St. Bernardus Tripel - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

spoony

Colorado

4.04/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed from notes.

From a 330 ml bottle (best by May 29, 2015) into a tulip.

A-The brew pours with an impressive three-finger head of nearly-white foam. The beer is clear and nicely golden in color.

S-The smell is an archetypical mix of banana and clove. This is not a bad thing, just not the most impressive scent. I also smell white pepper, sweet candy sugar, and a whiff of herbal hops.

T-The taste is estery, sweet, yeast up front with an herbal, grassy finish. Things are more doughy and bready up front, but there is a mild bitterness on the end. Again, right in line for the style. Taste doesn't stray far from the smell.

M-The mouthfeel is typically old world, which is to say the carbonation pairs well with the flavors and the heft is medium.

O-There are better tripels and there are worse tripels, but if I had to describe all of the characteristics that make a tripel a tripel, this would be a good brew to use. There is a nice balance between sweet, sugary yeast flavors and more herbal grassy flavors that keep this beer drinkable. Feel, as usual for a true Belgian, is great.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 04:58:36 | More by spoony

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Last night we went to a beer class at Total Wine & More in Scottsdale. The class was sold out, and they were pouring Belgian beers. I am talking GOOD Belgian beers. We did a few American beers, but all were Belgian style. We did a dubbel, a tripel, a sour, a wit… we covered it all. We even did a quad. We did the St. Bernardus Abt 12, which is one of the best beers in the world and uses the same recipe as the Westvleteren. I have actually tried the Abt 12 next to the Westvleteren, and the Abt 12 is a better beer. But it was fun drinking all these Belgian beers, and trying some styles that I hadn't had in a while. My favorite was the bonus beer, an IPA. They always do a prelude to the next beer class, and the next beer class is on styles. We did the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. If you haven't had this, and like hops, get some. It's amazing!

Today we are doing another St. Bernardus beer. The tripel has been sitting in the fridge and is just begging to be consumed. I also didn't want to do a bomber as we are going out tonight to continue celebrating Arizona Beer Week. We are headed to Chandler for some Black Note. The keg that was to be at the strong beer festival is being tapped tonight, and we have to try it again. We had it last year at the Beer Sellar, and I think about it all the time! Sadly, the Beer Sellar has closed. Not sure what happened, but we shared many great pints in that bar.

Let's pop the bottle on the St. Bernardus Tripel.

In the Glass: Not sure why, but this beer has a MASSIVE head. That's not a bad thing, because I usually take a few minutes to begin drinking the beer. The beer is also a nice gold color in the glass. It looks clean, healthy, and delicious! I didn't realize, until last night's beer class, that a lot of the breweries in Belgium own the rights to yeast strains. So the yeast being used in this beer won't be found in any other beers.

Nose: At first, I had some citrus flavors but then the yeast really takes over. It smells like straw. Wet straw, really. I haven't had a lot of tripels, but this one is highly rated on BeerAdvocate. The bros give it a 97… which is pretty high. But this is a brewery that makes good beers on a consistent basis. I am sure the flavor will top the aroma on this one.

Flavor: This is a little too cold, but the beer still produces some very nice flavors. At first, the bubbles attack the palate but they mellow out toward the back of the tongue. Then, as you swallow, sweetness kicks in and the finish is long, satisfying, and drying. I really like how Belgian beers just taste better overall compared to American beers. The mouthfeel is thicker, the flavor is more pronounced, and the aftertaste usually lasts longer and is full of flavor. This is no exception.

Mouthfeel: At first, there are a ton of bubbles on the front of the tongue. Those quickly leave the mouthfeel leaving a very full bodied and balanced finish. The swallow is where the majority of the flavor comes from, and every time I swallow the flavor is as powerful as it was when I first swallowed the beer. (I just burped, but it wasn't beer… it was lunch. Moving on!) This is a smaller bottle, not quite 12 ounces. I don't have much left, so I am going to leave what is left and see what the room does to it. I am sure this will open up as it sits there.

Aftertaste: Sweetness creeps in toward the finish, and it hangs on for a few minutes. Then dryness, the more you swallow, really takes over. I like this beer by itself, but I am sure this would pair well with food. Not sure what foods, but this is definitely a food beer. I bet this would taste amazing at the brewery in Belgium. Beers usually taste better served in their glassware in the country it was brewed! Guess we need to go back to Belgium.

