Kasteelbier Tripel Blonde 11%

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck
Style: Abbey Tripel
Ingelmunster, Belgium

Nice initial head, good retention, over top of a golden body with some cloudiness. The aroma was of apples, bananas, yeast, and some spicy coriander notes. The flavor was apples, strong bananas, and some strong spicing (but not overdone). Alcohol wasn’t hiding, a touch too strong, otherwise a standard tripel flavor profile (not bad, not good). Mouthfeel was well carbonated.

Could be deficiencies of the bottle, but this is the weakest Tripel I think I’ve ever tried. Pretty much average and flat and indistinct. Barely a whiff of aroma, little froth, only slightly cloudy, some unexciting flavor with Tripel-y kind of seasoning, and a little oily on the palate. Didn’t do much for me. For a beer, and not for a Tripel per se, this experience was most average.

Beer at home. Very high alcohol content which is not well hidden, but surprisingly drinkable. Nice ale. Quite spicy.

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly leaving a little lace. Clear pale amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Sour apricot nose. Starts sweet and sour but malty, some lemon, smooth. Finish is clean, warming. High ABV stays hidden. Nice triple. Best before Mar 2008. $3.99 for a 330ml bottle from John’s Grocery Iowa City, Ia.

Bottle from Super Saver. Turbid medium gold pour, with bready malty, citric, slight fruity, and hoppy aroma and flavor. The taste starts a bit hot and stays that way, whch detracts a bit from the overall enjoyment. As it warms, more fruity notes emerge, but this one is a hot bomb.

Clear gold blond coloured with some very light carbonation and a small diminishing white head. Powerfull sweet malty and yeasty aroma, light alcoholic. Full creamy texture, Finish is strong, light bitter, and sweet alcoholic with a warmer mouthfeel. Lasts long. Strong and good beer.

(Bottle, Akkurat, Stockholm, 2 Sep) Colour is pale, golden amber, very small head. Nose is fruity with orange peel, marzipan and candy sugar, a bit closed. Taste is fruity with orange, mandarin, marzipan and candy sugar. Spicy hops in the warming finish. Sweet alcohol dominating the palate, but it stays within limits, not at all unbalanced. Quite drinkable but lacking something extra in taste.

Bottle from Beers of Europe. A pale blonde Strong Belgian with a fluffy white head. Alcohol dominates the aroma and the flavour, and it’s hard to get past that, but when you do there’s some sweetness and a touch of spice. To me this is a hot, slightly substandard Duvel. Quite drinkable but not special.