Bornem Triple - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.34/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bornem Triple Abbey Ale has a thick, spongy, white head and a hazy (which, becomes even hazier when one swishes and pours in the caked, bottom contents), very bubbly, golden appearance. Decent lacing is left behind. The aroma is fairly harsh- dank, musty grain husk (think Camo Black Ice), some sweetness, a bit of fruitiness (pineapple?), and sugar. Flavor is of alcohol, inexpensive champagne, pepper, pineapple juice, sugar, malt, and a touch of bitterness. Mouthfeel is light and a bit slick, and Bornem Triple Abbey Ale finishes mostly dry, sweet, drinkable, and substantial. Overall, this is a beer that lets one know "where it’s at", and is not for the weak or faint-hearted. Overall, I think it’s just macho and great. Definitely one not to miss!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 14:34:41 | More by RonaldTheriot

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.91/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

330cl bottle, poured into Leffe Chalice.

A: Golden colour, clear, one finger head, great retention + lacing

S: Pronounced phenol and esters.

T: Phenol, esters, mollases, slightly fruity. Had more sweetness than other triples, hid the booze very well apart from a slight burn at the finish.

M: Smooth, light body, well carbonated.

O: Lacked a bit of depth but scores lots of points for the look, aroma and for how well the booze was hidden.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 14:17:23 | More by jonb5

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle was poured into a snifter.

It is a clear golden straw yellow with great clarity and tiny bubbles coming up through the glass. It poured a one finger puffy white head that has reduced to a thin layer.

I can smell apples, pears, boozy alcohol, vanilla, and spices. I can taste everything plus the alcohol is nice and warming. There is some yeasty esters, Belgian candy, and a bit spiciness. Flavors seem a bit light from what I am used to.

This beer is smooth, low to medium bodied, medium carbonation, a bit boozy, and a little watery on the palate. This was an alright triple in my opinion. Very drinkable, but I was expecting more flavors and aromas from what I am used to and also the cleanliness that comes with those characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 06:15:18 | More by Flounder57

Guden

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

A- A light hazy pilsner malt color with a huge brilliantly white head with great retention and thick spots of lacing.

S- Big pear and sour apple aroma coming straight out of the bottle before even poured into the glass. Light spicy coriander and clove character and a bit of banana and mint can also be found in the mix.

T- A yeasty spicy character is there, but nothing too strong, a light biscuity malt flavor is the main taste with a bit of banana and bitterness on the end. Not nearly as interesting as I would've liked.

M- Medium bodied, this one seems moderately thick for the style but the effervescent carbonation makes it feel creamy and very good for the style.

O- Despite the great body and nice smell the beer is a bit listless in the flavor department. It's an easy drinker but I would've liked more complex spices.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 01:38:03 | More by Guden

UCLABrewN84

California

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste Pub & Cafe in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, spices, and some fruity aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 01:08:25 | More by UCLABrewN84

acevenom

Louisiana

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chalice. Pours hazy golden with a quickly dissipating white head. However, a finger length of white head remains atop the beer without much in the way of lacing. Plenty of tiny streaming bubbles can be seen rising from the bottom and side of the glass. There are fruity aromas. I detect green apple and pear. There is some sweetness from the malt and the candi sugar as well. It smells like a typical, but decent tripel. There is a nice malt backbone to this beer, brining some solid bread flavor. The fruit flavors are a bit more subdued, but the apple and pear are definitely there. The alcohol is detectable in the flavor as well. The body is full with strong carbonation. The beer is smooth, but lacks the typical tripel dryness. The alcohol is very warming and this definitely is a sipper. This is a good beer that did not quite live up to its potential.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 23:54:28 | More by acevenom

steelerguy

New York

3.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured a nice golden honey color, but with very little head and it faded fast leaving no lace. Carbonation was also on the low side.

S - Green apple, spice, Belgian yeast, smells like a decent tripel.

T - Lots of spice, an astringent quality, some esters, and finishes a bit boozy.

M - Very thin, like a tripel should be but lacks the carbonation expected...no pop. A little warmth at the end which is nice, but it better be there considering the boozy finish.

O - Was excited to try this, but it turned out to be nothing special. A disappointment after a great surprise a couple days ago with a Tripel Karmeliet.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 22:11:28 | More by steelerguy

smakawhat

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

A real murky brown, and faint yellow, but a strange faint pea soup green. Rising carbonation from the glass, opaque, and a shocking white soapy head, forms nicely, but slowly falls.

