De Ranke Guldenberg - Brouwerij De Ranke

dalecooper

4/5  rDev -1%

02-27-2012 14:40:10 | More by dalecooper

bruindre

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-20-2013 04:16:00 | More by bruindre

pknyc

New York

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-17-2013 01:10:22 | More by pknyc

crosenkrantz

Switzerland

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

05-15-2013 22:09:09 | More by crosenkrantz

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This was a good one. Notes from 4/16/13:

Apricot colored colored, hazy. Moderately aggressive head. Zing.

Sweet and fruity smell - oranges, vanilla.

Low bitterness; I taste pastries...effervescent with a sweet finish.

Delish. I haven't had it since, would like to revisit with this and a new tripel.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 21:57:38 | More by NardiByNature

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1%

05-05-2013 03:13:03 | More by wisrarebeer

magictacosinus

California

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

I have to give a massive thanks to the guys over at Trappist Provisions for granting me a bonus pour of this after one of the bottles exploded upon opening. Poured into a 6oz wine glass. Review is from my notes.

The appearance is a golden-amber yet slightly hazed color complete with a good 2 finger of head on top and lively carbonation. There's tons of sediment floating in this thing, which is to be expected from the explosion, but also from De Ranke's traditional method of bottling their beers. Regardless, it's pretty much eye candy as far as tripels go, and the carbonation never seems to die down, which makes it ever more festive.

The aroma is greeted with classic tripel flavors, such as golden crisp grains, high booziness, candi sugar, and tons of tart fruitiness. Other than apricot and pear funk, there's tons of citrus rinds going on here, in a way that even caught me by surprise. But, this is a De Ranke offering after all. Cidery dryness, massive astringency caused by the dried hops and booze and sugar. A slight tropical flavor permeates underneath, but the alcohol and tarty rinds are really the ones winning this out.

The flavor is definitely all over the place, even when rating to style. Vinous (like Sauvignon Blanc grape peels), dried apricots and apples, bananas and citrus, farmhouse-type bitterness and funk, all followed by a golden crisp graininess and thickened breadiness that attempts to soften it all out. There's some seriously wild stuff happening due to the sediment, nevertheless. Huge yeasty musty notes are carried forward on a whim due to the large amount of carbonation, which ends in a super bone dry finish. It's jubilant, boozy, but also pretty insane. It's like this beer has jaws, as I literally feel strong bites of astringency constantly numbing my palate with each sip. It's not necessarily unpleasant, but it is capable of overwhelming the senses pretty fast.

I thought the Bitter XX was already nuts, but I think this one takes De Ranke's yeasty phenols to more dizzying heights, as well as their constantly sharp, vicious dry hopping methods. If you thought La Fin du Monde was already spicy enough, give this one a shot! It's dry, spicy, funky, astringent, boozy, vinous, and so much more. Can't say it's my favorite, but I do admire beers like this that put up a fight. I could possibly revisit this one as a result in the near future. I'll make sure I have one with less dregs next time!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 05:40:53 | More by magictacosinus

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle for $3.

Matched against Corsendonk Abbey in a week of tripel head-to-heads.

A: Standard tripel honey-gold, but where's the big head? A mere half-finger.

S: More citrusy than is standard for the style. Peaches. Whiffs like a Belgian IPA.

T: Tastes like one, too. Quite assertive. Hops linger on the front end, unconventionally. Some bandaid astringency that spreads out mysteriously and beautifully. Very unique, immediately likable. Not so far off from the great De Ranke XX Bitter.

M: Nice prickle. The bitterness will bother some who are here for a by-the-book tripel.

O: Extremely drinkable and enjoyable, though categorization freaks (and maybe I'm one) will balk at this being regarded as a tripel. Hops mask some of the potential complexity in there, but still: it's a rush of pure pleasure.

I ranked this higher than the Corsendonk which preceded it, but wish I had paired it with Fluffy White Rabbits.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:54:48 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From: Friar Tuck's, Savoy, IL
Date: None on bottle
Glass: Tulip

Pours a massive, clean white head of medium to large-sized bubbles, which lasts for over two minutes, gradually falling to a thin cap atop the beer. Lacing is very good, with wave-like washes remaining around the entire inside of the glass. The body is a light copper-yellow color, transparent, with light bringing out golden yellow hues. Carbonation is very vigorous and quite substantial in its frenetic rise from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is of pale malt sweetness, dried hay, baked pears, and slight lemon rind with floral qualities. The scents are fairly clean and crisp, relative to other tripels that have a heavier, yeasty side to them.

