Kasteelbier Tripel Blonde 11%

Bottle dated May ’02, enjoyed 4/9/05. Light golden pour. Very fizzy, with a bit of a sweet honey smell. Taste is a sweet white wine, a touch of vanilla and a suggestion of oak. Just a little bitterness and then tartness with a sugary finish. I found this at Foremost Liquors, being closed out at $2.99. Why? They surely know Belgians stay pretty good as they age. Maybe because the labels were different from year to year.
Another 2002 bottle, enjoyed 5/31/07. Just as nice as before. Just noting a bit of cork in the initial swig. I’ve had a previous bottle that went way too tart, but this is still nicely sweet, with a contrasting dry finish. Crazy world, huh? This had a different label that I hoped meant it was the Donkel, but it still says "Golden" on it.

Golden with a small head. Nice lacework. Sweet acohol-filled aroma. Somewhat fruity beginning but the alcohol takes over pretty soon. Bitter finish. Too strong for its own good.

A bitter-sweet taste, the alcohol is very well hidden for a beer that has 11%. But a bit to sweet.

Bottle. Hazy pale gold colour with large white head. Aroma is fruity, barnyardy, grassy, spicey - nice. Alcohol is noticable in the taste, up front and in the finish, but I’m willing to forgive that at 11% and an otherwise nice taste at first bitter then sweet; citrusy and nicely complex. One of the better Belgian Strong Ale blondes.

4/7/05. Poured out of 750 mL bottle at Stuffed Sandwich in San Gabriel, CA 4/7/05. 2003 Vintage. Poured a lightly hazy golden tan with a fluffy, rocky, and slightly broken head. Lasts long in a thin cookie-like patty, spotted with rocky bubbles. Lacing sticks at first and then shatters and crumbles, but still maintains dense ribbons high atop the sides of the glass. Lemon pie crust nose, lightly sweet with mild, inviting honey, candied lemon peel, and something like angel food cake. Taste has yeasty and lightly doughy components. Some subtly sweet vanilla flavors too. Finish brightens and dries up on the swallow. There’s background alcohol but generally really nice masking. Very drinkable for 11%. Medium-full body. Long, subtly humming finish with the mild yeast and vanilla, lightly dry and with still more hints of cake. Very damn good, and I think the extra year or so of aging helped to soften and refine this a little bit. I’ll have to get more.

Bottle, 33cl. Nice golden colour. Highly carbonated at the beggining (almost like champagne), with a beautiful white head that disappears fast. Mine wasn´t cold enough so the first impression was quite good but at the end, the fruitness was a little bit annoying. Nevertheless, a great beer. Be careful because the alcohol is very well hidden. Approved.

(Thanks to Rick from Cavalier for sharing) 2001 bottle. Light golden color with a fizzy head. Very soft aromas with slightly sweet malt, a touch of grassy hops and spicy yeast. Great carbonation. Somehow soft yet prickly on the tounge. Malty and just a touch sweet. Ghost of yeast throughout. Good, but not great.

(bottle, brewed anno 2004) Golden colour with a small frothy white head, quickly diminishing. Sweet malty aroma with notes of citrus and peach. Bittersweet flavour, malty and fruity taste. Nice finish of bitter lemon peels. Good alcohol management, not ostensible but heartwarming. Nice !