, pale malt is detectable.

T- Sweet, fruity then yeasty, not much hop presence, has a bit of a sour close to it. Sweetness dulls a bit as it warms. reminds of La Fin Du Monde, but balanced much better. Not much phenolic presence for such a strong beer.

M- Medium bodied, decent carbonation.

D- Goes down easy for 11%, taste pretty good too. I could use more grain. the subtle sour character to it is very desirable. If this was actually made in the US, I would be highly impressed, but since it's contract brewed by Van Steerberge, I'm not so, it's merely a decent Belgian tripel, nothing to run out a grab. If you like the style give it a whirl.

Overall this was a very good trippel, though it's more of a mix of a BSPA and a trippel than a pure trippel. Worth a shot if you make it by the brewer

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 06:24:37 | More by DPFRD

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pretty darn good brew! Bottle's cork had a nice loud "pop" when opened and poured with a huge, foamy, frothy, fluffy, sudsy, off white head that lasts a long time and lots of clingy lace. Color is a clear light to medium amber with LOTS of small bubble trails. Aroma is caramel, malt, fruit, yeast. Flavor is like aroma plus has candy sugar flavors. Body and carbonation are both excellent and perfect for the style. Finish is like flavor, short to medium in length, and has lots of alcohol warming. Easy drinking in spite of strength.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 02:12:13 | More by drpimento

Phelps

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap at Papago and served in a tulip.

Looks: light, translucent cranberry-orange. A fluffy whitish yellow head about half a finger thick grips the walls with all its might, resulting in some nice sheeting.

Smells: muted. The aroma is hard to pick up at all, but what little is there is nice and sweetly floral. Honey, coriander, a little cinnamon, lavender, Fuji apples.

Tastes: much more vibrant than it smells. Bright green apples and pear juice, some cardamom, saffron and lilac. Very sweet finish.

Feels: soft. Moderately carbonated and just a shade under medium-light in body. Not heavy in any way, which really works with the lighter flavors. A buzzy alcohol warms the throat.

Drinks: like a solid tripel. It trends a little far toward the sweet side for my tastes, but the flavors are nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 21:41:19 | More by Phelps

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sampled January 2010 On tap at 1702
This arrives from the tap with a pale, off-white colored, creamy textured, typical tap-head. While the beer itself is a clear amber color. The aroma has a very distinct honey note to it, followed by a mellow candied orange zest aroma, there is also a marshmallow note here and a huge, juicy fruit bubble-gum like aroma. This is actually quite fruity smelling in the end; it is a bit like an orange creamsicle, but without a fresh orange character (if that makes sense).

As the beer first hits my mouth the up front flavor is sweet, though not as much as the aroma might have suggested, it finishes with an ϋberjuicy-fruit bubble-gum flavor that really boosts the perceived sweetness in the finish. Some notes of spicy clove are found toward the finish as well. The fruitiness is just really big in the finish, but it somehow manages to not be too over the top. There is perhaps even a hint of tartness towards the finish, but much of this is drowned out by the fruit and sweetness. The body has some fullness to it, but this is just about quaffable. This is actually quite nice, it is perhaps a bit too fruity at times, but somehow it manages to not be completely over-the-top.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 16:56:13 | More by Gueuzedude

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Papago. Some festival winner. Yeasty aroma, and very yeasty taste. Cloudy peachy coloured body with lots of lace. A sipper, creamy mouthfeel.Not great, but it grew on me. Understated carbonation. Cloves, pepper, hwoever would like to get more fruit esthers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2010 22:38:29 | More by northyorksammy

JBogan

Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clear burnt orange with a massive and ever- growing sudsy head. Surprisingly there wasn't much lacing left behind in the glass.

Smelled of sweet honey and raisins, along with a hint of alcohol.

Tasted very close to the aroma, along with herbs and apricot. A small amount of alcohol burn on the finish, along with a strong sweetness.

The mouthfeel was slightly on the thin side, with a carbonation prickle on the tongue.

Tripels are one of my favorite styles, however this one wasn't a beer I'd really care to have again. Not a bad beer by any means, but this one is just too sweet for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2010 22:41:24 | More by JBogan

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear orange color, pours from the growler with some large-bubbled head. Retention and lacing are about nil, but that's par for Papago's course out of the growler. The nose is super-sweet; candi sugar plows on through and leaves little in its wake beyond some pale malt sweetness and estery, banana-like fruitiness.

This beer is overly sweet. Candi sugar and fruit: this is a dessert beer. The malt is thick and full, and brings an interesting palate of pear, green apple, banana, clove, slight pepper notes, bubble gum, and caramel. The heat comes along in the belly.

Belgian strong ale, this is. There's a heavy handed attempt at the spicing of a tripel, but it's kind of a joke. Low on carbonation, not very balanced, and overly slick.