This is another great example from St. Bernardus, and beers like this will leave me ordering a triel the next time we go out. (Speaking of that, I had a dry hopped tripel last night. It was from New Belgium and was served on cask. It was at Flanny's, a bar that I hate. Last night we had an equally horrible experience as we did the first time we went. Good thing the beer was delicious! I also had a smoked IPA on cask. Yummy!)

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 21:37:52 | More by rickyleepotts

tectactoe

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a bruised-apricot color with lots of dim, gold highlights - completely opaque and cloudy. Little, tiny buts of sediment hang suspended in the beer as if they were sitting in glycerin. Volatile as all hell, the head far outsizes the actual amount of beer in the glass as it towers over the top of the glass; off-white, foamy, and frothy as can be.

I bring this one to my nose and pick up much of what I expected from any decent tripel - lots of fruity, mildly earthy esters, faint banana, lemon and citrus zest, orange peel, spices, clove, and a raw Belgian yeast aroma, highly akin to bubblegum. As far as the aroma goes, this is definitely one of the more balanced tripels I've had. No smell is competing with another too much, and all of them collide at once to form a nice, meshed aroma. Alcohol provide a bit of a warmth, but nothing hot or troublesome.

The taste hits first with a nice collection of mellow fruits - some plums, mangoes, grape skins, light banana. The fruit comes with a nice sweetness that simply feels more mellow and laid back, rather than abrasive and in your face. A light dusting of sugar seems to cover everything. Some spices adhere well to the fruits, mainly clove and a bit of orange peel, followed by a nice mix of bread, butter, and gum - that Belgian yeast sure does wonders. Hop character is subdued but slightly leafy and herbal when it shows itself.

At first, I was getting a slightly undesirable aftertaste - something along the lines of cardboard, or wet, moldy wood. Left a bad taste in my mouth long after the beer was gone. As it started to warm, the fruit and malt sweetness got a bit stronger and this weird aftertaste vanished (or at least masked), so luckily I was able to enjoy the second half of my beer. Not sure what that was all about, but it least it only lasted for half the beer. Alcohol phenol flavors came out a little but upon warming, but didn't harm the beer in any way. Medium bodied with a light mouth feel thanks to aggressive carbonation.

Pretty good tripel, and it would be a great tripel if it wasn't for that strange moldy flavor I was getting at first. Good think it eventually recessed and went away. The second half was wonderful - if only the entire timeline went that way. Overall, still very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 13:05:17 | More by tectactoe

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Poured into a chalice. Pours a bright golden yellow with just a bit if haze, large foamy white head has good retention and eventually reduces, leaving a thin layer skimming the top

S- textbook tripel aromas coming from the glass. Spicy Belgian yeast provides a peppery clove aroma with notes of ripe banana and fruity ester, just a bit of sweet alcohol at the end. Aromas are bold and pleasant

T- dry and spicy yeast leads to sweet fruit with a bit of clove and alcohol, the finish leaves a dry-yet-fruity sweetness in the palate with peppery spice and coriander.

M- medium body with lively medium carbonation leads into a foamy mouthfeel mid-palate, continuing through to the finish, leaving just a bit if warming alcohol.

O- a classic example of the style and great balance of spicy, yeasty sweet goodness.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:46:06 | More by Treyliff

sevenarts

New York

4.61/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: Pale golden yellow with a big fluffy, pure white head that sticks around forever. Very cloudy and carbonated.

S: Crisp and clean, with Belgian yeasts, some subdued fruits and grains, a touch of spice. Mild.

T/M: Rich and delicious. Big yeasty flavor with champagne-like fruits, spices, some slight bitterness on the back end. Very smooth and creamy, with a touch of prickly carbonation at the end of each sip.

O: An amazing tripel, just so tasty and complex.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 22:17:37 | More by sevenarts

rangerred

Tennessee

4.41/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle into a goblet.

Pours a medium orange with quite a bit of sediment making it into the glass. Tons of carbonation with a white fluffy two finger head that has ridiculous staying power. Awesome lacing as well.

Aroma is just about perfect for a Tripel. Lots of coriander and clove along with some spicy orange. Hints of alcohol but they remain in the background.A little bit of bready malt and yeasty spiciness.

