Allagash Tripel Ale - Allagash Brewing Company

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a deep golden color. Very cloudy. Says that it is bottle conditioned and it looks that way. Pretty good white head on the pour that fades in time and leaves a thin film and ring around the glass. Very good tight bubbles of lace left on the glass as it goes down. Spice hits you in the nose off the bat. Some grain and some citrus in the aroma as well. Very clean smelling. Get lots of spice on the palatte. Corriander and maybe some clove. Nice sweet maltiness up front with good balance of hops to even it out. Crisp finish. Bitterness and lingering taste. Like this tripel a lot. Medium body tingly mouthfeel, lots of carbination give it a good bite.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:36:23 | More by Burkbom23

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden orange. One finger foamy white head that dissipated a little too quickly into a thin layer of creamy bubbles. Lots of tiny bubbles inside. Good amount of lacing. Looks

Aroma: Banana and some other tropical fruits, Belgian candi sugar, yeast, cloves...usual suspects. Faint alcohol.

Taste: Spicy, peppery. Some of the tropical fruits from the nose but more subdued. Alcohol is definitely there. Yeasty on the back palate. Dry. Not nearly as sweet as the nose would lead you to believe but not bitter. Spiciness dominates, combining with the drying alcohol. Not bad at all but not great.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, pretty light-bodied. Very carbonated. Drying. Again, not bad but not great.

Overall: I don't hate the beer. I don't love it either. Worth trying. I enjoy Allagash and would probably pick this up again but not a Go To beer

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:18:50 | More by MistahBeah

Zbyler

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Hazy, cloudy yellow color. Slightly darker than allagash white

S- Not much on the nose here. Some bready malts, maybe a little citrus, spices maybe.

T- Belgian yeast, bready malts, cloves, coriander, light citrus notes, very subtle bitterness, banana, bubblegum. Definitely a bit of alcohol present. FInishes with spices and wheat.

M- Nice carbonation, slightly thick feel to it due to the alcohol I would imagine.

O- Overall a solid beer from allagash. Great flavors coming out with each sip. A bit too much alcohol presence for me though. I'll stick to the white

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:52:35 | More by Zbyler

zac16125

South Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750mL bottle into a snifter
Batch #: 193

A: Pours a hazy, straw-color golden yellow with 2 fingers width of white head. Excellent retention as 1/2 fingers width hangs around for the majority of the drink. Leaves lots of lacing down the sides of the glasses.

S: Peppery spice is the first aroma I pick up, followed by clove. There are sweet tropical fruit notes along with some orange-peel like citrus. Good aroma, but could be stronger.

T: White and black peppery spice hit the palate first. This is followed by lemon zest, and other citrus rind flavors. There is a pretty prominent bitterness that Im not used to getting in Tripels. Some floral notes linger in the finish. Not my favorite palate profile for the style, as its lacking the sweet esters and yeast characters.

M/D: Full body, carbonation on the higher end of the spectrum, drinkability is moderate for the style.

O: Overall, a good beer but somewhat disappointing as I am a fan of Allagash and I love Belgian style ales. This one didnt live up to expectations. It was certainly still worthy of a drink, but with Tripels like La Fin Du Monde and Westmalle nearly always available I dont think I will be picking this up one again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 23:39:57 | More by zac16125

JMScowcroft

Vermont

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Allagash Brewing Company - Allagash Tripel Ale

This is a brew I have gone back to time and time again, but when I realized I had never reviewed it I decided it was time.

Look - Pours unfiltered hazy golden bubbly like a hearty champagne with extra body. Lacing slides with the brew while some sticks to the glass. Small bubbly head dissipates quickly from the 12oz pour, the corked bottle often gives a bit of a bigger head with a slower dissipation.

Smell - Fruits abound, bananas, lemon zest, orange, apples. Sweet sticky malts. Slight floral hops. Amazing and unique.

Taste - Taste yields a hyper-complex assault of spices, fruits, and floral notes. Cinnamon applesauce smashed into floral hops.

