River Horse Tripel Horse - River Horse Brewing Co.

jerseyemt

New Jersey

4.9/5  rDev +32.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a nice gold, very small head, with tiny bubbles floating up the entire time you drink it. Wonderful smell, spicy and sweet, with hints of clove, vanilla, and fruit. Taste is rich and spicy but not overly so. Lightly carbonated. Despite the fact that it is 9.4% ABV, it is an easy-drinking brew. Be careful with this one! Each pint of this stuff is the equivalent of three standard drinks. After talking to some of the bartenders, it seems that many people who don't realize the strength of this beer can't finish their third pint, or if they do, are *very* intoxicated.

Highly recommended version of the style, and remains near the top of my list of favorite beers. Too bad it's only available at this restaurant, on-tap only.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2003 16:15:13 | More by jerseyemt

csrbv

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +32.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a beer that I first tasted back when River Horse had a restaurant called 'The Porterhouse' back in 1997 or so. This particular beer is what started my love for Belgium style beers.

Appearance - Not a translucent beer, blocks light. The beer is a dark golden color--beautiful!

Smell--this is my least favorite aspect of this beer,
Taste - While not quite a Triple--it seems more complex with other spices and a darker color than a traditional Belgium triple. I give it a great rating once again for this 10% Belgium Triple. Tastes very smooth. Slightly sweet with minimal taste of hops.

Mouth feel - Great mouth feel, full bodied.

Overall - Great Triple-ish beer, though keep in mind the 10% ABV, you want to be careful drinking too many at one time ;) Also due to the strength it does get smoother with age.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 18:58:43 | More by csrbv

PEBKAC

New York

4.75/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I purchased this bottle sometime in the summer from a local C-Town supermarket really not known to carry much craft beer. The store manager was really excited to notice someone perusing around his little dedicated stack of bottles, & had no problem breaking more then a couple sixers for me to sample. I would should shop there more often if I still lived as close as I use to. I couldn't tell how old the bottle was, but the shelves were bulging with stuff, & it was devoid of much dust, so it was fresher then most beer. This is the only place in Queens & the few places in Manhattan that I shop, that I've seen this particular brewery for sale. I wonder.

I pour this volunteer for the first time, into my Dogfish Chalice. This sucker has been on my bookshelf for well over a year, & has seen no action whatsoever. Not owning many books, I've taken to filling the empty space with glass & little $4 novelty toys I buy from the old guys pawning stuff on the subway. I still have a singing/dancing kung-fu hampster from 1997. Craftsmanship I tell you, craftsmanship. :P

The beer develops a soft, thinned-out eggshell-colored head about half an inch in height. Think bad combover. Figuring in how wide the chalice is, that's a strong showing. A dusty amber-brown, the bubbles look like they're late for a meeting.

At first whiff, macerated fruit like apricots, golden raisins, & banana. You feel the alcohol in your sinuses, but you don't necessarily smell it. A pinch of coriander & some sour & unripened bitter fruit fill out the wonderful scent.

A very delicate & sugar sweet pumpkin, unripened banana, & some mushy pear. All in relatively small amounts, but very delectable. After the fruit, you hit a sharp concentrated sour/sweetness, followed by a very bready middle. It closes out with a clove/coriander/alcohol solution that barely qualifies as bitter.

This beer is brewed in New Jersey. Yes, you read that right, New Jersey. Home to such things as Giants Stadium, all those "natural flavor" product factories, & ... eggplants. :P

Mouthfeel is quite lite, & when looking at the label & seeing 10%, well I just don't see it. It comes across as a ...6.8, or relatively close to that. Maybe the weak carbonation helps, I'm not sure, but why doesn't it feel syrupy? Very little aftertaste besides a touch of breadyness & remnants of the fruit. It might not work for you, but it works for me.

I think the bottle was $2, which was generous of the manager, as they don't sell singles. For 10%, being so easy, & so delicious... I think they're just flat out lying. :D

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 22:57:59 | More by PEBKAC

keysofebony

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think this a nearly perfect beer. Although I do now have some beef with River Horse because I made a beer that tastes almost identical to this, but it was 8.5% and not as smooth...damn river horse...touche

Appearance- belgian hefeweizen appearance; very hazy golden (i accidentally let all of the sediment in...gives me heartburn) Very frothy, smooth head that leaves a complete film along the top. Impressive.

Smell- Banana goodness, don't smell ANY alcohol. I want this as an air freshener. basically flowery banana. that's it for me.

Taste- A little bite between small amount of hops and alcohol, very tiny hop influence here. A little taste of pear on the finish, but an overall bold beer with a good malt base to it and well tamed ABV. A little spice to it..oh and did I mention banana; tastes like they used a Weihenstephaner yeast. (thats what i used in my own imperial hefeweizen recipe)

Mouthfeel- creamy, a tiny tiny bit dry at the very end, but medium sweetness throughout.

