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Tripel
Southern Tier Brewing Company
- From:
- Southern Tier Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Tripel
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 78
- Avg:
- 3.38 | pDev: 14.2%
- Reviews:
- 189
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 14, 2014
- Added:
- Nov 14, 2004
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From a 22 oz bottle. Being careful not to disturb the lees, I was able to fill a large tulip glass that was completely clear. The subsequent pours, however, was a bit cloudy.
Without the yeast, it's a glowing, deep-golden-orange; with the yeast it appears more orangeish. Unfortunately, not much head was created by my delicate pour, and the short cap that was formed faded quickly.
I smelled and tasted it a bit before going back to build a head because I wanted to see how much influence the yeast has on the flavor, and it's quite profound. I found the initial flavor and aroma to be a hint sweet, subtly bready, and a bit candyish. There was a very nice, delicate note of vanilla and a sugary sweetness like rock candy, as well as a thin edge of soft golden caramel and a drip of orange that left it kind of like an orange cream-sicle. It wasn't particularly spicy, but there was a nice swirl of it in the aftertaste, as well as notes of floral, grassy, spicy, and gently herbal hops. And if that spiciness is from the alcohol, that's the only place that it shows. It's certainly nicely done in that respect.
My second pour was rough to bring up the head, and it brought up the yeast as well. To my surprise, I could see that there was a fair amount of it left adhered to the base of the bottle. That may be because it'd been in the fridge for about a month, or maybe not, but I think I usually tend to drink my Southern Tier beers quicker than that, and therefore find more yeast in my glass.
The head held well, dropping slowly from a finger thick frothy cap to a half-inch, lightly creamy off-white lid. The lace around the glass formed a panorama of tiny mountains as it went, and then with each sip that followed it left a creamy ring (well for three or four anyway).
The yeast was apparent in the nose at this point, along with a bit more fruity-floral character. And that carried over into the flavor as well. The yeastiness masked some of the subtle nuances of the straightforward flavor, and lent a bit more acidity. It lost the innocent sweetness that it had, but it gained more complexity. The orange note became more prominent, and it took on a delicate nuttiness that prior to hadn't been there.
There were good points to each glass, with and without yeast, and I'm not sure that I could choose either one, but with it being a big bottle I didn't have to, and I'd suggest you do the same if you can find a bomber. It certainly makes for a more interesting tasting than just one 12 ounce poured directly.
Overall, anyway you pour it, and regardless of how much of the yeast you find in your glass, it's a pretty decent interpretation of the style. It's a tasty, well-balanced and well-rounded brew; and for the price I think it's well worth it.
Nicely done, and certainly worth trying!
Jun 30, 2009Without the yeast, it's a glowing, deep-golden-orange; with the yeast it appears more orangeish. Unfortunately, not much head was created by my delicate pour, and the short cap that was formed faded quickly.
I smelled and tasted it a bit before going back to build a head because I wanted to see how much influence the yeast has on the flavor, and it's quite profound. I found the initial flavor and aroma to be a hint sweet, subtly bready, and a bit candyish. There was a very nice, delicate note of vanilla and a sugary sweetness like rock candy, as well as a thin edge of soft golden caramel and a drip of orange that left it kind of like an orange cream-sicle. It wasn't particularly spicy, but there was a nice swirl of it in the aftertaste, as well as notes of floral, grassy, spicy, and gently herbal hops. And if that spiciness is from the alcohol, that's the only place that it shows. It's certainly nicely done in that respect.
My second pour was rough to bring up the head, and it brought up the yeast as well. To my surprise, I could see that there was a fair amount of it left adhered to the base of the bottle. That may be because it'd been in the fridge for about a month, or maybe not, but I think I usually tend to drink my Southern Tier beers quicker than that, and therefore find more yeast in my glass.
The head held well, dropping slowly from a finger thick frothy cap to a half-inch, lightly creamy off-white lid. The lace around the glass formed a panorama of tiny mountains as it went, and then with each sip that followed it left a creamy ring (well for three or four anyway).