Mouthfeel - The taste leave a perfect sourdough Belgian tone sitting in the mouth, fruits and spices continue to evolve as that fades. Insane drinkability but you want to take little sips so you can try and pull all the flavors possible out of this brew. Alcohol is invisible, not a trace, not a hint.

Overall - Too many flavors to isolate. This brew constantly transforms, let it warm a bit to find new things ad infinitum. Waves and waves of spices and fruits continuously line the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 22:55:17 | More by JMScowcroft

Curtis

Utah

4.94/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow.

Big bottle750ml that I bought in Calif at one of those "warehouse stores" (not sure we can give actual names here, but it starts with a "C"). I developed a love for Belgian style beers a couple of years back and this has to be the best one i've tried yet. Pours a beautiful gold, slightly hazy, (no chunks). If it was more clear, i'd be worried they had filtered out some of the "good stuff". Wonderful white foamy head that retained for some time. Therre was still traces of head with only an inch left in the glass. Aroma is excellant, slightly floral, not too strong, quite pleasing. Initial taste is very very smooth that lingers in the best way. Mouthfeel is excellant, no aftertaste or excessive "bite" that Beligians can get. Incredible balance of sweatness, hops and grain, with Belgian candy. No ingrediant is too much or missing Its wonderful. The alcohol balance is amazing. I could hardly tell it is there and would have never guessed it was 9%. Balance, balance, balance. No faults, nothing lacking, I could drink only this beer for the rest of my life and be quite happy. Good job guys, very well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 06:38:33 | More by Curtis

hardy008

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy gold with a one finger white head, with good retention and lacing. the aroma has peaches, apples, cloves, Belgian yeast, and candy sugar.

Tastes much like it smells. there are peaches, apples, cloves, Belgian yeast, candy sugar, phenols, pepper, and citrus hops for some bitterness. Nicely balanced.

Light bodied with above average carbonation. The alcohol is well hidden, and there is very little aftertaste from a very flavorful beer. This is a definite winner.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 00:56:23 | More by hardy008

chinchill

South Carolina

4.04/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured cloudy golden-orange in color with a durable off-white head. The head lasted until the beer was gone, thoroughly coated the glass with lace when tilted, and left some patchy lacing on the glass.

Aroma & T: Complex and sweet aroma features tropical fruits, pear, and light spices. The taste has these characteristics too, but add some tartness, traces of wild and Belgian yeast, and some alcohol esters.

M: Medium body; medium-high but soft carbonation.

O: Excellent and well-balanced mix of flavors and aromas: an impressive Tripel even by Belgian standards.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 15:28:47 | More by chinchill

SanDNigel

California

4.39/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I'll start by saying I got the "reserve-batch 195" with the cork in a 750ml bottle. Reasonable price ($13ish) + good reviews = purchase.
A- Pours golden cream with a tightly effervescent head. Gets you excited to drink.
S- Moscato with a bubbly coriander creme de platano
T- Very much like it smells; small quick sips enhance, relatively dry finish
M- Heavy intensely bubbly/creamy action mixed with light alcohol note (not as much as 9ABV hints)
Very good beer. Couldn't ask for much more getting done doing something on a hot day (or any day really when you live in San Diego). Recommend for price point
(Couldn't have come from farther away for me in the continental United States [San Diego, CA]but well worth the trip)

PS: I've been using BeerAdvocate for some time now without posting; I feel bad. It was time to post.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 23:31:39 | More by SanDNigel

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From: Binny's, Bloomingdale, IL
Date: None; "2362 14:43" stamped on label (no idea what this means)
Glass: Tulip

A pleasant, yeast-forward tripel, Allagash has a mix of generally bright and fruity flavors and aromas moving along well with the appearance and body of the beer. Easy to drink, little indication of its ethanol, and at $2.75 per 12-ounce bottle, this manages to outclass and outvalue many of the increasingly overpriced Belgian beers. Along with La Fin Du Monde, one to revisit repeatedly.

Pours a voluminous white head of small-sized bubbles, which lasts an incredibly long time. Head collapses into a meringue-like thick cap atop the body of the beer, still at least 1cm high, remaining throughout the entire drink. Lacing is in the form of substantial cobwebs lining the entirety of the inner glass. Body is a transparent golden orange color, with light bringing out brighter orange-yellow hues. Very strong and easily visible carbonation.

