Abbaye des Rocs Triple Impériale

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

330 ml bottle poured a hazy brown with a large but diminishing amber head. Aromas of prunes, dates, toffee and brown sugar. Palate was full bodied. Flavors of plums, raisins, toffee, carmel and brown sugar with a lingering bittersweet finish. This is the second triple imperiale I’ve rated and I’ve learned they are dark beers unlike regular tripples.

Poured a rather dark color for a "triple" that I was expecting: amber-red to brownish, much like a dubbel. Head wasn’t over done, but kept a half centimeter thickness the entire time. Sedimentation was severe, and it didn’t settle in the glass (well suspended). The aroma was of dark fruits, sweet/malty, and spiced. The flavor was more roasted for a "triple" (must not be one) than others, some caramel flavors, definite alcohol presence, with spices and dark fruits (plums?) present in the base. Mouthfeel was a little acidic. The finish was bitter enough from some hopping, probably the most "triple" thing about the beer. Re-rate, 6/25/06: Definite darker appearance than a standard triple, but this time really really fizzy, carbonated, and as soon as the cap was popped, bottle overflow all over everywhere before I tilted it into my goblet. Pour was easier to deal with, same head experience as before (persistent and a half centimeter at all times, not hard to get into the glass). Body was hard to see through, not nearly as much sedimentation as last time. The aroma was very similar to my earlier description, more yeast perhaps and caramel. Flavor again was comparable, strong caramel. Mouthfeel was very smooth and creamy with carbonation tickling the tongue. A nice bitter finish to the whole experience. This one packs a strong punch. Up a few ticks, due to the nice mouthfeel.

Thanks to Walt for this one. Poured a sunset body. Coriander nose with yeasty phenols. I still can’t get over how dark this is for a tripel. Marshmallow, lemon and charcoal flavor with a honey finish. There are some maple notes to this too. Rich and yeasty, bready and good. Nice tang in the finish. There is a lot of vanilla going here. Nice clay aspect and peaches, man this is good. Ap-3 ar-8 tas-8 pal-5 ov-17

Poured into a trappist glass. I opened the bottle to a gusher. Once I got it into the glass I got a firey brown ale with a creamy beige head that left behind some lace. Cooked brown sugar, cherry, floral notes, toffee, rye bread dough aromas throughout. Light peppery notes with sweet candy. Cherry syrup. Palate is full and round. Very soft. A bit of an alcohol kicker. Superb on every level.

From bottle. Dark ruby pour with thick tan head. Highly carbonated. Nose of brown sugar, caramel, dark fruits and hints of dough. Flavor is a silky version. Somewhat bitter finish and some alcohol heat. Good brew, but certainly not a triple.

Thanks to gputty for sharing this during our Des Rocs tasting. 12 oz bottle. Hazy golden brown with some floaties. Fruity, yeasty nose, dark fruits mostly. Sweet flavor, certainly yeasty, more fruit. Sweet malt and caramel round out the palate. Very good, not all that far from the Bruine.

Not much to improve on here. Really nice aroma... in many ways this beer is reminsicent of a good barley wine. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel, spicy aroma with an alcoholic warmth that balance with a sweet body.

Chocolate brown with an ample tan head. Looks and tastes more like a Dubble or Quad. Typical banana, date, bready, yeasty aroma and flavor. Effervecsent and quenching. Yum