Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel

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

Urcudiaul! Che roba; prodotto di notevolissimo spessore. L’amaro all’inizio spiazza un po’, così improvviso e aggressivo dopo la dolcezza maltosa, poi si stempera e si diffonde lasciando la voglia di berne un altro sorso. Grande birra, qualche punto in meno soltanto per la sua iniziale difficoltà.

75cl bottle from World of Beer (Largo, FL). Rated on 6/3/08. Pours a cloudy, golden yellow with thick frothy white head. Good head retention. Smells of juniper, spice, flowers, grapefruit, hops, musty apple. Taste if decidedly citrus with notes of grapefruit, sweet malt and many hints of honey. Very complex character to this beer. We noted a slight spicy-tart-sourness in the middle as the beer moves to the back of the mouth. Medium-bodied with a slightly bitter, hoppy finish. Interesting and complex tripel.

750 ML bottle from Evergreen Liquors in east Louisville; pours cloudy, pale yellow with interesting head that has a life of its own. aroma is flowery with notes of spice and grass. medium body; interesting and complex throughout. first, you’re hit wit the sweetness of the malt, but some tartness from the yeast makes itself known just as the spiciness, bitterness, and dryness of the hops takes command. just when you think the sensations are over, the warmth and character of the alcohol show themselves in the finish. very refreshing and truly unique. this is my first foray into this style, and it will surely be added to my rotation.

Found this several weeks ago at Whole Foods, nice surprise! Popped open with a little spurt, but a little skunky smell at first, dang green bottles! [or at least I’m guessing that’s it] Even in a pre-rinsed glass, it was fizz city all over, and even as it settled down, it was quite a rocky head, with a sticky lace down the glass. Very interesting spicy bitterness right off the bat! Not my usual IPA! What an interesting aftertaste, I need to get some from the tap or a bottle that was never taken from the box. This beer actually has some heat, as I’m finishing this fine unique Belgian ale, I’m feeling some heat, this is some spicy beer!

Pours cloudy yellow with a thick fluffy white head. It ended up looking like fluffy clouds as the outer edge dissolved down but the middle stayed up. Aroma is fruity and yeasty with a touch of spice. Taste is interesting; I still get a lot of the yeast and spice initially, but it finishes dry and bitter. The fruit part of the taste is like a lemon or orange peel. The mouthfeel is creamy. The bitterness, dryness and lemon peel seems to linger for a while. Very interesting beer.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, pale yellow body with a full, foamy, white head that’s rather meringue-like. Smell: Pale malts, some doughy qualities, freshly-squeezed lemons, and spice with a perfumy waft of alcohol and a distant note of apple. Taste: Pale malts, a tad biscuity, followed by a blast of sweetened lemon juice. Very mild banana, light spicing. Piney, citrusy hops with a medium-high bitterness balances the sugary qualities. Crisp, hoppy finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Drinkability: Way to really jazz up the tired, old tripel style, guys!

Aroma is hoppy with a slightly sour back tone. Color is a light yellow gold with good carbonation and a tight head. Taste is sour and dry. Starting with light body it goes down crisp but easy. Finish comes in sour with a light Belgian yeast taste, then some hop flavor and bitterness shows. After taste is dry with more of the sourness and the alcohol showing though after a bit. Interesting brew, its a little odd but I do like it.

Pours cloudy gold with nice big white head. Fruity Belgian nose with some hops. Flavor has a lot of fruit, with a bit of tropical hints. Nice and dry with a touch of hops.