Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale - Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a complex beer, though it tasted primarily of rich malt, carmel, brown sugar and molasses, honey and spices(nutmeg,allspice) in the background. Cherry, fig, Full foamy pour, goes down easy and popular, on the high alcohol and very sweet side. A great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2005 05:28:13 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Blood orange with ripe orange peel edges. A massive amount of carbonation can be seen leaping off the bottom of the glass and slamming into the underside of a fluffy, airy head of pale gold that is still massive several minutes after the pour. Unfortunately, the foam isn't tacky in the least and leaves almost no lace.

I'm much more impressed with the nose. It's dark fruity and spicy and is everything that I like about BSDAs. I smell whiskey and dark rum-soaked figs, caramel, brown sugar and clove intensive yeast. I'd almost believe that the beer was aged in charred oak barrels that had previously held bourbon, but that doesn't sound very monkish to me.

Triple Imperiale is good beer. Still though, I'm not sure that it belongs in the top-100. At least not in my top-100. I'm pretty sure the brewery has quality control issues; especially since my first two bottles (that were still more than a year away from their 'best by' dates) were drain pours due to a huge amount of coagulated protein.

The flavor profile follows the nasal profile. It's sweet and fruity (cherries now come to mind) and spicy, all at once. The most amazing thing is that there's no trace of alcohol, something that's almost unheard of in a 10%'er. Actually, the beer tastes aged rather than fresh. The 'best by' date (end 2008) would suggest that it's the latter.

The reason that I'm not gobsmacked by Triple Imperiale is that it lacks depth and complexity. It doesn't have that dizzying array of flavors that expand in all directions when beer hits mouth, as the truly world-class versions have. I'm still enjoying the hell out of the 11.2 ounce bottle though. I never said that it isn't good, just that it isn't great.

The mouthfeel may be the biggest reason why I think 'aged' every time I drink. It's infinitely smooth, but lacks that expansiveness and silky creaminess that I look for in Belgian beer. In addition, it isn't as viscous as I'd expect for the amount of sweetness. It looks like all those frenetic bubbles burned themselves out way too soon.

Given that others have been floored by this Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs offering, I'm prepared to believe that I got a less than perfect bottle. The problem is, there are any number of great BSDAs out there that are stunning each and every time I pop the cap. I'll try another bottle or two, but I'm not interested in playing Belgian roulette too many more times.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2007 22:29:02 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one has been sitting around in the fridge for a couple months waiting for me to try it, so last night was the night as I was in the mood for something different. Poured a very deep dark and hazy brown with a huge tan head of gooey and foamy lace. Lots of visible carbonation throughout the session. A nice concentric ring of side lace was left throughout and some sediment was visible. The smell was interesting, lots of yeast and spice, but for some reason seemed muted, and at the same time kind of sweet. The taste was very full and robust. Lots of flavors with hints at dark fruits and a nice rounded earthy back. There was a slight tart like twang in the bite and a short finish that I thought could have been more drawn out. Not a hint at all of the 10% ABV and it was remarkably smooth for being so heavy. Overall this was an odd one, there was nothing really bad at all about it, but it just did not really stand out to me as anything fantastic other the very smooth nature of it. Almost silk like it was solo smooth. This was definitely a nice triple, but to be honest I have had better. That’s ok though it is still a very good beer and something I would say you should definitely try if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2007 00:40:15 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle of this at State Line. Served in a wine glass.

Pours dark brown with a slight head that falls to a thin collar and a galaxy cap. Spins out to a thin collar throughout. The nose is not clearly as sweet as the Brune. There is a stronger plum/prune character with some very slight spice. There is some grape in the nose. The taste is dry without too much sweetness. A bit of mild earthy character; maybe some slight hints of tobacco. There are plum and dark fruits as well. Mild date character. The finish is a bit too dry and mildly astringent. Strange, somewhat-sharp dryness there. No booze at all, which is quite impressive. Drinkable but nowhere near the level of the Brune.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 03:07:50 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: I popped the cap on the 750 ml bottel and it was like Mount Vesuvius - could a Champagne on New Year's Day look any better? The beer pours a surprisingly dark amber body with a frothy head and plenty of lacing

Smell: Luscious caramel and candy sugar malt along with various fruit flavors - pineapples, figs and dates come to mind

