De Ranke Guldenberg - Brouwerij De Ranke

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to BitterBeerFace for sharing this with me for the second time. What a Tripel treat twice =)

Presentation: This 750 ml corked bottle takes a cork screw to open we almost didn't have one handy. Thick heavy impressive bottle with the dimple in the bottom.

Appearance: Pours and orange golden hue with a big white head and spots of droopy lacing.

Smell: The aroma is gently sweet and enticing and very much like a dream of summer, with candied caramel, honey, sugar lemon drops hints of grassy hops and alcohol like sherry.

Taste: A gentle fruit and spice attributes reside in the sweet smooth malt bread backbone that flowed seamlessly to herbal minty dryness and warming alcohol in the finish. Distinct yeast flavors, and so on, were hard to isolate not for a lack of depth but for a masterful blend - where all attributes work as one to create Guldenberg.

Mouthfeel: A rich well carbonated feel in the mouth.

Drinkability: As Tripels go, this is one of the most unobtrusive quaffable easy going beers that doesn't need to stand out to be glorious. I enjoy it every time.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2006 04:43:53 | More by Phatz

emerge077

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2002 vintage.

A loud pop once uncorked, then a golden, foamy pour.

Hazy orange, deep caramel color. Minor suspended particles float about, slowly making their way to the bottom of the glass. Iceberg of foam crowns the remnants inside the bottle.

Sweet butterscotch, herbs, spicy pepper, and well water are present in the aroma.

Flavors are intertwined with the smell. Pepper, butterscotch, herbs, and stony well water cameo on the palate. Not overly sweet like many tripels. Very balanced and highly drinkable. Ultra smooth mouthfeel makes this a dream to sip. One bottle disappeared easily, recommend having several on hand.

Edit: After tasting a more recent bottle last night, there is a higher degree of sweetness to this than the first bottle. While it is exceptionally balanced, a whole bottle would best be shared. So .5 less for drinkability and taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2007 03:25:09 | More by emerge077

Chinon01

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance was a golden bronze with a sloppy foamy head. Smell was of yeasty phenolics (i.e. bubble gum, candy, etc). Taste was similar to smell with a long dry hoppy finish. Mouthfeel was layered and complex. Drinkability was tempered by the dry finish which provided the beer significant presence.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2008 01:34:40 | More by Chinon01

ToasterChef

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes, as based upon a 6oz bottle pour. The beer has a cloudy, dirty straw color, making it rather opaque. There is a thick head of white foam. There is a musty, slightly floral aroma; it's a good balance of yeast and hops. The taste is crisp and dry. I can taste white grapes and a hint of alcohol. There is a musty and bitter finish that echoes the aromas picked up as a swallowed. It has a light body and an appropriate amount of carbonation for a tripel. There is a very slight coat left after each swallow. Swishing the beer around in my mouth produces a bit more of a coating, but nothing significant. It is a very drinkable tripel. This exagerated taster pour goes down very easily, and I could certainly continue and finish off the entire bottle. This is a beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 16:02:50 | More by ToasterChef

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Glad to see this one on tap at Coles. I've enjoyed De Ranke so far, so grabbing a chalice was a no-brainer.

Hazy gold pour with a finger of white head that dipped to a film, leaving the odd spot of lace as it did so. In the nose there's some dry funk upfront with some white wine character. Mild fruits, light breadiness and clove round things off. Great flavours, and a nice showcase for that slightly funky yeast. Some leather joins the show and the notes from the nose are intensified and joined by candy sugar and pear. Full and fruity with a great dry finish, this one doesn't let you down. Medium-bodied with a slightly prickly carbonation.

De Ranke is a brewery that I trust and they don't put a foot wrong here. It's an expertly delivered classic take on the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2010 16:56:26 | More by bobsy

RuudJH

Netherlands

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Belgian Abbaye tripel. One of the many, but this one came recommended at my local liquor store.
33 cl. bottle.

Orange golden colour, big soapy head, ok carbonation.
Smell of malt, bread, yeast, some citrus, clove, and a gardensmell too (flowers, herbs).
Taste yeasty too, with dominant balanced dry bitterness. Very strong flavour: herbs and flowers, not too much citric notes left.