The yeast was apparent in the nose at this point, along with a bit more fruity-floral character. And that carried over into the flavor as well. The yeastiness masked some of the subtle nuances of the straightforward flavor, and lent a bit more acidity. It lost the innocent sweetness that it had, but it gained more complexity. The orange note became more prominent, and it took on a delicate nuttiness that prior to hadn't been there.
There were good points to each glass, with and without yeast, and I'm not sure that I could choose either one, but with it being a big bottle I didn't have to, and I'd suggest you do the same if you can find a bomber. It certainly makes for a more interesting tasting than just one 12 ounce poured directly.
Overall, anyway you pour it, and regardless of how much of the yeast you find in your glass, it's a pretty decent interpretation of the style. It's a tasty, well-balanced and well-rounded brew; and for the price I think it's well worth it.
Nicely done, and certainly worth trying!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
3.92/5 rDev +16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Review from 3/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy orange amber, minimal head and slight lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus, Belgian yeast. A pleasant caramel flavor with quite light Belgian middle. Less complex and subtle with a slight bite at the finish. Medium bodied. Worth a revisit if it was still around.
Aug 07, 2012Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky
3.07/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.07/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
12oz bottle into an Old Engine Oil tulip. No bottle date, but estimated by its own to be from '07 or '08. Thanks for sharing, Dan!
A: Clear amber body full of floaties. 1/2" head of frothy off-white foam. Meh.
S: Sweet toffee, some cardboard, and a fair dose of overripe fruit. Not terrible, but far from good.
T: Follows the nose entirely. The malt is nice, the fruit ok, and the oxidation a little uninspiring. Boozy finish. Old and mediocre.
M: Soft, nicely carbonated, fairly substantial. Nice.
O: This one appears to have been mediocre at best when fresh, and age hasn't helped matters.
Cheers!
Nov 30, 2011A: Clear amber body full of floaties. 1/2" head of frothy off-white foam. Meh.
S: Sweet toffee, some cardboard, and a fair dose of overripe fruit. Not terrible, but far from good.
T: Follows the nose entirely. The malt is nice, the fruit ok, and the oxidation a little uninspiring. Boozy finish. Old and mediocre.
M: Soft, nicely carbonated, fairly substantial. Nice.
O: This one appears to have been mediocre at best when fresh, and age hasn't helped matters.
Cheers!
Reviewed by kenito799 from New York
4.42/5 rDev +30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bomber poured at Belgique tasting, Hugo, MN Thanksgiving 2010.
Very orange color with brown edges, clear, a Grand Marnier effect.
Tutti frutti Belgian yeast scents, and oranges. High carbonation in this three year old brew. A perfect balance on the palate of sweetness and quite forceful hoppy bitterness..actually a bit more like a Belgian IPA than a tripel. Very nice. Not really classic but a brew I like very much.
Apr 19, 2011Very orange color with brown edges, clear, a Grand Marnier effect.
Tutti frutti Belgian yeast scents, and oranges. High carbonation in this three year old brew. A perfect balance on the palate of sweetness and quite forceful hoppy bitterness..actually a bit more like a Belgian IPA than a tripel. Very nice. Not really classic but a brew I like very much.
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona
3.2/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a two-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is a nice amber color that shows a brilliantly clear, extremely bright, dark gold hue when held up to the light; this is definitely on the dark side for a Tripel. The aroma isn't quite what I was expecting, though it does have Tripel characteristics. I smell aromas of green apple up front, a floral honeysuckle like note as well as some herbal floral characteristics, other notes of honeydew melon, a hint of grassy malt, some touches of alcoholic heat, some medicinal or even acetone like character that is just barely perceptible in the finish as well as some phenolics that lean towards clove and some bubble gum like aromas. This has all the right aromatic notes to it, but somehow it just doesn't sum up to a great smelling Tripel and I am not sure why.
