Petrus Triple

Brewed by Bavik-De Brabandere
Style: Abbey Tripel
Harelbeke, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

750 mL bottle. Pours a light yellow-orange with large off-white head. The aroma is dominantly citrus, with some mild wood, musk, and spice notes, as well as a little bit of alcohol. The flavor is on the sweet side; perhaps a little too sweet for the style, but it isn’t overwhelming. It reminds me a little bit of white bread. Some fruitiness comes through, too. Not so much the citrus that I get in the nose, but more like white grapes or starfruit. A little bit of yeasty spice and alcohol comes in the finish. Very clean, as promised. Not bad.

Bottle. A - Crisp, clear gold color with a decent sized, rocky, foamy white head. Disappears pretty fast leaving a thin foamy lace. S - Strong fruitiness, especially apple. Some tart citrus in there as well. Also has a strong pale malt and bready aroma. Belgian yeast is present but not overly strong. Very little spiciness. Smells more like a BSPA than a tripel, but enjoyable nonetheless. T - Like the nose suggested, there is a strong fruitiness that lends to a slightly tart flavor. Apple, orange, lemon, and pear are all in there. A very ripe tartness to the fruit flavors. There is some sweetness coming from the pale malt and breadiness, but that is a background note. A slight hoppy bite on the finish with a leafy grassy and spicy kick. M - Lighter side of medium body, above average carbonation. Dry finish. D - Nice tart kick along with the hoppy bite on the finish make it unique but not exactly what I’m looking for in a tripel. Easy to drink, but not sure if I would quickly reach for another. Notes: Interesting beer that isn’t exactly like other tripels I’ve had. Definitely a tart fruitiness in this beer. Some spiciness comes out as it warms to compliment the hop flavors. It just seems to be missing something though. I’m liking it a bit better as I drink it and I get a better understanding of it and as it warms; so the score could possibly go up a little. Somewhere in between a BSPA and a tripel is what this seems to be.

Light and sweet aroma. Clear golden with a sudsy white head. Sweet and spiced; classic tripel taste.

11.2 oz. bottle- Pours like a damn geyser ruining my tv remote in the process, it’s also golden white similar to a white ale with a fist size head. The aroma is coriander and orange, very zesty. The flavor is like a belgian wit bier, mellow creamy, somewhat spicy, and a little orange peel. Overall a decent tasting beer, just watch out when you open it, preferably over the sink, and Bavik brewery, you owe me a remote.

Pours slightly cloudy gold, probably the most monumental head I’ve ever had on a beer so far. Took about 4 tries to get all the beer in my tulip, and by the time I was done the rocky head was protruding above the rim by an inch. Nose is quite interesting, tropical fruit, banana, honey, clove, and that Belgian yeasty note all mingle nicely. I’m not normally a fan of tripels but this is decent. Tons of carbonation make this very zippy on the tongue, slightly sweet, a little savory almost, with clovey spice and tons of light malt on the finish. The taste isn’t up my alley, but it’s a well-composed, well-made tripel.

Golden hazy body, white head. Aroma is quite sweet, some hops and pine scent. Has also scent of vegetables. At taste, pine is more present. Bittersweet and thin palate.

Bottle: Big white foamy head (the others I tried hadn’t such a lively head as this one). Clear orange yellow body. Smell malts, fruits, glue, yeast and spices. Taste is a mix of fruits, sweets, malts, bitter, spices, light hint of caramel and warmth of alcohol. Better balanced but still malty.

UPDATED: MAY 30, 2011 Orange cloudy body and full white head. Fresh triple aroma with fresh herbs, dough. Good body, develops well in the mouth. Nice alcohol backup. Delicious beer. (On bottle in Poperinge)