Taste: Extraordinarily well-balanced sweet candy and fruit flavors come together and last well into the finish; unlike so many beers that change mid-palate, this one is very consistent with only a subtle change that dries out the tongue slightly and keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, medium to thick bodied with plenty of carbonation

Drinkability: I was surprised by this as I was expecting a tripel but this doesn't taste like any other tripel I have tasted; it also is not near as full-flavored as a Belgian Strong Dark as it lacks the dark fruit characteristics; this is a singular path that is a truly rewarding taste experience

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2006 00:39:08 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of Adrian910ss: Poured a cloudy dark brown color ale after some gushing, with a big foamy head with great retention. Aroma of candi sugar, strong Belgian malt and slightly funky yeast. Taste of sweet Belgian malt with nice candi sugar and funky yeast prove a balance and complex beer. Body is above average with low filtration and great carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden. Another great beer from this fine Belgian brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2007 16:00:38 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A fantastic beer that falls somewhere between Kasteel Bruin in sweetness and Chimay Blue in fruity esters.

The beer errupts from the bottle, robbing me from a good portion of the 11.2 oz. bottle. But after the beer settles down a bit, the bronze colored, hazy, well-retained beer distictly screams Belgian. With great rocky head formation and lacing, this is a good looking beer.

The aromas are ideally malty / candy sweet, dried stone fruits, melded spiciness, and powerful alcohols. All come together very well and create an alluring aroma.

Tastes are similar with highlights on figs and dates, nuts, berries, confectionate sugar, belgian tartness, light spiciness, and strong alcohols.

Very full and rich to the mouth. Almost thick up front but finishing with a sweet dryness.

The beer does pose a mild vinous character and with cough syrup-like hotness, and a hint of a grape soda flavor just before the finish. Dangerously close to perfection but there are the slight inconsistencies that keep it from the Rochefort 10's out there. Hats off to Brassarie Des Rocs for a most pleasurable beer.

Thanks Cheezdawg! (04/18/10)

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2006 18:49:25 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium murky brown with a big fluffy headthat settles quite fast not leaving much lace behind,awesome aromas of almond,cinnamon,and juicy orange really woke up the sences.Alot of dark fruit going on flavor wise some plum and raisin are very prevelant along with some cinnamon and maybe a touch of nutmeg with a nice lingering yeasty finish.Glad to have the opportunity to try this very complex and enjoyable will seek out again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2005 18:52:46 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Yeah, that's right, this is the Emperor's tripel, boy! Anyway, this stuff pours a mostly clear sunset bronze-amber topped by a finger of off-white foam. Some floaties show up, but nothing much to speak of. The nose comprises plenty of dark fruits (primarily figs, though some dates shine through as well), Belgian yeast, clove, light cinnamon, candied orange peel, and good amount of sweet biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, leading with the spices, then into a sweeter version of the fruits, then a strong wave of caramel, biscuit, and booze. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a nice tripel, but the booze is a touch off-putting, and it comes across more like a spicy BSDA than a tripel, but it still ain't bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 19:47:31 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is very hazy brown in color and poured with a finger high beige head that slowly died down and left a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass and wispy patterns of bubbles in the center. There are lots of chunky yeast particles visible floating in suspension.
S: There are strong aromas of dark fruits in the nose--plums and raisins stand out in particular.
T: Like the smell, the taste is rather fruity and has flavors of dark fruits and yeast. There are notes of malty sweetness and some hints of spices.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and smooth on the palate with a light to moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer goes down very smoothly and the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Note: Expiration date on bottle indicates best before end of 2009, so this beer must be aged.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 15:45:12 | More by metter98

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

4 months after my first review from an 11.2 oz. bottle, and a couple hours after my review from a keg, let's see what's so different from a 750 ml bottle...

Deep, dark tawny brown color, utterly opaque, lush head, thick and large, creamy tan...

Aroma: ahhh!!! there's that ethereal Belgian yeast/malt smell, just gorgeous! light fruit, blended just-so with this unheard-of yeasty flavor...ah!!!
cookie dough meets cherries and berries...a nutty, bready slice of nirvana...

Taste: Mmmm! Spicy sweet, wityh dark fruits a factor, yeast at play, but kicky spice riding over it all...this is a full force flavor treat!
The flavor lays large on the tastebuds, and resonates richly throughout the senses...

...as this is my third review of this very new beer, I don't really know how much there is left to say, except that the differences between small and large bottles have been exaggerated!
It's an amazing beer, no matter how you sample it.

