La Trappe Tripel

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

Not so much karakter as dubbel or Quardrel, but fine anyhow.

HOw cna it be that it has almost the same rating than the Dubbel, anyway it has the right aroma and aftertatse, the apparience is just amazing. Cloudy and sweet and spicy. Like orange peels.

Nice brew. Fruity and yeasty. Very nice head and color. Actually qutie sweet in the aftertaste.

Bottle. Hazy golden color with a quickly laced white head. The nose is deeply malty with cherries and quite rich for a tripel. Dry, citric, and spicy in the mouth. The alcohol is a little harsh.

Bottled. Amber color with creamy long lasting head. Orangey and fruity aroma with hints of melon. High carbonation. Orangey flavor with exotic fruits, sweet maltiness and warming alcohol. Sweet and fruity finish with marmelade flavor. This beer plays mostly on fruity esters.

A vintage 11.2 oz. bottle, exact year unknown. This is my first tasting of an aged beer, but I didn’t do the aging, it was a gift from the distributor’s sales rep. "Six or seven years old," he said, "Original recipe, with the x’s on it, we were just storing it in the office, and it’s probably reached it’s peak. Had the dubbel last night, nice and chocolately." So why give it to me? Is he gunning for the title of Coolest Sales Rep Ever? There’s actually a "best by" stamp, but it’s hard to read. "08:46 02 04"? Does it have another 10 months to go? I certainly don’t care, I’m drinking it now! Color: murky, peachy orange, with a few brown flecks nestled at the bottle of the glass. Head is white, ample, but short-lived. Aroma feels arcane and hoary, like something from seven centuries ago, not seven years. Deep with citrus and spice, but mellowed, too. I almost don’t want to drink it, and would keep this mysterious and lovely smell in my nose as long as it can last! Most akin to orange candy, glittered with spice. Taste? Delirious, and a trifle devastating. ABV is kicking a little from the start, but the light, but complex flavor is a bit overwhelming. Hops are in charge, and fandango along the tongue for a turn or two, never really quitting the spotlight. A certain tartness soon overtakes at the end, while sugar and spice continue to cameo. Sadly, at the very end, my initial excitement has worn off, as has the brews complexities. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, and the flavors have died down quite a bit. No doubt, my friend was right, and this bottle is in it’s final stages. In my last few swallows, a little extra something reaches the back of the mouth. Is it the yeast? I pour the entire contents of the bottle in, and down it all...fuller, darker, boozier, an excellent end. That was nice. But not earth-shattering. Maybe that other vintage bottle, the dubbel, will be different?

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.

Dark gold in appearance, thin but creamy head. Aroma was initially quite woody, with hay accents. As it warmed, some cotton candy and alcohol emerged. Flavors were very lightly of apricot, a bit of bread, a dose of oakiness, and a grassy hop finish. Alcohol is quite clearly present throughout, and ultimately detracts from things a bit. Having said that, this isn’t a bad beer by any means.