Overall- this seems like a semi-session-able beer but there would be a world of drunk waiting for you. after one i feel like I drank one tastier blue moon but feel tipsy like I drank 3. Very enjoyable, I can't compare it much to other tripels cause ive never had a real one before. However this is a above average/near perfect brew. Impress your friends with this and see them get hammered cause the alcohol taste is almost non existent. Will definitely buy more, especially cause the brewery is ~45 mins away from me.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 05:10:05 | More by keysofebony

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this beer in a variety pack of River Horse beer. I do not often see a triple in a Variety pack, especially not a 10%ABV beer in a case that sells for onl $25 and includes the Triple, ESB, Pale, and Lager. This was an excellent find :)

Many aspects of this beer reminded me of Gulden Draak / Dark Triple A Belgian Strong Dark Ale. This of course is a triple but to me they seem to be in a wonderful league of beers I adore! Tripel Horse is not quite as extreme in the sharp sweet burntness as Gulden Draak; but is is still quite toasty and quite sweet. Excellent.

Appearance: Pours with absolutely no head into my tulip glass. The beer is a very attractive ruby brown. It has minimal lacing.

Smell: Very toasted malt raw sugar and dark fruit aromas.

Taste: Smooth and noble, this beer starts off very easy. There is a very strong solid thick malt backbone to this beer that holds everything together. There is a little pinch of browned butter and sugar and a prod of gentle hops followed by a nudge reminding you 'yes there are hops here too' and it all works together magnificently to create a flavor masterpiece! Brilliant!

Mouthfeel: Smooth and slick. a bit buttery or oily with some definite spicy pricklies along the way. It has a nice dry finish that keeps my mouth salivating!

Drinkability: This beer goes down way too easily! Some how I got drunk just writing a review and damnit if I'm not gonna open another. Definitely a nightcap beer! It is big but very easy to drink! What a treat!

Hope this is helpful!
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2006 09:08:51 | More by Phatz

claytri

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice light amber with a good head that's whiteisn with amber highlights. The aroma is a burst of sweet malt and caramel. The taste starts off with a big sweet malt, then gives you some banana, caramel, and vanilla. Finally it closes with a cleansing burst of hops. The feel is medium with a slight oilieness. This one really caught me off guard. RH normally is a little higher on hops than I enjoy, but here they used more hops than you usually see in a trippel, but the really hit the mark with it. This is one that I will be buying more of.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2008 22:35:24 | More by claytri

angelogarcia3

New York

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Riverhorse Tripel has a fantastic golden color. It is a Belgian-style ale that was served to me in a pint glass at 516 Kitchen in Syosset. It pours with a very thin white head with a clear golden color.  Aromas of raisins, sweetness, & caramel hit the nose.  A syrupy spicy feel in the mouth with tastes of golden raisins, plum, & sweetness with slight alcohol kick. This a really great beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2012 22:34:04 | More by angelogarcia3

bsap772000

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is my first review on beer advocate.

This beer was given to me by my boss at a shower. Excellent. It pours a very white head of pourous foam, about a quarter of an inch. It disappears somewhat quickly. The aroma, right from the very start at a cold temperature, is beautifully strong. The mouthfeel could be one of the best features; it is still pretty darn good though. It is a bit watered, so it gives this tasty AND complex beer a bit of drinkability. This can be dangerous though as I wish I had more than just one!

The initial belgian light fruity estery qualities begin to mellow towards the end, and the complexity of this great beer begins to take shape. Darker notes....maybe almonds, mix in with this delicate but sophistocated gem. This beer is very enjoyable. Yes indeed. A bit of tart towards this finish as well. I feel like this is on the borderline of Flemish Red at the finish, but this could be a longshot. There is definately some tartness going on here a little.
Get one, or six or a case.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2005 07:21:33 | More by bsap772000

Ryki

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sweet taste, like a banana split. Like Blue Moon on Steriods. Love this Beer! I like my beers less hopped. This stuff is almost like mead. It's a Belgian Style Tripel, but it doesn't say what the base is. I presume it's wheat based. Just went to their website says Pilsen, White Wheat and Caramel 15. This is the best beer I have tried in a while.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 22:17:43 | More by Ryki

JasonCoop

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

pours a nice deep orange amber color with a fizzy head that fades quickly.

smells sweet and fruity. subtly spicy also.

taste is quite sweet right up front. i taste a nice fruitiness, i'm thinking of apples. mixed in with an interesting spice. nice and sweet. very tastey.

mouthfeel is full and creamy. almost chewy. very good, about what i expected from the style. drinkability is good but not great, this is a strong beer after all.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2007 07:20:23 | More by JasonCoop

rayjay

Hawaii

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Thanks for the surprise bottle, zrrbrrt! Never had this before but I've enjoyed the Hop Hazard on draft in Philly a few years back.

