Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel - Brasserie d'Achouffe

greg202stewart

Rhode Island

4.22/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a nice yellow with much sediment with a large head that takes a while to go down. It smell very refreshing and spicy. It tastes very hoppy and has a bite to it. This is a very distinct taste, not your usual IPA, but very enjoyable. I would definitely buy this again

Serving type: cask

04-13-2009 12:48:10 | More by greg202stewart

dwren89

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: hazy, golden yellow, small white fizzy head

Aroma: citrus hops aroma on the nose, grapefruit, orange, obvious American hop additions

Taste: American IPA hopping gives the grapefruit/orange flavor but is backed up by a distinctly Tripel like malt background of heavy pale malt usage, Belgian yeast gives off subtle phenols and this beer is entirely unique in its American and Belgian fusion. Long and citrusy finish.

Mouthfeel: moderate-high carbonation, medium body, feels like an American IPA on the tongue

Overall Impression: A creative and well executed beer combining American IPA hopping with Belgian Tripel malt and yeast character. Grapefruit and orange hop bitterness with heavy pale malt and Belgian yeast character. This is definitely one of my favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 22:06:22 | More by dwren89

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this one here and there throughout the years but never had the chance to sit down and review it. I was just never sure of the freshness and wanted to get it at the right time. New small format bottles came around and now is the perfect time.

A- Poured from the bottle into a snifter with a cloudy golden yellow body, plenty of yeast haze to go around. An enormous white head forms with a big bubbly texture and good retention. A thick cloud and ring remains when the head stops receding. Lace is thick on the walls of the glass and forms webs around it.

S- The description I see on their website comes to mind immediately upon opening the bottle. A good balance of fruit and hop aromas. The hops have a Euro-US hybrid feel with the former being more prevalent with notes of spice, grass, flowers and herbs but citrus and pine hints make it all that more interesting. Some spicy yeast presence rounds it all out with slight banana esters and bread hints.

T- Follows the nose in the regard that it is hop forward once again. Floral notes pick up with the spicy and herbal ones but the citrus and earthy feel balances in with those and it creates a unique hop profile. The yeast aspect of the beer just makes it all that much better with a spice, bread and fruity (apple/white grape/banana) feel. Light caramel malt sweetness.

MF- Silky lighter end body feels like a cloud on the palate. Nice creamy feel to the moderately high foamy carbonation. Bitterness is not all that high but it is there and clean.

This beer never disappoints. The complexity between the hop and yeast profiles is awesome and it all melds into a final product that any beer enthusiast must try. I think I'll pick up a four pack soon. The fact that this is 9% is also absurd, I think I drank 75% of the beer in like 8 minutes.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 01:30:11 | More by cbutova

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A:
Pours a pleasant, cloudy golden color with a really nice pristine white head. Settles down quickly to leave a perfect cap of head. Good lacing, great retention.

S:
Funky! Dirt, flowers, pot, old socks. Deliciously stanky.

T:
Really subtle and balanced but in-your-face. Really great citrus notes with a big kick of musty, dirty hop flavor.

M:
Nice chewy, round body. Good carbonation. Really olfactory experience with a long-lasting and surprisingly smooth finish.

O:
Would be a good IPA for people that don't particularly like hops since it manages to be as intensely hoppy as it is without making you grimace or even think of the word "bitter." It really manages to showcase how aromatic hops are better than most beers I have tried in my life. I certainly have never tried a beer before that so thoroughly engaged my all of my senses. This is beyond a fine brew and is a rare treat.

Musty, dark, muddy, dank hops that are dipped in a coating of deliciously refreshing orange juice. Drinks smooth and slowly works its way up into you sinuses as you drink it.
Spectacular beer. Would have again without a second thought.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 22:18:19 | More by TheDoctor

ckollias

Maryland

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this stubby brown bottle out of a Belgian Tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear golden hue with a huge, white, frothy head that slowly dissipates leaving a great trail and big ole frothy lacing.

S: Slightly hoppy and fruity with whiffs of smooth caramel and Belgian yeast.