Nice full body, full flavour. Smooth but with a spicy bite in the finish as well.
Complex tripel. One of the better ones in the category.
Recommended from me too.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 16:54:00 | More by RuudJH

stcules

Italy

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A beautiful gold-yellow colour, with oranged reflexes. The smell is floreal and fruity, with some apricot, green apple, pear. At the taste you can feel the honey (sharp even in the flavour), with a good bitter. The bitter and the sweet (of honey and even pear) are very good balanced. The aftertatse is bitter with a good persistance. The body is medium - light.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2003 09:27:23 | More by stcules

Stunner97

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- golden yellow with very high carbonation, beautiful very thick white head, tons of small bubbles stream rapidly up the glass, cloudy and murky body,

Smell- yeast jumps out, slight fruits and apples, defenant citrus tones, wheat and grains,

Taste- Interesting flavor on this one right away, theres a slight bitter hop tone up front, but some definite malts and sweetness shine through, i can still taste some apples--maybe grannysmith with some slight tartness, very slight alcohol tone on the finish, an interesting Belgian reminds me in certain aspects to la fin du monde, (a good thing),in fact only one complaint at times the alcohol jumps out a bit but as warmed got a bit better, very soft and tasty after taste that continued to grow on me more and more

Mouthfeel- very light and crisp, easily palatable

Drinkability- Is actually very very high on this one and its surely hard to even notice the fact that its a 8.5 percent, and in a tall bottle this will start to catch up to you, the finish is so lite crisp and refreshing you definitely are wanting more after each sip, its got some complexity to it yet Id call it a simple in its high drink ability Id say one one of also best parts of this is the refreshing dyness on the finish really something, , hard to find for me probably again after this but one id give another look or recommend to a friend,

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2009 06:32:11 | More by Stunner97

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: On-tap at Novare Res. Poured a nice, golden color with a slight haziness. Dense, white head that had great lasting power. Nice lacing throughout.

S: Aroma wasn't quite as powerful as I expected, but the mellowness of the fruit and spices worked well.

T: A great-tasting Tripel... everything here seems very balanced, with the slight spiciness being restrained, and the fruit present but not overpowering either. A very slight warmth from the alcohol is present, but not unwelcome.

M: Medium-bodied and very creamy, with just a perfect amount of carbonation. Great on the palate.

D: Like I said, an excellent Tripel... couldn't drink it all night because of the alcohol content, but I'd order it again in a second.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2010 16:36:16 | More by berley31

rallison

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear golden amber with a 1 finger head. Leaves some lacing.

S: Slightly fruity Belgian yeast mostly.

T: Fresh, floral, slightly yeasty and spicy. Very delicate flavors - what I love about a good tripel.

M: Rich flavors, yet relatively light in body with no pronounced alcohol. A lovely example of how to make a higher alcohol beer taste delicate and drink like 6%.

D: Definitely drinkable.

Recommended. A nice example of the style - one that would be a good offering for those who aren't quite into better beers yet. They won't believe it's 8%.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 07:56:39 | More by rallison

Bisho

Australia

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a La Fin Du Monde tulip glass.

The beer pours a hazy golden copper colour with a dense head that clings to the glass. Little bit of yeast sediment that floats on the top after the head settles.

Faint smell of malt, yeast, citrus and rather estery. I guess you could say a traditional Triple but more subtle.

Tastes like a Triple too which is a damn good thing! The hops, malt and phenols blend together so well that I want to keep gulping this one down. Alcohol becomes more prominent when the beer warms up as does the light hop bitterness and spice.

Mouthfeel is charming. Rather smooth and subtle for a Triple but has a nice bite to it at the finish!

If you drink this cold it goes down a treat but at room temperature it becomes like a normal triple - slightly heavy and warming thanks to the high ABV. I could drink quite a few either way!

You know you're drinking a triple but it's not in your face like a lot of them. I keep using the word "SUBTLE" but I think the word sums this one up perfectly.

My favourite beer from De Ranke

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 13:16:29 | More by Bisho

champ103

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy golden/orange color. A two finger, bubbly, white head forms on first pour and stick around for a minute. Light lace is left behind.
S: That wonderful funky Belgian yeast is up front. Soft and sweet honey like aromas and fruit.
T: I love the funky yeast here. Barnyard, grass, hay. Spicy and peppery. Fruity flavors of grapes and apples.
M/D: A medium body, but perfectly crisp and dry. So smooth. Easy to drink. I will have no problems finishing the 750ml bottle.

An excellent Tripel. This is very subtle, but deceivingly complex. I highly recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 19:57:48 | More by champ103

srandycarter

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Hazy apple juice, off white .5 inch head, leaves to disk pretty quick. Lots of cling lace.

S - Spiced juicy fruit gum. Lemony citrus.

T - Maltier than anticipated, finished with the smell attributes in taste. Dry finish.

M - Nice filling quality. Feels meatier and more whole than the actual body weight is. Smacking dry nice finish.

