Wine Barrel Tripel - Tiger Mountain Malbec (American Oak) - Westbrook Brewing Co.

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap upstairs at Barleys last night.

Pours out a wonderful hazy amber color with a two inch head and tons of lacing falling down the sides and webbing the glass very nicely,.

Aroma is sublime, oak, spices tingling the nose, light dark grapes and a smooth fruit note all coming through clearly. Warming has the oak taking front stage for sure as the nice light spices in it tickle the nose and make the wine notes in the barrel pop. Light grains and pear flavors come through in the finish, and no hotness at all, smoothed out with a touch of vanilla, this was a fantastic beer.

So impressed with westbrook right now.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 22:22:38 | More by mikesgroove

rjknyy

Georgia

4/5  rDev -6.5%

04-13-2013 21:54:05 | More by rjknyy

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

03-31-2013 21:30:07 | More by mikeincharleston

millerbuffoon

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.5%

02-22-2013 01:50:12 | More by millerbuffoon

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -18.2%

01-17-2013 23:43:20 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Wowcoolman for sharing this one at AndrewK’s tasting.

Bottled 11/15/11.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, wood, fruit, wine, and alcohol. Taste is much the same with a mild tannic and bitter finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 19:24:12 | More by UCLABrewN84

AndrewK

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

10-28-2012 23:37:04 | More by AndrewK

slowdaddy

Alabama

4/5  rDev -6.5%

08-18-2012 14:48:40 | More by slowdaddy

freduardo

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

07-28-2012 04:59:13 | More by freduardo

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared this one as a part of aasher's wedding week celebration while hanging out by the pool in Destin, FL! Served from bottle into a Boulevard tulip. Poured a hazy red-orange with a two finger off-white head that subsided to half a finger very slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark fruit, spices, wood, fruit, and subtle sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, wood, sweet alcohol, fruit, pear, banana, and clove. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a great brew. After having all 3 of the series back-to-back-to-back I can confidently say that this one was the best of the group. Really nice complex and well balanced nose and flavor going on here that kept you coming back for more. Everyone in the wedding party that tried this one agreed as well. A definite must try if you have not done so already.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 13:48:19 | More by thagr81us

aasher

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

06-22-2012 22:22:59 | More by aasher

whitekiboko

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -6.5%

06-07-2012 19:58:20 | More by whitekiboko

tclapper

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-05-2012 02:06:41 | More by tclapper

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750mL bottle to tulip. Huge thanks to rbradley for sending this treat my way. Bottled on Nov152011. Sampled 4/27/12.

The label indicates 8.5% ABV (currently unlisted).

A: Loud pop upon uncapping. Sediment appears on the underside of the cap and along the neck inside the bottle. Pours with a solid 2 1/2 finger cap, ivory colored, thick, compact & foamy. And it doesn't budge for a minute or two. As it recedes, large chunks cling to all sides of the glass. The body is a murky amber-orange, with light transparency only when held to light. Not the prettiest color, but that is the only drawback in an otherwise fantastic appearance. As expected, lacing continues with proficiency.

S: Such a beautiful aroma. Lightly vinous, but the grape aroma is very fresh. A mix between both red and green grapes with light funk from the onset. Whatever the yeast strain is, it was the perfect match for the aroma profile.

T: The blend of fruit (white and red grapes, green and red apples), funk (light barnyard - probably a strain of brett with a light lactic influence) and floral notes is unparalleled. The oak barrel is apparent in a wonderful way. A light, buttery vanilla creeps through. How could this possibly be any better?

Spoiler Alert: It can't.

M: An enjoyable sweetness throughout the front and midpalate is gently cut with an underlying dryness and a refreshing tartness towards the end. An alluring sweetness returns on the very back end. Engaging and perfectly placed. The deduction is from a lower than expected level of carbonation although, quite frankly, I love the added creaminess anyway.

O: This version of Westbrook's Wine Barrel Tripel is the best Tripel I've ever had - American or otherwise. And there is no "homer bias" in the reviews thus far. This beer is basically perfect.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 00:35:23 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

UltimateLivewire

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

04-20-2012 23:47:48 | More by UltimateLivewire

jrohrbacher

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

04-07-2012 14:10:03 | More by jrohrbacher

brentk56

North Carolina

4.73/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a rocky ecru head that leaves plenty of lacing

Smell: Shortbread and vanilla, with Malbec tones and a wallop of oak

Taste: Shortbread and vanilla, up front, but the force of the Malbec flavors arrives with a blast by mid-palate, with other stone fruit flavors layering underneath; after the swallow, the oak forcefully imposes its complexity on the finish, though the red wine flavor lingers in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Another terrific beer from Westbrook, though to me it is the 2nd best in the series; the differences are subtle but significant; amazing how few BAs have this on their Wants list; if this brewery were located in California, this site would be going nuts for their beers

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 01:08:05 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a hazed, dusky, dulled amber body with a sudsy, ivory-hued head.

Smell: Lightly spicy, lightly tannic whiffs of oak barrels still moist with red wine, certainly overtaking the base tripel, though I'm not complaining.

Taste: A soundly sweet taste of brown sugar tossed with pils malts and ground cinnamon. Big splash of lightly tart, lowly tannic, fruity red wine. Also some fruity touches of white peach and pear. Some stunted vanilla. Moderately spicy, though whether it's from the yeast strain, the barrels, or both will remain a mystery. Drying, still satisfyingly fruity on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus, reasonably bubbly carbonation.

Overall: Bold wine barrel character, though, overall, a smooth, pleasing beverage.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 16:19:51 | More by ChainGangGuy

jsanford

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a Tulip Glass.

Pours a hazy light gold with a thin white head that fades to a slight haze. Big oaky aromas that remind me of their Barrel Room. Red wine, sweet malt, and fruity Belgian yeast. Taste is again very oaky, with a good amount of red wine character, sweet malt, ride pear, banana, and a touch of clove. Perhaps a bit of booze is noticeable, but it doesn't detract from the beer. Mouthfeel is crisp and smooth, with a medium body and good carbonation. Overall an excellent Tripel that wonderfully evokes the amazing Westbrook Barrel Room (which I need to visit again soon). This was a great start to their bottled offerings!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 18:39:39 | More by jsanford