Westmalle Tripel

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

Bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. What greeted me was a nice finger worth of head that turned into a thick layer of lace on top of a beautiful hazy (small particles float around) yellowish orange body. Aromas of fruit, bread yeast, hops and a light alcohol whiff Flavors are citric and spicy with a little alcohol warmth in the end Good carbonation on the tongue A great drink for a good meal. A little to much alcohol to drink a lot of these but highly drinkable

33cl bottle, 9.5% a/v Pours a deep murky gold colour with a very nice light and fluffy head, which laces very readily. The aroma is complex and largely spicy. There are also some small caramel malt notes as well as apricots and a bit floral. The taste is spicy, and bitter, which a boozy feeling as well. A strange punch in the mouth at first but the taste grows on you. The beer has a very full mouthfeel as well, and playful carbonation dancing on the tongue.

33cl bottle, bought in NL. Strong foamy head over a clear, bubbly, light- golden colour. Hints of cardamom and cumin over a sweet somewhat citric, almost orangy smell. Some yeastiness. Bitter-sour flavour with some sweetness and a hint of saltiness. The palate is dry and especially salty in the aftertaste. Hints of liquorice and spices with a rather bitter finish.

pour clear amber. short lasting head. sharp first taste which soon changes to bitter but then has a lasting sweet spicy effect.

Bottle. Pours a hazy golden color with a thick bubbly head that stays until you are done and leaves tons of lacing around the glass. Aroma is that of spices, yeast, and fruit. It almost smells like a loaf of fruit bread before you bake it. The taste isn’t what I was expecting, its dry and refreshing with more to the spice end than the fruit side of things and only a hint of alcohol. I wasn’t really into it upon first taste but as my glass went on I began to think this is one fine beer. Above all else it was the aftertaste that sold me on this beer, so clean and refreshing not that sludgy thickness that some tripels can leave you with.

Bottle. Hazy, golden color with a thick, nearly-white head that is slow to dissipate. Yeasty aromas with herbal and floral notes, specifically anise and grass. Pow! Being my first tripel, this is not what I expected at all! Great mouthfeel with wonderful carbonation. Citrusy and spicy, the anise I smelled really comes out on the finish with an unexpected bitterness. I’m sold.

330ml bottle from the LCBO. Pours the classic triple look with the huge white head. Aroma is a little different, a lot more fruity esters than usual, with loads of Belgian yeasty character to it, topped off with actual hops which I’m not used to in Tripel’s, and a sour touch. Flavours are pretty good, better than I was worried they were going to be. All of the above, with a great malty-ness in the finish and aftertaste. This is a really nice, classic Tripel, with everything you could possibly want in one (I guess since it’s the original). I can’t wait to try this again in a few years when it’s had time to mellow and evolve.

Yeast in bottom of bottle. Thick head, hazy cloudy dark yellow. Spicy nose, with bread dough. Creamy palate, assertive sharp taste. More spiciness in the palate, coriander I presume? Oranges, tang, really good for a tripel.