St. Bernardus Tripel - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle acquired as part of a 4-pack glass giftpack from my most recent journey to Vintage Estates, and poured into aforementioned chalice.

A: Murky straw-golden, with a good bit of sediment at the bottom, and a big, picture perfect fluffy white head on top.

S: Lots of lemon-zest, banana pudding, maybe a touch of cloves and black pepper.

T: Taste follows the nose. Banana arrives early. A peppery spiciness shows up midway through, at a louder volume than the nose would have indicated. A touch of alcohol burn works nicely here, as it gives the pepperiness a bit of *heat*. Lemon zest is both first and last, but seems to give way in the middle to the banana and pepper.

M: Light and lively, great carbonation, and a good dry finish make this a great experience. I'm loving the dry-hop and lemon-zest flavors left behind on the finish, too.

D/O: An enjoyable beer, particularly in the warmth of a summer evening. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 23:11:01 | More by psuKinger

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

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

Consumed 6/24/12

Appearance: Hazy, bright golden yellow - pours with a rather large head, retains a large cap, leaves chunks of foamy lacing

Smell: Spot-on for the style - very, distinctly Belgian - cloves, bananas, bubblegum, and candi sugar - nicely balanced, though, nothing is too extreme - sweet, but works for the style - pale malts and some light bread dough

Taste: Sweet, in a good way, with a lot of light malts and light fruits - banana candy and clove, with a touch of bubblegum - spicy Belgian yeast - light grains and bread dough - slightly phenolic, mildly bitter

Mouthfeel: Medium body, effervescent carbonation, smooth

Overall: A great tripel

This manages to be a Belgian Tripel without going overboard on the yeast. It is fruity and sweet, but without being a burden to drink. More of this style should be like this.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 05:10:38 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

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

Thanks to angrybabboon for sharing the bottle.

Appearance: Hazy dark straw/gold. Head is bright-white, rocky and chunky. Some notches of lacing. Head drops to a spotty cap and chunky collar.

Smell: Grass, some lemon, with touches of hay and clove. Some banana. Pale malts with a faint earthiness. Yeast is mellow and adds a nice layer to the existing malt base. As it warms the banana comes out in force. Very ripe.

Taste: Lemon. Mild, incredibly pale malts. Some hay. Some grass. Yeast kicks hard to banana, but it's not too aggressive. Mild bubblegum. Everything is in place, but it's all pretty mellow. Yeast kicks harder as it warms. Cloves. Nice clean floral elements. So very Belgian as it warms. Super yeast.

Mouthfeel: Clean with a moderately high carbonation. Body runs on the lighter side of medium. Slightly dry finish.

Overall: Good flavor, aggressive yeast. It becomes too much. Despite that, it's a solid take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 05:05:03 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Danny1217

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy golden color with a thick head. Thick enough that my 330 ml bottle didn't fit in my pint glass (wrong glass, I know.) Can see lots of carbonation in it. Head dissipates rather quickly, considering its size. Smells of Belgian yeast and light fruits. A sweet aroma. Taste is similar. Sweet, ripe fruits and yeast. A pleasant feel on the mouth. Above medium carbonation, semi-thick body, and a very smooth finish.

One of the best tripels I have had. As I grow more of a taste for Belgians, I begin to realize that the Tripel is one of my favorite styles. I'll definitely come back to this beer sooner rather than later.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 04:51:58 | More by Danny1217

Hunter

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Golden color, cloudy, thin wisps of carbonation. Fast-dissapating head of dense white foam.

Smell: wheat, bubble-gum, banana

Taste: Light notes of alcohol, lemon, grass/hay. Aftertaste is very clean.

Mouthfeel: Some degree of sharpness, effervescent, delicate bubbles on the tongue.

Overall: Good representation of the style. It doesn't quite take the place of Chimay in my heart, but it is still a fine ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 01:33:26 | More by Hunter

twiggamortis420

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle pops loudly with a flourish of smoke and a little gush. Pours a slightly cloudy gold color with a big off-white head. Fades slow, nice lace.

Smell is nice, smooth cracker malts with a nice blend of alcohol and hops. One of the most balanced smelling beers I have sniffed in some time, harmonious is the word Im looking for.

Taste shows plenty of Belgian yeast character with a soft, grainy malt. Maybe a touch overcarbonated, but that is a mild complaint. Nice alcohol bite and more than enough hop bitterness...a surprising amount actually. I cant believe it took this long for me to buy this one!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 20:12:43 | More by twiggamortis420

WesM63

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 11.2oz bottle into a St. Bernardus Snifter/Chalice/Goblet...

