De Ranke Guldenberg - Brouwerij De Ranke

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

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

richmof

Belgium

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from its 75cl bottle into its own tulip. Golden haze.

Citrus and apple on the nose but not so pungent. It opens up in the mouth. You have the keen hopping of all De Ranke's beers but also coriander and spice, as well as some of that citrus and apple. There is a pine resin here too.

While this is described on the label as an abbey beer and listed as a tripel, I am not sure this is accurate. De Ranke is one of a number of a small but growing number of brewers brewing atypical Belgian beers, inspired from across the pond.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 10:32:55 | More by richmof

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my Chimay goblet from a 750ml bottle.

A - As soon as i removed the cap I saw the bubbles coming up so before I lost too much of my beer I poured it in the goblet. Pours a beautiful hazy strong straw and gold color with some nice orange hues. Very nice looking beer. There is a nice .75 inch head that is dense and very active.

S - Vinous like aroma, especially of white wine. Some mild clove and coriander and some pepper as well. Nice spice backbone. Some nice pale malt backbone with sweetness and grain character.

T & M - Delicious malt backbone with nice mild sweet hints and some nice grain. There is some good clove along with other spices, especially coriander and nice pepper. There is a nice creamy and crisp mouth feel with this beer. Nice balanced flavors and good CO2 feel. Delicious beer.

D - Very refreshing and drinkable. good flavors and the ABV is not that noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 23:22:54 | More by JoEBoBpr

digr

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours an awesome billow white head into a large chalice with a golden slightly amber hue. Lots of carbonation makes this a fun and careful beer to pour. Lots of bubbles after the pour. Head dissipates after a few minutes but regenerates a bit due to continued bubbles from the bottom of the glass.

S - Smell is mild - slight fruity smell and a bit of yeasty tones followed by a mild hop aroma. More hop aroma than most tripels.

T - mmmm.. Taste is that of a classic clean tripel style - like an intensified version of the smell. Starts with a mild bitterness, then the clean pilsner malt flavor evolves as the beer warms in the mouth. Then the bready yeasty flavors as you swallow and a slight hop aroma and bitterness meld to finish fairly dry. No note of alcohol hotness despite the 8.5% ABV. There is more hoppiness than most tripel, but it works well.

M - Great mouth feel. Just enough to body to know you are drinking something special, but not heavy at all. Clean and not really sweet, only a tad.

D - For me I can drink a lot of this. I had it both in the bottle and on Tap. The body is light enough and the alcohol hidden well that I can put a number of these back. And then feel it the next day. But a very balanced beer despite being a tripel.

So yeah , I LOVE this beer. It is currently one of my favorite versions of the Tripel style, only bested by the Grandaddy Westmalle Tripel. It is a slight deviation with the added hop character, but a nice deviation indeed.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 04:02:35 | More by digr

markbatonrouge

Louisiana

3.35/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As Belgium abby-style ales go, this is just an ok beer. I love the style, so the competition is tough, in my mind, and maybe my expectations for it were too high. I'll try this beer again sometime, but it's not competitive with most abby-style beligans.

appearance: cloudy beige/gold/yellow.

smell: -- its strong suit -- fresh figs, other mild fruitiness, some malts.

taste: it just didn't have the big belgian-fruit-yeast flavor that is so great in most beers in this style.

drinkability: certainly good-enough, just not what I was expecting or hoping for.

This is the second De Ranke beer I've tried lately, and, while both were interesting, neither knocked my socks off. They have enough gravity/alcohol that the base should be good, but the flavors didn't come together well enough. I'll have to try to again sometime. ;-)

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 17:38:37 | More by markbatonrouge

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

4000qtrap

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Source, Serving: Draft, 33cl @ Trappist

Smell: Lively citrus, honey, yeast and cider, apple soda notes. A pinch of nutmeg/coriander spice. All blend together with nothing dominating. Oddly reminiscent of a zesty italian spritzer.

