Watou Tripel - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

spoony

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 330 ml bottle (dated February 13, 2015) into a tulip.

A-A timid pour produces a huge, dense, shiny, white head of foam. The head leaves some decent-sized chunks on the glass as I drink it down. The brew is mostly clear (left the sediment in the bottle) and is orange-tinted gold in color. A fair amount of carbonation is visible.

S-I smell something I can only describe as "juice box" up front...kind of a sweet, fruity note, but non-descript. As the brew warmed, I detected mild banana/clove notes from the yeast and a lightly sharp, peppery, grassy note.

T-The taste tracked the smell with less juice box to be found. The brew provides some sweet, tropical banana, along with slightly floral, grassy flavors. Subtle.

M-The feel is nice and creamy with a slick finish. Medium body.

O-This is a fine Belgian tripel. The appearance is what other tripels should strive for and the mouthfeel matches the flavor nicely. It has that subtlety in flavor that many American brewers should take note of, but it lacks the complexity and spice shown in the best variants of this style (its Bernardus cousin, for example).

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 04:29:43 | More by spoony

rangerred

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle into a goblet.

Pours a slightly hazy medium orange with a half finger fluffy white head. Excellent head retention with just a little bit of lacing on the sides of the glass.

There is really a whole lot going on in the aroma. Lots of Belgian spicyness along with some peach and orange. marmalade. Strong notes of caramel candy and lightly toasted bread. More earthy than I was expecting.

The flavor doesn't seem quite as complex as the aroma but it is still quite enjoyable. Bread mixed with peaches and orange throughout with a lot of banana and clove up front. Hops are nearly non-existent which is appropriate. Some caramel sweetness but it is restrained with a somewhat drying finish bringing up the end. No hint of alcohol whatsoever.

Overall, a really good tripel with quite a bit going on. I really love the number of nuances in the aroma and flavor. This is a really interesting as well as refreshing beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:10:08 | More by rangerred

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle into tulip.

A - Gold copper with an absolute titanic dense white head.

S - Light tart apple, pear, bready malts, and Belgian yeast.

T - Apple, pear, and banana combine with sweet bready malt and peppery spices. A touch of tartness but not much. Finishes citrusy and earthy with light grassy hops.

M - Light-medium body. Very smooth and creamy with high carbonation. Dry finish.

O - A pretty good, easy drinking tripel. No alcohol evident. Flavor overall is light and subtle but very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:16:41 | More by mooseo

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2oz bottle poured into a Unibroue chalice.

A: golden in color with a mild haze. Four fingers of rocky white head retains very well. Thick clumps of lacing cling to the glass in jagged patterns.

S: Very fruit-forward with perfumey scents of pear and apple blossom. Quick, sharp whiffs of clove and spice. White pepper and church incense. Faint grassy hops. Honeyed dough and grain.

T: Honeyed dough and golden malts. Bready. Yeast takes the mid palate with tastes of chalk, clove, pepper, and spices. Very floral quality with apple blossoms coming across quite strongly. Pear. Mild grassy, herbal hop. Dries significantly into the finish and ends abruptly with dry grain, cracker, and faint yeast.

M: Medium bodied. Sits a little more heavily in the mouth than I'd like. Almost a bit sludgy. Small bubbled, biting carbonation picks it up just enough. Creamy.

O: It's a little sweeter than I'd normally like a tripel to be, and almost feels a little half-baked. Not quite as complex as other examples of the style, and not quite as drinkable. Still more than worthy of a drink though.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 06:19:31 | More by ryan1788a5

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chalice.

A- pours a murky golden yellow with sediments floating all around. Large white creamy head upon pour that reduces to a thin but solid layer floating on top, patches of lace around the rim.

S- some powdery yeast, candied sugar, a bit of banana, slightly grainy and peppery with a bit if alcohol.

T- sweet bready malt with a peppery kick, yeasty and a bit spicy, finishes with just a kick if hops and booze, slightly sweet yet dry.

M- medium body, lively carbonation leads to foamy mouthfeel and finish. Just a bit of warming alcohol on the finish but hidden well for the most part.

O- this isn't the best tripel that I've had, but its certainly enjoyable. Pairs well with a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:43:43 | More by Treyliff

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330 ml bottle, poured into a long tulip glass.

