Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Brewed by Brasserie d’Achouffe (Moortgat)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Achouffe, Belgium

Rating #700. Poured into a La Chouffe glass from a 750. A hazy golden, yellow, orange with a large bubbly/foamy slight off white head that left tons of lacing down the glass. Aroma of various Belgian spices, banana, citrus, floral, orange, grass, pine just a lot going on and my first impression is that I really liked how the aroma on this one turned out. Basically a hoppy LaChouffe. With the flavor the first thing I pick up in the yeast, then into the belgian spices, peppery, some banana, some pilsner qualities and then some hop bitterness in the tail. Pretty much a bitter tripel. As I drank more of this and as it warmed up more I started to get a slight roasty malt in addition to a little bit of the alcohol coming through, although not to the 9% level.

Bottle. Appearance was a large white head that was mostly lasting, poor lacing, visible carbonation, hazy, and a straw yellow hue. Nose was hoppy, sweet, spicy, hint of citrus, banana, and a hint of grapefruit. Flavor was hoppy, citrus, dry, spicy, bitter and hoppy finish. Tingly, hoppy mouthfeel. Light-medium body. Just didn’t care for the combining of an IPA and a Belgian Tripel. To each his/her own taste.

Draft. Hazed gold with a small white head. Nose is strong hops, flowers, grapefruit, orange peel, Belgian yeast, and light grains. Taste is citrus, grassy notes, hops, light honey, more Belgian yeast and dried fruits. Body is medium and mildly carbonated with some lingerign hop bitterness. Finishes with more fruit notes (melon coming through here), flowers, hops, bit of sweet maltiness, and grassy notes. Another nice discovery at ZBF!

Draft in Brussels. Hazy blond beer. Honey flavour, rather sweet. Sort of summer refreshing, but this is not a beer I’d like more than one glass of at a sitting.

Savannah, Ga. - Habersham Beverage Warehouse, 750 ml bottle. Clean, crisp lemony aroma, hints of spice and grass. Beautiful murky, light orange pour with nice bubble action and a thick, sticky, puffy snow white head that leaves a generous coating of lacing. Tangy flavor - some lemon, honey, a hint of yeast. Flavor gets bolder and sweeter as it warms with some candied sugar notes poking through. Mouthfeel is slightly carbonated which fits right with this one. Alcohol deceptively hidden. Very enjoyable Tripel.

Draught at Old Capitol Brew Works and Public House in Iowa City, IA. Hazy yellow color with thick white head that left a towering wall of lace on the glass. Smelled of sweet clove and flowery hops. Flavors included clove and black pepper, very spicy. Dry and bitter at the end with a lemon tanginess. Nice.

Bottled. Hazy golden color, thick white head. Aroma has typical triple identities like fruity and spicyness, but it’s combined with distinct hoppy aromas, quite nice. Quite bitter taste, ofcourse, nicely balanced, though complex. Dry and hoppy palate. Perfect balance, and it combines an almost perfect triple with the hoppy features of an IPA. Good job!

Dark yellow colored with cloudy appearance. Medium sized white head. Rich hopped aroma with grass and flowers, some fruity tones with peach and orange peel, also some tripel spiciness, mild alcohol and even some vinous tones come up. Excellent aroma. Medium to full bodied. Flavor is similar with sweet fruity start, aftertaste turns to dry hopped with flowers, spices, yeast and lemon last. Excellent brew.