Corsendonk Agnus / Abbey Pale Ale - Brouwerij Corsendonk

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a Chimay chalice.

A: Pours a pale cloudy yellow color. A huge bubbled white head, triple style. Never disappears leaving many lacings left

S: Very spicy smell. Really great: Honey, vanilla, coriander, orange zest, caramel malts, apple, Belgian yeasts, bready malts

T: Pretty much like the nose. Spicy. Honey, vanilla, bit citrus orange zest, apples. Caramel and bready malts, Belgian yeasts. I overall a mild sweet upfront and a bit citrus and bitter aftertaste. Very smooth triple

M: Heavy body and medium to high carbonation

O: Great Belgian Triple. Smooth and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 15:42:15 | More by eduardolinhalis

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Light, golden colored beer with about a finger's worth of white head that is fed by an incredible amount of carbonation forming on all sides of the glass. As a result, the retention is very long.

S: Earthy yeast is what I get most of, with also some sweet apple and also a rather unpleasant metallic edge. Not a bad smelling brew, but that strange metallic note is throwing me off.

T: None of the metallic taste here. Sweet notes hit first, then fade into a dark-fruit, raisin taste, and the finish is rather grainy and yeasty, and brings a slight bitterness which is a welcome respite from the (almost) over-sweetness of the initial pop of flavor.

M: Moderately light body, with a lot of carbonation.

O: Not what I think of when I think of a tripel. The flavor is light and crisp, and relatively straightforward. A nice change if you're looking for a tripel that's a little different.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 23:03:08 | More by DaveBlack

zachary80

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml in a giftset consisting of two Corsendonk glasses, Agnus, and Pater. Cork "Lot: 2699". Bottle dated 10/5/12. Served just short of the low range (45) and allowed to warm.

Huge rocky white head, an interesting array of bubble sizes. Globs of lacing, good retention. Opaque golden body.

Estery aroma, nose finishes sweet.

Taste is not as strong as expected from the aroma. Good malt/hop balance. Sweet up front but gives way about haflway through, light peppery. Not much lingering flavor.

Mouthfeel is light and no feeling of the alcohol. Good for a tripel but not noteworthy. More dry than sweet.

Overall a super-easy drinking tripel on the lighter side of things. I wish it came in at a lower price-point.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 01:24:32 | More by zachary80

scottwestphall

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer completes me. I LOVE this beer. The appearance is incredible. Golden and cloudy with yeast still floating in the beer. The head is thick, white, lasts a long time and leaves lacing at each level you drink. The aroma is sweet, sugar and yeast. The flavor is sublime with a hi of fruitiness that smoothly transitions into a slight bitter bite that is just enough to cleanse the pallet before your next drink. This also leads to it being an easy drinking beer and one that is strong enough at 7.5 alc to make its presence known but doesn't sneak up on you. I honestly think this may be my absolute favorite beer. 

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 01:06:03 | More by scottwestphall

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a one finger head that is still there. A golden straw yello with some haze to it and plenty of carbonation coming up through the center of the glass. It's so freaking alive, it's scsry delicious.

Smell: apples, pears, vanilla, bready malts, belgian candy, grapes

Taste: All of the above blended well together. Alcohol is a little noticeable and there is some spiciness to the finish also.

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, light to medium bodied, a little chewy, crisp, dry, but very delicious and easy to drink. The carbonation is the only downfall to the beer. Halfway through and the bubbles are insane.

Overall: I have had this beer plenty of times before and many more in the future. A very nice tripel indeed and happy I was able to score a few of these in the past month.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:30:31 | More by Flounder57

CHADMC3

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A rocky white head erupts from the hazy, golden body and is very slow to eventually give way to a sticky, yet scattered white lacing.

Aromas of zesty lemon peel, yeast, grass, touches of spice, and other faint citrus fruits, some bordering on sour apple all are present. The aroma is really packed with a number of features.

The flavor is similar and perhaps more focused on the sweet fruit with secondary hints of spice and yeast. The yeast really shows up as it warms with faint notes of grass as well.