Nose is a faint green apple. A nice fruit pear action on this with a mild sweetness. Pretty nice, not blown away by it, but the pear on this seems nice so I call not bad, but a bit of alcohol on this also.

A little bit wet in the palate for feel, but also a real fleeting taste as well. Flavor seem to disappear very quickly and doesn't hint of what is on the nose. Warming heat in the belly, but also slightly hot and not masked on the palate (even for a Triple)

Overall I would prefer other Tripels over this one. Not terrible, but really not that great either.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 00:01:08 | More by smakawhat

AmericanGothic

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 330 ml bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Pours a slightly hazy, honey color with two fingers of off-white head. Strong retention and lace.

S: Light spice, floral notes and some cider. Seems almost like a saison.

T: Starts with light fruit, then dives into a peppery biscuit. Finishes with faint cider notes. Also a little metal on the finish that detracts from the flavor. Fortunately, the metal fades after the first few sips. Towards the end of the glass, the floral aromas enter the flavor, with rose and lavender.

M: Carbonation is soda-like in quality. Fairly light body with an astringent finish.

O: Not bad, but with so many great tripels out there, I think this is one I would not buy very often. Still, worth a try, you might find it suits your tastes better than mine.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 02:45:18 | More by AmericanGothic

Doshkin

Maine

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

a - light/pale orange/brown, can't say tan because it's a little more vibrant. about 1.5" pure white head that settles to a film for the rest of the glass. beer is a little hazy. minimal lacing

s - as it warms, the alcohol becomes more apparent. pretty sweet (honey) smelling and citrusy. smells a lot like a white wine with citrus because of the sweetness and alcohol.

t - carb/citrus bite up front, goes to sweetness, and finishes with a very smooth bitterness. flavors flow very well together

m - very light and bubbly for the alcohol content. smooth and wine-like.

o - the aromas exploded after letting the beer sit out for a little while to warm up. this is a delicious tripel and i pretty much finished the whole glass during this review. if someone asked me if they should try this tripel, i would absolutely say yes. i think it is quite light, but still captures all of the elements of a tripel.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 22:58:05 | More by Doshkin

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Aged (accidentally) for almost a year in the back of the fridge. BB date of 08/03/12. Poured into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Pours a slightly cloudy golden-straw colour with a huge foam head that is quite bubbly. Recedes slowly to a ring of creamier foam, with good lacing down the glass.

S: Orchard fruits of apple and pear, tropical fruits of pineapple and banana, clove, yeast, faint honey, and picking up some pepper. Quite a fruity bouquet (...that sounded fruity) which is enticing, but the alcohol aroma I feel is a bit too distinct and separated from the other aromas in this.

T: Tropical fruit is at the forefront with a tart, almost abrasive pineapple quality, that is followed by clove and pepper. Faint notes of banana. However, I find there's a bit of an off/artificial quality to this, and it might be originating from the sweetness. Can't put my finger on it, but regardless I don't find it terribly off putting.

M: Full mouthfeel with an oily texture, and high carbonation which are both about average considering the style.

D: Despite the above setbacks, still a decent tripel. Not something I would revisit again... unless it came in the same assorted holiday 6-pack as Gulden Draak ;)

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 03:06:18 | More by Digimaika2

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle dated BB 08/03/12 poured into a Duvel tulip at ~ 7C

A: Straw yellow with a touch of haze and a decent white head that leaves some lacing. Lots of carbonation coming off the base of the glass.
S: Intriguing muskiness and a bit of pear with a hint of spiciness (perhaps black pepper?)
T: Much maltier and sweeter than I was expecting for a tripel. Light caramel, hints of fruit. Mainly apple juice and sweetness, not at all what I was expecting, especially after just having had a Triple Karmeliet...
M: Way too sweet for a beer that should be dry. Lingers...
O: To call this average is an insult to a well made triple, but it is an average beer. If I were grading this solely to style (which I never do), it would be worse.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 02:18:07 | More by kjyost

UDbeernut

New York

4.03/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

whoa, this is an active one. golden hue large foamy white head with tons of retention. crockery sweetness, clove, and hint of alcohol in the nose. taste is well rounded sweet crackery, slight biscuit. light clove and pepper, this style is not terribly drinkable, but this is a nice sipper on a chilly damp night.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 00:18:24 | More by UDbeernut

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very nice Belgian beer. Poured it into my De Koninck goblet and it created a lovely bit of white head.
I didn't get any lace, as it went down, but I didn't really miss that, either.
This is a much sweeter trippel than I'm used to and was expecting.
Hop presence is minimal and carbonation is active but a bit on the lower side.
All in all, a fine choice with my meal, and I'd definitely have another one another time!

