Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Abbey Tripel
Frederick, Maryland USA

Flying Dog has successfully captured the imagination and attention of Denver’s 25-30 year old drinking group. Every stranger I meet in this demographic, be they fashionable Indies, high-powered executive types, passive and pensive students, or an extroverted slacker, absolutely loves Flying Dog. Maybe it’s the brewery’s jarring but eye-catching labels. And maybe it’s the beer. For me, their brew is nothing exceptional. There are gems here and there, like the Gonzo, but the rest feels pretty average. But the Kerberos is another one of those gems. Abbey Tripels, to me, are either interesting, or mundane, and the Kerberos leans towards an affordable “interesting” classification. The aroms is laden with honey, apricots and vanilla, laying things a bit thickly with a “medicine” like smell, and giving it all a heavy hit of alcohol. The flavor is about the same, maybe pushing more cotton candy sweetness. While the medicinal quality keeps the Kerberos from being anything more than “Mm, good”, I remain impressed. I don’t often buy Tripels I like in packs of four or six, and certainly not those made locally.

Syrupy sweetness with abundant ripe fruit and a buttery, estery component. Spice and yeast character.

7oz bottle, clear golden color with a moderate white head. I’m may not be familiar enough with the style to judge it, but it was reasonably drinkable. I’m not impressed.

Pours golden without much apparent carbonation, reasonably thick (but not as vivacious as I like in a tripel). Sweet fruitiness with a hint of spice, but really lacking depth through the palate. Notable alcohol, not like an effervescent alcohol and more like gasoline. Not especially good, though drinkable in a pinch. I had it with a butternut squash ravioli, which wasn’t especially brilliant as a combination but not bad either. Bottle.

7 oz. bottle. Pours a thin white head of short duration, over a clear, golden (SRM 10) body.....nose has dried fruit, raisin, fig, plum, floral hops, bit of barnyard funk....taste initially is simple sweetness, then astringent, finiahing with a chemical sharpness which becomes mild hop bitternes.....mouth feel is medium, carbonation also. This is identifiable as a Tripel and has many of the appropriate qualities. Its balance is off with the phenols coming out as chemical and turpentine, rather than spice. The candi suger did not have enough esther or appropriate phenol to balance it out, leading to too much sweetness.

7 oz bottle. Nose is heavily candied, lightly fruity and flowery. Heavy body, not as yeasty as expected, grapes and apricots. A good effort by Flying Dog, but the sweetness overwhelms the other flavors.

Serving: 12 oz. bottle. Appearance: Pale orange with a foamy, white head. Aroma: Off cooked vegetables, over ripe orange, alcohol, and a light perfume note. Taste: Sweet, ripe oranges, hot alcohol, dust, light bitterness, and fusel notes. Palate: Medium-high carbonation with a light body. Bone dry mouthfeel on the first sip. Medium finish with some boozy orange lingering. Overall: Out of balance on the sweet side and too much alcohol on the tongue. There are much better examples out there.

Golden color and standard big bubble head. . Yeast and fruits in aroma. Taste was not really impressive. Yeast, spices, that slight hop taste that all tripels have. Nothing that impressed my face off.