T: Very bitter and citrus filled flavor up front. Sort of a dry hoppy middle and finishes slightly malty.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Interesting IPA Tripel – there is a lot going on here – lots of complex flavors and aromas and a good amount of alcohol. Classic Brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 03:08:05 | More by ckollias

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a single of this brew while visiting the Ommegang brewery in Copperstown, NY. Someone was enjoying it on tap and was generous enough to let me take a sip. Liked to so much, I just had to grab a bottle. Lets see how it goes now that I have a whole bottle to enjoy.

Appearance: pours a great honey-yellow that is beautifully hued except for some bubbles that appear sporadically to a frothy, white head that produces an impressive lacing. There's a slight appearance of suspended particles. Quite nice.

Smell: the aroma of fruity esters is clearly visible. Has a great scent of plums, pears, possibly figs and some lemon zest. Also a hint of bready maltiness is quite noticeable. Dry hops are also in the aroma and give it a nice, fair balance. Enjoyable I must say

Taste: very hoppy at first sips. Just as I remembered when I had my first sips at the brewery. Spice is quite apparent. Clover spices and possibly slight hints of nutmeg. Alcohol is also noticed. The yeast is not very noticeable here. The hoppy characteristics really plow through. But it's actually quite balanced with a nice lemon zest and fruity flavor. Also a slight hint of pine is noticed.

Mouthfeel: pretty above medium carbonation, with a below average carbonation. Finishes quite dry since the alcohol is quite apparent.

Overall: coming into this I had a little bit of a preview at the brewery, and I enjoyed it then. Having it as a whole bottle, it was really enjoyable. The hoppy character is actually refreshing since the body is a medium. I would definitely have this again and would definitely recommend it to a friend. Hopefully I'll run into it again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 23:34:10 | More by DMXLOX22

KevT

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Beer was a pale straw color and a little hazy when served. Definitely smelled the phenolic spiciness from the yeast in the nose. I do not like a ton of the clovey flavors in my Belgians, this one had just enough to let you know it was a Belgian without being obnoxious. A little more hops would have made this beer a solid 4.0.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2013 17:57:53 | More by KevT

elNopalero

Texas

4.61/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This pours a lightly golden-yellow, slightly hazy color, with billowy foaming.

There’s a hoppy crisp-lemony and floral aroma, with some spice and a great mix of that Belgo-IPA combination.

The flavor is smoothly lemony, with a floral note. It pops and crackles yet finishes smooth and spry. Really enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2013 05:16:25 | More by elNopalero

Blindpigbiz

California

4.61/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Smell: candied sugar with clean yeast and floral notes

Taste: candied sugar infused with champagne, subtle sweet red bell peppers, sweet orange cream and coriander adjunct with floral notes

This tripel ipa is OUTSTANDING. Highly recommended to anyone who loves sweet, herbal, champagne-like taste. This beer goes incredibly well with smoked sausage, pretentious hamburgers (wagyu beef with sharp cheddar cheese and caramelized onions with some garlic), and everything pizza; this beer is amazing

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 07:01:37 | More by Blindpigbiz

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.64/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

11.2oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Best before date of 3/2015.

A: Crystal clear sunshine golden color. Three fingers of creamy head retain extremely well. Patches of foamy lacing. This beer looks great.

S: Hop aromas of freshly cut grass, lemon zest, tangerine, pulpy mango. Hops show dimension with some earthy tones as well. Wet leaves, herbal/spicy scents. Just as apparent on the nose are the classic aromas of a great Belgian tripel. Doughy and biscuity malts, chalky and earthy yeast, light peppery phenol spices. Tropical esters of tangerine and pineapple are a perfect compliment to the hops. Awesome nose.

T: Oily hops at the outset. Big herbal and spicy bite. Gripping pine resin bitterness. Very grassy too. Much more aggressive than the nose suggested. Sharp spike of clove and pepper phenols and a hit of alcohol play nicely off of the aggressive hop tastes. All of this aggression tapers off just enough to let through the more playful side of the beer. Tangerine and pineapple esters marry beautifully into shifting hop tastes that bring flavors of lemon zest, white grapefruit, tangerine, and mango. Doughy malts and a pleasant bready and chalky yeast foundation provide the all-important anchor that brings the beer together. Yeasty and doughy on the finish with a bite of bitter, oily, and tropical hops that lingers forever.

