Triangle Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale

For a beer geek, the best gift is always beer, specifically beer we haven’t had before. Or, it could be a beer we have had before but it is hard to find so to have another bottle or more would be a blessing indeed. I was blessed not once but twice one Saturday afternoon by two wonderful people. I’ll be getting to the others soon, but first up to bat is the bottle-conditioned Belgian-style golden ale from Triangle Brewing Company in Durham, North Carolina. The Carolinas are a newly blossoming beer Mecca so I am really looking forward to seeing how my bomber of Belgian-style golden ale fairs.
Topped almost immediately by a softly dense head of spring-white foam, my glass fills with clear golden hay hues. Though there is no apparent lace to be seen, she does poof up nicely with a couple vigorous swirls, releasing a slightly sweet and tart nose peppered with yeast, coriander, orange zest, banana, and bubblegum. Intrigued am I, and wasting no further time, I delve greedily into the golden brew in my hands. Sweet upfront with orange nectar followed quickly by a soft and chewy mouthfeel marked by sour yeast and banana. Adding to her sweet side are notes of melon and peach as my ale warms and further opens herself to me. A heavier body than what I am used to for a bottle-conditioned Belgian golden ale, but it isn’t too much of a detriment. What it does is add more noticeable weight to her ABV, making for a heavier quaffing experience. A sticky finish coats my mouth with honey and fruit nectars. As I near the end of our time together, pleasant warmth has embraced me while soothing notes of orange, banana, sour yeast, coriander, and peppery spice offer their heartfelt condolence.
Not a bad showing I must say for my first entrant from Triangle Brewing in Durham, North Carolina. A bit heavier and sweeter than some traditional Belgian golden ales, she was still enjoyable. More effervescence, a dryer finish, and traditional spice notes are needed to perfect this Belgian-style golden ale from Triangle Brewing, but I would quaff another if offered.

(Draught) Pours a pale golden body with a small white head. Aroma of orange peel, florals, clove, banana, and toasted biscuit. Flavor of coriander, grass, candi sugar, peach, banana, and apricot.

Bottle with Butters at the First Cellar Reduction. Smells of bread and yeast. Taste bread, bananas, and alcohol. Good body.

Draught at Barleys in Asheville. Pours gold with tight off-white head. The aroma is banana, light spiciness, some smooth sweet malt. The flavor is yeasty banana, some sweet bread, and very light hints of coriander. The finish is mild and earthy. Decent.

Clear golden pour with fair white head that fades. Aroma of sweet vanilla, and malt. Banana bready flavors, candi sugar, belgian yeast. Nice.

Pours gold with a thin white head. Smells of bananas, cloves. Tastes sweet and sugary with some citrussy hints.

22 oz. bottle on 10/08/2008. Clear gold pour with a healthy and long lasting white head, reasonable lace. Fruity, floral aroma of banana and peach, some light honey, and a subtle spiciness. The sweet fruity flavors come on quickly and linger, but a welcome gentle bitterness makes its presence known in time to leave a dry finish. Medium body and carbonation, nice crispness, clean finish. I really liked this, and it seems under appreciated in the ratings. Good malt flavors and a pretty good balance are a testament to the efforts of this small Durham brewer.

650 ml. Mostly clear, burnt orange-amber with a big creamy head that lasts for the duration. Aromas of pear baked with brown sugar and a dash of earthy spice and banana. Flavor is initially sweet caramel apple and banana, turns to tingly orange, nutmeg, and light oak in the finish. Near-medium body is dry, extremely smooth and slightly chest-warming.