Tripel Van De Garre - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.36/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On tap at De Garre.

Comes out with a voluminous slightly off-white? head. Michael Jackson lacing aka the best.

Peppery spice, pear, some sweetness, a little flowery.

Yeasty, peppery spice, light fruit.

So smooth. Carbonation is great on the tongue. Medium-full body. Some alcohol heat is present.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2013 09:43:36 | More by MattSweatshirt

JohnfromDublin

Ireland

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasted in Staminee de Garre, Brugge on tap 22nd May 2005.

Served in unique glass that has a thick stem to it. This makes it look very good, but is slightly awkward. Anyway, appearence is quite light in colour, more straw than amber with very nice head.

Smell is good, hoppy and fresh but more floral than I expected.
It is the beer of the house, and is quite strong (at 8%) and tastes like that (strong, I mean). No disguising the alcohol, but this is a quite drinkable tripel with a good mouthfeel.

I quite liked this, even if it is not the best tripel ever. If drinking this upstairs in de Garre (as I was), beware the almost vertical stairs when exiting!

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2005 09:55:28 | More by JohnfromDublin

IPAcraig

Tennessee

4.68/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This was a bottle I received from almalkin after his trip to Brugge. I would have brought a few bottles of this on my trip, but I didnt know De Garre sold their tripel in bottles until after I left Brugge.

This was opened on my wife and I's one year anniversary and poured into over-sized wine glasses.

Best before date of December 15, 2008

A bulbous head rises to the top of the glass, sitting atop a hazy medium gold body. Big lacing. Very nice.

Smells of slightly sweet light fruit with a bready finish.

Starts sweet and finishes slightly spicy with bits of alcohol. It has a bit of a staleness, that shows up as a somewhat biscuity flavor. This is best consumed fresh at De Garre.

Smooth and not as prickly as the head would suggest

The best tripel i have had. An absolute beauty. I tried my best to review this beer subjectively, its hard when you have it at De Garre or on your 1 year anniversary.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2008 13:33:27 | More by IPAcraig

gyllstromk

Belgium

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this at De Garre. The menu at De Garre starts with a long ode to the Tripel van der Garre, and there are nice descriptions of the process of creating it. The building is beautiful and the clientele is a mix of locals, random tourists, and folks who traveled there just for the tripel (the nice couple next to us were from Antwerp, and travel here for the beer).

Overall you cannot help but be absorbed in the charm and history of the place, and making any unbiased review is impossible. I would not treat my numeric "rating" as anything other than dummy placeholders so that I could write the following description.

The De Garre was presumably served from tap but I cannot confirm. A pale color is capped by 2 inches of foam which I assume must be nitrogenized, as the bubbles are fine like Guinness. The head remains throughout the beer.

Aroma is not atypical for a tripel: phenols and a bit of malt sweetness. There seemed to be a hint of juniper on the nose. The flavor is a nice malt body with a dry finish that highlights the kiss of alcoholic sweetness. There is a slight bitterness on the finish.

They serve with cheese cubes but I recommend buying the cheese plate as well. The combination of flavors with this beer is a great experience.

From the menu (what little of the Dutch I could read) it seems that this beer is actually 11%, and they limit customers to 3. I believe this is true because my wife and I had one each, and really felt the alcohol when we left . If truly 11%, this beer does an amazing job of masking the alcohol.

I highly recommend this beer because of the entire experience. Go to De Garre and try it yourself!

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2010 12:18:44 | More by gyllstromk

raoulduke37

California

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is probably one of the biggest reasons to go out to Bruges, besides the chocolate waffles. Found at a tiny little bar called Staminee de Garre, or some such, they serve this house tripel there, and it can rub elbows with any of the other impressive beers on their hefty list.

It is poured into a large snifter glass with a gigantic, billowing, mushroom cloud-like head. Right away, the golden color and lace tells you that this is going to be one tasty brew. Smell is subtle but you can detect slight hops, spiciness, and some sweetness, akin to melon. The first sip affirms your trip to Bruges, and Belgium in general. Incredibly smooth for a tripel, doesn't offend with the kick-your-ass spiciness you can sometimes get from the style, and finishes sweetly. The mouthfeel is creamy and oh-so-inviting. I usually had to have a hat trick of these before I was done. Simply magnificent, and a tribute to the Belgians and their art.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2009 00:27:04 | More by raoulduke37

californiakulak

California

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer at Staminee De Garre. It was served in a cool glass with a little plate of cheese.

A. A light golded color with a thick beautiful head. Also some nice lacing as the beer in the glass gets lower.

S. A fruity malty smell. Also the alcohol smell was present.

T. This beer was great. Hoppier than other tripples that I have tried. Spicy and fruity with an obvious alcohol taste.

M. Nice hop bite and dry finish. The alcohol is very warming on the palate.

D. I thought that this beer was very drinkable. However, my wife failed to finish hers so, unfortunately, I had to finish it for her. The alcohol isn't very well hidden in this beer but for some reason that taste helps the final product.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2009 05:08:00 | More by californiakulak

monitorpop

Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Bright and golden with a huge creamy white head and thick lacing.

