Westmalle Tripel

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Abbey Tripel
Malle, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

Bottle. Date on bottle says 5/08/11. Bottle opens with a slight little pop. Pours a slightly hazed golden straw color with a big bubbled 1 1/2 finger head that slowly settles. Seems more carbonated than I thought when I opened the bottle. The smell is rather clean with almost fruit like aromas like peach and apple. Some spice in the nose as well along with banana. Pretty high carbonation level that in my opinion somewhat detracts from the flavors. Pretty sweet up front with a mix of booze spicy type flavors. Ends with a lingering bitterness. Ends pretty cleanly. Good lace left on the glass. Overall a surprisingly light bodied, well carbed, nectar that drinks way easier than it should for the amount of alcohol it has. Makes me wonder how many tourists in Belgium just got rocked on this by accident!

Attractive golden coloured beer with such a great aroma - spicy and lemony and peppery. The taste is a delicate mix of fruitiness, spices and malt. Warming alcohol. Very dry finish - I love this beer as an aperitif.

in bottle; pours golden brown. I didn’t really enjoy this one (maybe a bad bottle). I will try again to re-access as currently I would not recommend

The defining example of a Belgian Tripel, this is the beer that started the style as we know it today, i.e. a strong golden ale. Can be easily found in supermarkets and bars all over Belgium and is always a great staple to come back to again and again. Comes in a traditional bottle that features a ring with the lettering "Trappistenbier" embossed on it. It pours an intense orange with large white foamy head. As soon as you pour it a fruity bouquet of lemon grass, oranges and pineapple envelops your nose. The taste is a continuation of those flavours, all wrapped in a spicy full body with great mouthfeel. There’s spicy hops, coriander, organge peel, some pleasant fruity sweetness and a touch of alcohol. It is brilliantly upfront and assertive and yet very well balanced. Makes you want to move to Belgium just so you can session on that every weekend. Now excuse me while I go open another one.

Pours a cloudy green/gold colour with a nice, airy head. Much lighter in colour than my previous trappists. Fruitdriven nose, with a component that could remind me of gras as well. Freshly baked cupcakes is also something I´m picking up (the yeast flavour), and a hint of chocolate. A lovely sweetnes backed up by a big mouthfeel. Bitternes is also present, and a long lasting mouthfeel. Getting a spicy pepper component on the palate in adition to the aromas from the nose. Many layers of goodness in this bottle! Conclusion I´m a big fan of trappistbeers, with the "wide" variaties you can get from the 7 different monastery´s. This Westmalle gives the category a nice twist with it´s lighter, fresher style, with alot of taste. Would have loved to try this to some asian inspired food!

Bottle: Pours a hazy golden color with a medium white head. Aroma of banana and a little barnyard. Flavor is sweet then spicy. You can taste the alcohol.

Pours a very light hazy golden color with a full thick white head. A nice yeasty aroma with some light bananas apples, fresh bread and a bit of an earthy barn quality. Very lively mouthfeel. Its a bit boozy but also a bit fruity.

Pours murky blonde with a touch of sediment and a medium, foamy white head. Nose is weak and typical tripel (light fruity sweetness, white sugar, coriander). Flavor is much deeper and very fruit based, most similar to a mix of white grapes, red apples, and banana. Decent yeastiness and coriander spice; light on the hops. Alcohol is definately in the taste. The overall flavor transitions from hops/spice to deep sweetness in the mouth. Very good.