Petrus Gouden Tripel - Brouwerij Bavik

flagmantho

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 330mL bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: rich golden hue with a touch of haze and an amazing foam cap. We're talking 3 fingers of frothy white foam in my glass -- extremely impressive for a pour which was not even that vigorous. Bam!

Smell: not quite as mind-blowing as the appearance, but still pretty decent. Sweet malt combined with some green apples and a hint of tartness. It lacks complexity and richness, but still has something to offer.

Taste: nice, sweet malt with a little bit of that apple but with some added pears and chalkiness, which I like in a tripel. This is actually a pretty decent drinker; I had had some reservations after sampling the aroma, but this is pretty good.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation and a good creaminess. Not as big as I would have expected from the pour, but still quite good.

Overall: this is a tasty and well-crafted tripel. The aroma could use a little work, but the look is spectacular and the taste delivers for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 22:43:36 | More by flagmantho

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A caveat before beginning my review: when I opened my bottle, it foamed over for a full two minutes, reducing the amount of leftover beer in the bottle by roughly a quarter. I've rarely had this happen before, and don't have a second bottle to see if this is the result of something I did, or something to do with the beer itself. All I can say is that I pulled it out of the fridge and opened it--there were no drops or shakes or jarring motions.

Having said that, and hoping that the foaming didn't affect the taste, this tripel carries many of the expected aromas for the style: malty sugars and fruits, especially berries, orange and apricot, and smells a lot like a nice champagne.

On the tongue, many of the same flavors dominate, the ale being especially heavy on orange and coriander notes, with a few other light fruit esters thrown in. Some dark brown sugars reside in the background, as well as a good light smattering of hops and a thread of lightly toasted grains.

It is, in other words, a good beer, and well-deserving of the high ratings it's garnered. I'm not sure that it necessarily brings anything new to the table for a tripel, but it does easily rank among the better ales available in this style.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 03:05:34 | More by jondeelee

DarthKostrizer

California

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Look: Murky orangish yellow color with a 2 inch head and great retention

Smell: Bready yeast, sweetness from the malt and hints of floral hops, straw and orange zest

Taste: This almost taste like an apple cider. I am picking up huge amounts of apple it is very one dimensional

Mouthfeel: Light body and high carbonation

Overall: Light and fruity just like some girls I have dated. This is a very one dimensional triple. Easy drinkability goes down smooth for the 7.5 abv

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 23:33:21 | More by DarthKostrizer

ThaCreep

Belgium

2.03/5  rDev -45%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Blond almost transparent. Fort oxidized, much like a Pilsener. No flavor in the nose and still classic fruit flavors like banana tripel. Certainly very sparkling mouth but has absolutely no taste. Just a little spice, but without notable spices and aftertaste card and then that's all, or almost. To my taste it feels nothing at all. For a beer in this category is on the edge of outrageous. Limit to drink as a lager of low, but hey, there is still talk of a style triple.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 09:40:33 | More by ThaCreep

laituegonflable

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pale straw colour. Furious bead feeding a very generous white head that fills most of the glass with nice, dense puff. Sinks in lovely marshmallowy pattern on top leaving lovely thick lace. Not sure about how that carbonation will affect the texture, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt for looking otherwise damn fine.

Nose is lovely and sweet. Lots of kiwi with fresh-cut grass and citrus. Sauvignon blanc-esque notes with lovely rich stone fruits coming in all sides - peach, apricot and some apple as well. All tempered by just a whiff of musty Belgian yeast. Magnificent, bold tripely smell: big, boozey but sweet and complex.

Front of the palate is all fruit, with those tangy kiwi, stonefruit and citrus notes paving the way for a quite vinous mid-palate, giving some tart green grapes and some charry oak, plus a hint of boozey warmth late-mid. Finish is fairly smooth and sweet, but leans a bit towards the yeast to border on cloying, and could use more Belgian spice to keep it grounded. It's a very nice, big sweet Belgian palate, but there's not enough zing on the back to complement the tangy fruit upfront.

Yeah, mouthfeel is a little raw from the carbonation combined with the alcohol. Not bad though, very smooth on the front.

