La Trappe Tripel

My ongoing assessment of the Tripel style hit a new obstacle when I visited Amsterdam. For once I was not greeted with the usual golden straw color but rather a deep resinous orange with a slight haze if held up to the light. The fluffy white head lasts longer than La Trappe’s other creations and produces thin creamy lacing that hangs for a short moment before it cascades down the glass. The aroma held more resemblance to the brewer’s Dubbel and Quadrupel than my previous experiences with tripels. Indeed the familiar creamy pear and dried fruit frangrance found in La Trappe’s range was clearly noticeable. Banana, bubble gum, sweet butter, nectar, honeysuckle and apparently Gorgonzola (in an epiphany my friend Nicholas had) emerge in the nose. The fresh aroma of entering a florist shop is also apparent but rapidly submits to the salient alcohol notes. Again far from the conventions of the style but nonetheless inviting. In the flavor appears a creamy blend of pear and pineapple the progressively softens as you hold it on the tongue. With a brusque swallow the heavy alcohol creates what I can only describe as a cheesy fruit sensation. Peach and apricot merge with a flavor that even my turophile palate cannot pinpoint. In the aftertaste, some grains develop, reminding of milled wheat or corn. Generally it is genuinely a likeable beer albeit far from what I had expected.

750 ml. bottle. Pours an unfiltered hazy golden color with a thick white head. Aroma is of sweet spices with hints of nutmeg,nuts and banana. Flavor is full of figs,bananas,nutmeg, nuts and caramal. Very good.

pours hazy golden with a large white head, aroma of citrus and yeast. the flavor has the presence of spices and alcohol with some sweetness and a bitter finish, not bad.

Burnt straw coloured body with a touch of orange colouring. Full size white frothy head and big chunks of lacing. Alcohol is most noticeable in the taste, then some spice followed by a touch of caramel. More drinkable as it warms but just doesn’t turn me on too much.

Bottle. White lasting head. Golden unclear body. Aroma of green apples. Some bitterness but general impression is sweet and fruity flavor.

30cl bottle. Poured a medium amber with a good white head. Lots of yeast with some sweet citrus in the nose. Flavor was very will balenced. A nice bit of spicy sweetness on the tongue, and finish slightly bitter. I’m looking forward to the rest of this six-pack.

Dark amber with a massive head. Yeast and citrius aroma. A bit sour but quite similar to other trappist ales. Not very heavy.

Beautiful orangish-light amber beer. Head is big, creamy and with good retention. Some sediments and a moderate carbonation. Aroma of fruits like apples, plums and peaches. Well disguised alcohol with a very drinkable character. Flavor is pleasant with some banana and fruit salad sweetness, ending short and slightly bitter. An exquisite drink.