Lots of coriander and spice in the flavor along with a huge punch of orange. Light bread in the background but the yeast and spicy flavors really dominate. Alcohol comes forward a little bit towards the finish with the mouthfeel being bone dry as it should be in the style. Just a touch of stickyness on the lips.

Overall, an excellent example of a Tripel and one that is a great pleasure to drink. I'll have to pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:35:31 | More by rangerred

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.29/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml served in a St. Bernardus goblet

A - Burnt orange color with a thick bright white head forming a thick collar. No lacing.

S - Fruity and yeasty, apricots, peaches, mango, sweet aroma

T - Sweet pale malts upfront, peaches, apricots galore, lemon, spicy Belgian yeast comes in along with a line of sweet candy and grain. Some nutmeg and coriander pop up as it warms. Finishes semi-dry with peppery/grassy hops.

M - Moderate foamy carbonation, turns creamy and lush, full body medium weight.

Excellent tripel. Rich pale malts with a tasty yeast strain. Stone fruit with some spice on the back end. Very drinkable I found myself drinking this faster than most tripels.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 00:30:26 | More by StaveHooks

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Best Before "12 08 14" (August 12, 2014).

Kind of a darker tripel. Burnt orange color. Quite hazy, as expected (even after decanting). The head laces less due to wetness on the inside of the glass. It still retains a nice thick layer. Height never reached past an inch or so.

Lots of big bready notes from the yeast strain. Banana, light clove, pear skins, lemon, wheatiness, and hints of coriander and pepper. The most German wheat-smelling tripel I've encountered yet. Has a light spice element in the nose that somewhat sets it apart, but you could've fooled me with all of that yeasty bread and banana.

Ah. Different from the nose. Still has the breadth, but the banana is smaller in the flavor. The spices are pronounced, however. Lots of implied pepper and/or grains of pepper. Clove is bigger than the banana now, too. The citrus died out, but there's some tart apple/pear. Some phenolic notes that border on medicinal. A little sweet, but likably. Finish has that carving alcohol note. A little rosy, but meshing with the spiciness.

Drinks great. The carbonation is nice to look at, but doesn't impede the feel or weight of the body. It supports it with lively prickle. The body is set at one notch above medium, but it feels wet and wooly in the mouth. Very nice.

St. Berny makes a quality tripel. No suprise there. Makes me want to go back and get the Watou Tripel.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 04:29:29 | More by thecheapies

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Light golden/orange but opaque from the sediment due to bottle conditioning. Some visible carbonation and a one finger fizzy white head that retains decently. Elegant lacing coats the inside of the glass.

Aroma: Even someone who was smelling this one blindfolded would know it's a Tripel straight away. You get yeast, clove, overripe banana, pear, and apple all blending together to create a nice impression. The aroma has a slightly brittle texture to it with a bit of juiciness underneath it all.

Taste: The first thing that strikes me is the flavor of fermented belgian candi syrup. It creates an almost caramel-like sweetness which is then slowly overshadowed by the hearty fruit flavors and spices that are a signature of the style. The finish is smooth in an effortless way that lends to a slight warming in the aftertaste from the 8% ABV. The flavor of cloves stick to the palate for a seemingly endless amount of time after each sip. Balanced with a precision that one would expect from a Belgian Ale.

Mouthfeel: As noted in the aroma there is a certain brittle quality through the middle that turns into a juiciness by the finish. Medium in body but seems thinner due to the persistent carbonation. A dangerous ease of drinkability.

Final Thoughts: I tend to file Tripels under my list of least favorite styles. That does not, however, stop me from being able to enjoy true brewing prowess when I encounter it. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Belgian Ales as they don't know what they're missing. Would I drink it again? Yes, as an aperitif.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:23:57 | More by JamesMN