Somewhat sweet tasting as it first hits the tongue and there is quite a bit of body to this brew. It actually gets sweeter as it rolls across the tongue, which brings out notes of cotton candy and bubble gum; this last actually lingers on the palate long after each sip. Fruity flavors of sugary pears, honeydew melon and candied apple. The flavor has a floral quality to it that has a light herbal edge to it; both of which meld into a light hop bitterness towards the finish. The finish at times, when the palate has been gotten used to, has a spiciness to it as well as a touch of higher alcohols.
Hmm, not nearly as horribly sweet as it could have been, but still a bit too sweet, which drowns out some of the complexity. While having most of the characteristics needed for a great Triple, somehow this beer misses its mark a bit. Not a horrible beer by any means, especially since there are not really any off-flavors here, but there are a lot of other Tripels I would rather have.
Oct 15, 2010Somewhat sweet tasting as it first hits the tongue and there is quite a bit of body to this brew. It actually gets sweeter as it rolls across the tongue, which brings out notes of cotton candy and bubble gum; this last actually lingers on the palate long after each sip. Fruity flavors of sugary pears, honeydew melon and candied apple. The flavor has a floral quality to it that has a light herbal edge to it; both of which meld into a light hop bitterness towards the finish. The finish at times, when the palate has been gotten used to, has a spiciness to it as well as a touch of higher alcohols.
Hmm, not nearly as horribly sweet as it could have been, but still a bit too sweet, which drowns out some of the complexity. While having most of the characteristics needed for a great Triple, somehow this beer misses its mark a bit. Not a horrible beer by any means, especially since there are not really any off-flavors here, but there are a lot of other Tripels I would rather have.
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire
3.88/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.88/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a two finger off-white head that faded quickly to a ring leaving some lace. Clear light amber color with floaties. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Light caramel nose. Flavor is caramel and hops nicely balanced, hints of the higher ABV. $6.49 for a 22oz bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT.
Feb 06, 2010Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
3.2/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: orange yellow in color, minimal head, cloudy, moderate carbonation
Smell: bread, caramel malt, small citrus hops
Taste: very boozy, bread, cardamom, coriader, orange, hops, and wheat
Mouthfeel: smooth, high carbonation, medium body, bitter hoppy, alcoholic first taste that gets sweeter
Drinkability: This strikes me as a spiked up and way more alcoholic version of a Blue Moon. This is a bit too hoppy for the style. It is not bad, and has the Southern Tier taste, but am not sure it is a tripel.
Jan 12, 2010Smell: bread, caramel malt, small citrus hops
Taste: very boozy, bread, cardamom, coriader, orange, hops, and wheat
Mouthfeel: smooth, high carbonation, medium body, bitter hoppy, alcoholic first taste that gets sweeter
Drinkability: This strikes me as a spiked up and way more alcoholic version of a Blue Moon. This is a bit too hoppy for the style. It is not bad, and has the Southern Tier taste, but am not sure it is a tripel.
Reviewed by bminor7 from New York
3.92/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz from Westmere. Questionable freshness on this one. Never seen it in a 22oz.
Nice pour, amber color. Good head formation and retention. Some bits of foam remain on the sides of the glass. Smells great...strong caramel, belgian yeast. Taste is close...but seems past its prime. This reminds me of Tripel Crown from Middle Ages...too heavy a hand in approaching the style. Too much residual sugar and thickness. But not a bad beer nonetheless.
Jan 04, 2010Nice pour, amber color. Good head formation and retention. Some bits of foam remain on the sides of the glass. Smells great...strong caramel, belgian yeast. Taste is close...but seems past its prime. This reminds me of Tripel Crown from Middle Ages...too heavy a hand in approaching the style. Too much residual sugar and thickness. But not a bad beer nonetheless.