A: Pours a cloudy straw color with a 1finger wheat head. Decent retention and lacing.

S: Belgian Yeast! Maybe some lighter fruits (banana) but the Yeast just smacks you in the face. I do smell a hint of clove as well.

T: Banana, Clove maybe some wheat and tons of yeasty goodness.

M: Medium body with plenty of carbonation to go around.

O: Delicious Tripel, perfect example of the style and pretty easy to come buy.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 21:52:04 | More by WesM63

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

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

330ml bottle. Oversized glass. Reenjoyed on jun´12 –sometimes I like to come to my early stage beers- Gold color, slightly foggy appearance. Thick, firm, lasting, small bubbled crown. Creamy texture. Yeasty, caramel malt, sugar & candy aromas, hints of ripe orange & apricot , spiced hues too. Gentle no cloying sweet-bitter upfront. Smooth creamy, fruity mouthfeel. Toffee notes. Spicy & kind warming feeling in the middle. Medium & flavorful body, moderate carbonation. Smooth spiced finish. Sweet ripe fruit & sweet malty character are shown on the aftertaste. Very well balanced beer. Very pleasant drinkability even in a hot day. Wow!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 18:31:58 | More by GONZALOYANNA

rarbring

Sweden

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy deep straw colored, a high fluffy white head leaving good lacing and good curtains.

Smelling fruity Belgian yeast, bananas, apricot.

Starting very sweet, brown sugar on wheat bread, then some spiciness, clove, cardamom, ripe pears and banana peel.

Medium high carbonation, small foamy bubbles, soft and slightly sticky, a good body and smooth dry finish.

A good solid triple, very well suited with hard cheese.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 17:04:34 | More by rarbring

nickthegun12

Alabama

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

straw golden to slight orange color...a small head that sits gently on top of the beer....

smell is banana to slight clove with fruity overtones....great belgium yeast smell!

taste is much like the smell except it taste less fruity

the mouthfeel is PUCKERING!!! very very very DRY!!

overall this is exactly like a belgium trippel should taste and smell

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 02:38:57 | More by nickthegun12

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This bottle has about 6 months of age on it.

Hazy golden color with a brilliantly massive craggy crystalic bright white head. Good lacing.

Lots of banana bread and clove, classic belgian tripel nose.

Surprisingly thin for a tripel. Slightly watery, lots of banana and clove on the flavor, snappy yeast bite to clear the palate. Brisk effervescence. Very unique brew with snappy bursting in your face flavors that kind of explode and face like a fireworks show. Not like any tripel I've ever had before. It's bold yet held back. For being 8% it drinks like it's 4%. You can seriously down this thing like a glass of water yet it still tastes like a pretty damn good beer. Some herbal and earthy yeast flavors. Subtle dry dried fruits. A complex and in your face brew with incredible drinkability? sign me up!

Not what you expect and then some, if that makes sense.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 05:10:53 | More by jtierney89

bnes09

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice golden yellow color with good clarity. Big head on the pour and good retention. Lacing nearly coats the glass.

Yeasty, citrusy, soapy and slightly skunky aroma.

Hints of lemon zest and candied sugar. Mild herbal, leafy fresh hop flavor. Sweet and bitter at the same time. Hint of apple. Dry overall with exceptional balance.

Lightish feel with a lively but not overdone carbonation. Smooth texture and dry in the end.

I like this beer a lot. Complex, delicious and true to the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 06:03:04 | More by bnes09

gustogasmic

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, rich gold with intensely swirly carbonation, leading to a weightless 3" white head. Very nice lacing- even and in small clumps.

I have to pull hard to get much odor- it's a distinctly yeasty banana-bread.

the taste is wonderful and subdued- a balanced light banana, candy sugar, and light wheat bread.

mouthfeel is sublime. The carbonation folds out beautifully, and leaves a nice tingle on the tongue and a dryness, despite the creamy feel of the initial sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:43:47 | More by gustogasmic

samie85

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy (due to a not so careful pour) orange color with two pillowy fingers of white head.

Smells of sweet grain with some light bubblegum and very light clove notes.

Very sweet grain upfront with a much spicier finish than the nose lets on...clove, and a bit of bitterness on the finish.

Medium bodied with ample carbonation and finishes dry and warming.