salvadorwill

California

3.96/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

St. Bernardus Tripel

Condition: Just took this out of the fridge (at 48 F) and it pours a straw colored golden blonde with a medium head that turns a little thin within a minute. Head is made of large bubbles, and the beer itself if seems to have a fair amount of carbonation just by looking at it. It is light enough in color that you could almost read a newspaper through it, though not quite.
7
Aroma: Banana and clove like esters are readily apparent, and perhaps a light hint of honey. The smell of alcohol, and a bit of a soft cheese scent is also detectable.
7
Taste: By the time I take my first drink it has warmed to about 54F. A slightly sour and slightly astringent mix is first on the palate, followed by the sweetness of the malt. The yeasty, banana esters are also present. Overall the different flavors are subtle enough to not overwhelm each other, yet strong enough to remain interesting, if not complex. Finishes mostly clean on the palate, though with a slight lactose feel.
8.5
Mouth feel: A little creamier than I expected, and I see this as a good thing. The body is there to handle the carbonation and the light acidity.
8.5
Value: Given that this little (11.2 oz) bottle cost about $6.50, I would say that value is a deduction here. I feel pretty confident that I could get a six pack of a Belgian blonde triple that is about as good for around $12, or about $2 for an equivalent sized bottle. It is a very good beer, and Belgian tripels are not widely made, so overall value is about fair, but perhaps a little overpriced.
4.5

Overall 7.45

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 05:07:12 | More by salvadorwill

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.19/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served alongside Westmalle just to get a comparison.

Beer pours a hazy yellow-gold with a medium white head. Compared to the Westmalle, the smell is much more yeast and banana-forward and a bit sweeter, where the Westmalle has a little more going on. Flavor is typical tripel flavors, but is a much easier drink than the Westmalle, it's not nearly as earthy, bitter or boozy and stays nice, light and fruity. Mouthfeel is interestingly creamy and really nice. Overall, this is a great, perfectly-balanced, refreshing tripel. There isn't as much depth in flavor as the Westmalle, but I find it to be a more enjoyable drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:00:26 | More by starrdogg

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this once before and decided to revist since it was close to a year ago. I enjoyed this from a 750 chilled in a tulip

The color is golden apricot with translucent clarity and 2 finger fluffy cap w/ compact beading and visible carbonation with good retention and lacing. The smell is light with floral esters and mild hops which are more herbal with light clove scent augmenting with some honeydew fruit and mild malt notes which are slightly nutty in the nose.

The taste is dry with some mild yeast accompaniment and both spice and light fruit essence are noticeable in the taste with a mild creaminess from the malt and semi-high carbonation leaves a mild mineral taste w/ mild herbal hops which are experienced as the ale finishes with dryness on the palate and low alcohol impact on the taste in general. Overall I was very pleased with this as it develops increasing in temperature the spice character and hops seem to emerge with a a very flavorful quality and well rounded taste in general with strength matching the feel. This is what I consider a total package beer-wonderful and a high value as well, highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 14:59:08 | More by Slatetank

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Poured into my large St. Bernardus chalice. It pours a hazy honey golden color with a two finger head that is thick, frothy, and white. No real lacing or cascading to speak of.

S-Belgian yeast, some spice, and alcohol

T-Sweet from the alcohol, Belgian yeast, and a slightly tart finish. To me this is the best tasting version of the style, I love it.

M-Fairly thick and syrupy with the near perfect amount of carbonation.

D-I could drink this all day-its delicious and at 8% alcohol you could drink a few in a single session.

Overall, this is my favorite Tripel. I love this beer and I love this brewery. I must try for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 03:07:04 | More by thegodfather2701

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Cloudy peach colored body with a huge foamy white head. Leaves a lot of lacing around the edges of the glass with some sediment at the bottom of the glass.

S- Belgian yeast, lemongrass, pear, apricots, raisins, slight aroma of sweetbread too.

T- Fruity and yeasty. Fruit flavors include white grapes, pear and sweet dried fruits. The bready flavors come through almost in the way of a fruit tart. Sugary bread and sweet fruit.

M- High carbonation, foamy, slight carbonation tingle, slightly dry finish.

O- Really good tripel with a very sweet flavor. The feel is excellent and the beer is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 23:57:02 | More by stephenjmoore

Jacobob10

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Hazy amber color with a thin, bubbly, white head. Great retention throughout the entire beer but not much lacing to speak of. Loads of fruit in the aroma mixed with earthy yeast. Flavor carries over the citrus fruit and banana from the aroma and finishes with a touch of spice from the hops. Medium bodied and very drinkable.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to try this beer. I love tripels and this is a classic for the style. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 14:09:13 | More by Jacobob10

bobhits

Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dense deep orange/golden wheat body, a good bit of yeast floating in there and a nice white head though the bubbles are a bit large given it less of a cream look than I like, but exactly what is expected of the style.

Farm house hops all over this one. Lemon grass, funk, pears, apples, just a great nose here. As it warms the farm house is turning more towards just Belgian spices and citrus fruits, but still just great.