Aroma is quite yeasty (Belgian, that is, but not the Westmalle strain), with dried lemon rind, pale malt sweetness, minor banana ester and clove phenolics.

The flavor of Allagash's tripel is yeast-forward with its byproducts being close behind, the yeast-plus-phenols-and-esters are the star of the flavors here. Front of palate is yeast-heavy (Belgian), spicy from clove-like phenolics and ethanol, and pleasantly sweet from pale malt usage. Mid-palate is yeast-heavy, spicy (clove, black pepper, ethanol), citrus as from dried lemon rind, fruity as from dried pineapple and baked pear, modest banana-like ester, slight bubblegum, all above a base of pale malt sweetness. Back of palate continues to be yeasty, heavy on phenolics, slight ethanol, banana ester, with mild bitterness. Aftertaste is of Belgian yeast mixed in sweet pale malts, with spicy phenols, banana esters, and lingering light ethanol.

Beer is medium-heavy in body, with medium-low levels of carbonation intensity, resulting in a beer that foams up slightly on the palate, making it smooth and rather easy on the palate. Ethanol can be felt on the back of the throat and in the nostrils, but only slightly, not nearly as obvious as in the Westmalle. Closes quite dry, with moderate stickiness on the palate. Generally pleasant and unobtrusive.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 05:56:12 | More by falloutsnow

ckollias

Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this 750ml bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pour a cloudy golden orange hue with a thick, foamy, white head that lasts forever - leaving a nice trail and huge persistent lace.

S: Complex fruity aroma hints of apples and pears – with a honey background.

T: Tart and sweet fruity flavor – also consisting of pears, apples and honey – with a Belgian yeast background.

M: Medium body and heavy carbonation.

O: This was an impressive Tripel – very complex in flavor and aroma and enough alcohol to make it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:06:13 | More by ckollias

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.11/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into Allagash chalice. Bottled on August 20, 2012.

A - Pours honey gold in color with slight haze. About a finger of head accumulates on the initial pour. The foam dies to a half finger where it remains. There is an upward cascade of bubbles rising from the laser etch in the glass. Shows good lacing.

S - Familiar combo of banana and cloves. Quite sweet and fruity with noticeable tropical fruit esters. Some light sourdough malts and bubblegum belgian yeast round this one out.

T - Starts off a bit tart with lemon and crushed black pepper. Sweet floral and fruit notes follow. Cloves, pear, berry, and banana. More banana-clove on the finish through the linger.

M - Tingly carbonation and a relatively light body. The 9% abv goes unnoticed.

O - This is one of the best examples of the style in my opinion. Very drinkable with complex flavors of fruit, spices, malt, and belgian yeast. It didn't blow me away, but it is a very good beer that represents the style well. Bonus points for being the base beer for Curieux (THE best tripel). Allagash knows their way around a belgian beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:35:47 | More by NoLeafClover44

Roguer

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Thick, bright; no imperfections. Relatively small head. Clean residue on the glass.
S - A little bright, not quite citrusy. Spicy. It doesn't exactly match with the flavor, but I don't mean that as a negative.
T - Lovely. Most recently, I couldn't bring myself to let it sit and age, and I'm paying the price for it. A new bottle is brighter and lighter; giving it time to age (as I usually do, at least a couple months) results in a better overall flavor. A little bright and citrusy in flavor, definitely malty, but not overly sweet. Maybe clove, some apricot? I don't taste the banana.
M - Thick and smooth. I like tossing this around, and it seems to coat the entire mouth afterwards (very pleasantly).
O - This is a really solid Tripel. I was very surprised, as I'm a big fan of Westmalle. Allagash isn't quite on par, but I certainly think it's a very, very drinkable beer, and it's certainly more accessible from a price standpoint (4 12oz Allagash < 1 pint Westmalle). Now, I buy Trappist Tripels for special occasions, tastings, and guests, and I try to keep Allagash Tripels on hand in the event that the mood strikes me.

