Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Brewed by Brasserie d’Achouffe (Moortgat)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Achouffe, Belgium

When this beer was opened it almost exploded and poured a thick, frothy white head over a golden-honey colored body. Wife generally avoids ipas but found this most pleasing, great hops flavor without the bitterness she dislikes. Flavors are complex and balanced...good stuff.

A large, creamy white head stands steadfast above a light-hazed, golden/amber body, lacing in wet sheets as it settles... and as I drink. I attribute above-moderate carbonation to the etching on my Chimay goblet. (I should mention: the "light hazing" becomes a dense murk of yeast as the last ounces of the bottle are poured.) Aroma is multi-faceted, with a honey sweetness coating the yeasty funk of a sweaty, leather shoe which is crushing graham crackers near the edge of a field of wildflowers. Her flavor is the epitome of balance. Hop, yeast and malt engage in heated conversation, each one at times raising its voice above the others in such a well staged debate that I can’t help but be swayed at every new punctuation. Smooth, creamy, fulfilling palate. Flavors linger in alteration – for a minute I find grasses and herbs, while after another sip I get caramel and cheeses. It’s like watching fireworks... not knowing which burst will surprise you next. Wow. I find that I do not try to deconstruct this beer but am simply (and humbly) enamored of it. I had high hopes for Houblon (which has cellared nearly a year) but as I enter my numbers, I most certainly did not expect it to be one of my highest ranked of 1800+. ~~~~~~~~~ Given to me at my "retirement" party, Aug. 29, 2008, consumed July 2009. (And I apologize for some of the allegory in my review, but sometimes the beer simply takes hold and I run with it.)

Bottle: Almost clear, pale golden coloured, bigger fluffy persistent white head; solid fresh piney-hoppy nose; robust bitter-sweet flavour, smooth & medium to full bodied; lingering fresh hops in the bitter-sweet (-fruity) finish with the umbels sticking to the palate. Great..........

One of the nicest beers Ive ever had, probably shouldn’t have ahd the whole thing all at once, but i couldnt help myself. really nice belgium IPA, love the gnome as well.

Nice golden hazy pour with an over-active wheaty head, That leaves a lot less carbonation in the glass which seems OK. Smell spice wort pine citrus and herbs.Taste - grassy and very aromatic sparkly hop character over the very traditional Tripel sweet pale malt, fruit, and spice. Creamy feel and I swear I’m getting some vanilla. Palate is definitely a bit peppery and bracingly dry. Lingering grassy dryness is great. Warm alcohol but not sharp. The end lacing of the glass is dense and elegant, coating the surface unevenly. Quality.

(75cl bottle) Hazy, golden colour with a thick foamy white head. Yeasty and moderately sweet malty aroma with fresh and aromatic, slightly floral and zesty hops. Sweet-bitter flavour, full bodied with a calm carbonation. Pale malt-character with light notes of citrus and almost piney, zesty hops, lingering into the lasting well-blended malty and hoppy finish. Superb and moreish brew (22.VII.09).

Pours golden, hazy, huge white head, great lace. Nose of yeast, spice, hops, citrus. Taste is yeasty, malty, spicy, and hoppy, finishes bitter and dry. An interesting mix.

Bottle. Lemon candy! Perfume, spun/cotton candy, banana and bubblegum, hops are initially subdued, but come roaring to life as this beer warms. Pretty, delicate, wonderfully balanced. More a tripel than an IPA, but very interesting and well done.