Taste: Much deeper, darker fruit than you get in the nose. Citrus oil and prominent caramel/honey malts come through at first and have an unusual depth which my guess is due to some barely perceptible citrusy hop oilyness and bitterness. Definitely different than the refreshing, lively nature of the nose. In the middle its quite hoppy (mostly grassy) but has enough cariander/nutmeg and belgian yeastyness to keep it interesting. Overall the flavors are quite smooth but slightly muted. Finish is oily, citrus and pine notes, resinous and caramelly, a pinch of alcohol as it warms, but doesn't last long. Fairly high carbonation.

Notes: A bit like a mildly hopped IPA that allows the hops to come through but has a big helping of belgian yeast and spiciness. The citrusy notes on the nose and citrus oil flavors do make it more blond ale than triple though.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2010 04:37:26 | More by 4000qtrap

clayrock81

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a good frothy head on top of a slightly cloudy orange body that retains the head and lace forever. A classic smell of oranges and some sour, tart fruit as well as some yeastiness and dry malt. Real smooth, even creamy, with a good tart taste of berries, cherry and citric notes like lemon peel. Some caramel/honey/sugar malt balance with the fruit for some sweetness and the yeast and some spices like clove lead to a crisp dry finish. While a bit pricey this is a great triple that I sipped on and finished the whole bottle and loved it.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2010 12:04:04 | More by clayrock81

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle bought from Beersofeurope.co.uk

Poured a golden yellow colour with a few yeasty chunks. Huge billowy white head fills the glass in an instant then fades slowly to thick layer leaving a trail of thick sticky lacing down the glass... quite a lot of carbonation bubbles drift slowly to the surface...

Aroma - Candy sugar mixed with spicy Belgian yeastiness, pale biscuity malts, lots of freshly cut grass, floral honey sweetness, bready, perfumed, alcohol is pretty noticeable, vanilla notes... lemon, grapefruit and pear spicy fruitiness, peppery...

Taste - Nice candy sugar sweetness, spicy fruits (pears, apples, lemons and grapefruits), lots of yeastiness, alcohol noticeable but not overly so, very floral and perfumed, some medicinal notes, light sea saltiness, peppery notes, some ginger spiciness...

Feel - Very sharp and dry with just a little smoothness coming through... light / medium bodied... pretty damn drinkable for 8.5% - dangerously so....

Overall - An excellent Belgian tripel and another fine beer from De Ranke... recommended....

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 15:48:03 | More by mdagnew

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle $3.99 at the local. I really didn't know what to expect from this but it was good. Cloudy orange yellow with good head and lacing. The smell was kind of like a tripel or belgian pale, a little spice. The flavor was smooth but a little yeasty and very easy to drink. I'm not sure I'd buy this on the reg but De Ranke beers are interesting enough that I'd liek to try them all.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2010 03:53:05 | More by ArrogantB

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

bum732

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy orangish yellow, great creamy head. Smells of honey, some clove, some soft fruits, cherries, peaches, touch of grassiness. Tastes of semi-sweet bready malt with a good earthy bitter backbone. Some spiciness comes through in the end. Nice subtle fruity undertones throughout. Fairly dry finish, alcohol very well hidden.

A very solid Tripel, has both the core flavors of this traditional beers as well as some extra. I really enjoyed this interpretation, specifically the honey like maltness and the subtle fruit tones. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 00:58:41 | More by bum732

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

adamette

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Live review. Poured from the 1 pint, 9.4 oz. bottle that I purchased for $13.99 at Rozi's in Lakewood along with two other "De Ranke" beers that I have tasted and reviewed the last few days. Poured into my Westvleteren silver rimmed goblet. Best before end of: 04 2013 stamped on the paper wrapper around the bottle. Interestingly, there is a label on the bottle inside the wrapper but it indicates that it is 8.5% ABV and that it is 11.2 ounces (it is clearly bigger than that) and the "best by" date is not stamped. I assume that the paper wrapper has the right information then. The inner label is simple, off white and stated "Guldenberg Belgian Abbey Ale."