My first Tripel was Tripel Karmeliet and that kind of turned me off to the style as I wasn't a fan of the phenolic spicy qualities. I've since tried a few other examples and St. Bernardus has been the mildest in terms of these notes which I appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 16:34:54 | More by samie85

shangwang

Pennsylvania

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

I've been aging this one for 6 months or so - best by date of 16 June 2014. Poured into a Bernardus chalice.

Poured a hazy straw color with lots of fluffy white foam. Head reduced to a little less than a finger with lots of dense lacing on the sides of the glass. Smelled great - lemony and slightly boozy, with lots of yeast. The taste mirrored the smell; lots of citrus and banana, with some buttery biscuit malt. The mouthfeel was very creamy with lots of carbonated zip. It perfectly accentuated the taste.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. One of the best versions of a tripel I believe I've tasted, and this brewery consistently brings it. Awesome stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 00:39:21 | More by shangwang

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy yellow gold color with a two finger head which recedes to skim. There is visible floatees in the beer and the beer leaves sticky fingers of lace. The aroma is of banana's, lemon grass, candied yeast and pears. The taste follows suit with the citrus notes up front before a candied yeast flavor takes over. The beer finishes with a lemongrass, pear, and banana flavor. The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated. Overall a very solid beer, a nice aroma and look to pull you in, and a great taste to keep you wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 19:22:51 | More by goblue3509

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy golden yellow in color with some light visible carbonation and some visible sediment in suspension. The beer has a finger tall off-white head that reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer. Moderate lacing is observed.

S: This beer has the aroma of banana, light fruit (pear), and some lighter notes of spice (like clove). There is a light presence of alcohol.

T: This beer is fairly sweet with banana and some light fruit (pear). In addition, the taste is much spicier than the smell with clove being the predominant spice.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: This beer is enjoyable but you can definitely detect the presence of the alcohol. I like the light fruit sweetness combined with the banana. Definitely more of a sipping beer than a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 01:06:50 | More by dbrauneis

Agent1

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

And so we begin, Het Kapittel.

Appearance - Quite a strong, deep golden color. Slightly hazy. Nice head, but not nearly as much on this ale as you might typically find on the Abt 12. Creamy and white. Good retention, though! Impressive lacing, too.

Smell - Surprisingly, one of the most prominent aromas seems to be alcohol. Grassy hops are noticeable. Nice, fresh buttery bread and yeast. Rosewater, honey, even subtle lemon/ citrus notes. Lots of floral accents with complex spices and dry hops.

Taste - Vanilla bean, banana, Belgian candi sugar, flowers and herbs (banana leaves), dry Saaz pilsner hops, fresh bread or vanilla cookies, honey, cloves and a tangerine finish. Slightly sour and yeasty. Very well balanced. This is where this beer stands out.

Mouthfeel - Leaves your tongue buzzing. Very tart due to the complex Belgian dry-hops, yet all the candi sugars keep the dry hops on the tongue relaxed and balanced. You can feel this trigger all areas of the mouth. Leaves a nice sugary coating on the mouth with a warm alcohol sensation.

Overall - A fantastic Tripel. More on the sweet side compared to giants like Westmalle, Koningshoeven (although Koningshoeven is quite similar in sweetness) or Chimay, but nonetheless, incredibly complex and precise. Dry, sweet and fruity, yet elements of sourness make this beer very enjoyable. There is an amazing breadth to this beer. Clearly, a carefully crafted Tripel!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 05:06:54 | More by Agent1

ckollias

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this 11.2oz bottle out of a porter glass.

A: Pours a very hazy light orange hue with a huge 4-finger, white foam that slowly dissipates into a wispy lace leaving a nice trail down the glass.

S: Aromas of Belgian Candies, yeast, and sweet fruits.

T: Starts a little sweet and has a fruity yeast middle followed by a little bitterness. Alcohol definitely present but blends in with the sweetness.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Excellent Tripel. Well rounded and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 03:30:44 | More by ckollias

mjtiernan

New York

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle poured into a goblet. Best before 28 03 14.

A: A slow pour gave me a perfect proportion of head/body. White and pillowy two finger head tops a muted golden body. Some haze and lots of activity.

S: Oh my. This smells delicious. Very aromatic and complex. Light and dark fruits, orange peel, breadiness, some banana and clove/coriander. A dose of sweet toffee and light brown sugar. I could smell this all day.

T: A quick touch of sweetness instantly gives way to fairly intense acidic spiciness. Not many individual flavors are jumping out at me. White pepper, some biscuit, and bitter orange/lemon rind. A fair amount of alcohol burn in the bone dry finish. Faint malt sweetness in the aftertaste.

