MacTarnahans Gran Luxe Tripel Ale

Formerly brewed at Portland Brewing Company (Pyramid)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Portland, Oregon USA

In the bomber bottle. Pours a cloudy copper-orange color with a yellow-white head. A strong medicinal aroma first emerges followed by a very strong alcohol burn in your nose. Flavor has an interesting candy sweetness, some nutty almonds, but definitely cookie-like. Surprisingly, there is no alcohol burn in the mouth or gullet. This beer has fine head retention and leaves exquisite lacing. As it warms, I get a slight aroma of saddle soap on a new piece of leather. While it was a fun beer to rate, this is probably in second place to a real hard-core Belgian Triple that is made well.

Deep golden color with a thinner lid of cream colored bubbles. An aroma that comes out rather clean, light malt and currants dominates the nose. Some light banana and a hint of cloves also in the waft. Only a slight hint of its strength. First impression after the first sip "just a strong simple sweet ale". Slick feel with enough eff to help things from getting too cloying. Very simple flavors with candi, light caramel, mild pears in a light syrup. Quite simple, but certainly very drinkable. A beginners strong ale. I can’t find fault with this aside from being simple and on the verge of being boring. If I wanted to relax and have a strong ale without being distracted by it, this would get my vote.

(Bottle 65 cl) Slightly hazy amber golden with a creamy, white head. Aroma of diacetyl, banana and yeast. Very full-bodied with loads of sweet malt and distinct notes of banana and yeast. Almost no bitterness. But this almost reminds me more of a Weizenbock than of a Tripel. 160106

Light Copper Coloring with White Head. Very Sweet/Rich Caramel Notes. Grapefruit, Fruity..Light Mouthfeel. Alcohol % is There, But Pretty Weak Overall.

Clear amber body beneath a miniscule white head. The aroma is spice, banana bread, spun candy, orange zest, honey. Weak and watery. The flavor was unimpressive, a blend of fizzy sweetness and citric bite.

Light gold color with a thin head. Citrus filled nose. The taste was a very one dimensional blast of grapefruit. I wouldn’t call it an IPA, but an Abbey Tripel it is not.

Looks like an IPA. Dark orange colour with a light clumpy head. Smells like an IPA with candy sugar. grapefruit and prunes. Flavour is dark and has the candy sugar along with some weird fruit flavour, perhaps raisins and prunes. Alcohol is well hidden but flavur is dark and un-Tripel-like. More like a Dubel with extra sugar.

Pour is hazy orangey amber with a thin short lived white head...smell is fruity with some pears and a little yeast too...alcohol...taset is sweet and alcoholic with apples, pears, more alcohol...finish is dry with a sticky mouthfeel...not good...