A This is the biggest "gusher" I have ever experienced. I cracked open the cap and then it was Mt. Vesuvius, head came pouring out for about 3 minutes as I lost half the bottle to the gush. After walking the bottle over to the sink, cleaning up and returning about 4 minutes later, the bottle was still slowly gushing into the sink. I had stored it in the door of my fridge for the past week or so. I guess it is possible that the opening and closing of the door could have contributed to some shaking which led to the gush. I recommend storing it in the non moving places in your fridge before opening.
Anyway, nice creamy head over a yellow orange opaque body with lots of visible sediment (yeast?) floating evenly about. The gush experience may have contributed to agitation that led the beer to look this way, though. This is a very good looking tripel. 4.5

S Nice Belgian yeast and sweet malt in a classic tripel smell. Repeated sniffs reveal possibility of some light spices such as cinnamon but most prominent are the malt and yeast. 4.0

T Just as my nose predicted, nice malt sweetness and Belgian yeast tastes in a nice, strong and classic tasting tripel. 4.0

M In an amazing feet the feel is actually smooth (not that common in tripels that I have tasted) and I do not get a bitter alcohol spike either. This, therefore, can be a dangerous beer since it is delicious and hides its ABV so well. 4.5

D As suggested, really good for the style which can be heavy, somewhat harsh with a high ABV and high malt sweetness. 4.0

Notes: I would like to try another bottle and handle it better to see if my experience is different. As it is, this is a solid tripel and probably my favorite from De Ranke.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 03:43:01 | More by adamette

Brandt

Montana

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this beer poured a turbid straw yellow with decent amount of white head

the smell is very estery as a belgian typicaly is with complements of banana, faint citrus and an earthy straw/funk as well

the flavor on this beer is really quite nice with a warming alcohol that is followed by the earth straw/funk that is picked up in the smell and a nice malty character that is subdude by a dryness

finishes with a med. body and a dry crisp bite wich gives way to some malt sweetness and a bit of bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 21:36:04 | More by Brandt

BeerSingh

India

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A : Dark, hazy and peachy with a big, frothy head. Molecular lacing

S : Spicy and floral on the nose

T : Citrus and dark fruits with a little alcoholic warming taste

M : Good carbonation and fizzy on the palate

D : Very satisfying and warm. Can be a good "to savour" beer

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2009 06:48:43 | More by BeerSingh

thepeter

United Kingdom (England)

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A -slightly hazy light orange/peachy color. Decent head that lasted half the beer

S - Yeasty, musky and sweet. I got grapes and maybe ripe plums and unripened pears.

T - Similar to the smell. Nice mello hop presence, well balanced. Still getting a nice green grape flavor and a bit of spice. Dry finish, not too complex but just plain Tasty.

M&D - medium to medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. I could drink a couple of these but I savored my one and enjoyed every sip.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 23:55:08 | More by thepeter

JBogan

Nevada

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A hazy peach color fills the glass along with a small white head which leaves good lacing.

The aroma is quite nice and consists of caramel, yeast, vanilla, spice along with the slightest hint of mustiness.

Tastes much like the smell however with a somewhat muted edge.

Mouthfeel was excellent and smooth. Thick bodied and with a little carbonation, this one goes down like velvet.

An interesting beer and one I'd certainly revisit again.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 19:07:24 | More by JBogan

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.65/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Gold-plated pineapple with a light yeasty haze and multiple fine bubble streams leading up to an absolutely gorgeous crown of alabaster colored foam that is both creamy and rocky. No one does head and lace as well as the Belgians.

Apparently, Brouwerij De Ranke doesn't consider this beer to be a triple. They put 'Belgian Abbey Beer' on the label and I've also read where they consider it to be a 'strong golden ale'. It smells like an especially spicy tripel. And will probably taste like one too.

Guldenberg is nowhere near as impressive as De Ranke XX Bitter and Kriek De Ranke. Part of the problem might be that this bottle is now 3 years of age (which is still 2 years away from the 'best by' date). A lifespan that long is way too optimistic for a beer that gets a great deal of its character from a generous amount of hops. Or so I'm told.

There's so much spiciness and lemongrassiness that it almost tastes more like a saison than anything else. The pale-golden malts don't provide much flavor or sweetness, which should never happen in a good triple (which it isn't, but... whatever). There's just enough flavor and complexity for the taste score to remain above average.