Spiegelau tulip glass.

I don't have a sophisticated palate, so don't look to me for individual notes of fruit and what-not (unless it's Weissbier levels of obvious). I'll just say that this is a full-bodied, 9% ABV, flavorful beer, and if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 21:11:24 | More by Roguer

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Shared at a BYOB in Phoenixville, PA on 3/13/13 (thanks Howard).
It is an overall enjoyable Belgian Tripel. It has citrus notes and is bubbly. Color is golden, a bit of a white head, some lacing. Not a fan of the style--they all basically taste the same (or I haven't had a real bad one yet to tell).
Highly rated, so I will take their que. For a nice Spring or Summer day it is enjoyable or with the right food pairing.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 15:34:53 | More by SHerninko

TequilaGeorge

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another great beer from Allagash. This beer has a crisp belgium citrus sweet ale kind of finish.

It pours a clear golden yellow with a moderate head, that leaves a light, but distinct lacing on the oversized snifter glasses, I use for this beer.

I can not place the claim of bananas, but, the other fruits are there, bowing at the feet of the alcohol in this brew. It is a stronger beer, but, the alcohol is not at all over powering.

Like my experience with other Allagash beers, this is a pleasant, tasty, flavorful brew that is well worth the slightly higher cost. It is a very nice treat for yourself and for your guests. You will not disappoint, nor be disappointed, while enjoying this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 03:35:05 | More by TequilaGeorge

Willytee3

New York

4.66/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into tulip glass

Pours a cloudy golden yellow with pure white bubbly head. Saturn like rings cling to glass.

Smells of wet hay malts with a funky floral richness and some sweet bubble gum Belgian yeast. Slight spiciness in the background.

Tastes of funk and wet straw with a touch of green flowers. Light bitter crosses the pallet briefly on the way to a rich creamy yet drying bread crust finish. Hints of banana and unripe fruit with light coriander and a slight peppery spice that linger a bit.

Feel a tad frothy with medium to full body. A touch of alcohol comes through a bit at the end that slightly flattens the nice frothy feel but does not overwhelm. It's nice to have a stash of these so you can clean your pallet with one after a long night of IPA tasting.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 05:26:04 | More by Willytee3

Wrigfen

South Carolina

4.94/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What a great tasting full body beer. I have tried so many from so many parts of the world and I must say this one is my favorite. I just hope it becomes more readily available so others can enjoy it but I have a great seller in the Charleston Metro Area.
Savor the taste and drink it responsibly because it packs a powerful punch for beer. But even with the high alcholol content it is lower than wine or spirits so you can have more than one. There is a fruit taste but it is not overpowering. I despise fruity beverages so if I am touting this one so high it is because it has just the right amount to give it a great taste but not overpower you. Note best served slightly below room temperature. Too much chill will limit the great flavors
Enjoy it!!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 19:05:01 | More by Wrigfen

yamar68

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Massive thanks to BobZ for sending this one my way!

Gorgeous looking beer - hazy pear body stuffed from side to side with quick, pinpoint beading, capped off by a full two fingers of eggshell white head which leaves behind trails of short-lived lace before settling down to a rocky half finger seal.

Extremely aromatic. Sweet yeast and clove layered with pale fruits and fresh honey. The nose reminds me of Auroch's Horn in a way. No real detectable alcohol presence... a bit of spice on the finish.

The biscuit type malt flavors show themselves on the palate... then there's banana and more clove. Belgian type yeast and cereal flavors. Quite refreshing, especially given the alcohol content. This is one of those beers that I'd like to have in the cellar in case I'm thirsty for something fresh but the fridge is empty. Nice.

Very glad to have had the opportunity to try this one out - it'll remain on the wants list.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:52:29 | More by yamar68

Heynow007

New Jersey

3.09/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Let me put a disclaimer on this. I'm a stout guy and like my beers full of flavor and body. This is an ale, and has a sweet aroma, but is too fizzy for me. It goes down smooth after a few minutes, when I'd de-airs.
I think this would be a good summer afternoon beer, not a winter beer.