A great tripel with really lovely flavours. Falls short of true magnificence but it's a very enjoyable drop.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 05:45:04 | More by laituegonflable

impending

California

2.95/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

750ml into a tulip. Opened with an explosive PoP, upon last twist of loosening the cage it rocketed and could have literally taken an eye out. Crystal clear light golden copper, towering dense frothy head, superb lacing.

Aroma of yeasty sweet light skinned fruits.

Taste disappoints as a quiet metallic note doesn't wait for the aftertaste before appearing, it is front and center as if by design. Light bodied prickly mouthfeel.

Not much to add, mediocre.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 04:45:57 | More by impending

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Large corked and caged bottle kept in the cellar for 2 years. Poured with some vigor and the taste was nicely mellowed but still with all the fruit that you expect from a tripple. Smooth finish but quite a bit of complexity in the midbody. Very good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 16:32:26 | More by canucklehead

Franz4

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A-champagne like head that rests atop a nice golden body. Slightly hazy.

S- apples, bananas both present with a tart pear scent as well. Very inviting nose. Yeast and spice are evident.

T-pear comes through with maybe a touch of peach in the background. Definitely fruity, although the flavors don't come through as strong as they do in the nose.

M-Highly carbonated as the head would suggest, this beer drinks more like champagne, I like it, but it may be masking some of the flavors.

O- A very nice brew, probably my favorite Petrus brew so far.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 03:53:16 | More by Franz4

n2185

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Bottle began to gush as soon as I popped the cap. I managed to get most of it into a glass. Pours a yellow-brown with a torrent of floaties and 3 fingers of white head that recedes into a dense cap.

S: Lots of sweet light fruits here, especially grapes and pears. There are some yeast notes on the finish, but it really smells like white grape juice.

T: Sweet fruits up front with a lot of slightly bitter bread and yeast flavors that follow. Slight alcohol burn on the finish.

M: Medium body with very high carbonation. I like tripels to be light and crisp, but the carbonation is so high on this that it's more like a seltzer or soda and it detracts from the flavors.

O: Overall, not a bad tripel, though a bit plain. I feel like this might have been a better beer if it hadn't been so highly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 23:10:23 | More by n2185

Mario61Aler

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by date of Aug. 27th, 2012

Poured a light Golden with a HUGE white head that threatened to overflow the tulipm glass. The head lasted several minutes with excellant lacing.

Very little in the aroma, small hops and yeast and malt, some fruitiness maybe bananas.

Taste was better than the aroma. Was well balanced between bitter and sweet and left hardly any after taste.

This entered and left your mouth cleanly, light bodied, well carbonated.

Overall this is a drinker! reminded me of a Duvel but muted in aroma and taste, wasn't filling at all, could have drank a sixer of this. My only regret is that I bought it in a singe 330 ml bottle. I detected no sediment in this bottle even though it said it was refermented in the bottle. A wonderful Tripel.

Had this after eating some spicey burritos with red sauce on them.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 15:44:42 | More by Mario61Aler

Beer4Baltimore

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

25 ounce bottle - caged and corked
Big champagne pop with cork release.
A - towering foam over a hazy gold base with non-stop bubbles.
S - slight funk with a little sour citrus spice.
T - alcohol is hidden below the sweet spices and slight earthiness. Hops are detectable but on the low side.
M - thicker than expected but with plenty of carbonation as balance. Slight lingering coating.
D - Very drinkable Belgian to me.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 03:04:25 | More by Beer4Baltimore

enfield249

Michigan

2.85/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Cloudy yellow, with a thick white foamy head.

S - Cheese, funk a little bit of horse blanket.

T - Funky, no hops to note, overly sweet.

M - Medium with medium carbonation.

D - Not bad, but not the best trip I have had. Decent flavor, but too much funk and not enough candy flavor or dark fruits.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 00:49:18 | More by enfield249

drabmuh

Maryland

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Petrus oversized wine glass (because I can). Beer is yellow with a big head, heavily carbonated, the sediment comes out and makes the beer this dingy brown. Looks fine. Lacing on the glass.

Aroma is sweet and yeasty, overall mild.

Beer is thin and watery with very little flavor, a little from the pilsen malt and the rest is just the esters from the yeast. It's drinkable but very unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 15:24:02 | More by drabmuh

Fatheranderson

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Well I bought this beer on a whim from a local store known as Metzler's (great barbecue joint down here in TX, and the best place in the Denton area for finding gourmet beers). Honestly I thought it was ultra pricey at first ($18.00 and change) but I didn't realize it came with the glass, so that's definitely a nice little bonus to get with it.

