Ename Tripel - Brouwerij Roman N.V.

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.56/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Belgian ales are in a separate class of they're own ... and this one is a great example!

I am a brewer and I wish I knew how they did these, there has to be some secret to getting that slight fruity twang underneath it all ...that's what separates these beer from all others!

Slight head might have something to do with the high alcohol and I pour at an angle to minimize head retention. Strong ...about three times the flavor as an standard Belgian, imagine that. When I drank this one, I followed it with three other Belgians, because I wanted to see the difference. Three different beers, three different abbey's ... and much to my surprise, they all tasted the same, except in strength.

Floral honey notes with a twang!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 14:13:34 | More by FlatRabbitRed

smakawhat

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

A nice rocky white head is made off the pour, not much lacing and some retention but settles to a nice puck. Body color is a real nice clear honey gold and bronze, with lots of rising carbonation and a big center column of rising fire. Very impressive, just wish the head stuck around longer, but otherwise real great looking.

Nose is soft and floral, mild sweetness mixing with dry grape like white wine. Crisp sense coming with perhaps some good malt density.

Real nice thickness, and a good alcohol warming but not boozy action. Sweetness comes with a great crisp palate. A bit gaseous though, but a good mix of floral and honey malts rolling in the tongue, with a good tongue tingle in the front. Chewy soft sweet dessert breads in taste and feel.

Overall I really like this tripel's taste profile, glad I picked this one up.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 21:25:59 | More by smakawhat

zerk

California

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a beer that I brought back with me from Belgium... a delicious example of an Abbey Tripel. Pours a clear deep gold, with cascading bubbles that create a persistent 1/4 inch head. Some slight traces of lace left on the glass. Aroma is a mix of tropical fruits, musty yeast, coriander and pepper. Flavor begins sweet and fruity, with some apple and passion fruit. Becomes yeasty with some must. Finishes with a peppery hoppiness. Quite smooth and medium bodied. This is a very good beer, that is worth seeking out!

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2003 03:04:36 | More by zerk

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Squat typical Belgian 11.2 oz bottle. Best before date of 1997!Poured golden with amber tinges, tad cloudy, with some yeast clumps floating around. Head is snow white, tiny bubbles and lacing is sticky, clinging, wispy and well developed. Nose is strong, vinious, spicy, alcohol. Rich full bodied tripel, notes of tropical fruits, yeast, nuts, gobs of spice. More vinious notes, alcohol expertly kept in the background. Finishes with a dry vanilla, lime, peppery, hoppy note that is sublimeThis is a full flavored and bodied tripel. Nicely crafted,balanced and exhibiting world class complexity. Seek it out, found this one at RT. 59 Beverage in W. Nyack NY

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2004 16:32:29 | More by Billolick

beeronesse

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice, really nice.

Poured a clear, yellow-gold with a small white head. I have to say that I was surprised this was clear because I'm used to Triples being unfiltered.

Great aroma; promised golden fruit and spice.

Taste is divine, though a little sweet. Definitely some golden apple, banana, coriander, slight bread, toast? from the yeast Nice, long finish with high drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 22:01:29 | More by beeronesse

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

In its own glassware. An almost-clear blonde color with a half-inch head.

Bit of tart apple and wet hay, but otherwise, smells like liquid bread. Pretty enticing.

Bready flavor with estery apple, quince, and lemony hops. More straw and some funk with a spit of alcohol fumey-ness. Mild spice note, like coriander. Mellow and complex.

Creamy, smooth, hefty, and very bready. Pockets of bubbles in the mouth.

A solid tripel. A must try.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2012 05:03:23 | More by thecheapies

dqrull

Sweden

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden yellow with a lively white head that forms nice, but thin lid on the brew after a while.

Smells fresh of apples, green grapes, a hint of mandarin as well, slightly yeasty all along. A sugary prescense is also backing up the fresh fruits, reminds of spun sugar.

A really surprisingly full flavour, was nothing spcial when I just took it out of the fridge, but as it warms up it really grows. The green fruits are here, as well as a tartness reminding me of ripe red berries, strawberries and raspberries in particular, and maybe some gooseberries as well. A bigger malt-prescense than the nose suggested, which backs up the other flavours with a great balance. This is sweeter than most tripels, but it fits right into the flavourbill, the sweetness has a slight note of fudge to it as well, great. Finishes with a light bitterness from the hops that keep in the back for the rest of the experience.

Light- to medium body, with a refreshing light carbonation, fitting.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2010 19:28:28 | More by dqrull

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A-cloudy yellow with a thick white head

S-strong scent of caramel and belgian sugars. very bready. okay scent

T-comes in with a decent bready taste of pale belgian malts. banana. fairly bitter and slightly syrupy. its not harsh at all, but fairly raw. lasting flavor

M-high carbonation with a dry finish

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 01:23:00 | More by AdamBear

flagmantho

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 330mL bottle into my new Kasteel goblet.