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 15:55:06 | More by MAB

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.63/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a Rochefort chalice. Stamped "06/DI"...June?

A: A grand head fizzles and fades out, leaving only cloudy wisps of its former glory. The beer is a dull, straw yellow that's translucent but too murky to see though.

S: Medicinal/cough syrupy vibe melts into sweet anise. Faint fruit, bananas and maraschino cherries. Hints of yeast.

T: Definitely intriguing. Carbonated and spritely. The cough syrup taste is there briefly but then gone for good to be replaced by light, zesty grain. Tarter than anticipated, with a sour sort of aftertaste that is not unpleasant, but a bit off-putting.

M: Pleasant, drying, tingly, and fun. Not as heavy as I feared it might be.

O: I saw this at the store and bought it because I'd never seen one before. I wish I'd read the reviews first. It's far from bad, but it's a very disappointing tripel and, in my opinion, not worth five dollars. I can't recommend it, but nor do I have heavy criticism.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 23:10:01 | More by AgentMunky

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Has a fruity/citrus nose, smelling primarily of flowers (especially roses) and wildflower honey straight from the honeycomb, with a hint of sugary champagne.

On the tongue, the ale comes across as dry, but immensely flavorful, with fruit and champagne flavors swirling together. The first flavors, however, are almost sour, like apple ciders or light Flemish ales. The sugars take a while to show up, but when they do the ale changes characteristics, and lights up in the mouth to produce lovely flowery flavors, like rose hips. Light fruity flavors (banana, pear) accompany this, resting on top of an even lighter toasted grain base. The sugars last a good while into the aftertaste, and keep company with the dry hoppy finish.

Overall, I found this a good ale, though I was surprised at how dry and flowery it came across, as I was expecting far more sugars. Definitely worth trying, as this nicely expands the range of flavors available for Trippels in a nuanced, balanced, very drinkable package.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 22:02:01 | More by jondeelee

russwbeck

Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured into my trusty Duvel Tulip with a wallop of white head. Rising out of the yellow pour with ice cream. Resting atop for seemingly forever and lacing wonderfully.

S: Spicy, banana, floral. Big smell. Seems to be sort of a hefe base.

T: The taste is pretty basic. Easy drinking base of Belgian yeasts and bananas. Very sweet. Fruity and full of ester elsewhere. Maybe even a bit musty. The taste on the backend isn't great.

MF: Light, crisp, full of carbonation, very drinkable.

O: Just average. This was part of that 6 pack of Belgian imports box. Glad I tried it, but on to the next one.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 09:33:54 | More by russwbeck

Nerudamann

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter glass.

Look - pale, saison-like color, somewhat murky, with about half a finger's worth of foam that dissipates quickly.

Smell - a bit estery and fruity in smell. Malted quality seems to be there, but also with a mild presence of hops.

Taste and Mouthfeel - very interesting fruity taste at the very beginning, but not necessarily sweet. Crispy bite in the middle, and then a slight mellowness in the finish. Texture is pretty well-balanced, but leans a little more on the watery side. Alcohol is present more at the end. Very interesting taste.

Overall - again, very interesting and transitioning type of taste. Very good taste, and fun to think about.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 03:23:04 | More by Nerudamann

FosterJM

California

3.08/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

570th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
330ML

Bevmo Belgium Pack

App- A lighter golden yellow with a one finger head. Slight cling. Just seemed a bit off to me.

Smell- I got some hefe notes of the base beer and then some apples and some spice.

Taste- A very off triple to me, wasnt digging this one as much as I wanted to. The profile is a bit unbalanced and doesnt impart the right flavors. Yeast is too soft while the other flavors arent strong enough.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated. Left a soft yeast tinge on the tounge but not much.

Drink- An average triple. Wont be coming back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:39:15 | More by FosterJM

Kooz

New York

3.38/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams flared pint glass. Dull yellow in color, and cloudy. Sticky head that never fully dissipates. Interesting, I like it.

I get floral and spice when I smell this beer. These aren't hints--they are significant.