Brilliant clear beer with no sediment, small firm foam head, modestly active carbonation escaping in the form of a constant flow of small bubbles. This is a good looking, inviting beer.

The nose features lots of malts, and an estery Belgian style pez-candy yeast, although much more restrained than, say, St. Bernardus. Some alcohol but it smells tamed.

Very refined and well balanced. Refreshing, with pilsner qualities much like Duval. Subtle flavors that melt together in perfect harmony. Delicate noble bitterness that's quite enjoyable. Far from bold. This is one of the finer American versions of the style. It could compete with many Belgian versions as well, but I think it would be beaten in the personality department. Very diffucult to fathom this weighing 10% abv--where is the alcohol? Featuring subtle bananas and mild acetaldehyde. A tiny bit isovaleric. Not taking off any points because all the flavors melt, none are offensive, and there's alot of alcohol which is probably helping to tame everything.

Gentle but confident carbonation makes for a great mouthfeel. Not too sweet, sticky, or syrupy, common complaints of mine for this style. A winner!

Careful, because the drinkablity is way too high for the abv.

My only complaints are that it's not exactly authentic and has a definate US vibe (screw tradition, US brewers should make beers with US style...but they call it a triple so they asked for it!!!). Cheers to River Horse!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2007 05:22:08 | More by rayjay

acdcfan99

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first review, but not my first beer. I thought it tasted great on its own merits. As an American Belgian Triple-style without the price tag and from a local (for me) source, I found it exceptional. It paired great with whatever food I put it with and it has a nice complexity on its own.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 09:42:47 | More by acdcfan99

Sharkophile

New York

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured into a goblet. Pours a cloudy golden color with a small white head that doesn't last too long.

S: Smells very fruity and sweet, with a little bit of spicy yeast.

T: Banana (like a hefe), honey and light fruit flavors, along with a spiciness from the Belgian yeast (clove, again like a hefe). Sweetness continues into the finish with light hops and a pretty hefty punch of alcohol.

M: Medium to full body with light carbonation. Pretty creamy.

O: Is there such a thing as an imperial hefeweizen? Doesn't taste like a typical tripel, but I like it alot.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 05:33:35 | More by Sharkophile

leoqueloquen

New York

4.4/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Everything about this beer was good
It poured nicely into a sniffer glass leaving about a finger of awsome and tasty white head....Color deep amber. the sweet taste doesn't stay with young which I like. This is by far the best RIVERHORSE I have had.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 12:53:27 | More by leoqueloquen

9InchNails

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A hazy golden color. Really interesting looking beer. They're particles floating around in the beer, weird. Looks decently carbonated.

Sweet Caramel, little pine, dark fruits like raisins and a noticeable hint of spice.

Very tasty beer. Citrus, spice, raisin, slight booze but works well with it; for a 10% ABV it is hidden very well with a hint of alcohol.

Medium mouth feel that fills your mouth. Carbonation is NOT extreme but is there. Feels really nice in the mouth.

This is quite a easy drinking beer for a ten percenter. Taste is really good, feels really nice in the mouth. I wish I had one more of these to enjoy but the alcohol sneaks up on you.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 06:24:54 | More by 9InchNails

tjd112

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Presentation - Poured into Flying Fish pint glass

Appearance - Poured hazy orange with fast dissipating white half-finger head and little lacing

Smell - Very citrus like hops and a biscuity scent

Taste - Apricots, apricots, apricots

Mouthfeel - Moderate with a bit of sweetness

Drinkability - This drinks well for a trippell

Overall - A winner

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 22:08:59 | More by tjd112

beer272

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - appearance ok, not a translucent beer, blocks light. The beer is orange, orange, maybe 10% brown. Amber is yellow orange. This was closer to orange. Lacing ok, but one needs malodextrine or black patent to get good heads?

Also saw yeast at the bottom of the bottle, not problem for me as it is good vitamin B. Looks like the yeast had medium flocculation.

S - Very good for the beer style with Belgium yeast. This is my first Belgium triple!?

T - A give it a great rating once again for this 10% Begium Triple. Tastes very smooth. Slightly sweet with minimal taste of hops.

M - Great mouth feel, full bodied.

D - Great Triple, though keep in mind the 10% ABV, you want to be careful drinking too many at one time ;) Also due to the strength will get smoother with age.

I paid $40 for a case right at the brewery which includes the NJ 7% tax, so about $1.56 per bottle before tax.

From looking at the reviews I sense we are reviewing different batches from this small brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 14:36:03 | More by beer272

glasscleaner

New York

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

River Horse Tripel Horse may not qualify as a true version of the Belgian style,yet it has many tasty redeeming qualities which make it an appealing hybrid quaff.
New Jersey brewery provides the goods for those who can appreciate the Hippo on the bottle....