Carbonation is massive and perhaps a bit aggressive with a nice, crisp light to medium body.

Great traditional tripel character offered in this tasty brew with tons to offer the senses

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 01:36:32 | More by CHADMC3

WJVII

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass this brew has a clean crisp yellow wheat color with a full 2 finger white head. The carbonation was very active but once settled the brew was quite clear. The aroma was quite sweet with hints of plum, banana, and some alcohol as well. The taste was dry and sweet. There is banana, grapes, and very light malt notes. Alcohol is present in the dry finish. The carbonation makes the flavors pop and this brew is quite refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 01:06:05 | More by WJVII

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Nov 2011, so it's a few months out of date. Picked up from a supermarket during a trip to Belgium in September 2010.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A bright, yellow-golden hue with a slight yeast haze and good carbonation. Produces a large head of brilliant white foam that lasts for a few minutes before collapsing to a surface layer. Aroma of sweet, fruity malt with hints of sugar, apples and aromatic hops. Faint citrus notes, particularly lemon. Possesses a clean, spicy quality.

Tastes of sweet, light malt with a dry, aromatic character. Notes of candy sugar, fruity yeast, subtle citrus and apple. A clean, spicy finish, with a hint of alcohol. Mouthfeel is light, smooth and tingly, with good body. Dry and astringent, with a mild spiciness on the tongue. Aftertaste of sweet, fruity malt and dry yeast.

Impressive - a quality brew. It's light, yet full-bodied and dry. Good hop aroma, despite the age of the bottle. Slightly sweet, but not cloying. A tasty tripel that's well worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 02:56:14 | More by jazzyjeff13

smakawhat

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into an official Corsendonk tulip glass.

A very VERY soapy quality head and somewhat bright white in color, sits on a simple slightly opaque lemon and gold body. Real nice looking small carbonation rising from the glass. head has some staying power while drinking, and clumps on occasion while consuming.

Nose has some faint malt, fresh grain and a nice sense of flour. Not much esle but pretty solid.

An intersting palate composing itself as an almost "crisp" tripel. Creamy texture gives way to a real nice malt, sweetness comes in on the mid palate, with a mild honey/sugar. Playfully carbonated but not taking away any of the beers flavor. Some slight gas sensations. As beer warms, palate finishes with some soft peach like fruit and butter.

Overall a great tasting tripel.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 21:12:23 | More by smakawhat

match1112

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a: bright golden straw colored body, four fingers of the thickest, creamiest head. good lacing and retention.

s: spicy yeast, light fruits, litle earthy, floral.

t: sweet up front with earthtones giving way to a bouquet of floral hops on the finish.

m: medium to thin body, great carbonation, light crisp and airy. dry finish.

o: i really like this beer, could be one of my favorite tripels.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 23:13:36 | More by match1112

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into globe glass, best by 12/06/2013. Pours hazy golden straw color with a fairly dense 2 finger white head with good retention that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some spotty lacing clinging to the glass as well. Aromas of big pepper, clove, pils malt, bread, light candi sugar, lemon, citrus, and spicy yeast. Nice and fairly standard aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of big lemon, pepper, citrus, clove, biscuit, light candi sugar, and spicy yeast. Lingering notes of lemon, pepper, clove, citrus, an spicy yeast on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a slightly creamy and smooth mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Very easy to drink for the level of alcohol. Overall this is an excellent and well put together Tripel style that is very easy to drink. I really have no complaints.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 07:47:07 | More by superspak

n2185

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with four fingers of white head that recedes into a dense cap with good lacing.

S: Only slight Belgian spice notes at first followed by light fruit aromas such as pears and white grapes. There are some floral citrus notes in there as well along with a sweet, biscuity aroma on the finish.

T: Again, light spices up front followed by some faint candy sugar notes. Light fruit flavors are present again as well, but they're fairly subtle. Clean bread and yeast flavors bring up the finish.

M: Medium-light body with high carbonation, this beer is highly attenuated, giving it a nice, dry, clean, light feel.

