New Holland Black Tulip Trippel Ale

Brewed by New Holland Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Holland, Michigan USA

From a bottle, at home, in a pub glass. Pours amber with a small head that vanished quickly. Complex aroma, a little bit belgian with lots of fruity hints, a little bit IPA with some fragrant hops, and LOTS of alcohol, almost like a liquor. Starts out hops, then malt with a belgian yeast tinge, then fruity esters in the aftertaste and lots of alcohol, enough to warm my tongue. Enjoyable and refreshing, except it’s too expensive and alcoholic to have very often.

Served in a tulip glass. Had a thick, white head to start with, but it quickly deminished. A faint caramel aroma that is highly alcoholic and sharp to the nose. It also smells yeasty, but is surprisingly clear - especially for a Trippel. This medium-bodied Trippel starts off with a strong, bitter flavor - but mellows after a moment, revealing the sweet, slightly hoppy flavor.

Bottled. Sweet, fruity aroma, full with malt and yeast esters and possessing background notes of pear, apple, white grape, vanilla, faint bubblegum and vinyl; indeed flower petals seem readily apparent as well. Clear ruddy golden color, with a fine, creamy and lasting white head. Flavor profile is fruity and sweet, befittingly, with a touch of hop flavor up front, becoming fruiter and culminating on a sweet, spicy, peppery and lightly alcoholic note. Some hop bitterness floats about the palate afterwards, there is also some gentle warmth. Medium-full body. Interesting but seemingly a bit raw - needs a tad more refinement in regards to the flavor development.

Transparent copper in color (they should really think about renaming this one) with a creamy 1/4" white head. Aroma is dishwasher tablets, apple, pear, clover, starch, banana and some citric elements. Very clean smelling. Flavor is nice, brisk and creamy. Big banana and clove configuration. White pepper and nutmeg contribute to its spiced complexity. Creamy and full-bodied, but relatively light. A palate sweeper. Bittering and dry feel from 49 IBUs. Chewy, sweet malts add caramel and toffee characteristics. Dry, bitter sweet after taste that numbs the tongue a little. No trace of high ABV. Enjoyable.

Bottle. Clear and medium amber colored. Decent white head fades and leaves fair lacing. Aroma is very estery with bubblegum standing out to me, very sweet. Mouthfeel is a bit to thin and watery. Sweet, malty with just a little spice towards the finish and a fair hop bitterness at the end. Decent.

Bottle... Crystal clear, amber ale with a small, fizzy, white head. There are some typical, fruity/spicy notes of banana, apricot and clove in the nose, but also some green apple esters. The flavor is perfectly balanced with some shots of green apple and banana. A little thin in body for a high gravity beer. Astringent and fizzy. Short, crisp finish. Not at all bad for a tripel... one of my very least favorite styles.

2005 I believe. Very clear goldish/copper color. Light white head with minimal lacing and carbonation. The aroma comes forward with yeast, spice (cardamom, clove, ?) along with syrup like candy ginger. The flavor is spicy with raw clove, pepper, and perhaps cinnamon. Some candy like sweetness but it quickly fades to a hoppy citrus peal bitterness. An interesting brew overall. The spice and pepper makes it unusual. Generally crisp mouth feel.

Clear, very light orange, tiny head. Alcohol comes through a lot in aroma and flavor. A little thin, not very complex.