Slumbrew Trekker Tripel - Somerville Brewing Company (Slumbrew)

dasenebler

Maine

3.35/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slumbrew Trekker Trippel 6/30/12

22oz, no date.

Reading the label tells me that this is a non-traditional Tripel brewed with Chinook and Motueka hops. I also discover that Slumbrew is contracted out to Mercury Brewing Co. in Ipswich, MA.

Pours a deep, rich gold, pretty dark for a Tripel. Modest head for a Belgian-style ale, retains well and laces nicely.

Aroma has notes of honey, toffee, pear, apple and rubbery phenols. Grassy, woody hops in the background.

Flavor is rich and candy-like without being overly sweet. Lots of caramelized malt flavors and cookie-like maltiness. Yeast flavor comes through with a slightly spicy and clove-like character, but it needs more breadth of yeast. Bit of stone fruit. Finish is pretty dry and alcoholic. This beer is on the big end for a Tripel, without being undrinkable. Hops don't come through so much though. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with medium-low carbonation. Needs more effervescence.

A decent stab at the style. My issue is that this beer neither sticks to tradition nor sets out into new, uncharted Tripel territory. Too sweet and malty to be a traditional Westmalle-style Tripel, but also not hoppy or nuanced enough be be a game-changing Tripel. If you're going to make a Tripel with Chinook and Motueka then let the hops shine through! You'll still get enough Belgian character from the yeast so as not to make the beer unrecognizable as a Tripel.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 16:05:11 | More by dasenebler

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-11-2013 19:24:21 | More by Davepoolesque

JamesStreet

Louisiana

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650 ml bomber into my Boulevard tulip

Bottled: 5/2012

A - Cloudy, hazy orange color with minimal 1-finger head. Slight head retention

S - Normal Belgian yeasty bouquet with an 'odd' hop smell present. Nice scents of clove and apricot come to mind.

T - Right off the top, the standard Belgian yeast flavor hits you. Citrusy hints of orange peel, apricot, and zinfadel grapes with a little alcohol on the back end.

M- Medium carbonation. Not heavy but reaches every part of the pallette. A little heat from the booze but, overall, masked very nicely.

O - Nice trippel. Not the best but definitely worthy of another pickup

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 18:18:49 | More by JamesStreet

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: minimal head, hazy, orange-brown in color, moderate carbonation

Smell: hay, tangerine, and banana

Taste: big tangerine, banana, hay, bread, and honey

Mouthfeel: sweet with slight alcohol bitterness, medium-heavy bodied with medium carbonation

Overall: A solid tripel that drinks almost like a very tangeriney pils. I do like other tripels better, but would not hesitate to pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 22:55:24 | More by tigg924

dmorgan310

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-13-2013 04:54:18 | More by dmorgan310

chubby2u

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

02-25-2013 17:33:18 | More by chubby2u

Larrydoherty

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

01-14-2013 21:08:51 | More by Larrydoherty

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

01-10-2013 23:24:06 | More by Kelp

EvanWilliams

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

01-09-2013 01:20:47 | More by EvanWilliams

pgrow

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

01-03-2013 22:57:05 | More by pgrow

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.8%

12-20-2012 22:18:20 | More by nmann08

sailorastro

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

12-18-2012 15:37:09 | More by sailorastro

LCannon4

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

12-11-2012 01:10:49 | More by LCannon4

Aewachiw

Maryland

3/5  rDev -23.7%

12-08-2012 13:09:22 | More by Aewachiw

champ103

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazed orange/golden color. At first a two finger white head forms, but recedes in a second to a tiny rim. Very light lace. Wish there was a bit more retention. Though I am going to assume my St. Bernardus goblet is a bit dirty.
S: This is an amazing nose. That Belgian yeast basement like funk. Wonderful fruity esters like banana, apples, and lemons. An awesome sweetness that is the perfect complement to the esters. A vanilla like sweetness. Excellent.
T: Everything that was in the nose is here, but a bit muted. Still very enjoyable though. Belgian, yeast/funk, fruity esters. Banana most prevalent along with the sweetness. Vanilla again. Very good, but the sweetness just boarders on cloying. Not the amazing balance in the nose. A small gripe.
A: A medium body and carbonation. Crisp and smooth at the same time. So easy to drink. The alcohol is nowhere to be seen, and a great Triple to sip on.

This is excellent, and a great example of the style. Something I really enjoy, and would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 00:41:22 | More by champ103

Gatch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

10-18-2012 23:52:43 | More by Gatch

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a rather shiny copper hue. Dark for the style. Head is respectable. Foamy and dirty white. Mostly transparent.

S-Nose is dripping with yeast. Apples and pears. A bit earthy. Too yeast-forward for my liking. Spicy too.

T-Taste is pretty legit. The yeast is well incorporated with a solid malt base and some juicy fruits. Belgian spice and some light grassy hops. Cloves bubblegum too.

M-Full bodied but the carbonation really lightens it up. Boozey. Takes a while to put away. Dry and dry.

O/D-Slumbrew's take on the Tripel is a success. I didn't love it...at all. But I can decipher the craftsmanship. A nice up and coming brewery. This isn't my favorite from them but I can tell it was made with care.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 01:07:39 | More by VelvetExtract

markgoodman10

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

10-02-2012 04:30:41 | More by markgoodman10

valdieu2

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

09-23-2012 23:28:38 | More by valdieu2

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle fresh from recent Maine trip. More of a triple than a Belgian IPA, it marries a smooth orange citrus and Belgian yeast tastes. Nicely drinkable, and not showing the alcohol at all. Orange colour and slight orange and malty aromas.Nice balance though a bias as expected on the sweet side.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 13:14:33 | More by northyorksammy

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a 2" custard head of average lifespan. The body is a cross between hazed raw sienna yellow and a nice golden glow. It smells of candy sugar, malt, and fig. The taste mirrors the smell and adds tropical fruit and caramel. Medium long finish. Really quite nice, and a good homage to this Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 08:50:49 | More by MoreThanWine

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a one finger cream head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Hazy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Light fruit nose and flavor is Belgian yeast, caramel, some tart fruit, higher ABV is hidden. Pricey at $10.04 for a 22oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 22:23:15 | More by jdhilt

DelicateDelirium

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

09-04-2012 22:45:12 | More by DelicateDelirium

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Sammy, 650ml into a tulip. Bottled May 2012.

Orange with some redder hues, thick white head and really nice retention and lacing. Nose has a spicy sweet malt character, pears, lots of yeast character, leafy and fruity hops, hopping is American with some tropical suggestions. Taste is spicy, malty, yeasty. Herbal bitterness - almost has a bit of Duvel character in some regards. Medium body with a heavy, bubbly carb. Mild sweetness and slice lasts. A pretty good tripel all around.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 01:13:19 | More by liamt07

GoBIG

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +27.2%

08-16-2012 16:38:38 | More by GoBIG