M: Medium bodied. It displays that classic melt-in-your-mouth texture that the truly great tripels have. Ultra creamy. Hop oils cut through it all with an enamle stripping feel. Very warming. Even the mouthfeel is multi-dimensional.

O: This is one of the most fun beers I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. A sensory roller-coaster ride. A perfect harmony of over-the-top American-style hop aggression and deft Belgian brewing technique. Very heady, yet supremely drinkable. This will go down as one of my highest rated beers, and for good reason.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 17:55:06 | More by ryan1788a5

Roman5150

Michigan

4.59/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into tulip

Appearance: cloudy range with huge particles, biggest i've ever seen in any beer.

Smell: has a pleasant yet funky smell, sassafrass, earthiness, citrus, coriander

Taste: like la chouffe but smoother... Earthy hoppiness that rounds out the flavor. Lots of fruit: citrus, guava, some grapefruit, lemon. Alcohol is completely hidden

Mouthfeel: average amount of carbonation, full body

Overall: Having really high expectations as La Chouffe is one of my favorite Belgians, it surpassed them. On par with normal La Chouffe this is a great example of a Belgian IPA. A world class beer that everyone should try.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 21:22:36 | More by Roman5150

barczar

Kentucky

4.09/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Best before end 2013, so probably lost some hop character.

A gusher when opened slightly warmed, pours a somewhat hazy medium golden peach with a frothy 2 inch ivory head that dissipates slowly, leading spotty, sticky lacing.

Musty belgian yeast, earthy hops, fruity yeast esters of green apple, pear, and peach form the initial aroma. There's a bit of barnyard funk, along with belgian candi sugar sweetness and lightly toasted malt. Clove and banana surface late.

Flavor reveals fruity yeast esters initially, with bitter, earthy hops sneaking in mid palate and dominating the brew. Notes of green apple, peach, pineapple, and pear underlie lightly sweet, toasty malt. There's a slightly phenolic, almost smoky quality that surfaces in the aftertaste, along with clove.

Body is moderate to slightly full, with fairly high carbonation, almost prickly, and moderate alcohol warmth.

Fairly bitter hop notes, with nice, complex yeast esters and a hint of funk. A little too bitter dominant for my palate, but I love the esters.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:26:33 | More by barczar

SanDNigel

California

3.56/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

A- A slightly opaque 24-carat gold with a rich creamy pure white head
S- Classic Belgian Tripel clovi-ness shines through much brighter than the hops, but definitely not in a bad way
T- Very interesting. Reminds me of the bitter cousin of a Japanese Lager. Hops are much more a bittering aspect than anything else.
M- Intensely carbonated yet silky when it first hits the tongue.
Its a good beer. It doesn't strike me as amazing though. It is easy to enjoy. My palate keeps taking me back to a sushi restaurant (on that note, it would probably pair great with most seafood)

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 22:25:38 | More by SanDNigel

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Hazy bright orange colour, one finger of solid white head, good lace here also. Smell is a nice mix of yeast with lots of hops, orange and some grassy-lemon, fruity, as well as a bit of spice here as well. Taste is big and hoppy upfront, fairly bitter mixed with yeast and tropical fruits, orange and pineapple, spicy yeast flavours and hops in the finish and aftertaste. Medium carbonation, prickly with a softer lush medium body. A fantastic hoppy belgian beer, ABV not noticed and very drinkable, could certainly drink a lot more of this.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 20:28:46 | More by peensteen

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straw yellow in color and hazy. Poured with a short, fizzy white foam that quickly reduced to a soapy cap. Citrus lemon zest aroma with light orange and tangerine in the background along with bready malt. Medium bodied with rich, lazy, tangy carbonation. Smooth feel down the middle with carbonation along the edges. Bitter citrus and herbal hops are dominant with bready malts, funky yeast, bread and a touch of banana beneath. A nice variety of delicate, distinguishable flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:33:32 | More by IronLover

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Sunny golden yellow with a minimal thin white head that losses it volume quick.

