MacTarnahans Gran Luxe Tripel Ale

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

A nice Tripel Ale, the balance is almost perfect. The hidden 9.3% alc/vol is so smooth.

Pours a hazy gold with an off-white head. This tripel tastes a bit past its prime with a lemon soapy cleaner taste and a sourness that grows in the finish. Its hard to describe, but a sort of dusty funk stays on the palate long after the flavor is gone. I’m not to sure i like this one, but maybe it was a bad batch. Overall not a revolting beer in any way, still drinkable, but just tastes a bit funky.

22 oz bomber: a pale golden blonde color with a tad bit of haze but it’s still easy to see through. Quick dissappearing head that was thin froth layer while it lasted. Kind of weak in the aroma section but has a distinct yeast smell about it. Actually quite plain in its flavor while leaving behind no aftertaste what so ever. Some spice and alcohol are detected but not enough quality ingredients and for being caterogized as a abbey tripel.

Bottled, drank in a tulip glass. Golden/amber, slightly hazy with a grand white head. Big yeasty aroma: typical banana and cloves, but the bananas have a certain caramelized , lightly pan-fried essence to them. There is also a bit of alcohol noticeable in the aroma. Yeasty, musty and full flavor with a rather dry and slightly alcoholic and sour finish. Low hop profile. Moderately carbonated, giving a rather sparkling feeling to the beer.

Lovely golden color but with little head and only a splotch of lace. First pour is crystal clear but subsequent ones are a bit hazy--a good thing as it indicates bottle conditioning. Nose is big and malty with some banana and clove spiciness as well as a bit of a coconut character. Medium to light bodied with feisty, crisp carbonation that may just be a small step over the top even for a Belgian. Rather dry with a resiny hop presence in the finish. A bit of alcohol shows through but it’s reserved and plays a nice counterpoint to the slight sweetness in the middle. Not the most traditional example of the style but definitely tasty.

Seems slightly darker than most tripels but I could be mistaken. Pours with a initial medium white head that quickly disappears, it is a light non-substantial head, some lacing. A sweetness comes through first rather than any yeast or spices in the aroma and taste. There is also some alcohol and fruit in this but I find it secondary to the sweetness. There is enough hops in here to prevent the sweetness from becoming cloying and this is more of a build-up effect. Light body with a slight dry tingling finish. I go back and forth with this beer after every sip so I will go with an average score.

Clear, golden and carbonated with small white head. Yeast and caramel with a bit of spicy hops in the aroma. Good body and a smooth finish with a warming alcohol effect. Relatively complex flavors with candi sugar dominating. I agree with the previous rater with the "cakey malts" and "vanilla". Not bad.

Hazy and rusty orange. Sweet-smelling and yeasty-fresh nose. Mouthfeel seemed a little on the light side, but the flavor wasn’t really lacking. Cakey malts. Delicate aromas of dry clove, flowers and herbs; big vanilla sweetness surfaces here and there. Mild bitterness at first, but it built more with time. Alcohol was really subdued; only a slowly building warmth.