Tripel Karmeliet

Brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels
Style: Abbey Tripel
Buggenhout, Belgium

750ml. Nicely balanced, this tripel is easy to drink. Appealing, huge white head with a slightly hazy golden body. The aroma is yeast and spicy with notes of corinader and earthiness. Also detectable, but not dominant, are notes of lemon and orange and grass. The flavor is moderately to heavily sweet and lightly acidic. A hint of funk earthy moldiness comes through toward the end. The finish has a slight tartness and bitterness to it. Full body with a velvety texture and a long-lasting finish. Lively carbonation. Nice alcoholic warmth. A top-notch tripel.

Tasted from a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a diffractive rose-gold color with a moderate off-white head. Very complex nose: orange liqueur, orange peel, vanilla, caramel, honey, and cardamom (along with some bubblegum upon pouring) supported by the hearty aromas of wheat and oats. The flavor mirrors the nose with a core of orange flavors accented by a spiciness and meaty body, again from the wheat and oats. Picks up aromas/flavors of earth and raisins as it sits in the glass. A very unique style for a tripel, but delicious and impressive nonetheless.

Bouteille de 330 ml, bu au St-Bock (Montréal) le 14/2/08. Blonde dorée, un peu de collet. Arome de céréal croustillant caramelisé, un peu malté. Goût efferversant malté, pain crouté et assez alcoolisé comme sensation.

750ml. Spicy floral aroma and the wheat comes through nicely. Great color. Really classic and well done tripel. Nothing bad to say except that it was a little too carbonated, which made it difficult to taste everything. Solid.

2-10-08 tap
Orange pour with no real head. Floral and fresh malty aroma with wheat and Belgian hints too. Reminds me of the flavor found in many Hefeweizens - the yeasty clove taste in the finish especially. Thick gauze-like palate - almost absorbant in a way. Overall, pretty decent but it just isnt my style of choice.

Rich orangish honey colored beer with very little head on it. Mildly malty, wheaty nose to it. Light but noticeable belgian yeast in the smell as well. Flavor is malty, caramelly and of light alcohol. Somewhat creamy and tastes of smooth maltiness and belgian yeast. Decent, but not for me.

Draft at the Bistro; Nose of caramel, yeast, vanilla, and spices; Clear gold with a small off-white head; flavor of cloves, caramel, and pepperiness.

Pours hazy golden with a hughe fluffy white head. Aroma is fruity and yeasty. Taste is carbinted, lemon spice, remiinds me of soda. A little too sweet.