Appearance: hazy golden color with a thin head of quickly-dissipating white foam. I'd like it to be a little lighter and have a better head, but it's not bad.

Smell: sweet, fruity flavors of apple and pear. Aroma is light but quite nice and endearing.

Taste: big malt background with a nice chalky fruitiness, again mostly pear and apple. Refreshing and fulfilling ... I like it a lot.

Mouthfeel: big, creamy and delicious. This is one thing which drew me to the style in the first place; this is certainly a good example of what I like.

Drinkability: quite drinkable indeed. The overall flavor and consistency are quite refreshing and appealing. A good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2010 03:06:24 | More by flagmantho

RoyalT

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - This poured a dingy-looking orange in color. The beer annoyingly foamed up at the pour then lost its head two minutes after hitting the glass.

Smell - I thought this might be a bad bottle after the explosive pour but the nose is quite nice. It is very fruity with some good grapefruit that's not bitter but more like the fleshy sweet part. There's some orange in here and maybe a hint of cherries as well. The banana is quite big for the style and adds an interesting aspect to the bouquet.

Taste - The big fruits find their way perfectly to the taste. The banana in particular is huge on the tongue. There's really not a lot of bitterness to this ale. It is very sweet and fruity with some light spicing. The cherry isn't nearly as strong at the banana but it's there just enough to form a really cool cherry-banana flavor.

Mouthfeel - This is a big, full-bodied ale with marginal carbonation.

Drinkability - I'll take a few points away for the lack of carbonation but without the big Belgian bubbles this goes down exceptionally well. The powerful sweet flavor keeps the glass draining and the 8.5% ABV is completely unnoticeable.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 00:36:41 | More by RoyalT

Beejay

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A dusty straw color, poured into my family guy pint glass... a full two fingers of soft cloudy white head. Well, not really my fingers.. but someone who is a little skinnier than me. A little bit hazy from the yeast sediment.

S: Clove, banana, strawberries, and a bit of yeast. Smells sweet like a cool afternoon when the leaves are just starting to turn along the shores of great flowing river.

T: Sweet, and delicious. Strawberry flavors without any bite from the alcohol. Dry like a champaign. Sweet nectar of the Gods!!

M: Highly carbonated like a champaign, sweet, dry and a light mouthfeel. Like drinking sweet carbonated mountain waters filtered through a strawberry field.

D: What can I say, this is a pretty great beer, and if this review isn't lost like the last 3 or 4 I've written then it will be pretty awesome. Tastes good, is very enjoyable, and refreshing and the alcohol is very well masked. Delicious and worth a buy.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 02:47:13 | More by Beejay

GClarkage

California

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

06/03/06- Purchased at Holiday Wine Cellars in Escondido, CA.

Presentation- 11.2oz stubby bottle. A best buy date printed on the side of the label. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Somewhat deep golden color...maybe a dull golden. Wonderful thick to the rim fluffy white head. At least a 1/2 inch remains the entire beer. Scads of chunks and streaks everywhere. Brilliant!

Smell- A tad earthy. Corriander for sure, white pepper and a menagirie of tropical scents.

Taste- Damn, this is all and I mean all corriander. It's very good, but I think they overdid it a bit. Corriander covers up just about all the other flavors. I do sense some peach and definite pear like flavors though. Hops come through in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Streaming, bubbly carbonation...a bit to high, but common for the style. Lasting sharp hop bitterness.

Drinkability- If you like corriander...you get the picture. Worth trying for sure. Very nice tasting and different brew here.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2006 23:43:13 | More by GClarkage

DARIVA

Netherlands

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Partly cloudy yellow beer with a nice white head.

S: Slightly sweet, slightly caramel.

T: Slightly sweet, slightly caramel. Delicious sweet aftertaste.

M: Super, an indulgence, light tingling, delicious rolls on the tongue.