The mouthfeel doesn't keep pace with Belgium's best either. After hearing the gunshot on cork extraction and after seeing the creation of a stately crown of foam, I expected more size, more creaminess and more volume.

I'm sure that fresh Guldenberg is much better beer than 3 year old Guldenberg. Trouble is, I've never seen it anywhere near fresh. At the extravagant price of $13.00 (and change) per bottle, it isn't likely that I'll take a chance with this one again... unless it's just off the boat.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 21:20:43 | More by BuckeyeNation

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

GilGarp

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A few interesting things about this beer...

First, I love the story of Nino and Guido. As a homebrewer, this really makes the beer special to know that it is brewed by two friends on the weekends and distributed throughout the world.

Second, I've never seen a bottle mislabeled as this one is. It clearly states 11.2 FL. OZ. but this is obviously 750ml.

And third, I've never seen a bottle that is both capped and corked (not to mention wrapped in striped paper!)

The removal of the cap releases a small hiss like a beer that has hardly any carbonation at all. However, the uncorking of the bottle lets go a loud pop similar to champagne.

The hoppy aroma is immediately evident but I'll get to that later. The pour into the chalice is smooth but releases tons of thick white head. The beer has a beautiful golden yellow color with very good clarity. The head settles slowly leaving lacing all over the glass.

Aroma is musky and hoppy. There is definately a ton of spicy hallertau hops in there but the funky Belgian yeast makes itself known as well. There is some sweetness too like a fresh green pear.

The beer is only slightly chilled from cellar temp so a ton of flavor comes through right away. It has a very distinctive and unusual taste that combines the characteristics of a Beglain IPA, strong pale ale, and tripel into one. There is fruity sweetness up front with apples, pears, and banana. This is followed by intense hoppy bitterness and spice. It finishes very dry with a bit of sour funk. So many flavors but all unique and in balance.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with high levels of carbonation. Nice balance and bone dry finish. Drinkability is reasonable given the complexity and intensity of flavors. Alcohol is well-hidden.

What an amazing and unique beer. I've never had anything like it and can't imagine anything coming close to being so special and memorable.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 23:33:25 | More by GilGarp

mynie

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle from John's Grocery. It says it's best before June of 09 (whew!), meaning that this little number was bottled a full five years ago.

Starts bubbly precipitously as soon as it's opened, showing the pathetic violence of old age. This settles, thankfully, and pours a very dark orange topped with white wisps of carbonation.

Smells really really good, actually. Damn. Age is wisdom, in this case. Not senility (or incontinence). Raisins and plums and nice old wooden furniture, and then you got some yeast and some ribbon candy in there, too.

Tastes good, but very different than its aroma and not quite so good. I suppose old men are always less handsome when they take their clothes off. Smooth juices start things off, apples and prunes, move into a sweeter middle of alcohol and yeast, end on the pronounced fiery zing of a damn fine tripel. The aftertaste leaves nodes of earth and coffee.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 06:33:46 | More by mynie

brendan13

Australia

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

A - Poured from a 330ml bottle into a goblet a hazy dark golden colour with a 2 centimetre dense white head that hangs around for a fair while.
S - A light, honey sweetness with some apple & citrus fruit touches & a phenolic spiciness.
T - Honey sweet, some dry bready malt character & slighty nutty. Some apple & peach fruitiness & a fair whack of spicy phenols.
M - Smooth creamy light to medium bodied mouthfeel. Carbonation higher side of medium.
D - A very tasty, highly drinkable Tripel. Something I can see myself drinking again.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2009 12:14:27 | More by brendan13

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Brick Store Pub in Atlanta, served in a goblet. The beer is clear golden straw color with a little haze, tons of lacing on the glass. The smell is a little bready yeast, some "classic" tripel fruits, very Beligian-y. Maybe a little bit of honey as well, at least in the taste. Sweet upfront and a little lingering hops bitterness in the aftertaste. This is an easy drinking tripel, I'd order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2009 00:13:30 | More by TurdFurgison