Westmalle Tripel

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Abbey Tripel
Malle, Belgium

I figured it was time to revisit this gem, and my old rating was worthless, so off it goes...Pours a brilliant gold with a well sustained pillowy fluffy head. Smells of fruit, dry maly, touches of cookie dough, spice, pepper, a hint of ginger. Tastes of dry malt with a touch of complimentary warming alcohol. Lots of floral hints, notes of grass and hay, touches of spice, a nice earthiness are all present as this one warms. Mouthfeel is tingly and waxy. Finish yields lots of refreshing dryness and a grassy hint. This is the standard by which I compare all other tripels. A true gem of a beer.

Foamy, offwhite head with lively action. Pale golden in color. Nose of honey, golden raisins, spice and alcohol. A very pleasant taste once it warms up a bit. It was a little too cold to start out and it left a bitter aftertaste. Four sips in, and I was loving every minute of it.

Fruity aromas, hints of bananas, and soft citrus, with a lot spice. Pours blonde with a thick white head. Fruity up front, sweet citrus, some honey, with a big dryness that follows and a very spicy finish!

Great tripel. Pours a very appealing golden colour, with typical tripel sweet-bitterness. Honey nose, and round on the palate.

What does tripel mean? Three kinds of yeast, or three times the foam? The first so it must be the best, right? Golden ale, numerous small bits of suspended sediment. White foam head, lasts 5 minutes at least. Apple, yeasty aroma. Good rounded out flavor of middle of the road sugars, malt, hops, and yeast. The yeast doesn’t dominate in this one like in most Belgians. The palate is refreshing but a little bitter.

Bottle. Pours a hazy golden color with a big white head. Aroma of spices and yeast. Taste is similar to smell.

Bottle. GUSHER! Pours a cloudy light orange with a huge, thick, foamy white head that leaves nice lacing on a Westmalle glass. Aroma of spcies (particularly clove), lemon/citrus zest, and the typical tripel skunk. Tastes like...a tripel! Lots of Belgian yeast and spices, maybe some cinnamon. As the beer warms some light fruits (especially apple) come out, but you really have to search for it. Mostly the beer is dominated by spices. Pretty drinkable as the 9.5% isn’t noticed in the flavor or palate. Probably my favorite tripel, although this style is one of my least favorite.

Westmalle Tripel is a cloudy dim golden ale with many big particles and a huge lumpy, foamy white head that leaves nice lacing on the glass. It has a spicy barnyard aroma. It smells like a saison to me. There are hints of fruit and possibly licorice and hay. It is medium bodied, a bit foamy, very smooth and the finish is clean. The flavor is peppery and leathery. It is spicy like clove and coriander. There is a grassy aspect to the taste. The flavors are very well blended. It’s a solid Tripel, but I was expecting something to knock my socks off.