Val-Dieu Triple

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Style: Abbey Tripel
Aubel, Belgium

De couleur orangée avec un voile moyen, composés de particules duveteuses. Laisse une mousse blanche moyenne mais éphémère. Effervescence moyenne et dentelle blanche. Parfum de blé fermenté, de pommes, d’agrumes et de raisins (vin). Il y a aussi une note boisée, fumée et résineuse (proche de l’encens). Le goût est d’abord salé, puis sucré et enfin légèrement amer. Comporte plusieurs flaveurs : froment, vin blanc, abricot, anis, banane, ananas et brandy. Il y a un délicieux et long arrière-goût de pâte de pain non cuite (levures et blé). Superbe complexité de parfums et de flaveurs. La bouche moyenne, avec de fines bulles. Super bière, pour ma part j’ai été impressionné et surpris. Au départ, elle avait l’apparence des bières blanches dont je ne raffole pas particulièrement…

750ml caged and corked bottle from The Lighthouse in Manchester. Pours a hazy golden orange with virtually no head. Smell is kind of weak, but hints at biscuit malt and spice. Tastes malty with biscuit malt having a firm presence, with some faint toffee and notes toward the finish. Tastes somewhat fruity also, but more of an apple than a citrusy like I’m used to from the style. Medium-bodied with moderate to low carbonation. Tasty and pleasant, but not at all what I was expecting. Very drinkable for the ABV, and the alcohol is not even noticeable. Complex and unique

On tap at Toronado in San Francisco. Hazy dark yellow color with fine white swirls and lacing. Really pungent aroma of clove, cassis, honey, vanilla extract and alcohol. The flavor is sweet and carbonated; the clove and sugary yeast statement bring it over the top, just too cloying for my tastes. It has a pleasant toasty undertone, but the initial sugar bomb up front takes away the beer’s total character. Peppery spice and alcohol dominate in the finish.

750 ml bottle. Pours clear golden with a lot of carbonation, thick airy head. Aroma is sweet but had a bit of funk to it. Flavor was much more pleasing. Sweet aroma maltiness and a spicy dry finish. Alcohol was blarey detectable and a sticky mouthfeel. Very tasty.

good lookin’ hazy golden color with a nice stable white head. Aroma is complex with a little vanilla, honey, fruity yeast flower , and a little touch of "god". Nice taste of honey, sweeat vanilla, little moderated hop, smooth carbonation. Good spicey aftertaste. Yes, i will buy it again, if i could:)

The aroma is very sweet and very malty - a very simple aroma. The color is a clear yellow and it has a fantastic head. The flavor is very sweet and fruity with notes of peach, other fruits, and some sweet esters. All in all it is round and soft with a bite. It has a good palate.

Nov. 2007 - Light cider color with very little head or lacing. Only a subtle fruity aroma was present. The flavor was subdued fruits -- pears and apple -- with a dry finish. A good beer paired with food. The mouthfeel was dry and airy with a nice smoothness. Pretty good, but no "wow" factor.

Pours hazy gold-orange with floaties. Very bready aroma with a good deal of spicy yeast. Lemony and honey-ish. Initially very sweet in the mouth, but the sweetness is confronted head-on by spicy yeast notes. The sweetness, however, wins out in the end and lingers honey-like and bready on the finish. Alcohol is perceptible.