River Horse Tripel Horse

Brewed by River Horse Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Lambertville, New Jersey USA

Glowing, transparent orange with a sudsy saliva puff swirling in the center for the head. Nectarines, alcohol, cloves, orange extract, pepper, lemon zest and fruity banana esters lead to a comprehensive aroma that’s reminiscent of a scented paint thinner. First sip washes in and I’ve already forgotten the flavor suggestions. Consecutive sips enforce a flavor profile purely from a repetition standpoint. Husky, sweet lemon traits, orange skin, imitation cloves and distinguishable alcohol presence. Overbearing sugary lemon drops and an ill dosage of pepper. Light, sweet, slick and the most brevity of spice to placate the palate. Laughable attempt at complexity, finishing like melted ice in a spiked middle school dance orange-pineapple punch. What it boils down is this: another episode of "even if you can brew it, doesn’t mean you should do it." Thanks for the bottle, Thaichile.

The Lure:
Inventive vanilla sweetness in thick layers over bananas and citrus fruit. Flower petals and grapefruit zest are whispered within, linked by the doughy yeast. A different concept, kudos for that.

The Festivities:
A serene mouthfeel is created by the low carbonation and honeyed malt sweetness. Oranges hang on to the soft yeast, and there is no alcohol to be tasted. A definitely floral perfume distinguishes it from other Tripel variants. Some watery moments disappoint, and point to the lack of depth.

Transcendence:
At first sight, something different might seem off the mark.

Clear golden, the white head is thin and fully dispersed. Very very sweet aroma contains lightly spicy, yeasty vanilla and honey notes, somewhat perfumey, but basic all the same. Doughy in mouth, it keeps that same old same old sweetish herbal, honey, vanilla profile that amplifies its simplicity through a simple light-medium body with biting, but not terribly authentic carbonation. So sweet! Where are the hops?

Pours light golden with a creamy white head. Yeast and carbonation are lacking for my taste. Aroma has vanilla, citrus, orange and flowers. Same with the taste. Mouthfeel is too thin for a tripel. Not bad.

The aroma was citrus, flowers, and light fermented fruit. The flavor was light fermented fruit, and honey and a hint of flowers. The beer poured a golden yellow color w/ orange highlights; thin lasting head and lacing. The mouthfeel was light and creamy.

120z. Bottle. Poured an amber with foamy tan head. Sweet aroma with spice and fruit. Not a bad triple. The %10 is well hidden.

12oz. bottle. Clear amber color with a large rocky white head. Sweet yeasty aroma with lots of coriander. Strong coriander flavor with some banana and a somewhat dry, bitter finish. More like a Belgian Wit than a tripel, but not bad.

Poured this bottle to celebrate the Redskins triumphant victory and 4th quarter comeback over the Cowboys on monday night football. Pours a golden orange with not much of a head. Aroma is sweet apple, cinnamon and freshly cooked krispy kream donuts. Taste is sweet with spice and yeast. Nice tasting beer. Complex finish.