Cloudy, peach colored body with lots of sediment floating around. Large head that leaves good lacing.
Aroma is yeasty with grassy, floral notes.
Taste is in balance between malt and hops. Although it's not that strong, it has an alcoholic taste.
Body feels medium, crisp and carbonation is medium to high.

Overall it is a decent Tripel. Not the best I had but neither the worst.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 18:21:29 | More by Ciocanelu

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pour is a hazy dark peach skin color with a thick tight off white head. Nose has loads of yeast and a nice spice to it. Earthy banana notes up front with some lemon underneath. Taste follows the nose, a touch sweeter, full body and high clean carbonation. Zesty lemon juice, peppery, and yeast mix together and balance out very well. Solid stuff, gets a hint sweet in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 18:26:49 | More by cpetrone84

metter98

New York

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy golden yellow in color and has a high amount of visible carbonation. It poured into a snifter glass with a two finger high white head that has good retention properties and gradually died down, consistently leaving a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of Belgian yeast that contribute notes of bananas with notes of candi sugar and hints of peppery spices.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has some malty sweetness followed by hints of spices towards the finish.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate with a high amount of carbonation. There is a bit of dryness in the finish.
O: This beer hides its alcohol rather well, but the high amount of candi sugar is what causes you to need to sip it. It’s a good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 01:53:30 | More by metter98

beergoot

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a soft, cloudy, golden color with a fairly dense, thick white head.

Initial smell is of citrus and fruit with a pungent hop spiciness. Notes of caramel with pale malt grains.

Taste is sharp and biting. A slight sourness (grapefruit-like) presents itself that quickly gives wave to a strong overall bitterness.

Light to medium in body. A bit acidic.

A decent enough beer. It hides its alcohol strength fairly well with its flavor characteristics. A bit harsh with the bitterness, but fair enough for the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 22:29:06 | More by beergoot

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 3/2011 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a cloudy dark orange amber with tons of floaties, dark brown and white. Small, off-white head and lacing. The beer is moderate bodied and the floating particles are suspended in the beer; very interesting looking. An aroma of sweet malt and light fruit, slightly sour. Flavor is sweet malt, light fruit, caramel, vanilla and Belgian spice, somewhat dry finish. Nice flavor progression. A nicely made tripel, somewhat sweeter than others, which is to my taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 03:31:04 | More by LiquidAmber

TenHornsProud

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a lighter, cloudy orange with a fine white head that lingers.

Smells of bready, rochefort yeast with some alcohol, fruit, floral and honey notes. It has a nice, big nose.

Tastes of honey and bready malt up front that goes into a more bitter, floral middle and ends on a warm alcohol and honey finish. The taste is honey through and through. Good and different.

Medium body with high carbonation is good, could be a bit dryer for my taste.

A good, interesting triple that is yeast driven with some floral, sweet honey notes.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 02:52:55 | More by TenHornsProud

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330 ml bottle into signature chalice, best by 10/25/2013. Pours very cloudy golden amber color with a fairly dense 1 finger white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap. Some slight spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of lemon, apricot, banana, clove, biscuit, bubblegum, candi sugar, herbal spice, and some yeast funk. Decent aromas that are a bit muted. Taste of lemon, banana, bubblegum, clove, biscuit, candi sugar, herbal, floral, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of clove, banana, citrus, candi sugar, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Much more fruity than it is spicy. A touch on the dry side for a Tripel. Good flavor balance and decent complexity. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and very smooth mouthfeel. Very easy to drink. Alcohol is almost invisible with almost no warming noticeable on the finish. Overall this is definitely a very nice, well balanced, and drinkable Tripel. I have to admit that I expected a lot more from St. Bernard on this one though.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 05:04:41 | More by superspak

martja

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2oz bottle into a gobblet. Appearance was a murkey muted orange with limited bubbles visible rising when held up to the light. half-finger of head disappeared fairly quickly. The smell is sweet with light fruit and yeast notes coming through. The taste is sweet with yeast up front and a bit of hopps on the aftertaste. Slightly bitter on the finish. In the mouth, this explodes to inflate your mouth with bubbles. The yeast and sweetness linger after you swollow with the addition of some bitter hops.
Overall this beer is slightly thicker with the sweetness and yeast, but not overpowering like some in this class. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 19:40:44 | More by martja

Immortale25

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. Back label says best before end 03 03 14 or drink by March 3rd, 2014.

