Sawyers Triple

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Abbey Tripel
Escondido, California USA

In short: A smooth, sweet, flowery and fruity golden ale. Different and highly drinkable.
How: Bottle 22oz. Consumed (probably fresh) soon after purchase. Tasting session with Montreal crew.
The look: Golden orange body topped by a very small off-white head
In long: Pleasant floral nose of scented garden flowers. Soft juicy body with a soft carbonation. Taste is a pleasant mix of honeyed malts, flower petals (orchids, etc.), tropical fruits and passion fruit juice. The flowery hopping brings no dryness and almost no bitterness so the honey sweetness sticks around in the finish and the beer does feel a little sweet. Quite different from the classic Belgian Abbey Triples, especially the mouthfeel that didn’t felt Belgium at all. But this is a very interesting refreshing golden ale of some kind. It just felt different. A surprising offering coming from Stone and one I’d like to see brewed regularly. Unfortunately they only seem to brew it on rare occasions. I don’t know what the occasion is but it doesn’t happen very often. Maybe they brew it to celebrate the win of a handicapped albinos at the special Olympic wheelchair 1000 meters hurdles. Maybe, I don’t know, something that doesn’t happen often.

Pours a clear, golden, orange color, with a hint of amber. One finger head of frothy white foam that dissipates quickly. Lacing is decent, but minimal. Nice sugarey sweetness greets me first. Followed up with some nice fruitiness and a touch of spices. Slight hints of malts. A very good, mild triple. Nice fruit flavors, accompanied by a touch of floral. Apples, pears and a touch of banana, are mixed with corriander and clove. The spices are balanced by a nice level of sugar sweetness. Nice and creamy smooth feeling, in the mouth. Enough body to interest you, yet not enough to overpower. Perfect level of medium carbonation. If you want a brew that doesn’t ask too much of you, this could be it. Very smooth, light, and easy to drink. Recommended, if you have the opportunity.

Nice to see this one. Really nice and smooth. A little slick and buttery but overall nice flavor. Sweet, faint spice and yeast.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée lors d’une dégustation Ratebeer Montréal chez Altair. Arôme: Odeur d’houblons et de céréales avec une pointe d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est orangée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’houblon floral avec une pointe d’épices. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Arrière goût légèrement fruité. (Rating #2695)

Bottle at the brewery. Pours a nice golden color with a decent white head. Malty aroma with a hint of citrus and fruit. Some spice jumps out in the flavor with a hint of alcohol. Decent hit of hops too. Very nice brew.

22oz bottle shared at Immy’s Backyard Throwdown. Pours golden in color with white head. Aroma malty, hops and spicy. Taste spicy, lemon and sweet with bitter finish.

Light golden color with small head. Fruity, spicy, hop aroma. Taste of vanilla, wheat, and spices. Good carbonation. Overall I liked this better since the first time I tried it. This was very similar to the RedHook Trippel except this one was thicker body.

Bottle from Stone purchased in late January 2009 - consumed mid August 2009. Really enjoyed this for the style. Nose was sweeter grass, nice floury yeast and very slightly powdery apple. Flavor is more of the same plus very light vanilla, delicate spice and a nice even carbonation. Reminded me of Chimay White white is a flabbergasting compliment for Stone.