La Trappe Tripel

Brewed by De Koningshoeven (Bavaria - Netherlands)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

UPDATED: JUN 15, 2008 Bottle (in NZ), pours a dark mahogony colour with a large yellowish frothy head. A sweet fruity and carmal malt aroma with just a hint of peppery spice. A full, but quite carbonated mouthfeel. A lot of alcohol on the palate, which is just a little raw for me, dominating the peppery flavour. Reminiscent of a spicy vodka for me - that alcohol comes through just way too strong.

Nice tripel from brewery De Koningshoeven which is very nearby for me. Nothing really stands out in this beer. Just a decent, little bit above average tripel that’s worth a try.

the first aroma is poorly excuted with hardly any discering flavors. although it looks good, there is no outstanding flavors that would makes universalling appealing. very fizzy and hides the alcohol well

@CBF. Pours cloudy amber with a white head leaving some lace. Aroma is sweet, yeasty, fruity and cereal; very fresh. Flavor is much like the aroma. Very nice. Finishes sourish bitter and sweet.

UPDATED: DEC 26, 2010 Bottled: Malty, sweet and alcoholic aroma. Notes of raisins. Dark orange to reddish color. Stiff, frothy head. Taste is sweet with notes of rum-plums, raisins, oak barrel and a alcohol sharpness. Light bitter finish. Pleasant but unspectacular.

Hazy amber-orangeish hue, with a thick creamy white head, yeasty, bready dough, cheesy nose, with some orange, citrusy, fruity accents, a mild floral hop apricot accent, with some honeyed malt notes in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a yeasty, toasty, fruity, cheesy character, with some candied orange peel, marmalade fruitiness, some honeyed pale malt, caramelized malt accents, a nice carbonation balance, with a subtle floral hop citrusy, leading towards a malty, fruity, faint hop bitterness finish.

A vintage 11.2 oz. bottle, exact year unknown. This is my first tasting of an aged beer, but I didn’t do the aging, it was a gift from the distributor’s sales rep. "Six or seven years old," he said, "Original recipe, with the x’s on it, we were just storing it in the office, and it’s probably reached it’s peak. Had the dubbel last night, nice and chocolately." So why give it to me? Is he gunning for the title of Coolest Sales Rep Ever? There’s actually a "best by" stamp, but it’s hard to read. "08:46 02 04"? Does it have another 10 months to go? I certainly don’t care, I’m drinking it now! Color: murky, peachy orange, with a few brown flecks nestled at the bottle of the glass. Head is white, ample, but short-lived. Aroma feels arcane and hoary, like something from seven centuries ago, not seven years. Deep with citrus and spice, but mellowed, too. I almost don’t want to drink it, and would keep this mysterious and lovely smell in my nose as long as it can last! Most akin to orange candy, glittered with spice. Taste? Delirious, and a trifle devastating. ABV is kicking a little from the start, but the light, but complex flavor is a bit overwhelming. Hops are in charge, and fandango along the tongue for a turn or two, never really quitting the spotlight. A certain tartness soon overtakes at the end, while sugar and spice continue to cameo. Sadly, at the very end, my initial excitement has worn off, as has the brews complexities. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, and the flavors have died down quite a bit. No doubt, my friend was right, and this bottle is in it’s final stages. In my last few swallows, a little extra something reaches the back of the mouth. Is it the yeast? I pour the entire contents of the bottle in, and down it all...fuller, darker, boozier, an excellent end. That was nice. But not earth-shattering. Maybe that other vintage bottle, the dubbel, will be different?

Nice brew. Fruity and yeasty. Very nice head and color. Actually qutie sweet in the aftertaste.