A- Pours a hazy dark gold color with a full finger of head that doesn’t do much to retain before rendering itself to a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and a patch of surface foam. Not much lacing.

S- Has a funk to it that’s backed by some booze fumes. It’s more of a rich funk than a sour one.

T- Initial onset of Belgian yeast that fades quickly into bites of alcohol. Not much depth here. Just that typical Tripel flavor with some heavy booze in the back. A little bit of wet cardboard.

M- Surprisingly low carbonation for a St. Bernardus.

O- Pretty lackluster compared to the other offerings I’ve had. I would say it could be just a bad bottle, but the other beers from the same variety pack were perfectly fine.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 00:41:13 | More by Immortale25

djbow

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy gold color with a 2 finger head of very tight bubbles that posses good retention. Nice lacing with mild alcohol legs.

S: Caramel, yeast / spice, ripe fruit, malt and alcohol. Almost a quad.

T: The taste follows the nose. Caramel, yeast / spice, ripe fruit, malt and alcohol. Very big beer flavor. Again, this beer is almost a quad.

M: Light / medium body, spot on pallet cleansing carbonation. Smooth overall, well balanced with mild alcohol warmth.

O: To me this beer is a slightly smaller version of the St. Bernardus Triple. It is a good beer and given the right food paring it has its place. This said, I do prefer the St. Bernardus Triple.

Glass: Tulip.

Serving Temp = 51F.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 05:39:12 | More by djbow

UCLABrewN84

California

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at a tasting at MrHirschybar's place.

Pours a murky orange-yellow with a white head that settles to a thin film on the top of the beer. No lacing on this one. Smell is of malt, spices, yeast, and some fruity aromas. Taste is of the same with a fruity finish. This beer has a pretty good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good and tasty tripel. I am glad I was able to try this one as I have never seen it around in stores.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 23:05:54 | More by UCLABrewN84

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Out of the bottle & into St. B's goblet that says "Watou." So cool to drink Watou from a Watou glass! The perfect glass???? Fair smoke on opening that produced a dark to light golden brownish beer. Quite cloudy. Nice white head with some good lacing.

Aroma is dominated by the yeast, cloves, and banana notes. I don't know I stole that but a sweetness arises up from the beer nice. Oops I spilled some.

This is kinda surprising dry and tasty beer. Really not bitter. Not sweet. Creamy with little alcohol flavor. Kind of light and spiced nicely. Balanced.

A wonderful tripel that is comparable and different from Chimay, but definitely in that league. I would agree that St. Bs Tripel or Delerium Tremens are better tripels, but in the league. But like a good Belgian brew, Watou passes the test as a beautiful, complex, enigmatic, and spell binding.

Complements Sun Ra and his Arkestra musics! Download Live at Montreaux. Peace out.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:10:18 | More by frankiepop

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased from Fitzgerald's in Eagle River. Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into Lost Abbey tulip. 13 05 13 code on back.

A: Pours a cloudy mustard yellow with an attractive white 2 finger flothy head. Last forever, leaving some real nice lacing, that leopard prints the glass.

N: Some nice Belgian yeast notes supported by some clove-like spice, and bananas. Perfume like hop aroma.

T: Very fruity, some nice orange notes with esthery banana, and clove. A good amount of spice or pepper is apparent.

M: Very effervescent. Lively mouth feel, while have a good creamy texture.

D and O: Fun and easy to drink. A nice bright flavor that has good depth.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 01:51:32 | More by MarcatGSB

russwbeck

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Cloudy yellow-brown pour with some floaties. Small head leaves nice lacing down the side of my St. Bernardus Goblet.

S: The smell is yeasty with a huge hit of fruit and booze. Apples, pear, and enough dark fruits to make me think this was a quad.

T: The taste really continues the quad characteristics I'm getting here. A bit of a watered down yeastiness gives way to booze and dark fruits. The beer culminates with a dry light fruit back-end.

MF: Light, boozy, a bit low on carbonation, and creamy at times, but overall I found the body to be a bit thin.

O: I thought this was only OK. Not what I was expecting, a bit too light and not typical of the style. I found myself a bit confused drinking it. I picked it up when I bought the gift pack with the glass, this is probably my least favorite of all the St. Bernardus offerings.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 03:55:00 | More by russwbeck

hippityhops85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle poured into St. B's goblet.

Pours a cloudy light orange/hay color. Big white head that sticks around for the ride.

