La Trappe Tripel

Brewed by De Koningshoeven (Bavaria - Netherlands)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Tilburg, Netherlands

(Bottle, 0.75l BBE 04-2005, at Pikkulintu, Helsinki, on 2008-12-23. Thank you Marjut for finding this gem.) Orange. Hazy. Small white head. Raisin, apricots, dried plum and fruitiness in quite strong nose. Full bodied and little bit dry and sugary palate with medium carbonation. Raisin, malts, fruitiness, dried plum, bitterness, sweetness and some chocolate in taste. Raisin, sweetness and bitterness in aftertaste.

330 ml bottle. Finland. Reddish brown colour. Sweet fruity aroma. Sweet and warming.

Bottle. Deep golden, a bit unclear, lazy carbonation, big creamy off-white head. Solid sweet orangey-almondy nose. Moderate to solid sweet flavour, accompanied by a little bitterness, medium bodied. Almonds, sweet fruits and a little tartness in the finish. Pleasant, warming stuff........

Koningshoeven has always treated me well, even if the naming scheme is a bit confounding. So, to celebrate my homecoming for the holidays I started with the La Trappe Tripel, which immediately kicked up a thick, pillowy tan head. The body, in contrast, is bristling with carbonation with a deep, red amber complexion. After the beer has a chance to breath and settle, the head begins to collapse into round, fat folds like the topside of a cloud. From this dreamscape comes the aroma of dry grains and biscuits, with a little ripened banana peel, white grape juice, a dab of tahini, cheap white wine (Two buck Chuck?) and a squeeze of grapefruit hoppiness. The flavor starts dry like the aroma, but immediately crests and tumbles into a pool of sweet flavors. Caramel, roasted apple skins, grapefruit and sparkling cider creep up on the drinker, and then break down immediately before the aftertaste, devolving at last into a simple, corn flavor. The hops in the aftertaste, too, is afflicted with a troublesome taste of soap. As the beer warms and lounges in the warm clime of my living room it develops some satiating oat notes, while the chorus of other dry grain flavors mature, losing some of their over-the-top dryness. It becomes less sweet, but still very drinkable. A good start to the holidays.

Pours a much deeper reddish orange copper colour than I would have expected from a tripel. Nose is very faint, there is some yeast, and a little bit of caramel. In the mouth it is also fairly blandish. It does taste like beer, but only marginally. There is some caramel and toffee. A little bit of spice as well, particularly towards the finish. There is a bit of orange and other citrus, probably hops. Carbonation is low, but nice. It is fairly thick, but not downright syrupy, just enough to feel like beer in the mouth. Enjoyable.

Pours a hazy orange with diminishing head. Sweet caramel aroma and also underlying fruity notes. Flavour is caramel, dark fruit (plums and raisins) and orange. Medium bodied and sweet, alcoholic finish.

This poured golden hazy brown with caramel and orange hitting the nose. This is real smooth and great to drink anytime.

Close to my idea of perfection. This beer has a clear and beautiful orange body with a small off white head. It smells of sweet malts along with a whole bouquet of ripening fruits, slight ginger and citrus as well. The taste is a beautiful marriage of fruit, sweets, and spice. It begins with caramel and cinnamon, ends with spices and hints of bittersweet fruits. Medium fill to the plate, playfully fizzy with a wonderfully long warm finish. Stare into the fire and ponder the shaping of the world. Irresistible.