S: Over ripe bananas and pineapple, with pale malts and yeasts. Sweet biscuits and some spices at the end that might be cloves or white pepper.

T: Fresh bananas and some fresh florals and herbal notes of wet pale bark like wet pine. Hop presences is solid at the back end with citrus bitters that are earthy and less sharp than a West coast IPA.

M: Crisp clean and dry finish with some popping carbonation up front.

O: Light and refreshing. Balances the IPA & Triple style to offer the fruity/yeasty triple profile with hops that compliment the style. Easy to drink and light enough for a lunch without noticeable alcohol. I could see drinking this along side a blue cheese & micro greens salad, the crisp tartness would be a solid foundation for creamy and earthy cheese.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 19:54:59 | More by FondueVoodoo

Schoonerorlater

California

4.36/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

a- a sunny, light yellow. thin, flimsy head that didn't linger. little lacing.

s-specific, full floral scent with an almost fruity subtlety that seemed to play back and forth.

t- the fruit came first. pear, apple, and some splashes of grapefruit. bathing in the afterglow of this crescendo of fruit, i spotted a smoky, almost hickory taste. this brought harmony to the advanced fruit flavors mellowing out the palate and bringing it back to earth.

m-medium feel. low acidity and well-managed carbonation.

o-a nifty little marriage of some sweet, hickory smoked bacon and fruit. charming and endearing, would pair well with chicken or fish. well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 02:16:14 | More by Schoonerorlater

MadScientist

New York

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: A pale golden beer with excellent clarity. The persistent head pours with two fingers of creamy foam that slowly settle into a cap of big sticky bubbles that leave glass coating Belgian glass.

S: A moderate citrus hops aroma that has some pineapple character along with some spicy hops aroma. There is a light malt sweetness and some floral alcohol notes. There isn't much in the Belgian yeast aromas of fruit and spice but you wouldn't mistake it for having American ale yeast either.

T: A strong hops bitterness with moderate citrus hops flavor that tastes muted from age. There is a moderate orange flavor that seems yeast derived. An orange peel flavor towards the end with a bitter aftertaste. The balance is fairl bitter but the malt does bring a light clean sweetness mid and late palate.

M: a medium-light bodied beer with moderately strong carbonation.

O: I'll definitely need to find a fresh bottle because I know that Chouffe is way better than the score I've got for this old bottle. Tripels can have this amazing ability to hold onto the hops flavor and aroma for a couple years and aroma but this bottle tastes like it's a an old American Double IPA. Unfortunately there was no date on the label to assist me when I bought it.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 00:45:28 | More by MadScientist

Maltmaiden

Alabama

3.66/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Yellow with some brown. Lots of sediment. Little to no head but it leaves a ring. Sparse bubbles.

S: Lots of apricot. Banana. I'm not getting hops but I do smell a fair amount of pale mats. Smells like it would have a little tang to it.Touch of biscuit. It definitely smells like a tripel, but I don't get the hops I expected. Smells very good.

T: Definitely get the apricot and malt. But I also get a strong medicinal taste. And alcohol. Hops are barely noticeable. Almost like they just happen to be there. Strange bitterness. Cloves. But I like that this beer is not shy.

M: Medium. I was expecting this to fall flat but the crispness of this beer really livens it up. Mas a light to medium dry finish. I enjoyed this aspect of the beer.

O: I'd like to try this on tap. Would love to have it fresher to see if more of the hops come through. Otherwise, I wont be spending so much $ on this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 06:26:27 | More by Maltmaiden

nebula1999

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On tap at as part of a beer flight at Backstage EDL in Torrington, CT.

Light golden straw color, somewhat hazy. White head.

Aroma is gentle. Difficult to pick out elements, but can somewhat discern some fruity esters.

Flavor is distinct cotton candy, bubble gum followed by some mild hops.