Appearance: Clean, dark gold. Head is large, white, and luxurious, with some retention and quite a bit of lacing.

Smell: Bananas dominate the smell, with just a hint of alcohol and maybe some hops.

Taste: Honestly? Tastes like banana bread. Smooth, drinkable, delicious. You really can't detect the alcohol as you're drinking it, and it tends to sneak up on you, which is a good thing because otherwise it might ruin the delicate flavor.

Mouthfeel: Thick, breadlike, hard to describe the feel really, but it feels good overall.

Drinkability: Wow, this is one of those beers that's hard to find a match for. I can see it being a desert beer, but it definitely doesn't fit with a meal. I can't see it as a beer I'd drink after mowing the lawn on a hot day, but I can definitely see it being something I drink over a game of poker or just a really good discussion with friends. It's too sophisticated for anything else.

Overall: A superior gourmet beer. I'd definitely recommend this for things like philosophical discussions, or poker games, but honestly I can recommend it for a marathon beer or even as a compliment for any kind of meals I can think of. That said, it'd go great with ice cream, or warm brownies, or something like that. I dunno, it's just too unique for a serious meal pairing.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 01:09:53 | More by Fatheranderson

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

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

33cL bottle to the awkward and disproportionate Petrus stemware. Not exactly sure what style of glass this is, but I love it nonetheless! Batch A105 with a best by date of 15/04/13. Sampled January 2011.

A: Frothy, puffy and billowing 4 fingers high, the head is ivory white in color. Excellent retention turns into an everlasting film resting above a light golden yellow colored body, magnificently clear. The beer rolls cleanly off the glass contributing no lace at all.

S: Lightly malted with aromas of straw, caramel, cracker, grain and light candi sugar. Grass dominates the hop bill while a light hand of orange citrus freshens up the aroma profile.

T: Orange, green apple, pear, banana and maybe even a suggestion of sour red grape skins. Predominantly dry with occasional sweet moments. Nice balance of sweet & sour, fruity & earthy, and sweet & dry.

M: Medium body with a thick, minerally texture. The carbonation is lively and fizzy. Overall, a very satisfying mouthfeel.

D: Gouden Tripel is a very solid but straightforward beer that has long-term drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 15:11:37 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle. Poured into a tulip glass a dark golden straw color with a very lively, big white head that is extremely slow to recede. The nose through this big fluffy head has notes of fruit like apple and pear but with a slightly sour tinge. Fairly sweet smelling as well. Medium/light mouthfeel. Surpisingly the taste doesn't seem as robust as the nose. Sweet almost chardonnay like flavors gives way to a muted fruit taste. Mild bitterness at the end as well. Ends pretty dry. The 7.5% is slightly noticeable but nothing too out of control. In the end, this is okay but I wold have preffered it a little more flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 00:01:41 | More by kbutler1

WhiteOak

Connecticut

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Hazy amber with a yellowy-green glow. A vigorous pour gives three fingers of a big off-white head, like rocky seafoam. Very lacy.

S- Aroma of golden raisins, yeasty dough, rusty iron, and bath soap.

T- Simple flavor of sweet glazed pastry rolls. A bit of sourness on the mid-palate and bitterness on the finish.

M, D- Sweet and one dimensional. Could have used more CO2 to lift up the flat sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 01:16:10 | More by WhiteOak

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Crisp, clear gold color with a decent sized, rocky, foamy white head. Disappears pretty fast leaving a thin foamy lace.

S - Strong fruitiness, especially apple. Some tart citrus in there as well. Also has a strong pale malt and bready aroma. Belgian yeast is present but not overly strong. Very little spiciness. Smells more like a BSPA than a tripel, but enjoyable nonetheless.

T - Like the nose suggested, there is a strong fruitiness that lends to a slightly tart flavor. Apple, orange, lemon, and pear are all in there. A very ripe tartness to the fruit flavors. There is some sweetness coming from the pale malt and breadiness, but that is a background note. A slight hoppy bite on the finish with a leafy grassy and spicy kick.