Nice flavor, lots of depth, but there's a floral aftertaste that is just too strong. Now, several pulls in, it is so overpowering that it's all I can taste, aside form the sourness of the beer. It isn't bad, so I won't rate it below average, but I can't rate it higher than average.

Good mouthfeel. Too much bite, but that's the only negative. It's thick and foamy on a swish, but smooth on a sip.

This is a good beer, and while I don't think I'd want too many, I'd certainly order this. I'm not sure what my overall score will be, but I have to rate fairly and the smell and taste were not above average. This is certainly an above average beer though, and I am giving it a strong 4 overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 00:40:30 | More by Kooz

chinchill

South Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330 ml bottle from a Belgian sampler 6-pack. Different label than BA photo. Served in a flared wine glass.

A - clear light golden with a rich near-white head that lingers. Appears strongly carbonated.

S - Spicy, mainly cloves, and floral. Higher ABV partly apparent.

T - a little sweet, but not unpleasantly so. More clove than I prefer (though nothing like a Leffe), and enough spicing to mask the flavors of malt and hops.

M - good carbonation; could perhaps be lower. Light body

O - approaches average for a Belgian tripel.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 01:12:02 | More by chinchill

bmwats

Louisiana

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 33 cl bottle into a chalice.

A: Deep golden hue. Medium carbonation. Pours about a 1 finger, foamy, white head. Settles pretty slowly leaving a thin layer of carbonation on the surface. No lacing to speak of.

S: Syrupy, rich, malty nose. Woody, baked bread with a little raisin, and coriander.

T: Peaty malt flavor with a tinge of raisin, molasses, licorice, and coriander.

M: High alchohol. Thick, robust, syrupy body. The peaty dry finish lingers.

D: Good enough, but has just a bit of an offputting aftertaste.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Nice color, solid foamy head. Nose is a really malty baked bread with a touch of spice. Thick and rich, malty and peaty. Overall, this is a pretty good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 03:58:22 | More by bmwats

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml squat bottle, just a few days past its best before date - at 9% ABV, pfft...

This beer pours a clear, medium frozen golden colour, with three fingers of tight, thin foamy white head, which leaves a toppled paint can ebbing of lace in the glass as it sinks away. It smells of sweet yeast and grain, mild orchard fruit, and floral perfume. The taste is more of the same - soft yeasty pale malt, and floral fruit, with a warming, edgy booziness. The carbonation is zingy and tingly, but not strong, the body medium weight, and sugary smooth, the underlying alcohol tugging the cuffs a bit. It finishes sweet - more malt and fruit now, the perfume trailing off.

I sure have never had a beer that so reminded me of that gauntlet one must run when entering the women's section of a big department store - boozy, floral, and strained. There is no comfort in this offering, the alcohol too metallic instead of subtle, and the fruitiness wrapped up in eau de toilette.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 02:01:48 | More by biboergosum

Beer4Baltimore

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

- from the notes and from a brewery sampler pack.
A - clear gold with bubbles.
S - some spices with malts and hops. Nothing is overwhelming.
T - expected more spice but still find it satisfying.
M - easy moving light to medium body.
D - drinable but not in the same way as other triples I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 22:12:33 | More by Beer4Baltimore

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

2.58/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Reviewed 4/12/11

330ml bottle (8/04/10) poured into a chalice

A: Pours light golden yellow, hazy, 2+ finger white fluffy head that sticks around a while and leaves good lacing.

S: Lots of banana, some clove, apple, tiny tiny bit of tart funk, sugar.

T: Similar to the nose, lots of banana with sharp, tart apple coming up from behind to take over the palate. There's a touch of funk, chalky yeast, lightly toasted golden malt, and a good bit of alcohol on the finish. Has a bit of a harsh astringency in the middle that lingers through the finish, almost ruining an otherwise pleasant flavor profile. The astringency and metallic finish (perhaps some sulphur too) makes this fairly hard to drink. Getting through just one bottle seems like a chore right now.

M: Very high carbonation, moderate body thats overwhelmed by the carbonation. Very chalky, dry boozy finish. As with the taste, the body is quite harsh.

O: I feel like this has potential but needs a lot of refinement. Everything about it is harsh, over-carbonated, too chalky, and bad astringency. This is supposed to be a delicate style and there is nothing delicate about this beer. A good triple is highly drinkable for the high alcohol content, but I could barely finish just a single 330ml bottle. My recommendation? Stay away, far far away.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 02:57:07 | More by Satchboogie