D - Bit high on the ABV for session, but does not tire fast. Could have a few fur sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 04:42:39 | More by srandycarter

IDrinkAllot

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Guldenberg's most remarkable quality is its appearance. It has a gold cloudy body with a beautiful head and just the right amount of carbonation from an aesthetic point of view. It is a simply picture perfect beer. The aroma is subdued with a nice balance of wheat and malt. The mouth feel is relatively light and it is expectational drinkable which at 8.5% make this a very dangerous beer. The other major selling point for me is that this beer has a little more hop's then your usual Belgian which helps to cut the sweetness of this beer giving it an unreal level of drinkability for a Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 01:37:58 | More by IDrinkAllot

Monsteruss

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The 1st experience I had with this beer was it exploded when I popped the top, maybe due to store handling. The foam was 2" thick, smooth, light wheat in color and lacey. The color was light semi-hazy golden pils. The smell - a honey sweet wheat and a little spicy. The taste was the same as the smell w/ a hops undertone and a light lemony hint. Mouthfeel - medium-bodied. Drinkability - good on the palate with a little more overtone of a lemony aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 22:30:19 | More by Monsteruss

Brabander

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought this beer in Gent a month ago. Don't know why, there were at least 300 beers i had not seen before. Maybe because i am a fan of blond beer.

Cracked it open today and poured it in my Struise Brouwers glass, perfect for this occasion.

Great appearance, cloudy golden fluid with an enourmous white and creamy head. Close to perfection.

Good smell with hints of citrus and yeast.

Fabulous taste, one of the better triples there is. Soft and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 20:12:26 | More by Brabander

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle purchased for me by @LaitueGonflable for my birthday.

Pours a pleasant clear, deep golden colour, with a firm, frothed egg-white head. Lacing is streaking and persistent. Lots of fine bubbled carbonation which works its way through the light body in a very sprightly manner. A little suspended yeast sediment from a less-than-ideal pour.

Nose is dry and crisp, with some light spiciness, a touch of dried fruit and a wandering lilt of apple must. Slight candied lemon twinge to it. Very well integrated and very refined.

Taste is as you would expect, very light and bright but with subtle dry complexities. Dried apple on the front, with a spritzy, slightly zesty spice mid palate, followed by a surprisingly lengthy finish, giving white grape skin and a touch of pepper. Very little astringency or phenols, and the alcohol is almost unnoticeable. Feel is light, but very smooth and careful.

Really wonderful Tripel. Plenty of complexity, but smooth, enjoyable and supremely drinkable. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 09:40:01 | More by lacqueredmouse

marc77

California

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

Formidably thick, creamy white head covers an effervescent golden hued brew w/ good clarity when decanted off the sediment. Fruity sweetness dominates the aroma w/ notes of ripe pear, juicy grape and mild citrus rind. Notes of yeast mustiness, bready malt and light clove are secondary. The flavor profile presents a similar fruitiness of the aroma, albeit in an unripe fashion. Unripe citrus fruit tartness initially is ceded by dry, sugared grape skin tannic sweetness and pleasantly mellow clove phenol. Light sweetness briefly resurfaces mid palate and takes on a fresh, raw honey character only to be offset by mild hop bitterness and mild green apple acetaldehyde. Moderately bodied for style, w/ a spritzy, lively mouthfeel that faciliates a deceiving lightness to this brew. When the yeast sediment is poured, a subtle nuttiness adds additional complexity. Finishes dry, crisp, lightly tart with quickly fading must. Guldenburg, although a touch understated in spicy profile for a Saison, possesses a myriad of flavors and is very complex, nonetheless. Superlative drinkability due to its facade of refreshing crispness. Delicious. Bottled 6 / 2000

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2002 18:06:16 | More by marc77

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Had this at The Moan & Dove (Amherst, MA) and served in the appropriate glass.

Dense rocky white head, lots of cling action. A touch hazed with a dull yellow golden hue. Real mellow aroma, lots of delicate honey-like malt and faint phenols as well as dried tropical fruit way in the back.

The smoothness is unsurpassed, such a rich mouth feel and delicately complex malty palate. Light on the hops, phenols and even the yeast is not too expressive as it melds with the long drawn-out maltiness. Alcoholic subtleties show only in a growing warmth, light fruitiness and a faint spicy bite in the end. A touch of residual sweetness in the finish.

So damn deceiving, flavours are mellow but run the range of a quality Belgian with out being flamboyant. Quite remarkable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2003 12:54:33 | More by Jason

taez555

Massachusetts

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

Had this beer on tap at Anam Cara 4/20/04

It poured a translucent yellow/orange body with a huge thick foamy white head.