The flavor composition of this beer is of light pale male sweetness, yeast, and fruity esters, with stronger European hop bitterness that lends a slightly woodsy contribution. Front of palate has pale malt sweetness, Belgian yeast, slight dried grass and dried apple and pear esters. Mid-palate finds continued sweetness and yeast characters, along with more pronounced fruit esters of apple and pear, hints of lemon rind, clove, and minor spicy ethanol, all with a pleasant, clean, European hop bitterness. Back of palate finds peppery, spicy phenols and ethanol with solid, clean, European hop bitterness, and mild fruit esters. Aftertaste is primarily of a strong lingering bitterness, with some residual pale malt sweetness, white bread, and light candi sugar.

Beer is of medium weight in the body, with carbonation leavels of medium intensity, resulting in a beer that foams up slightly on the palate, making it smooth and rather easy on the palate. Ethanol can be felt on the back of the throat and in the nostrils, but only slightly, not nearly as obvious as in Westmalle's. Closes quite dry, almost some astringent with the bitter hops; slight stickiness on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 07:55:00 | More by falloutsnow

zestar

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-15-2013 08:55:37 | More by zestar

Noelito76

New York

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

04-13-2013 13:50:49 | More by Noelito76

superspak

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle into chalice, best before 11/20/2016. Pours hazy and cloudy golden amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lemon, peach, pear, grape, orange, pineapple, floral, pepper, grass, honey, clove, candi sugar, bread, and herbal earthiness. Incredible aromas with great balance and big complexity of fruitiness with malt and spicy esters. Taste of big lemon, pear, peach, orange, apple, floral, pepper, clove, honey, grass, bread, candi sugar, and herbal earthiness. Lingering notes of citrus, light fruits, floral, pepper, honey, candi sugar, bread, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Incredible balance and complexity of fruitiness with peppery esters; with good malt balance and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a smooth, crisp, and slightly slick mouthfeel that is excellent. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with pretty much zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a world class tripel! Amazing balance and complexity of fruitiness with spicy esters; and extremely smooth to sip on. This is just insanely delicious, I hope I can find this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 03:53:49 | More by superspak

bishopdc0

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

03-27-2013 15:24:09 | More by bishopdc0

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -1%

03-01-2013 20:59:40 | More by ElGallo

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

02-25-2013 11:51:16 | More by Thorpe429

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

02-17-2013 23:56:18 | More by bostonryan

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

02-15-2013 08:33:12 | More by schnarr84

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

02-12-2013 17:52:01 | More by Ciocanelu

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

02-06-2013 00:44:25 | More by MRsojourner

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1%

02-04-2013 21:56:07 | More by schopenhauerale

TerrenceOBrien

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

12-28-2012 16:08:07 | More by TerrenceOBrien

eric5bellies

Australia

4.43/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from my Duvel tulip

A- Pours a cloudy straw colour with a two fingered white head that retains for the whole distance and laces. Everything about this beer says drink me. You could not beat the appearnace of this beer and thats why it get 5

S - Plenty going on here with grapefruit, citrus and spice.

T - A very clean crisp Tripel with spice, grass and lemon. hops also add a nice balance. No sign of the ABV.

M - Light to medium body with medium to full carbonation.

O - A great easy drinkin Tripel, and one of my favourites to date.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 14:12:59 | More by eric5bellies

smakawhat

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Good till December 2015.

A real nice opaque and perfect orb glowing yellow lemon body. Some suspended chunks of yeast in the glass. but also some nice light white rising carbonation. Head is classy rocking and leaves leopard spotting on the glass. Great looking.

And with that comes a great nose as well. Super spicy clove notes and airy grass. Sweet malts and a wonderful refreshing crisp sense. Intensely floral. Wonderful smelling tripel, love where this is going.

Palate hits with a wonderful crisp body. Hop forward matching the floral bouquet. Rolling sweet sugar malts but not terribly. Body is quite light not pushing the malts big like most tripels, but it allows the sensed aromas to really shine and come through in the taste. Fruit lemon manages with the sugar sweetness following.

Overall this is great, and so easily drinkable. Feels incredibly refreshing and light for a high abv also. Would drink this often if I could find it common. This is a real well balanced tripel, and in many ways doesn't even come acoss as a strong Belgian Ale. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:03:22 | More by smakawhat

weonfire

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

11-24-2012 15:45:50 | More by weonfire

CalebHiliadis

4/5  rDev -1%

11-14-2012 04:50:18 | More by CalebHiliadis