Epiphany Tripel
Oaken Barrel Brewing Company

Epiphany TripelEpiphany Tripel
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From:
Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Tripel
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 17.6%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
32
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 13, 2017
Added:
Nov 15, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Aug 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by heysuz from Indiana

Aug 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by MSandahl23 from Indiana

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ahommell from Mississippi

Jul 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by adamjthompson00 from Indiana

Mar 03, 2013
Photo of secondtooth
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana

3.86/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy golden upon pouring into my Viking glass. Nicely carbonated, but lace is thin.

Nose is toasty at first impression, with some candied or dried fruit coming in behind. I don't get any spice in the nose, though, oddly.

Taste is rich and malty. Definitely a big flavor here. I get candied fruit (figs, berries, fruitcake) along with a mildly spiced note. The finish is dry with a balanced fruit-spice melding. The bottle doesn't note the heavy-duy 9.4% ABV at all, but it's evident 2/3 through the bottle!

Overall, this is a solid brew, and certainly a faithful interpretation of the big Belgian tripel style. Enjoyable.
Feb 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.85 by psmith161 from Indiana

Jan 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by AmitC from New York

Dec 29, 2012
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
yellow in color with a good amount of haze and cloudiness built into it. Lots of carbonation streaking up toward the top of the glass, converging into a large, easily two inch high head of white foam that gracefully sat on top of the glass dropping tons of sticky side glass lace in its wake.

ight notes of grass, peaches, and maybe some light grain all coming together quite nicely to provide a well balanced attack on the senses. The flavor was just as solid here. Rich notes of yeast started to peak through as it warmed, hinting at some depth. Letting it come close to room temp is where you really start to find that depth. Some light grain like malts, hints of peaches and bananas and just an all out really nice profile
Nov 22, 2011
Photo of dudemuskie
Reviewed by dudemuskie from Illinois

3.27/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Picked up a 6er at Bourbon and Canal while working down in Terre Haute! Have heard good things about this brewery and was stoked to find some!

Appearance- Pours a hazy, almost milky, golden brew with a loose, effervescent head. Loads of champagne-esque bubbles trail up to feed a fleeting head. If I were to blindly guess, I would think this was a Witbier!

Aroma- Fruity banana esters dominate nose with hints of soft belgian spice and nutty yeast. Some candy-like and alcoholic aromatics indicate some solid strength to this brew. A touch of biscuity maltiness.

Flavor- Starts a bit boozy with some intense fruitiness and phenolic notes. Sharp CO2 fades into the middle and opens up a soft clove/pepper spice with some honey sweetness. Finishes with more biscuity malt and herbal, candied hops.

Mouthfeel- Feels a bit fuller bodied than I would want in a Tripel- typically they are dangerously drinkable and this feels a bit bigger. A touch of astringency in the finish leaves the aftertaste a bit less clean. Malt on the verge of being chewy.

Overall- Not bad, but not the first Tripel that I would grab out of the fridge. I wonder if some of the sharpness of the flavors would mellow with a bit of time? I guess we will just have to find out, as I still have 4 to tuck away!
Jan 25, 2011
Photo of ratrod53
Reviewed by ratrod53 from Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A- It's a murky yellow and as you look into the glass it looks like it a glitter inside but that is just the yeast. It has a nice head on it that lingers little to no lace.

S- I smell a lot of malt with just a bit of hops and spice.

T- This is a real sweet beer. There is a ton of malt in this one. I also got a little kick from alcohol. The there just a hint of spices on the end. It's like liquid candy

M- It's a creaming feel and it has a lot of carbonation maybe a little too much.

D- Overall it's a good beer I wouldn't want to drink a case of it at one time. But it's a nice one to drink every once in a while.
Dec 29, 2010
Photo of aasher
Reviewed by aasher from Indiana

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
It pours a murky, dark tinged gold with no head at all. The smell is pretty funky. It has something barnyard like going on. The taste is nothing special. It isn't very sweat, doesn't have great yeastiness or anything notable. It tastes somewhat generic. It drinks pretty average to. It's medium body and goes down well enough. I'm not a fan of this one but props to Oaken Barrel for attempting the style. Next step, improving upon it.
Dec 02, 2010
Photo of HosP
Reviewed by HosP from Indiana

3.22/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A local beer from a brewery I don't get to try to often.