Someone coyly asked me tonight if this brew, which I serve on draft at my bar, for the time being, was brewed by monks. No, sorry, it's brewed by guys who are free to do with their peters what they may. Let the demystification of Belgian-style beer commence, and let the burning of boundaries begin in earnest...this dark "triple" already gets it going in that direction!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2005 08:10:09 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a cloudy dark brown color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great! It has an intense malt scent that boasts of pale, roasted, and crystal malts along with loads of Belgian yeast aroma. It has a warm, roasted character that is fruity, but well balanced with the malts. The taste is awesome. This is one smooth beer, even at 10% alcohol. It's malty to the core with just enough spice and fruitiness the round out the taste. The mouthfeel is excellent. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is one awesome beer. I'm not the biggest Belgian beer fan, but I could drink this all day.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2006 18:12:03 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer poured into a Russian river tulip. Beer is brien and hazy with a halo head of off white bubbles. Some lacing and low carbonation.

Aroma is bready and sweet with lots of esters.

Beer is thin and sweet up front and mildly dry. The finish has a mild roast and a mild bitterness. Lots of yeast character on the early to midpalate. Decent mouthfeel and a nice finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 05:06:32 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Awesome! A top 100 beer at a restaraunt (Sycamore) in Columbia, MO.

A - Poured the 11.2 oz bottle into a sinifter. It had a rich burgandy color with a small, white head. The foam lingers and leaves a little trace of lacing.

S - It smelled of burnt toast, spices and some clove.

T - It had a rich burnt malt flavor. The malt was complimented by a hop spiciness and hints of clove.

M - This was crisp and smooth. A heavy-bodied beer with a warm alcohol presence.

D - This is an amazing beer. It is well-balanced and easy to drink despite it's high alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2007 12:54:58 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap 2/4/07 at Pitcher’s Pub in Cumberland, RI, served in a goblet.

A: The beer is a deep brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of brown sugar, dark fruit, caramelized malt and faint yeast.

T: The taste is sweet with the same flavors of dark fruits, brown sugar, caramel and a little yeast, that you get from the smell. Likewise the after-taste is sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down very easily, it has a heavy kick that is well-disguised and makes this beer dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2007 22:43:23 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

BBd 12-31-08

Pours an effervescent & hazy caramel/orange with 1 finger of sand colored head.
Above average head retention & average lacing

S: Peppery spice & nice pears & apricot notes. I also pick up brown sugar & orange peels as this warms up

T: Orange slices, jammy fruits, pepper, some brown sugar& leafy hops up front. Figs, apple,caramel, a bit of smoked apple (like the bacon) pears, raisins, prunes & chocolate & dryness as this warms. Finishes dry, fruitty, with some piney hops sneaking in, warming, boozey & very complex, really pulls together at room temp. Almost squeaked out a 4.5

MF: Slightly prickly then slickness with a slight juicyness, plus warming notes as this warms

Drinks pretty good for the abv & complexity. Not the best of the style but interesting enough to make you want more. A nice fire side sipper

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2008 09:09:21 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by 2008, Sampled September 2005
This beer is incredibly well carbonated, which produces a pale tan colored head that is two fingers thick and a layered lacing as I drink from my glass. The beer is a hazy amber color that shows ruby highlights when held up to the light. The aroma is rich and malty, and I mean rich and malty. Notes of concentrated caramel, rich toffee, a backdrop of fruits like cherry and fig. What an olfactory experience, definitely take a minute to enjoy the aromatic notes coming off this beer.

The beer is quite dry up front, almost surprisingly so, but it quickly moves to a full sweet flavor that dominates the beer through to the finish. There is a nutty, almond note here, think of Amaretto, that really comes out with the sweetness. I also get hints of cherry, vanilla, toffee, caramel, clove. The finish has a light astringency to it that is quickly followed by a light bitterness that makes a faint attempt at balancing the sweetness. This beer is definitely quite rich, and actually has quite a similar flavor profile to the other beers I have had from this brewery. It is perhaps a bit too sweet though, which seems to drown out what might otherwise be a pretty complex beer. Though it is certainly is drinkable, almost as an after dinner desert.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2005 05:01:23 | More by Gueuzedude

Halcyondays

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

25.4 oz. bottle,

A: Dark brown with ruby highlights, a thick white, almost tan head, with excellent retention.

