Allagash Tripel Reserve

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Portland, Maine USA

12 ounce bottle - $2.79 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. Appearance: Pours out a nearly clear, bright golden body with two fingers worth of white foam. Smell: Spiced and sweetened sliced bananas greet the nose first, then enter some fruity notes of white peaches, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple, and maybe, just maybe even a bit of bitter orange. Background waft of whole, smile-inducing booze. Taste: Pale malts, maybe some lightish wheat with a touch of overall breadiness. It starts candi sugar sweet but it instantly begins drying away. Richly fruity melange in the middle. Cracked cloves. A single, solitary drop of vanilla. Sharp floral touches alongside some hop bitterness. Peppery alcohol tries to hit you with a hammer, but the other various flavors try to keep it at bay. The other fruit flavors dim down, but the citrusy orange peel character remains. Dry, warming finish with a touch of dried herbs. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Drinkability: Good! It embodies a fine line between full flavored and relatively easily drinkability despite the punchy 9% ABV.

Dark yellow, with a moderate white head. Fruit, spice, and a little yeast aroma. Very smooth, a little hops, fruit, and a hint of alcohol. Excellent stuff.

Bomber. Cloudy light orange colored, thick white head. Big nose of dough. Flavors of yeast, banana, a little lemon, and alcohol. Warming, but easy drinking and a nice finish of hops. Good straight ahead Tripel.

Yellow orange in color... Citrusy yeasty aroma... Flavor is crisp, citrusy with the yeasty finish you expect of a tripel... Very good representation of the style for an American brewery... Might be better than some of the Belgian tripels I’ve had... Kind of a bitter finish... Good beer.

750 mL bottle from Total Wine (Batch 127, purchased January 2009). Pale yellowish-orange pour with a white head. Aroma of banana, clove, and a hint of honey. Flavors of banana, peppery spice, yeast, sugar, and a bit of alcohol. Very well balanced. Because this beer seems to be just about everywhere I tend to take it for granted but it is an excellent beer that I should ask for more often.

Excellent triple. Highly carbonated with a head that stands up. Pleasant grainy aroma and flavor with a nice balance of hops.

Served in an 11 oz. trappist glass @ Taco Mac. Robust, golden color. Mellow aroma of banana, alcohol and fruits. First sip is complex. Honey, clove, lots of spice and tropical fruits. Full bodied and tasty. Reminds me of Victory Golden Monkey, but not quite as good as that godly brew.

Bottle. Aroma balanced between clove/pepper spiciness, Italian bread malt, and yellow-orange fruits. Flavor the same, well-rounded. Quite clean for a tripel. Tasty stuff.