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 05:59:58 | More by glasscleaner

kbnooshay

New York

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

People seem to be so harsh to the brews this place makes. This is is a fantastic brew! I think I like it almost as much as the belgian frostbite. Not much head after I poured it. The aroma is toastey and sweet; Not alcoholic at all! This is one of those beers that you can't begin to understand how it is rated at 10% alcohol. The taste is incredibly smooth and malty. The hops are lite but nice. The brown sugar/caramellish tint to the malt rocks. The mouthfeel is kinda slick and nice but by the end of the beer you mouth will be dry as shit! I could down 3 or 4 of these but i would be dead!

Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2007 08:27:53 | More by kbnooshay

tetsuoni

New York

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I found this ale over a year ago in Stone Ridge, NY. When they ran out, I couldn't find it anywhere, but it stayed on my mind. Last week, I drove to Lambertville to make sure I wasn't crazy, and that it did in fact exist, and was as good as I remember. I'm so glad I did. Jimmy the brewer gave my Rhinebeck Brewing partner Jay and myself a grand tour of the brewery (plus the brewpubs Triumph & Ship's Inn - what a day!). This is a great tripel, in leagues with La Fin Du Monde, Merry Monks, Defiant and St. Bernardus.

It's got the yeast characteristics I seek out in tripels, but the 10% alcohol is not overpowering. It goes down smooth, with nice floral and banana notes. Ales brewed with spices are often overpowered by their spices, but not here, where the application is subtle.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 21:50:22 | More by tetsuoni

bonbright7

New York

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I found this cask at Dave's Bellport Beer where a River Horse tasting was going on last night. The pin was obviously fresh as it poured with mild carbonation from the gravity feed.

In its murky orange and golden way, the Triple looked like most like the Belgians I had previous had and it seemed to sparkle a little in my glass. The aroma of coriander, peppers, honey, and hops seemed to bring out an unexpected and appealing element in the ale.

My first taste told me this was dead-on for style guidleines as it hit the magical spicy wheat in high abv very well. I loved the body of the ale as I had more and more...

Easy drinking with an eye on the occasional hotness, this made for a great serving.

Serving type: cask

03-12-2011 15:20:13 | More by bonbright7

NiceGuyMike

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark golden hue with not much head or carbonation. Strong smells of the distinct Belgian brew with alcohol and mild fruitiness. Light flavors of vanilla and fruity bananas. Medium body with light carbonation

I do so enjoy drinking this brew.

Notes: this one must not be served too cold.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2005 02:07:56 | More by NiceGuyMike

droomyster

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, dark orange with a great big white head. Smells are very fruity, sweet, and spicy, with big orange zest element and a bit of alcohol making its presence known. Very fruit-forward on the palate, bubblegummy, quite sweet. A bit too sweet for anything but tiny sips but undeniably tasty. I especially like the aggressively spicy finish. Body is very lively with carbonation crackling like electricity before smoothing out as you mull it around. A very welcome companion during this snowy weather we're having in DC.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 07:26:00 | More by droomyster

Kraken

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20 oz Harp Pint glass. This thing is like a porn star, head that wont quit. 3 Fingers of beer 5 fingers of head, this is with a gentle pour mind you. Nose is alcohol, slight floral and Belgian yeast. Head is massive rocky, slightly off white, with a tremendous staying pour and moderate lacing. Appearance is a dark amber. Its going to be awhile before I can finish pouring this much less taste.

Smooth slightly sweet and tart on the tongue. Hints of citrus. Very nice, lightly malted, yeasty esters, at the close. Carbonation keeps this fairly light for a 10% abv. Alcohol is well hidden, although it begins to show its heat at the end. This is a very fine example of the style. Mouthfeel is full, although drinking more then 2 would begin to diminish flavor returns. Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2008 02:56:14 | More by Kraken

resirob

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear golden orange. Tight, champagne-like tiny bubbles produce a smallish white head with decent lacing.

Aroma: Vanilla, floral, fruity. Alcohol is suprisingly subtle. Nicely aromatic.

Taste: Moderate body, crisp carbonation that stays around. Mildly sweet – a nice change from the sweeter Belgians out there. Slight medicinal note from the phenols. Fruitiness from pineapple and plum? Hops bitternes is minimal. Clean, dry finish. Alcohol shows up more as the beer warms, and gives the familiar pleasant warmth. This beer should become more complex with aging.

Very tasty! A good competitor for Weyerbacher's Merry Monks.
A dangerously drinkable beer at 10%. I would like to put a few of these away for cellaring. A good offering from River Horse!

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2004 19:32:46 | More by resirob