O: Overall, a good tripel. It's a little bland on the flavor with the yeast dominating a bit too much. Still, it smells good and has a great feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 01:58:35 | More by n2185

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chalice.

Pours a nice hazy golden colored brew that has a dense, clumpy creamy white head.

Smells of candied malt sweets, spices, mild honey and some banana - also some bready yeasts.

Tastes yeasty, bready malts, candy-like malt sweetness with some peppery spiceyness that closes things out nicely.

Medium mouth with good carbonation. Crisp and refreshing.

A little bit lighter in terms of flavor that what I had expected. A very good take on the style, but a bit lacking in overall punch. Well worthy of another...and another though - highly drinkable triple that is very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 01:53:46 | More by ujsplace

wo87810

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer with 4.5 years of age on it. Dark yeast sediments on the bottom. Color was good, head was fine, fairly well carbonated.

Taste was amazing, molasses and malt. Not much hop character, if any. Taste had mellowed (presumably) to a very malty dominance.

Overall, this beer was great, I would like to try it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 00:52:23 | More by wo87810

abgba121

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a slightly hazy light golden yellow with about a half inch of white head, leaves a thin to medium spotty lace, very effervescent

S: sweet and fruity and yeasty as expected, very little hop aroma

T: sweet up front, followed by the fruity yeast flavors, a slight hop note towards the finish

M: medium body, very carbonated

O: a good tripel, one of the very few I've had, I enjoyed it

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 04:21:01 | More by abgba121

danmouer

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is my first experience with the Agnus/Pale Ale by Cosendonk. I believe BA has it properly classified as a tripel. And it is a very nice one.

Poured a 1/3 l. Bottle into a Chimay Glass--sorry for the blasphemy. I,m a careful pourer with bottle conditioned beers, but the yeast was already well mixed here. I notice several other reviewers note the cloudiness of this brew. Perhaps their yeast does not form a firm cake on the ottom of the bottle, but I prefer a ttripel with good clarity. The color, a mdium gold, is as expected, ut, agai, my preference is for the clear bright lemon-yellow of pilsner malt and clear candi syrup. This looks a bit more like a strong golden.

The foam piles up into lovely suds which fade slowly. A pretty sight reminding me to pour carefully.

The aroma is lovely, but understated, even after warming the glass. Spice, pils, and a hint of orangy citrus. Very delicate and enticing.

The flavor comes on with a wonderful honeyed sweetness that seems to say "that explains the color!" Iknow there is no honey here in reality, but perhaps some lightly caramelized candi sugar syrup. There is a pretty nice alance between this sweetness, an ewffective hop-bitter backbone, and spice-and-light fruit supplied by the yeast. The light alcohol warmth is just perfect...much better than the more alcoholic tripels I am used to.

The mouthful is a winner while there remains a good dry carbonation, but as my beer warmed the sweetness became a bit cloying. Good complexity, but not great complexity.

Overall, this is a really nice tripel. I am thankful for the constraint in holding alcohol at 7.5% abv. Clexity might be diminished a bit but the clean warmth is better than some of the solventy flavors of bigger beers.

This is a good tripel. Not my favorite, but definitely one I'll keep coming back to.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:58:41 | More by danmouer

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured out as a muddy looking golden color with a white head on top. The head settles a little bit but keep a white cap on top of the beer. The smell of the beer gives off some soft Belgian yeast aromas, some bread and grains with just a hint of spice also. The taste of the beer is sweet and had a good bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel of the beer is medium bodied and has a good softness to it. Overall it's good brew once it warms up a bit.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 05:23:33 | More by Knapp85

djura

Serbia

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got it from Hungary,made in Belgium.

A-Almost amber color,lots of bubbles,fizzy white foam. It is close to Biere de Garde beers,maturing in the bottle.

S-Lots of fruits,plums,apples,jam.. Hops,yeast. Very tasty smells.

T/M- A bit more bitterness,also carbonation,it is almost like IPA,but then there is enough fruits,which is usual for Belgian Ale's.