Overall, it's actually pretty good and starts to grow on me. It's a solid 3 to 3.0.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:58:24 | More by Heynow007

Greywulfken

New York

3.99/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: in a tulip, medium gold beer with a slim head and little lace; slight haze

S: herbal and medicinal hops/yeast, sweeter pale malts were subdued

T: citrus presence up front, some hints of honey sweetness; this isn't a good analogy, but the flavors reminded me a bit of a Luden's honey-lemon cough drop

M: medium-light weight, mild carbonation, slightly fuzzy

O: I was underwhelmed by the beer - I want a sharper-looking tripel with a better head from start to finish; I thought the beer lacked some of the elegance in flavor and feel you would find in a Belgian tripel, say a Westmalle or Karmeliet - and I know that's pretty stiff competition, but to me, they are the standards by which all tripels shall be judged. This was not a bad tripel, but it was also not one I would go for again.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:02:05 | More by Greywulfken

tdm168

North Carolina

4.16/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - dark golden yellow with a huge, white, dense, foamy, head that has great retention

S - white grapes, alcohol, fruit

T - white grapes, warm alcohol, faint grassy hops, some straw-like notes, a bit bitter in the finish

M - big amounts of warming alcohol, well carbonated, medium to full bodied

This is a very nice Tripel with all the traditional markers. The flavors and aromas remind me of the traditional Tripels I have had from Belgium. This is a warm, high ABV, fully flavored, well composed offering from Allagash that is certainly worth your attention.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:23:23 | More by tdm168

confer

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From a 25 oz bottle with a batch number of 190.
Pours a murky yellow with a big fluffy white head that doesn't fade.
Smells not quite a sweet as most tripels.
Something very tart in the taste, and a good sweet tripel finish.
Thick, creamy feel. A bit different than most tripels I am used to but an overall very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 22:56:28 | More by confer

gr0g

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pale amber, hazy, with a creamy two and a half finger head. Head retention is very good with some lacing that rivals the best Belgian tripels. Yeasty phenols are prominent on the nose. The aroma also showcases plenty of fruity esters - ripe pear, apple, and white grape.

A "spicy" yeastiness hits first on the palate with notes of equal parts banana and clove. Semi sweet, with hop bitterness picking up mid palate to bring things into balance. More fruit notes, primarily of apple. A delicious and complex flavor profile that falls just short of the best of the best in style (Westmalle). The vigorous bottle conditioned carbonation is well-tempered and smooth, making this highly drinkable for a big beer.

This Allagash tripel is excellent. It rightfully belongs with the elites of the style, rivaling the best from Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 19:06:43 | More by gr0g

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a hazy straw color with a 1.5" white head with little rentention/lacing.

S- Big fresh orange zest, grass, dark fruits, cloves, wheat, slightly tropical. Potent aroma, very inviting.

T- Cloves, sweet banana, belgian spices, orange zest, slightly boozy. Finishes with a slightly bitter pineapple note.

M- Low carbonation, medium body.

Quite a tasty brew. It really makes me think about how broad of a spectrum belgian/belgian styles can have. On a scale of lighter tropical fruits to darker belgians with dark fruit notes, this is definitely on the tropical end. It's allagash white on steroids. Highly recommendable.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 04:36:26 | More by gcamparone

deebo

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A 750 ml bottle from batch# 177 shared with friends over Christmas.

A-Light golden in color that is just a bit cloudy with a bubbly white head that quickly breaks down with little lacing.

S-Very fruity (citrusy), weak in spiciness with a clean malt aroma with some sweetness.

T-A sweet taste upfront thanks to the malt and fruity esters, notes of honey with a subtle well balanced spiciness. Low bitterness compared to many others with a similar profile to this beer.

M-Outstanding body for a tripel-rich, soft with a delicate mouthfeel. Hard to believe this is a 9% beer, the only hint of alcohol is felt with a warming way down low.

O-An amazing beer, the taste is complex and delicious and the mouthfeel makes it easy to drink which for me adds up to a world class tripel. If you care about BJCP, this brew would not quite hit the mark but just for overall deliciousness I'm loving this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 14:32:57 | More by deebo