Nose is dominated by the Belgian Yeast, cloves, and banana-like notes.

Taste follows suit except with a crisp dryness on the back end. Enjoyable.

Definitely a solid tripel but pales in comparison to the regular St. B's tripel.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 16:53:50 | More by hippityhops85

tdm168

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orangish yellow with 1/2" of foamy, bubbly head that has good retention. The nose has notes of clove, wheat, and yeast. The taste is wheat, bubblegum, apples, grapes, clove, and yeast. The alcohol is slightly noticeable, but only adds warmth. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, well carbonated, and smooth.

Overall, this is a solid tripel. It's well balanced, complex, and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 19:53:42 | More by tdm168

julian89

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My fifth beer on the St. Bernardus tour.

Appearance- Very much a cider color, light brown and slight orange. Not as much head as others from this brewery.

Smell- Greater yeast smell, I get a strong hint of brown sugar. The fruity smell gives off pear and grape.

Taste- It's very light, the fruity taste is quite apparent. I predominantly taste grape. The taste follows the smell very well in this brew.

Mouthfeel- Light flowing and the carbonation does not overpower.

Overall- This is my favorite of the St. Bernardus brews as of yet. It's subtle mouthfeel, and light fruit taste are fantastic. It's well balanced and not over carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 17:43:29 | More by julian89

Bowman2001

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Golden color, two finger head. Smells of spicy yeast, grain, with wonderful banana bread toward the end. I get a very smooth, balanced taste with some spice, banana bread, honey, and earth and grains at the back. Mouthfeel is creamy. Just enough peppery/prickly punch but not overwhelming. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 14:46:02 | More by Bowman2001

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured into a 16oz goblet.

A - Snow-white foam bubbling out of the bottle the moment I open it. Conjures up about two fingers of thick white head. Translucent amber-orange with speckles of yeast throughout. The head recedes to a nice soapy cap of foam and leaves behind some really nice lacing.

S - Distinctly Belgian. Lots of Belgian yeast, candi sugar, and Belgian spices. Dark fruits, figs and plums. Fairly sweet, but also has a fair bit of clean wheat and grains. More earthy than it is floral.

T - Mainly dark fruits and yeasty wheat upfront, with a finishes comprised of strong spices and warming alcohol. The initial aftertaste also presents a clean grainy quality. My first impression is a tripel with a very simplified flavor profile, made much more straightforward. Notes of honey, figs, licorice and light hops. Some bready malt and citrus as well. Alcohol is masked well despite the flavor lacking a little. The fruitiness is subdued a fair bit. Hints of bananas and oranges float around here and there, but don't really come to fruition. Overall, not the most complex Belgian out there, but still very good.

M - A bit of a weak point for me. The carbonation is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes it feels light and bubbly, but others it comes on a little strong and prickly. Medium-to-heavy bodied. Phenolic spiciness in the finish, with a bit of warm alcohol and yeasty residue didn't make for a great combination either. The body does have a nice creamy feel after it warms up a bit, however.

D - Certainly a step below the St. Bernardus Tripel, in my opinion. A little easier to drink, but the flavor lacks a certain complexity that one would expect from a strong Belgian beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 06:14:11 | More by Converge

seabass87

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 11.2 FL OZ bottle into tulip glass.

A- Chestnut brown. Dark for a tripel. Aggressive pour yields almost no head and leaves no lacing. Fair amount of sediment transfer.

S- Dark fruits - grapes, figs, plums. Smells more like a yeasty quad. Classic Belgian yeast gives a spiced bread aroma. Inviting.

T- Follows the nose. The bready yeast is apparently upfront and is combined immediately with the dark fruit flavors. This tastes like a sort of "Quad Light" - the bread, dark fruits, and spices are all there, but are subtle in character... The body is light and the transition is brief and unobtrusive, and the only discernible change is the nuttiness that comes in the aftertaste. Alcohol is hidden well, and there is little warmth. Honestly, this is delicious.

M- As I mentioned above, the feel of this beer is subtle and light - and the carbonation is almost non-existent.

O- This beer is great - but if you are excepting a tripel in the conventional sense of the style, you won't find it here. It takes all my favorite flavors from a Belgian quad and puts it in a light package. Highly recommended, and at a competitive price point (I got this beer for around $3.50, compared to most Belgians that go for $5-7) I will be coming back to this very soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 07:48:13 | More by seabass87