I really expected a dry biting beer here, instead a wonderful fruit cock tale accented by a nice alcohol note and some hops. Pears, apples, spices....I'm even getting a buttery finish here. This is one complex beer.

There's a good bit of alcohol here, but that seems almost part of what makes this style and without it, I'd be disappointed. Easily the best Triple that doesn't change the traditional formula I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 12:26:41 | More by bobhits

pkalix

California

5/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

beautiful, sunshine-y golden haze with a fluid, creamy topping of beaten egg yolk-white froth on top. nectar, indeed!
smells of fruits and belgium beer!
taste... i cant taste it yet. i continue to admire the beauty in the Duvel tulip glass (yeah, i know...). it doesnt even lace as i tilt the glass. it bounds fluidly side to side.... that is nice.... i can never express my tastes in the types of malts used etc but i know what i like. and this is sweet. and it is sweet, too! but it's got a nice full, rounded taste. not too heavy. not too fruity (as belgiums can sometimes go), and the head continues, still, on top. i must say, with this experience right now, this has to be my current all time favorite brew. this is exciting. i've heard this is comparable (and supposedly earlier brewed by the same) to the westvleteren which i balked at and missed out on. well, at least the 8. the brick had the 11%, right? i had considered the chimay blue one of my favorites, and for commercial-ity duvel is a stand out; but although i've had this before, my taste buds are literally screaming right now! glad i got the big bottle! i understand 5's should be rare, but today, right now, this is a straight across the board 5. something the hobbits would brew...

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 00:22:59 | More by pkalix

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly cloudy, golden color with a thick fluffy white head with good retention.

The scent is of sweet fruit, notes of toasted malt.

The taste is of sweet fruit, citrus, sweet sugar, toasted malt, slight hint of alcohol.

Light body, crisp and smooth, moderate carbonation.

This was a very good tripel. All around very nice flavor and the alcohol was almost undetectable.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 16:04:46 | More by BeerCon5

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet glass. Best by date of 28-08-15.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden orange with a little bit of floating sediment. Moderate amount of bubbles and a solid three fingers of white head which slowly fade into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing.

Smell: A solid fruity yeast driven aroma. Belgian yeast with some funk and hints of clove and white pepper spicing. A fair amount of Belgian candied sugars. Sweet bready malts with hints of biscuit, wheat grains, hay, and cracker. Big scents of fruits including banana, pear, apple, citrus orange, pineapple, and lemon. Fairly grassy with a decent presence of hops lingering around. Nicely fruity and spicy aroma with a balanced sweetness.

Taste: Like the smell hints, a nicely yeasty and spicy Belgian taste with lots of fruity notes. Funky Belgian yeast with some clove, white pepper, and a little coriander like spicing. Sweetness from some Belgian candied sugar. Sweet malts with a taste of bready biscuit, wheat, cereal grains, crackers, and hay. Nicely complex mix of fruit undertones with some banana, pear, apple, and citrus orange, lemon, and pineapple. Good notes of grass from some earthy hops. A very good balance of spice, sweetness, and bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and slightly prickly. A little heat comes through but overall its pretty smooth.

Overall: A really great Belgian Tripel. It has everything you look for in the style, fruits, spices, and a balanced bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 07:33:44 | More by MattyG85

KingSlayer

California

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

350 ml bottle.
A: pours a golden hazy untranslucent liquid, 2 and a half fingers of white creamy head, medium retention, good lacing, persistent top white ring.

S: delicious! sweet pear and pineapple juice, fresh bread, vainilla, dash of cinnamon. very fruity and malty.

T: rich sweet alcoholic fruit juices, malty, almost no bitterness present, but not an overwhelming sweetness.

M: medium to full body, definitely feels like a high density brew, medium alcoholic bite to the palate, nice adequate carbonation.

O: strong brew, very fruity and on the sweet side, complex rich palate and nose, i loved it.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 07:06:38 | More by KingSlayer

Hex92

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Triples aren't my favorite style but I picked this up as part of their gift pack with the goblet this winter.. .

As far as they go this is a nice beer and representative of the style. It has nice flavor and looks good in the glass.

It might be a bit dry and choppy for my taste, but if I was in' the mood for a triple I would definitely consider picking this up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 05:15:54 | More by Hex92

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy golden yellow with an abundance of active carbonation streaming up. Head poured with 2 fingers and calmed down to a soapy cap across the entire brew.