Reviewed by bbeane from Pennsylvania
3.63/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.63/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A- Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter... first pour produces a weak head that disappears quickly, leaving a tiny bit of lacing. Beer is a bright amber color, slightly hazy with light activity. Second pour produces a much nicer 1/2 finger thick head that leaves nicer lacing
S- After some swirls of the glass, belgian sweetness, yeast, hint of hops, straw
T- Tastes good, though not as sweet, or hoppier than what I expected. Starts with the that malty sweet belgian sugary taste, but is eventually accompanied by a pronounced hop flavor. Almost balanced, but I think it has a bit more hops than its supposed to IMO... still good though
M- Light bodied with light carbonation
D- No boozy taste despite the 9% abv makes this an easy beer to drink. Bit pricey... all in all a good tasting beer though not the best example of what a belgian tripel should taste like IMO
CHEERS!!
Dec 31, 2009S- After some swirls of the glass, belgian sweetness, yeast, hint of hops, straw
T- Tastes good, though not as sweet, or hoppier than what I expected. Starts with the that malty sweet belgian sugary taste, but is eventually accompanied by a pronounced hop flavor. Almost balanced, but I think it has a bit more hops than its supposed to IMO... still good though
M- Light bodied with light carbonation
D- No boozy taste despite the 9% abv makes this an easy beer to drink. Bit pricey... all in all a good tasting beer though not the best example of what a belgian tripel should taste like IMO
CHEERS!!
Reviewed by generallee from Virginia
3.97/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: It has a small one finger thick foamy head. It is bright white in color and quickly fades down to just a small ring of lace. The liquid is a light golden color and has a light hazy appearance.
Smell: The aroma has a sweet candy like malt and yeast character with some light notes of apple and pineapple. Hop aroma is also noticeable but very light.
Taste/Palate: The malt has solid Belgian candied sugar sweetness with notes of apple and pineapple. The 9%abv gives it some mellow warmth and some boozy/peppery notes. Hop flavor is way off in the distance but adds some light herbal notes, dryness and light bitterness to the finish. The body has medium to full feel and the texture seems a little thick at first from the sweetness but thins out with the bubbly carbonation.
Notes: This was a nice drinkable Tripel from Southern Tier.
Oct 08, 2009Appearance: It has a small one finger thick foamy head. It is bright white in color and quickly fades down to just a small ring of lace. The liquid is a light golden color and has a light hazy appearance.
Smell: The aroma has a sweet candy like malt and yeast character with some light notes of apple and pineapple. Hop aroma is also noticeable but very light.
Taste/Palate: The malt has solid Belgian candied sugar sweetness with notes of apple and pineapple. The 9%abv gives it some mellow warmth and some boozy/peppery notes. Hop flavor is way off in the distance but adds some light herbal notes, dryness and light bitterness to the finish. The body has medium to full feel and the texture seems a little thick at first from the sweetness but thins out with the bubbly carbonation.
Notes: This was a nice drinkable Tripel from Southern Tier.
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
4/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 22 oz bomber into a tulip.
Appearance: very slightly hazy orange hue with a thin white head. Lots of effervescence evident.
Smell: some sweet malt; notable spicy and floral hops. This is quite a bit hoppier in aroma than I am accustomed to in a tripel.
Taste: sweet malt with some nice orchard flavors present. Hops are still more forward then I normally experience in a tripel, but not as highly evident as in the aroma. Quite nice.
Mouthfeel: delicious creaminess; medium body. Quite enough for me!
Drinkability: like most tripels are for me, this beer is dangerously drinkable. Flavor is good and the overall experience is quite nice.
Oct 04, 2009Appearance: very slightly hazy orange hue with a thin white head. Lots of effervescence evident.
Smell: some sweet malt; notable spicy and floral hops. This is quite a bit hoppier in aroma than I am accustomed to in a tripel.
Taste: sweet malt with some nice orchard flavors present. Hops are still more forward then I normally experience in a tripel, but not as highly evident as in the aroma. Quite nice.
Mouthfeel: delicious creaminess; medium body. Quite enough for me!
Drinkability: like most tripels are for me, this beer is dangerously drinkable. Flavor is good and the overall experience is quite nice.
Tripel from Southern Tier Brewing Company
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
198 ratings
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