M: Highly carbonated and quite astringent. Light to medium body.

O: I got more enjoyment out of the incredible aroma than I did out of the flavor, but it’s complexity makes it easy to see why this is such a well regarded beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 04:00:02 | More by mjtiernan

draheim

Washington

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330mL bottle (best by 9/25/2012) into a St. Bernardus chalice. Before I even pop the cap I can see all the chunky floaties inside the bottle (which hasn't been jostled a bit for weeks) - so I open and pour extremely carefully. And even before I can get the bottle to the glass, foam is peeking out of the mouth of the bottle - this is a seriously carbonated beer, which I think stirred up all that sediment as soon as I opened it. Despite my best efforts, tons of yeastie beasties make their way into my glass. I know, not a big deal. But I have to dock points for appearance. The head is minimal, barely a film across the surface, because of how carefully I tried to pour. Good carbonation anyway.

Aroma is pale malt, sweet fruit, candi sugar, yeast and booze. Mostly smells of dried apricots, a little butterscotch.

Taste has an apple juice quality - sweet and clean. Really dry and crisp, definitely enjoyable. A hint of warming booze.

Mouthfeel has a bit of a sharp bite due to the carbonation. Otherwise very nice and dry.

Overall I guess I expected more from this beer. It's good, but I prefer La Fin Du Monde and Delirium Tremens.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 03:28:07 | More by draheim

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Voluminous four fingers of uber fluffy and airy pure white head comprised of tons of big chunky bubbles... Excellent retention that never really fades leaving one plus fingers worth of fluffy pillow head... A cyclone of rapid paced carbonation swirls in the middle of the glass with some random stray bubble surrounding it... The color is a golden honey with an ever so faint haze...

S - A nice mix of orange and lemon zest... Candied sugars... Belgian yeast... Some grassy and hay notes... A slight bit of clove... Some pear and golden delicious apple notes... Very appealing and spot on for the style...

T - Lemon zest... Orange zest... Belgian yeast... Candied sugars... Pear... Apples... Bananas... Light cloves... Golden raisins... A touch of bubble gum... The candied sugar sweetness lingers for quite a while... Everything in wonderful balance... Great complexity...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Light yet brisk carbonation... Sleek... Smooth... Even a bit sticky... A bit heavier than expected for the style...

D - Defiantly deserves its lofty place in the pecking order of world class Tripels... A must try for any self respecting BA... Something that I will gladly drink with regularity...

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 17:19:04 | More by philbe311

endovelico

Portugal

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into brand gobblet. Taken from notes. Reviewed under medium natural light.

Appearance: Orange to gold brew with thin tannish white head. Deep yeast like haze. Low non perceived effervescence.

Smell: Medium intense to intense aroma.The aroma is of spices, orange zest, clove and a strong malty melanoidin like backbone.

Taste: Medium to medium high in intensity. Hot, spicy, floral. Very assertive spiciness, almost reaching astringency. Some yeast and melanoidin character aswell.

Mouthfeel: medium full bodied. low carbonation. low bitterness. low acidity. round on the palate.

Overall: Found it enjoyable and complex enough with a distinct personality. Made for an enjoyable drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 22:07:09 | More by endovelico

beergoot

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a decent light yellow color with a relatively thin white head. Light spice, bubblegum, and apricot and raisins highlight the aroma. Taste is pretty well-balanced with a noticeable alcohol presence coming out in the end, upending the malt/ester initial presence. Finishes a the sweet-side. Good mouthfeel: medium bodied with a lively yet soft carbonation that adds to the overall smoothness.

A good beer and worth more visits if a Belgian-styled brew is what you're looking for.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 01:05:43 | More by beergoot

n2185

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy yellow-orange with three fingers of white head that fades into a thin cap with a little lacing.

S: Some spices up front followed by bubblegum and candy sugar aromas. There is a strong, chalky yeast aroma as well despite the bottle being stored upright for days and the pour carefully decanted.

T: Spices up front again along with candy sugar and bubblegum. Some light fruit flavors like bananas and grapes come through with a sweet, bready finish.

M: Medium-light body with highish carbonation, this beer is nicely attenuated so that it's pretty light and crisp. The yeast presence does detract from it, but only slightly.

O: A good tripel, overall, though I wish the yeast weren't quite so dominant. Still, it's tasty and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 00:24:42 | More by n2185