S: Very faint aroma over all, but there is some sweet banana, spices, yeast and faint alcohol.

T: Slightly sweet malts with a very well balanced faint hop bitterness. Some nice spice and a hint of banana.

M: Very smooth and creamy quickly followed by a nice prickly carbonation. Alcohol is very well hidden, but there is a slight warming in the finish.

O: Great beer at a great place and the cheese that comes with it, pairs perfectly. One of my favorite beers on my 2 days in Belgium.  

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2012 02:13:54 | More by monitorpop

Bobzilla

New York

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

After finishing my first one, I remarked how the remaining head in the glass was like getting a free merengue pie with my beer. After having the second one, I laughed as a lady took a right into the men's room, instead of a left. After a third, I though I would pass out from watching some young folk from the States come down the corner stairs and practically fall. Mid way through the fourth, I thought that I should move to Brugge!

This is one of my favorite beers, and of course, is most unattainable. It is a beautiful golden color, with a white head that screams "Belgian Lace". Appropriate for Brugge, the capital of lace manufacturing.
The taste was a wonderful mix of sweetness and alcohol. A great blend of styles between a Strong Golden Belgian and an Abbey Tripel.
With such a high sugar content, it was not syrupy at all. It has a crispness to it that belies its high alcohol content.

Note: Having gone to Brugge after visiting Westvleteren, I was shocked to find that the Westy may not be the 'World's best beer." It could actually be this wonderful creation, found down a narrow side street off the main market of Brugge.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2008 20:37:13 | More by Bobzilla

JulieRFoster

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is made for the bar de garre in Bruges - a great little place to visit if you can find it! It is a well rounded beer, and you should certainly try it while here, but not the greatest trippel by any means.
It has a lovely light blonde color and slightly cloudy, served in its own unique chalice. It has fantastic head retention and thick, intricate Belgium lacing. The head retention gives it a delightful little puff when finishing the glass.
The medium mouthfeel was appropriate to the style. The nose is slightly floral and dry with some malty notes. The taste was a little less pronounced than the scent, but basically the same.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2006 16:47:58 | More by JulieRFoster

cneville

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

While studying abroad in Luxembourg, took a weekend trip to Bruges and randomly encountered the bar. Walked in--could not get a table. Determined, we went back the next day, and sat for two hours at a table by the window.

Served in the de Garre glass.

Appearance:2-3 inches of head, lasted throughout entire beer with prominent lacing. Beautiful color.

Smell: clove, citrus.

Taste: Sweet at first, then lingers into a spicier finish, but one of the best tasting beers I've ever had. Like no other trippel.

Mouthfeel: sticky, and you don't notice the alcohol as much as you should. The sign warns of a 3 per customer limit, as it is 11 ABV, but I feel like I could have doubled that...until I got up to leave.

Went back to Bruges 2 months later with my dad just to take him here and show him this beer. He was certainly appreciative. This was the beer that got me truly interested in great beers. I'll never forget it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 15:15:00 | More by cneville

katieandtodd

Mississippi

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the best beers I have ever had, but unfortunately it is brewed in the small town of Brugge in Belgium so it will be a long time before I get to drink it again. Everyone else is right- it is very diffiicult to find De Garre, but once you do, this beer is well worth it. It is served with a delicious tray of cheese that compliments the flavor of the beer perfectly. Excellent head... beautiful lace. It has a nice balance of fruit/sweet flavors with the malt. Be careful of the alcohol- you don't notice it very much as you are drinking it, but it will catch up with you! Buy a bottle to take home- it is the perfect way to remember your trip to this beautiful canal city.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2007 02:23:00 | More by katieandtodd

RadicalEd

Michigan

5/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

served in the Du Garre glass in the establishment of the same name. This beer is, in short, the closest thing to heaven most of us will ever know. I could go and run throught the appearance,taste, etc, but really I'd just be wasting both my time and yours. The singluar fact remains, if you like beer, you will love Du Garre. If you haven't had it yet, add it to your life's goals to visit Bruges--just to enjoy this beer.

It took us a few attempts to find it--the alley the pub is tucked away in is just about the sketchiest thing you'll ever see. But once we finally located it, and figured out when they'd open, we had found the place to be full, but always with an open seat. If there wasn't an open table, the customers cheerfully scooted over and made room for us, leading to us making new friends. The beer we had was so good, that I couldn't help but return later that day for a couple more. Do be careful, though--this is a very dangerous beer. There is absolutely no alcohol flavor to this brew, and at 11% that's a dangerous combination. Make sure you know the way back to your bed well enough to compensate for the effects!

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2011 19:19:00 | More by RadicalEd