Abbaye des Rocs Triple Impériale

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

Dark, hazy reddish-amber color...thick, creamy head...a fairly volatile pour. Nice sweet aroma with dark dried fruits (dates, cherries), sweet malts, yeast. A very rich and complex balance of flavors: sweet malts, yeast, dried fruits (dates, cherries, figs, raisins), some spiciness (coriander, nutmeg), a hint of citrus, a hint of cocoa. This was one of the softest, most velvety beers I’ve ever had... it seemed to instantly turn to a creamy foam as soon as I took a sip. The alcohol had a nice warming presence, not harsh or overpowering in any way, perfect for a cold day... Overall a true gem, I’ll seek this one out again and again.

Pours an amber coppery color with a thick frosty brownish beige head. Unfiltered with plenty of hops floating around. Aroma is full of dark fruits such as dates and figs along with banana. Also present in the aroma is fresh yeast, roses, oak and a hint of caramel. Taste is an excellent combination of figs,raisins,dates,caramel,fresh yeast,rose juice, sour dough bread, cherries and plums. Excellent !! One of the best belgium beers out there.

Bottle. A typical Belgian tripel, loads of yeasty acidity/bitterness, and lots of citrus characters, and also some warming alcohol. Slightly cheesy. Lively carbonation on the pour and also in the mouthfeel, probably a touch too much. This was very nice ethouogh.

chesnut brown appearance...medium beige head; bready/doughy, vanilla, oak, caramel, chocolate, and raison aroma; bready and chewy flavor, with figs, caramels, and raison...erupts on tongue...excellent

330ml bottle from the <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/new-york target=blank>Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York. Deep copper in colour, creamy long lasting tan coloured head, great lacing. The aroma is intensly rich, great caramel sweetness, some yeast, cream, plums and raisins. The flavour is of cookie and bready malts, lots of caramel sweetness, christmas cake, cherries, plums, figs, raisins. Creamy mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, rich with no alcohol in sight. Unbelievably good.

Best Before end 2008.

Bottle courtesy of Larry Pitonka. Dark brown body, big off white head. Fruity, yeasty aroma with underlying malt. (7+) Yeasty tang to the malty flavour, light dry fruit notes throughout, lightly dry finish. Medium palate (3+). This is a fairly simple yet very tasty Belgian brew, but it strikes me as sort of more like a malty double with the dryness of a triple. Interesting.

When I poured this I knew I was in for a treat. Just the sight of it proposed a unique brew to be reckoned with. When they say brewed for a king, it’s right on the money. This is the epitome of Belgian decadence. Pours dark honey w/ a full rise semi creamy froth. Aromas of candied gravel and fruited spice. Full nectar w/ soft residual effers. Flavors are fuller than your usual Tripel with banana, stone fruit, spice, honey, vanilla, and heavy cream. This is truely awsome. Well balanced, no alcohol detection though it’s 10%, wow! Not too sweet, not to dry. This is the perfect brew when you’re trying to get away from the malted hop bombs but still want to overindulge. For as big as it is, it is a refined brew. I am at a new level of awareness from this point on.

HUge gas release, minimal carbonation and small weak head. Aromas of baking bread and brown sugar greet the nose. Creamy palate with pronounced acidity. An abrupt very tart finish.