The Tow Truck Tripel
Garage Brewing Co.

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From:
Garage Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Tripel
Ranked #124
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,213
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 12.89%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
22
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 11, 2022
Added:
Jan 16, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle at fridge temp. Pours a nice golden yellow/orange with a LOT of white head. The nose is candy, oranges, wheat, honey, and a funky bitter note. A bit of orange creamsicle. A touch of clove oil, and a hint of caramel.

The taste is not quite in line with the nose. Much more bitter. Almost a touch off-putting for a tripel. There is a nice hint of toffee and honey, with a strong floral note. The middle and back end are a bit dominated by bitterness. It's not a hop bitterness - it's a bit funky, but not in a great way. Strange. There is a spicy note that starts coming through - pepper and something else I can't put my finger on.

Mouthfeel is fairly light and dry. Overall, it's an interesting beer, but not one of my favorites for the style. Wouldn't buy again.
Apr 11, 2022
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.41 by Shatik from California

Mar 30, 2022
 
Rated: 2.25 by mblakesley from California

Feb 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.96 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jul 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.53 by StoutSnob40 from California

Jun 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by TrackBeer from California

Mar 06, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Great to find greatness when it is not expected.
This fine tripel coming from a relatively unknown brewer whose cash cow is a milk stout (kind of the opposite end of style spectrum from a tripel) and a mango hefe-. So, the surprise is even better.

Tow Truck Tripel (good alliteration) Looks clean like a lager, pretty clear... regrettably with no lasting foam.
Smells are not typical tons-of-fruit tripel, but they are in there enough. The balance in Taste makes-up for any weaknesses: at least three tree fruits, boosted by enough brewers sugar and checked by subtle hops. The finish is the good Tastes equal. And throughout the 9.1 ABV is well-concealed.

This is my 57th tripel; perhaps my third favorite style. My bias may be reflected in that of the 18 Top 20 triples I've had, only seven of my ratings were below the average. But, I consider myself an honest critic.... and honestly, this is a surprisingly great tripel. I certainly hope to have it again... Hopefully, it makes it to the Midwest.

My first from Garage, so I went on their website and was impressed. A pull-down menu on "Making Quality Brews" gives a few paragraphs of insight and a YouTube featuring the brewmaster. It is all good, it is all sincere. And Tow Truck Tripel is particularly good. A snippet of advice: the yeast should salivate the glands more. How to do that ? I do not know.
Nov 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Nov 06, 2018
Photo of timon
Reviewed by timon from California

4.3/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
TBH, I've had the best of the best when it comes to Tripels, and this is my one of my favorite finishes. I just LOVE the apple/pear/sugar/hops balance in the finish. Smells pretty good too. Head and overall look is not too good, and the first impression on the mouth is like a normal beer American lager. But, that smell and finish keep me hooked. Such a good deal at $11 a sixer here in so-cal.

UPDATE: I have to add that I got a bad sixer of this. Totally different taste--no fruity finish and horrible smell! Says it's good for four more months on the can. Ya right. Be aware that this company is not consistent with this brew. When it's good, it's a steal for the price. When it's bad....you might as well get Old E.
Apr 23, 2018
Photo of HalfFull
Reviewed by HalfFull from California

3.61/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz. can poured into a large wine glass. Pours a hazy muddled golden in color with a fairly brief cap of off white foam. Light sticky lacing follows.

Aroma is muted and bready with some yeast notes sneaking through. Touch of ethanol is there but fairly light in delivery. Touch of coriander like spice though likely added, not getting any yeast sense to it. Warming ups the aroma slightly with broader aromatics from the yeast and some citric bready notes.

Taste is rather neutral with not much going on. Spice is evident once again. Feel is rather full but lacks the crispness I like in the style. Does offer a spritzy carbonation. Somewhat thick but not cloying. Brief fruity finish.

Overall fairly average yet it doesn't really fit the style. Quite quaffable nonetheless though not very well attenuated.

Edit 3/19. Pour is clearer, nose and taste more vibrant and finish is less sweet. Higher carbonation or bottle conditioning might be a game changer.
Dec 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.67 by Driftpunx from California

Oct 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by evanwoertz from California

Sep 04, 2017
Photo of MattinHouston
Reviewed by MattinHouston from Texas

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This beer is a mystery. It doesn't smell that great, it isn't that expensive, yet it apparently has 9.1% abv. But so smooth like its just your typical beer. Not a typical triple. Even my relatives used to 5% abv beers can drink this without complaints. It really confuses me how to rate it given the above. They either have lied about the abv or they have seriously perfected a high abv beer that is smooth enough for the masses. Either way it tastes pretty good (caveat I like tasty beer with crazy complexity) although this has NO massive flavor like a normal triple -somehow smooth like Miller Light (okay not fair, tastes way better). Anyhow I'm not able to really rate it accurately other than it tastes way better than the abv would suggest and is so smooth a lightweight could probably down a 6 pack. If I was a Budweiser or Miller I'd add it to the collection... That's what it tastes like - your generic high ABV beer.
Jun 24, 2017
Photo of zkunen
Reviewed by zkunen from California

5/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is a great beer! I was really scared after I bought it...$5.99 for a 6 pack of a 9.1% ABV Belgian Tripel? Something must be wrong with it! Nope. First sip was a little boozy, everything after that was smooth, delicious, fruity and spicy. Love it, the alcohol is so well hidden its nuts. Props to these dudes from Temecula for providing an affordable delicious beer.
Nov 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by ciarab16 from California

Aug 31, 2016
Photo of DrinkThemAll
Rated by DrinkThemAll from California

3.74/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2016 on tap at the brewery.
Aug 31, 2016
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Clear 16.5-oz. Belgian ale glass
From: Barons Market in Alpine, Calif.
Price: $7.99 for a 6-pack
Purchased: Aug. 14, 2016
Consumed: Aug. 14, 2016
Reviewed as: Tripel
Misc.: Canned on April 14, 2016

Picked this up after seeing it for just $7.99 at Barons for a six-pack (while the bomber was $5.99). Scott had said some good things about this brewery. There have been plenty of cans and bombers at Barons, but I could never tell when they were canned or bottled. I happened to check a can of a six-pack of this one and couldn’t pass it up with the price and seeing a date.

Poured an amber, copper, hazy color with 2-to-3 fingers of creamy white, frothy head.
Some light bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Good spotty lacing. Excellent-to-world-class retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled pears, apples and peaches (not just because the can said that). Also dried banana chips, Belgian cloves, banana bread, hints of Circus Peanuts candy, candied sugar, caramel and hints of cereal milk. (Smell - 3.75)

First thought on the taste was this was nowhere near 9.1 percent ABV. Got pear, apple, banana, purple grape, spicy Belgian cloves, apple alcohol juice, plum, sugar cane, caramel and tart apple juice late. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily texture. Lively carbonation. Longer finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This was a pretty good Tripel and definitely good enough to have me try some more Garage Brewing beers. (Overall - 4.00)

3.98 | 89 | B+
Aug 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by anon from California

Apr 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by fox227 from California

May 26, 2015
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.96/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
Attractive yellow color with an adequate foam in the Bacchus tumbler. Lighter carbonation. Nice aromatics. Delicious fruity pear flavor. A little hot but not overly alcohol tasting.

Moderately sweet but dries out at the finish. This is a tangy and highly drinkable Tripel. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Barons Market in San Diego. Date bottled is Feb 26 (2015).
Apr 29, 2015
The Tow Truck Tripel from Garage Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 22 ratings