O: Delicious beer completely, fairly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 19:15:47 | More by DARIVA

superspak

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into chalice; lot 3393, no bottle dating. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a beautiful 2-3 finger dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing on the glass, with a good amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big lemon, pear, apple, herbal, earth, bread, grass, floral, honey, candi sugar, pepper, and yeast spices. Very nice and well balanced aromas with good strength and complexity. Taste of big pear, apple, citrus, grape, herbal, floral, grass, earth, bread, honey, candi sugar, coriander, pepper, and yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruit, earth, herbal, floral, bread, pepper, and yeast spices on the finish for a short bit. Fairly dry and crisp on the finish. Very nice balance of malt flavors and yeast spiciness; with good complexity. High carbonation and medium bodied; with a prickly, yet very smooth mouthfeel; lightly slick. Alcohol is very well hidden with pretty much no warming noticed at all after the finish. Overall this is an excellent tripel! Very nicely carbonated; with good flavor balance and complexity. Really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 01:45:29 | More by superspak

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A new arrival at Pazzo's Pizza Pub. Since they do no wrong with any of the beers that they offer, I had to try it. Ultimately a classic Trippel that begins with a canary straw color with about 50% opacity; a stubborn head retention that kept me from filling the tulip glass to it's full capacity. Waiting for the foam to subside, I notices big, full aromas of sweet pilsner-type malts, estery pears, apples, and berries, firm yeasty, pepery, bready back-up notes. Once I was finally able to sample the beer, I found the same sweet characters that I found in the nose, but with a little more strength that the aromas let on. Flavors emphasized the fruitiness and pepery characters (which took on sweet and hot alcoholic flavors). The feel was full and well rounded initially, but after the alcohols took, the beer dried out in a hurry and left very little in the way of aftertaste--quite evaporative. I liked this beer quite a bit, very similar to a strong Belgian Pale.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 14:13:27 | More by BEERchitect

Wildman

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a cloudy straw gold color and formed a huge foamy off white head that left latticed lace as it slowly subsided. A medium amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, citrus, banana and bread. The flavor was of malt, candy and a hint of butter and pepper. The body was light and slightly creamy. The finish was fresh and a touch sweet.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 03:16:29 | More by Wildman

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden sunshine yellow containing a typically Belgian amount of carbonation. The result is a massive snow white cap that is only moderately rocky as it deflates. Unfortunately, it doesn't possess the world-class looks that many Belgian ales are known for. As well, the lace that manages to stick to the glass is overly melty. Note: for some reason, subsequent pours look much better in terms of both head and lace.

The nose effortlessly pulls thing back into the range of good. It's par for the tripel course, with an emphasis on sun-ripened orchard fruit rather than on spices or alcohol. Warm clove is present, alcohol is not. I find it interesting that some tripels, like this one, smell and taste like banana. I like monkey fruit so I don't mind a bit.

While Ename Tripel is far from earth shattering, it's a capable enough beer. All else being equal, if a high-ABV beer favors bold over tame, I'll probably like it more. This one isn't a screamer in the mold of De Dolle Dulle Teve (Mad Bitch), but it ain't no shrinking violet either.

It tastes like there's a fair amount of shortbread-like pale malt present, along with a hefty dose of candi sugar. The pears and apples soaking in sugar syrup sweetness is almost, but not quite, balanced by a noble hop bite. As in the nose, clove spicy yeast plays a supporting role. Unlike the nose, well-integrated, peppery alcohol plays a little game of slap and tickle with the taste buds. This is delicious beer.

The mouthfeel is pretty close to right on the money. Most of the original bubbles have now entered the atmosphere, leaving me with less carbonation than is usual for the style. It's still lively enough to keep things from feeling anywhere close to flat. A sweet, silkyslick linger is a definite positive since I like the flavor that it continues to impart.

The only other Brouwerij Roman offering to grace my glass was Sloeber, a decent BSPA, although not an especially memorable one. I'm pleased to report that Ename Tripel is a better beer and is one that I'll be sure to keep an eye out for. If you like Belgian tripels, this is an easy recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2007 14:49:51 | More by BuckeyeNation

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served up at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse sporting proper glassware and all pours a slightly hazed bright golden sunshine hue with an equally vibrant white head fine Belgian style lacing forms in even patterns around my chalice. Aromatics contain sweet fruit layers namingly tart white grapes apricots drizzled with honey tinged alcohol notes flowing amont the barrage the malts is light herbal hops and a touch of alcohol not too boozy. Flavor a well blaanced tripel touch of chalky yeast character with even sweetness caramelized pears, apples, and apricot flavor coming to me honey sweet slight syrupy glaze touch of herbal hop mix very nice stuff alcohol is hidden very well blends right in to the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium bodied effervescent carbonation and contains a touch of residual belgian candi sugar stickiness really flows well though and attenuation is great especially compared to most American brewed versions. Drinkability a well balanced packed with flavor traditional Belgian tripel and when drinking half off at the Edge during happy hour in it's official glass nothing seems better at the time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2007 23:59:45 | More by WVbeergeek

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a chalice)
code on bottle is 9:13 13/02/08
A- This beer pours the color of golden apple juice with a thick mousse head of off-white foam that turns bubbly after a bit. There is a big carbonation of tiny bubbles that support the head.

S- The smell of floral yeast has a big apple juice smell and a faint caramel note that turns into honey as the beer warms. There is a nice apricot smell that comes through as the beer warms, too.

