Allagash Tripel Reserve

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

The more I have of Allagash the more I think they may be the best brewery in America. Pours clear golden / amber with a very large whitish head with very good retention. The aroma has lots of Belgium yeast, light spice, moderate sweetness, white grapes and white pepper ~ excellent. Medium body that is a bit thinner and more crisp than normal for the style. There is a bit of slickness and lots of sharp stinging carbonation. The taste starts with lots of peppery spice with some grapes and lots of thick earthy malt with very minimal sweetness for the style. The finish has some of the earthy Belgium yeast and a bit of sourness with along with some spicy hops. Big thumbs up for this world class tripel that sure doesn’t taste like it was brewed in Maine.

mmmm well, im glad i bought another one of these to cellar, because i dont think its near ready to drink. banana is noticiable in the taste, not in the smell. pours golden in color. citrus flavored taste, pretty complex- but i cant say that it has really blown me away. this brewery must use something in their beer that just doesnt impress me very much. the aftertaste is the best part with a nice lingering sweetness. Original score: 8 / 3 / 7 / 4 / 15 Cellar pick - 2003 bottle. Batch #50. Sampled: 50 degrees. After reading my initial review of this beer some 4 years ago, I have now come to terms with what that taste actually is: the yeast. And now that my palate has changed over the course of 6 years, it is obvious to me that the yeast Allagash uses is actually my favorite part of their beers. Pulled the cork out of this one and thought it might have been dead, but after pouring it, it is clear that the carbonation was just hiding! Straw yellow color with a big white head on it. The smells of bananas and sweet fruits are still there perhaps a bit less pronounced. Tasting this beer is fabulous. Sweet, easy to drink, very little alcohol burn (which is usually present in a fresher bottle). Damn this is good. Very dry and leaves you wanting more. The 9% is no where to be found in this beer. I am not even a fan of tripels, but I feel I must bump my score after trying this one! This is the reason Rob Todd is a premier brewer in this country.

Re-rate: Batch 37. Noticed honey profile and a nice dry finish. Batch 48 at the Southeastern Gathering (thanks scoobyluv). This cloudy yellow fizzer started well, but didn't finish like I wanted. Too much citrus. The claim in the description includes "honey surfacing from its deep and complex palate" - this was the missing piece to me. If the honey were present, the sweetness and fullness would've helped perfect this otherwise excellent Trippel.

Bottle batch 40. Pours a hazy amber with a large creamy head that lasted and produced excellent lacing. Good complex spice and fruit aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Very good refreshing sweet banana and fruit flavor with a small alcohol tone finish of long duration. Another very good Allagash brew.

Poured a hazy golden color with a small head. Aromas and tastes of fruits (bananas), spices (cloves?), and yeast. Bitter in a good way. Very good Tripel that I will definitely drink again.

Hazy Pale yellowish color. Spicy and strong taste. Superb Belgian sharp cheese tasting yeast with a long dry fruit finish. Something in the flavor hits the top of the palate and lingers. The alchol is masked perfectly. Batch 80. rerated June 1, 06 Available at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Somerville, MA

Beautiful deep golden body with a beautiful white head; Beautifully elegant nose, very Belgium tripel like, deep and balanced; Huge soft textured body with a big soft carbonation, balanced; Long finish with lots of aroma that lasts very long. Great and very well made beer.

On draft this one poured a golden orange color with a medium foamy white head. The aroma is of sweet citrus and passion fruit with some belgian yeast and malts in there as well. Smells almost like fresh oranges. The flavor follows suit with the sweet citrus fruit and oranges coming through and blended with some candy sugar, honey, and belgian yeast. This one has a very sweet flavor to it with not too much spices in there like other tripels. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and almost creamy with a sweet sugary finish. The alcohol is masked really well in this one. I love all the sweet flavors this one had as it is probably my favorite tripel that I have had. I need to try more of their beers.