S: Sweet with hints of minerals, sweet tart pears, apples and lemon. Some flora notes and just a hint of yeasty bread. A crisp scent overall.

T: More Belgium yeast flavours than the scent would suggest, some forward mineral flavours, suggestive of a champagne. The sweet tart pears, apples and lemons come through on the taste similar to the nose.

M: Lots of carbonation that plays up the tart sweetness and minerals notes. A light to medium brew, but holds well in the mouth.

O: This is an incredible example of a triple, the champagne style scent, flavour and mouthfeel is outstanding. Easy to drink and never reveals the 8% ABV. The mouthfeel is light, but manages to hold nicely on the palette leaving a clean crisp tartness with a hint of yeastiness. Terrific drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:07:16 | More by FondueVoodoo

BeerDocT

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a chilled tulip glass.

Appearance 3.5: Large head appeared after pouring and quickly dissipated. Color is a somewhat hazy golden yellow.

-Smell 4.0: Pleasant bouquet. I smell lots of candi sugar, malt and that characteristic Belgian spicy yeast.

-Taste 4.5: Front is somewhat sweet, but is flat and musky, but not in a way that is off-putting. Middle is light, but there are some very faint (and enjoyable) notes of malt, honey and general sweetness. Finish is very nice and light, sweet malt flavors and light maltiness. Aftertaste is long, and this is where the subtle hop hints enter into the flavor profile.

-Mouthfeel 3.5: Mouthfeel was right on target for this type of beer, but not overly impressive.

-Overall 4.0: This was a very intriguing triple. I enjoyed this beer at approximately 50 degrees fahrenheit which brought out many, many flavors that I was not expecting. Actually, as the beer warmed up, tastes that I initially perceived as adjuncts (particularly in the finish) changed and became more obviously simply a lighter malt sweetness. You may want to try this if you have the chance to taste this very good triple.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 23:13:40 | More by BeerDocT

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 11.2oz bottle into a tulip

A: again, i just reviewed prior 8, i ended up with a borderline obnoxious fat three fingers of fluffy slightly off white head, takes a bit to recide but leavs tons of lacing. The body of the beer is a slightly hazy golden, carbonation bubbles can be seen rising from the center of the glass... Looks clean compared tonite prior 8 w/ no real sediment to be foud floating around in the glass

S: I get the bready and floraly notes that I found in the prior 8, must be due to the bernardus yeast strain, I also get some lemony citrus notes, along with some grain.

T: much like the nose I get bready and floral yeastyness right off the bat. Along with a bit of grain... Then I get some light citrus notes and a touch of sweetness. Along with some light notes off apple/pear.

M: nice and creamy body that is a touch on the heavy side of medium. Creamy and lush carbonation that also brings a touch of sharpness, very nice mouthfeel, dry in the finish.

O: a decent beer, the grainy character if this brew reminds me of a wheat beer, with some bready and floral yeast and some light hints if citrus and apples

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 04:12:48 | More by PeterIngemi

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into wine glass

Appearance – The beer poured a hazy orange amber color with a one finger, rather fizzy white head. The head fades relatively fast giving a decent level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma was lighter then I would have expected with it being mainly of a candied sugar and light fruit aroma of peach and apple. Mixed with these sweeter smells were some notes of a bready and wheaty nature as well, giving it a rather traditional triple, but light traditional, triple aroma.

Taste – The taste starts out with a lighter fruit and bready flavor. Flavors of pear and peach mixed with a lighter orange flavor create the fruit flavor base while the bready flavor has some light notes of a wheat bread flavor. As the flavor advances, the yeast starts to make its presence known. This mixed with a light candied flavor as well as a newly arriving clove spice and boozy flavor. The boozy flavor gets stronger as the taste advances further and at the end the mix of sweet, boozy and bready flavors leaves a satisfying and warming flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – For an 8% abv. triple the body of the beer is just above average in its creaminess and chewiness with a carbonation level that is very appropriate for the style at a medium to slightly above medium level, Both are nice for accentuating the fruity, sweet and boozy flavors of the brew.

Overall – A rather delicious triple. It had a little more boozy flavors then would have been expected for its 8% abv. strength, and its nose was a little weak, but overall it had great flavors, a nice look and a wonderful feel.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:35:00 | More by Darkmagus82