O-Belgian Ale,Tripel,Fruits.. That can't be bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 10:25:55 | More by djura

mrcarterxxl

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale ABV=7.5%

A= pours a murky pale yellow with a soapy fluffy head.

S= smells of cooked hot apples with cinnamon.

T= crisp apples, some hoppiness, alcohol is masked very well.

MF= semi-full, delicate carbonation, clean flavor.

I would pair this with apple pie, chicken dishes, light pork dishes, salads/vegetarian dishes.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 17:45:27 | More by mrcarterxxl

TheDeuce

New York

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Corsendonk Agnus/Abbey Pale Ale….in the bottle….at Resto in NYC.

Appearance-poured into a snifter glass with a vibrant brown copper color and two rich fingers of lace and large crackling bubbles, the head disappears quickly.

Smell-spicy mix of hops, citrus, a rush of pine and alcohol burn, very aromatic on the nose.

Taste/Mouthfeel-warm rush of alcohol pushes through, mix of spice and that sugary note you get on many tripels, light hops and fruit in the background. A medium mouthfeel with lots of flavors, leaves a final note of sugar and alcohol burn on the tongue, a warming burn signifies the AC in one final note for you.

Overall-a nice beer, seems more a Tripel than a Pale but who cares, I’m interested in the beer and this one hit its mark, worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 02:54:04 | More by TheDeuce

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours deeper straw color with a fair amount of fine sediment, maybe yeast. A pretty tall soapy head sits on top. Some lacing but not much.
Aroma has a big malty backbone with some spiciness like corrinder and oranges come through.
A good tasting beer, sweet and spicy malts some orange peel and corrinder. Finishes dry and spicy. Medium mouthfeel with a spicy upfront character followed by dry bitter finish that clean. A good well made brew. It tends to be lighter and not very complex which I think works in it's favor.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 13:16:06 | More by micromaniac129

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

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

Appearance: Straw colored, crystal clear. light head. Very effervescent.

Smell: Nice estery smells here.

Taste: A true tripel. Esters shine. Candi sugar. Dry finishing bitterness. Well done

Mouthfeel: Tingly, syrupy.

Overall: Extremely nice beer. Will be having again if I can find it..

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 19:03:27 | More by Squelch

cdrogers

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from Corsendonk bottle to Orval chalice.

Appearance is a lighter copper color than most of the Belgian tripel styles I've had and the head was minimal. Somewhat cloudy as well.

It smells of orange and grapefruit, definitely citrus with some oakey notes.

It tastes of citrus, but getting some off tastes like pine. Very dry and seems to be lacking body. I am used to the Trappist tripel styles and they all have a nice Belgian sugar layer and this definitely does not. Tastes quite strong for the 7.5abv that is listed. Nothing special at all, I'm disappointed.

Very dry and lacking any depth at all, not much else to say.

Overall, I'm disappointed with this one. Belgium is MY land of beer and this was not up to par. Just average compared to the others I've had.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 01:16:04 | More by cdrogers

Filosoof

Netherlands

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

Corsendonk Agnus stayes one of my favorites. Though the name and the abbey beer calling is absolute fake (it is brewed 100 kilometers to the south east of Belgium), the beer itself is very good.

It looks great. Pilsener colour with a fat creamy top.

The smell has nice tones of malt, citrus and hop.

The taste is quite round, a touch of sweetness, lovely light alcohol. The hops don't come through. Could be a bit more.

Mouthfeel is maybe the best part. It drinks like a train!

Overall: it stayes one of my favorites. Not the most complex, but so nice!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 20:19:17 | More by Filosoof

leokbelo

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a semi hazy golden on a chalice. Soda like carbonation, making a somewhat creamy head. However it dissipated quickly afterwards.
Sweet spiciness on the nose, fruits, a bit of alcohol.
Very devious on the tongue, sweet and innocent at first, then the alcohol creeps in, warming the body.
A great way to spend a chilly evening!
A great triple, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 02:15:14 | More by leokbelo