Serving type: growler

01-11-2010 03:00:29 | More by BretSikkink

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Holy shart! When this thing finally stopped gushing I had maybe a 1/4 of the brew lwft to drink. I like carbonation but this was out of control and it had been settled upright for a while so there was really no excuse for it.
Poured a clear honey color with a good head. Nose was fruits, sweetness, booze. Taste was some spice, booze, lighter fruits. Mouthfeel was thinner, still boozy, fruits. Nothing really to brag about but not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 18:46:48 | More by barleywinefiend

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This bottle has unusual origins in several respects: first, it's contract-brewed by Van Steenberge. Nothing unusual there, as V.S. is a major Belgian contract-brewer. But for a small Arizona brewery called Papago? And, it's a two-part trade, initially handed off by Arizona BA psprings (a guy I don't even know) to msubulldog25 (a guy I definitely know) onto me (thanks dudes!). So this bottle has gone from a recipe apparently brainstormed in Arizona to Belgium, then back to Arizona, then to Oregon, then to its final destination here in Virginia. Helluva carbon footprint there...

The cork blasts off with an enormous pop (after that global zig-zagging, you'd be pent up too!). Thus, a huge head is easy to produce, and it's a gigantic cloud of fluff; as it diminishes it becomes super-creamy and as rocky as I've ever seen, with big pocked blobs of lace sticking to the glass. Color is a gorgeous rust with tons of bubbles inside it.

Aroma is hugely fruity and yeasty. With help from the malt, the overall aroma has a gooey, sweet character, like a cinnamon roll or fresh doughnut. A bit nutty as well. Not a lot of alcohol or spice in the nostrils, as usually present in a tripel, but it's very nice regardless.

First, at 11%, I have to say the alcohol is pretty well-hidden, only showing itself as a spicy/warming glow. It's fruity (peach, pear, green apple) but not overly sweet (yeah, a bit sweet, but it's a tripel!); a heavy hit of mineral, which would've been nicer if it weren't so forward; not as decadently malty as the aroma hints, although I'm still reminded of cinnamon bun, but where the nose is mom-and-pop bakery delightful, the cinnamon bun on the tongue is actually more Little Debbie; dry finish produces a little tartness/pucker; faint hop crispness in the finish. As with the aroma, very much dialed down in terms of alcohol heat (amazing, considering the 11%) and spices, certainly not your typical tripel, for better or worse.

Mouthfeel is gentle, airy, lots of tiny little bubbles producing a very subtle tingle. Kind of interesting, although the final impression is one of thinness and lack of solid presence. A light stickiness helps achieve some character here.

Well, this is certainly an interesting, earthy, raw, old-school tripel. All right, I wasn't around in the 1800s drinking tripels, so by "old-school" I just mean something untamed and unhindered by assembly-line brewing. (Although, having visited Van Steenberge, it's not exactly all hands-on, either.) Oude Zuipers is a tripel that this tripel-enthusiast enjoyed, it's just atypical and a little rough around the edges. And in the end, I kinda liked that aspect of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 23:41:15 | More by Metalmonk

seaoflament

California

2.7/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to Joey for sharing this one at La Bella last night, seems like I was the only one that didn't quite enjoy it.

Poured a honey color with about a quarter inch of foam, decent retention and mostly large bubbles made up the head.

The aroma was of yeast esters, apple, hints of strawberry, Belgian candy sugar, pilsner malt sweetness, and hints of banana.

Oh, no! With the first sip comes this horrible metallic flavor that lasted till the last sip. After the initial metallic flavor I tried to concentrate and find other flavors and was able to pick up some banana, spices, yeast, apple, and flowers in the finish. However, every sip had a distracting rusty nail flavor, like sucking on a penny. At first the malt sweetness tried to assert itself on the palate but the metallic finish killed it. Not that complex either.

The mouthfeel was also distracting, very fizzy and effervescent and not in a creamy/soft texture, it was quite aggressive at first and hard to drink. I kept stirring my glass to get out some of the carbonation and it got a little better. I had trouble finishing my last 2 ounces or so. The alcohol was very well hidden though.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2009 06:09:46 | More by seaoflament

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap purchased by the generous 3frog.

Pours a perfectly clear golden-copper color with a one-finger bright white head. The head dissipates into a thin pancake on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of Belgian candi sugar first and foremost with light fruits - bananas and pears - and light hints of apricot.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet malts up front with lots of light fruits. The alcohol is hidden very well.

Mouthfeel is good. I'd like a bit more thickness, but it still went down pretty smoothly.

Drinkability is good. As I mentioned before, the ABV is very well hidden, though after a while the sweetness could be a bit much.

Overall this was a very good trippel, though it's more of a mix of a BSPA and a trippel than a pure trippel. Worth a shot if you make it by the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2009 00:18:34 | More by glid02

hellbilly

Arizona

2.65/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

pours a brilliant gold with a small white head.

aromas are typical i suppose... bananas, clove, caramel, yeasty richness and an alcohol sting.

the flavor is pretty similar but with the addition of tooth rotting sweetness. there is a somewhat spicy dry finish but, for the most part it is a sugary tripel. which, in my book is a bad thing.

the body is full with residuals yet fairly creamy.

i'll wait for the bottles and hide them for a couple of years. sweet tripels=yuck!6/3/4/4/13/3.0

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2009 07:22:01 | More by hellbilly

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brewed for Papago by Van Steenberge so it has that distinct Belgian yeasty character that a lot of Van Steenberge beers like Piraat and Gulden Draak have. Pours a nice golden color, full white head. Hides the 11% alcohol pretty well, malty and sweet but not overly sweet like a lot of high alcohol beers are and pretty well balanced for such a big beer. A really big beer for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2009 16:06:30 | More by bigbelcher