M - Lighter side of medium body, above average carbonation. Dry finish.

D - Nice tart kick along with the hoppy bite on the finish make it unique but not exactly what I'm looking for in a tripel. Easy to drink, but not sure if I would quickly reach for another.

Notes: Interesting beer that isn't exactly like other tripels I've had. Definitely a tart fruitiness in this beer. Some spiciness comes out as it warms to compliment the hop flavors. It just seems to be missing something though. I'm liking it a bit better as I drink it and I get a better understanding of it and as it warms; so the score could possibly go up a little. Somewhere in between a BSPA and a tripel is what this seems to be.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 14:21:47 | More by FreshHawk

DPFRD

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz in a Westmalle Goblet.

A- Golden, mildly turbid, creamy head.

S- Banana, some biscuit and yeast, little bit of sour in there.

T- Banana and some candi up front, malt backbone is there, little bit of hop bitterness and a touch of sourness in the finish. Pretty straight forward.

M- Medium, good carbonation.

O- Prettygood representation of the style... it is one of the top dogs in the lower class tripel category... It's no westmalle, urthel, chimay, or st. B, but it's pretty good simple tripel, making a pleasurable drink. I would drink it again if there wasn't a better tripel around.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 08:21:11 | More by DPFRD

DovaliHops

California

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cork lets off a huge pop! Pours a somewhat clear golden color with a HUGE white head. Smell is somewhat funky with a big floral nose. Some lemon zest as well. Taste is just like the smell. Very florally with lots of lemon and spice. I remember having this a while back and it being a little sour...this one is not sour at all though. Slightly funky aftertaste with crisp bitterness. Mouthfeel is VERY carbonated and dry. Good for this particular style. Drinkability is fairly high.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 05:58:51 | More by DovaliHops

hdofu

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Opening the bottle is like opening champagne, it blows up before you can even set the cap down. Smell is like a sweet cider and cheeses, though not as cheesey as the dubbel but it still has hints of the cheese. The taste is like apple pie with a mild cheddar with a malty bitter finish. Color is gold with a thick foamy head. Its definitely an experience to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 03:44:39 | More by hdofu

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Explodes out of bottle (and is difficult to control with the foam everywhere, what's left is quite drinkable) with a five+ finger white head that fades slowly, leaving some lace. Hazy light amber color. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Light bread, orange and hint of yeast nose. Flavor is caramel, bread and tart orange. $4.15 for a 330ml bottle (#39660) from Bert's Better Beers Hooksett, NH.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 23:42:14 | More by jdhilt

bskrtz

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served cold in glass beer challis

A) Bronze summer straw hay, hazy & thick with abundant suspended carbonation and yeast. Fluffy white head settles but leaves a smooth white layer

S) Citrus juice, esthers, baked bread. Muted sour mash

T) Sweet candy sugar, bananas, orange, caramel malt. Very refreshing & crisp. Alcohol is mild but you'll know its there soon enough

M) Wonderful effervescent bottle conditioned carbonation. Lasts and lasts. Very smooth.

D) I really enjoyed this well crafted, refreshing triple.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 00:25:43 | More by bskrtz

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour is a lightly hazed straw color with a fairly impressive white head that settles down to about a finger tall layer.

S: Quite a bit of citrus notes, which is a bit odd for a tripel, sweet bread and some hints of sugar. A fairly dry crispness to the nose, also out of the ordinary, but enjoyable.

T: Not nearly as spice and sugar forward as many tripels, but I like that. Some hints of apple and banana, along with a bit of sugar, but still fairly dry. A really crisp, clean flavor.

M: The body is medium with a high level of carbonation.

D: A little different than most other tripels I've come across, but it works quite well (I think). I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 18:44:58 | More by womencantsail

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer poured cloudy and light golden yellow in color with a huge three finger high head that has good retention properties and took a long time to die down, never completely fading away. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible along with yeast particles floating in suspension.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of apples, bananas, candi sugar and spices in the nose.
T: The taste isn't that complex and has flavors very similar to the smell along with some malty sweetness. There is a very mild amount of bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with lots of carbonation.
D: The beer was relatively easy to drink and any traces of alcohol were very well hidden. I could easily have more than one of these in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 23:29:14 | More by metter98