S: Dark fruits, malt, and molasses.

T: Very tasty, with dark fruits - raisins and plums, with molasses and rum, and very fragrant and tasty Belgian yeast esters, very complex, I think this is one of the best Belgian Darks that I've ever had.

M: Big and chewy, quite dry, however, smooth and robust in the end.

D: One of the most drinkable big beers that I have ever had, the 10% is completely hidden, an excellent beer, would recommend it to anyone. I'm glad I reviewed it for #100.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2007 07:19:43 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brownish burgandy in color with a nice 2 finger head. The head fell quickly but left a surface covering for a good part of the rest of the session. Some spotty lacing developed. The aroma was of bread, yeast, and sweet candy. The flavor was a complex combination of sweet caramels, yeast, alcohol, ripe plums, raisins, and bread. Extremely pleasant for the tastebuds. Flavors become more pronounced as this warmed.

Mouthfeel was basically smooth with a light crispness at the start. The finish provided a slight tingle on the tongue. Superbly drinkable even though this slightly higher in alcohol. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2005 11:53:38 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked up a bottle for the holidays. At first sip it's reminiscent of Carlous Grand Cru of the Emporer [sp]. This beer is a hazy brown with a subtle but enticing with dark candied fruit. Taste expands on the fruit without goign overboard like I sometimes feel Trois Pistoles does. Typical belgian dark fruit flavors with figs, raisins, grapes, and a bit of apple. The taste isn't outstanding in the field of strong dark belgians, but it's still great. This beer does however have great balance and drinkability. It's not too sweet like some belgians and there's little hint that it's 10% abv.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2006 04:26:55 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a 750 mL bottle of Triple Imperial served in a Chimay goblet. The ale is cool.

A: The ale is a tawny port color with a thick (and explosive) head.

S: The nose is spicy with some curacao aromas.

T: Taste is fruity with an odd edge. I find the following flavors in a sip: smokiness, lemony tartness and chocolate.

M: The mixture of flavors is somewhat uninspiring, not my favorite from Brasserie des Rocs.

D: I'll stick with the Brune, as this one wants to do too much but doesn't quite make it there.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2006 00:51:52 | More by akorsak

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an oversized wine goblet)

A- This beer has a dark brown hazy body with a thin wisp of head floating on top.

S- The smell of perfumed brown sugar has a faint apricot note to it that is just a touch sweet. There is a slight note of lightly toasted malt that has an edge of sweetness and a light candy hint.

T- This beer has a dark sweet malt flavor with a faint wet wood note and a light caramel note. There is a hint of sweet bourbon in the background. As it warmed there was a hint of red Lifesavers in the finish. The overall taste was not overly sweet but very dark fruity flavors.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a faint fizz in the finish.

D- This beer is dark and sweet with lots of nice complex flavors and really taste like a special occasion beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2006 23:26:19 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks Oxymoron

750ml Foiled/Corked Best by 2007

Pours a nice clear ruby red color, nice carbonation, nice two finger head which lasts a long long time, some nice islands and sticky lacing throughout the drink. The nose is of sweet malts, yeast, grapes, figs, prunes, and some caramel. The taste is very nice, mostly malts, yeast, grapes, and figs. Medium body. Very drinkable, another awesome brew from the brewery, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2007 20:24:11 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.58/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a three finger light brown head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Caramel nose. Starts sweet with a molasses/caramel flavor, the high ABV is almost completely hidden, smooth finish. Nice triple. $4.20 for a 11.2oz bottle Liquids Solutions Tigard, Or.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2006 22:39:04 | More by jdhilt

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce bottle , best before dating provided,lightly chilled and poured into a Belgian style chalice, first thing noted is a decent amount of floating sediment...pours dark honey amber, with a long lasting medium tan head, leaving respectable but not truly inspiring lacing. nose is of smokey melon and other ripe fruits. This is a complex and tasty elixir, notes of more melon, honey, yeast, bready malts soft and subtly in the background. I dont know how they hide this ones 10%, but I can pick up no alcohol notes. Pepper, smoke, more melon, vanilla, honey all picked on the final few sips. Mouthfeel is velvety and smoothly coating. Fine, fine brew, I'll need to pick up a large bottle of this tasty stuff next time, seek out and enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2006 23:55:59 | More by Billolick