The nose was a very mellowed phenols, wheat and malt. A lovely tropical fruitiness really comes out.

The taste was medium bodied and very smooth. Wheat, malt, phenols, slight farmhouse touch, with an overall bitterness. Very mild earthy hop taste compliments the farmy, phenol flavors. What really seems to dominate the taste though is this subtle fruit tone. Not your typical apple or pears in a triple. It actually borders more on a tart lambic, but still is so far in the background you’d never mistake it for one. It finishes clean with a soft lingering bitterness.

Simple another great beer from de ranke. I’m not as crazy about this one as the XX bitter. But de ranke just has this classic belgian flavor with some other added touches that really make their beers something unique. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2004 07:12:12 | More by taez555

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a white, two finger-head that goes slowly leaving some lace, pour slowly. Some yeast left in bottle. Cloudy pale, amber color. Very good carbonation. Medium bodied. Nose is fruity and spicey. Starts smooth and sweet, finishes mellow, the high ABV is not noticeable. Mislabeled - 330ml and 8.5% Abv on label actually the paper wrap has 8.0% ABV and $8.80 for a 750ml bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2004 22:48:07 | More by jdhilt

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

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

The packaging of these beers are amazing, I love them. This one has a lable under the paper which I don't think the Kriek had. 750ml bottle capped and corked. Huge POP when I removed the cork.

Pours out almost honey colored with a small head that keeps building due to the stream of bubbles. The smell is sweet and bread like with hints of citrus. Crystal clear.

The first thing I notice about the taste is the full body. Sweet with citrus and caramel (?) coming through. Ending has a slight dryness coming through but not overpowering. I actually prefer the drier tripels that have more of a grassy finish. This is a very good beer. I especially love their Kriek.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2004 00:34:52 | More by CharlesRiver

Ego

New Jersey

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

the small bottle variety (11.2 fl oz), found @ oak tree buy rite, as always...
lot no mj09

a good night for a tripel, the fall has really crept up on me, seeing the oktoberfest beers around is one thing, feeling that coming breeze of winter is quite another. And the leaves are just starting to turn, you can almost hear them gasping their last breath into the cooling air.

eyes...
headfirst she goes into the duvel tulip, audible crackling head that does not dissapate as fast as many heads constructed in the same manner, white densely packed betta bubbles (ever see those siamese fish blow bubble nests?), lacing is decent, this also has legs... and I hope she knows how to use em. I just hope there are no dude's with long white beards anywhere in ear shot... murky to kicked up mud orange hue, some yeast swimming around like sea monkies. this takes a good 5 min to settle into an Oring. good looking.

nose...
carmelized bannanas with sugar on top, apples baked with cinnamon, some honey notes, a very nice balanced nose, nothing ground breaking but very nice none the less.

taste etc...
hops? I was sort of surprised by this, the finish is very grassy, this balances out the sweetness of this tripel (the whole hop experience), this one offers a full range of flavor across your entire mouth, almost all at once.. it is like one of Wonka's instant meals... I hope there is no blueberry pie at the end however, medium bodied with prickly (slightly) carbonation. The alcohol is well hidden and results in subtle warming in the stomach. The hops (and oils) really add to this one for me personally. Remember how La chouffe made that tripel that was supposed to be hoppy? To me this one accomplishes it much moreso without the hop-la. This is certainly very easy drinking for a tripel. The flavor is mostly subtle but strong enough to withstand stinky cheese and the like.

verdict?
I felt like a tripel and bought this on a whim... maybe not the most complex all around but yet utterly drinkable. If this beer was a woman, it would be carmen electra (before Rodman streched that shit out...)

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2006 02:46:25 | More by Ego

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

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

I picked this bottle up at UJ's on the Manatawny and drank back home. The beer poured a dense golden color with a thin but solid tan head and ring around the glass. The aroma was sour and earthy. The taste was slightly sour and good but with a hoppy taste that takes over on the back end. The bitterness and the sour balance out very well.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2007 03:34:09 | More by ggaughan

rarbring

Sweden

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

The beer pours slightly hazy brass toned, a high firm white head that settles slowly, a bit unevenly. Leaving good lacing.

The smell is yeasty complex, fruit tones, a bit alcoholic and funky metal.

Starting with sweet fructose notes, peaches, apples, pears, a alkaloid bitterness. Hints of overripe brie.

Medium low carbonation, small rather aggressive bubbles, soft texture rather high viscosity, a slightly coarse dry ending.

Much nice stuff going on in this one, there are however a slightly raw finish which could improve over time IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 16:17:16 | More by rarbring