T- The first taste is a light plastic flavor but that decreases as the beer warms. The taste of yeasty, fruity caramel malt is sweet with a white sugar note to finish. There is a fusel alcohol taste at the finish that balances the sweetness a bit.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel that is due much in part to the thick head. There is a soft alcohol heat that grows as the temperature rises.

D- This beer has nice big flavors of a triple and a good amount of alcohol heat to balance it but there is not a lot of depth or complexity to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 18:44:51 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to kryptic for this brew.

Poured into my Corsendonk Christmas Ale glass a nice cloudy yellow color, nice carbonation, nice two-finger plus white fizzy/foamy head, lots of nice sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, yeasty, with some pears. The taste is sweet, malty/yeasty, nice touch of pears, and some spices. Medium body. Drinkable, this is my first from this brewery, and it's pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2008 23:49:37 | More by Wasatch

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orange honey color with a nice firm white head.

Nose is strong yeast, and ripe banana Belgian fruit; yeast esters are very floral and pleasant.

Mouthfeel is rich and bold with wonderful balance and integration of malt with light hop character;

Flavors are very assertive sweet stone fruits, ripe banana and with undertones of sweet creamed coffee and malt.

The hops come out in the end finish with some nice bitter grapefruit character to round out an otherwise malty, sweet-charactered Belgian. Quality and nice drink. Might be a bit sweet for some.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 21:38:15 | More by GRG1313

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Honey sweet tripel, a bit off for the style in a rather pleasing way.

Presentation: 750 ml plastic corked dark brown bottle. Simple design highlighting the name of the brew and a motto in two languages. There is a "best by" line referring to look at the neck of the bottle, which is clear of any date or text. Notes Alc. by Vol. (8.5%). Served in a tulip glass.

A - Faintly hazy deep gold pour with a generous head, medium to low retention, and a shy surface memory and lacing.

S - Shy sweetness, honey with a touch of spice.

T - Taste expands the nose in particular picking up the honey coating clove and maybe cardamon... Hefty sticky sweet range, rich but not overpowering.

M - Medium body with gentle carbonation, a bit soft, but working well with the smooth sweetness.

D - Nice sweet tripel, close at one point to the sipping side.

Notes: It is not what I would typically expect of a standard tripel, and I like it! It lacks a notch to make it a truly outstanding brew, and the imports to this one to the US feel particularly overpriced, but it is quite tasty and particular. A common acidity around the spiciness for my palate associated with tripels is not here. Instead a hefty spicy sense leans more to spiced honey with a completely different drinking experience. I´m not sure that this will work very well for big fans of the style or necessarily be attractive to people expecting a predictable flavor, but if not, one is in for a treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 16:15:28 | More by Daniellobo

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear gold (though if you let the bottom of the bottle in your glass, it will cloud it just a bit). Slight off white head. The thought came to me in the midst of tasting this one: "A milder Duvel". On the end it has a very slight bitter tone to it. Feel is very good though. Leaves a lasting bubble on your tongue. Drinkable. Sure. But the alcohol will get to you, and that slightly bitter edge on the end detracts. Good. But I don’t think it’s one to go back to.

I’d suggest not letting the bottom of this bottle into your glass. It seems to bring a more bitter edge to it and does not positively influence the brew as a whole.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 08:52:56 | More by RblWthACoz

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 fl oz bottle obtained at Ron's in Farmington... Slightly murky golden body with a three fingers of off-white head. Citrus (orange peel or maybe grapefruit?) dominate the aroma. Complex flavor. Citrus, malt, and a little hop bitterness and pineyness are evident. Alcohol is also present, but is not as noticeable as other flavors. Fairly easy to drink. Lighter in body than some tripels, but not light bodied by any means.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2006 00:29:23 | More by MrHurmateeowish

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the sharp-edge creekhouse this afternoon. Served in an Ename chalice.

A- Body is a crystal clear light golden yellow with some bubbles on the side of the glass. Head is creamy and white at 1/2 finger with perfect retention. No lacing is left behind in the glass.

S- Nose is light and rich in phenols. Floral hops and a light, sweet fruity scent lie deep in the background.

T- Not much to the taste at first. There is a light, sweet fruitiness with apples and maybe white grapes upfront. The finish is almost all floral hop flavor-but very reserved. All that lingers is a hint of residual alcohol. Very clean.

M- The mouthfeel is very light and smooth. Low carbonation and light body.

D- This tripel definitely isn't one that "wow"s me but it is elegant in its own right in how light and smooth the flavor and mouthfeel are. It doesn't come on as strong as most brews of this style. I do really like this one and will have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2008 21:49:12 | More by PittBeerGirl