Didn't blow me away, but interesting for sure. Might need a full glass of this stuff for a better assessment.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 16:05:47 | More by nebula1999

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.16/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 Ml pored into a snifter

A- Pours a light orange or copper color. A TON of sediment swimming around. A good bit of head on there as well.

S- Grain, Belgian yest. A slight oily hop. Touch of dark fruit.

T- A good bitterness at first. A lot of dark fruit in this beer, Plums, and figs. A nice hop flavor. There is a good onion, lemon grass and herbal onion like note here. This beer has a surprisngly strong grainy taste, in a good way, its quite unique and reminds me of a Dortmunder style.

M- A silky creamy and bitter mouth feel. High carbonation, my bottle had a slight foamsplosion so be careful.

O- A great beer. Very unique and well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 15:04:00 | More by TwelveOunces

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Cloudy straw color, minimal head. thick lacing follows beer as you drink it. nice effervescence.

S: Malt, clove, citrus. Bready/yeasty sweet smelling Belgian. Hint of honey.

T: Nice bitterness from hops. Nice balance of bitterness with sweeter notes. Alcohol is well hidden here, even at 9%

M: Crisp, clean. good carbonation. Feels full in the mouth.

O: Great balance of a traditional Belgian Tripel and IPA. Nice to see the hops as a star here.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 02:39:11 | More by jroberts8811

bsp77

Minnesota

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving glass: Poured from tap into brewery Tulip

Appearance: Pale, cloudy honey-color with moderate white head and some sticky lacing.

Smell: Very spicy, floral and phenolic overall. Some banana and dry, almost musty, citrus.

Taste: Fleshy fruits and banana, with loads of spicy and floral notes on top. Some of that dry, musty citrus from the aroma returns. Not really very bitter, more just really spicy.

Feel: Moderately high carbonation, with a particularly light body considering the abv. Finish is quite dry and crisp.

Overall: This is my first Belgian-made Belgian IPA, and it is quite different from what I am used to in the US, where they are just American IPAs with Belgian yeast. This is more like a Belgian Strong Pale/Golden Ale, with a lot more spiciness. I like it. A lot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 12:25:27 | More by bsp77

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL Bottle.

Appearance: Brassy gold with a fine bubbly white head. Slightly cloudy.

Nose: lemon, bread crusts, grapefruit, bananas. There's a good bit of dank going on as well.

Taste: Pine and grapefruit on-top of sourdough bread, lemons, banana and a bit of astringent green tea. Balanced to perfection.

Mouthfeel: No complaints.

Overall: The most balanced and perfectly composed Belgian IPA I've had. The hops lend flavor without too much bitterness messing up the Belgian profile underneath. More sophisticated and tasty than Piraat and Duvel Tripel Hop.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:21:57 | More by fdig23

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.43/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Capped 75cl bottle into my Hair of the Dog tulip. Slight gusher, though I was very careful with the bottle.

A: Hazy bright gold with TONS of brilliant white head and tons of lacing left behind.

S: Very much Belgian and very little IPA...earthy, funky wet hay aromas, plenty of crisp Belgian yeast, pretty floral and very bready with a pronounced crisp malt presence, and lots of grassy hops. There is a hint of fruitiness but the grassy nature of the Saaz is really all of the hop component I get.

T: Follows the nose, Belgian yeast with a striking 'dirty' earth taste, pale malt breadiness, and a sharp grassy bitterness on the finish. Floral, fruity flavors wind their way through the flavor profile but from start to finish their overwhelmed with yeasty esters and Saaz hop bitterness. Dry, chalky finish.

MF: Lighter, not quite medium bodied (which is surprising @ 9% abv). Crisp, chalky, and dry. Its refreshing in a way, but still un-enjoyable because of the flavors. Surprisingly low carbonation considering the gushing of the bottle.

O: Epitome of 'meh' - this thing must be older because I don't get an ounce of Amarillo or Tomahawk hops on the nose or the palate. There is a light fruitiness (pear/apple/grape skins) but I attribute that to the Belgian-style Chouffe yeast. The only plus is the 9% cannot be smelled or tasted.

Will revisit this one with a fresh bottle, someday.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 14:35:39 | More by Scotchboy