Fish Tale Monkfish Triple (2004-)

Brewed by Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Abbey Tripel
Olympia, Washington USA

Hazy orange/amber pour, mostly diminishing near-white head, looks oily and somewhat thick/syrupy. The nose actually conceals the alcohol very well underneath a large assortment of fruits and sweet malts, plus a dollop of candy sugar. Notes of orange peel, apricot, apple, melon and plum are recognizable. Malt is very sweet and interlaced with alternating caramel and vanilla/honey scents. The flavor is rustic and lightly toasty. Grain tastes too apparent and raw. Sweet malts are not intrusive due to the fact that they’re overshadowed by burned caramel. Fruitiness is mild, though lemon notes become bolder with each warming degree. Bitterness is light to mild and accelerates a light astringency. Sweetness seems forced, though it’s not as notable as a typical American example. Nothing about the flavor is memorable other than it’s uninspired and dull nature. The finish is sweet then dries moderately, lingering caramel and apple skins linger. The mouthfeel is slick, uninteresting and soft for the most part.

Pours a cloudy, nice looking, deep red orange with a medium off white head. Smells of sweet candy sugar, malts, a little bit of spice, but not much. Mild aroma overall. The taste is very malty, moreso than in most tripels Ive had. Seems to lack in the spice category. Definitely syrupy sweet, alot of candy sugar and a slight bitterness in the finish. Different than most beers Ive had of this style. I get a decent amount of alcohol in the finish also. Wasnt really digging it much.

Seventh stop during the ABA Beer Tour ’07 in Olympia, Washington. Sampled on tap at the Fish Tale brewpub. Pours a semi-clear orange-ish amber brew with a thin white head that quickly dissipates to a fine film. Aroma is complex of fruity character, apples, cotton candy, and some honey. Taste is medium to full bodied, little carbonation with fruity flavors of apples, caramel malt and some yeast. Finish is sweet, a little bit of alcohol and then a citrus bitter aftertaste.

Pours a beautiful dark golden color with a small white head. Aroma has small fruit tones. Tastes of moderate fruit and a hint of bitter hops. Not what I expected; lacked the complexity of most Tripels.

Pours a slighly cloudy orange color with little head. Aroma is light fruit notes, sweet malt, and not much else. Taste is not what I was expecting from an abbey tripel. It lacks the depth and complexity that you get from the style. Taste is light fruit, some light yeastiness, some sweet bread and again, not much else. Alcohol is well hidden and it’s smooth going down but it’s pretty boring.

Pours a cloudy orange gold color with a frosty white head. Aroma of caramel malt, dough bread, and a bit of honey and nectar. Taste is malty with caramel and nectar undertones and a bready feel overall. A nice bitter zesty finish.

Murky copper color with no head. Caramel and orange aroma with a bit of honey. A very bready flavor and a dry hop finish. Not bad, but the aroma lead me to have higher hopes for the taste.

Fiery Burnt Orange Color with Sandy Ring. Sweet Syrupy Malt and Vinous Nose. Medium Bodied...Nice Yeasty Flavor...Dry, Spiced and Malty...Fairly Simple and Definitly a Smooth Brew. Overall Just a Very Simple, Enjoyable Tripel.