Alesmith Mikkeller Stone Belgian Style Tripel Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Abbey Tripel
Escondido, California USA

Bottle from Stan at Lone Hill. This delivers, in that it tastes like a beer from each of these guys: has the sharpness of Mikkeller, the clean texture of an AleSmith beer, and the mineral finish of a Stone. Problem is, none of these houses are synonymous with the subtle coconut, vanilla, flour notes that would come through in a Belgian Tripel like Maredsous 10 or a Chimay Cinq Cents. This beer is rather bold with sharp Begian hops and alcohol. Tastes rather US-ized.

Pours an unexpectedly clear, copper colour, almost a lager appearance. Small white head dissapears quickly. Smell is grassy herbal hops and yeast. Taste subtle blend of herbal hops, coriander, lemongrass, orange and pepper, and honey like sweetness, finishes quite light bitter hops with a hint of alcohol. Surprisingly lacking in punch for a strong beer but plenty of flavour. Enjoyable.

Rich, spicy sweet aroma conceals a drier complex flavor. Seems like another Belgian tripel meets IPA. While I’m not totally in love with the flavor, it is quite complex with a lot going on. I might have liked a tiny bit more sweetness to balance it out, but that’s just me.

Pours a semi hazy golden color with thin off-white head. Aroma is slightly yeasty and with some moderate spice and fruit flavors interwoven together. Taste is moderately sweet, some Belgian spice and pepper mix in for a semi-sweet enjoyable adventure. However, it finishes a bit brash for me. good, but nothing I’d pick up again.

Thanks for sharing, bro! Pours a crisp golden color with some haziness. Aroma is pear, lemon, and some spicy yeastiness.Taste is much the same. Finishes rather clean. Good stuff.

Actually not a blow-away beer. Tasting this on the heels of the superior Cali-Belgique. The standard-setter in this style is of course the Affligem or the St. Bernardus, both of which are fully nutty and cloudy. This Tripel-type is clear or close and relies considerably more on spice. It’s tasty but not strong on flavor or distinctive in the way that Cali-Belgique is very distinctive.

Aroma is of spicies, with notes of peach. The body is thin and appearance is just yellow. The flavor is very spicy too with notes of perhaps flowers. A very nice triple.

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.7%. Golden colour, big white head. Lovely aroma of Belgian yeast, fruity esters, spices and floral and fruity hops. The flavour is spicy and yeasty with a sweet and fruity body, and a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Only drawback is that the alcohol is not particularly well hidden, so if you get drunk on this beer, you understand why. Still a beer I’ll be happy to drink again!