A- Pours slightly murky orange color. Very little head to it that leaves very quickly.

S- Very sweet malty smell. Notes of cloves and floral scents. Not as strong as most tripels.

T- Very sweet taste. Malts up front with orange and grapefruit tastes following. Not nearly as crisp tasting as I would expect.

M- Light body with no carbonation, leads me to believe maybe an older bottle. Feels flat in the mouth.

D- Sweet drink, just not crisp like a tripel's I've had. Not my most favorite drink. Doubt I'll pick another one up.
Sep 02, 2010
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a St. Bernardus chalice.

Almost to the end of the haul resulting from the post-DLD death march. This ear pours a clear golden straw topped by a very minor white bubbly head. The nose comprises spice (ah, the vagueness...), cloves, banana, peppercorns, and champagne. The taste holds notes of these elements, along with a vague sense of oaky earthiness (or is it earthy oakiness?) floating bluntly around in the background. The body is a heavy light, with a moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, not a bad tripel. I'm kinda curious to see what would result if more of that oak were added...
Jun 24, 2010
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.06/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Think this was an extra from Scott - thanks man! Served in my Westvleteren chalice.

A - Pours with a finger of off-white foam that settles to a ring and some light haze. A few spots of lace remain here and there. Pretty good show for this type of vessel. Murky peach juice body with some nice reddish glow to it.

S - Honey, fruity esters, candi sugar, some milled grain, faint Belgian-style yeast. Very sweet - missing the spice that provides balance in a good tripel.

T - Taste is largely yeast and wheat, with peripheral honey and fruit sweetness - particularly banana and apricot. It's actually a little milder than I expected from the smell. Alcohol is reasonably well hidden.

M - Low carbonation - probably could use a bit more spritz for the style. A little thin and watery too, but otherwise smooth. A touch of warmth at the back end and a fairly clean aftertaste.

D - Not my favorite style, and one of the poorer examples of it to boot. Amusingly I think this has actually mellowed out since Overlord's infamous review - it's not a drain pour in my book, but it's still mediocre.
Feb 20, 2010
Photo of cnally
Reviewed by cnally from Indiana

3.69/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had to try this, a local.

Very cloudy golden coloring, hazy, very yellow around the edges as light shines through. Soapy bubbles form the white head.

Wheaty, malty aroma, a little orchard fruity--but lacking a large presence.

Good flavor. Sweet, creamy malt hits right up front. A little orange/grapefruit, with a mild floral hop bitterness on the finish.

Balanced carbonation levels, creamy and full feel, textured well. Not cloying even with the sweetness.

I don't love the way it looks--but this is a very balanced, sweet abbey style beer. Oh wait--it's a tripel? Very muted for the style. But still pretty drinkable.
Dec 14, 2009
Photo of beveritt
Reviewed by beveritt from Ohio

4/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Label has a Christmas tree and very little information about the beer. Picked this up on a trip to Indiana a few months back.

Appearance: Pours with 1 finger of white,bubbly foam. This settles to a ring around the glass and an island of foam above the nucleation site. Spotty lacing as I Drink. The beer itself is the color of pale honey and perfectly clear until I pour the last bit of the bottle in. Some sediment in the bottle, mostly poured into the glass.

Smell: Strong aroma of honey and apricots with distinct yeast note and a slightly sour undertone.

Taste: Honey upfront, borderline syrupy candy sugar sweetness. Hints of bubblegum esters. Very, very mild aged hop bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Higher than average carbonation level, as is appropriate for the style. Body is incredible.

Drinkability: A hit. Nice, flavorful sipper. This bottle probably has 6 months or more on and I imagine it would only continue to develop.
Oct 14, 2009
Photo of DoctorDog
Reviewed by DoctorDog from Ohio

3.42/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Thanks go to "beveritt" for sending this bottle my way.

A- Pours a hazy golden. 1/2 finger of fizzy white head, which disappears almost instantly upon pouring. Essentially zero retention. Fair amount of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.

S- Fruity sweetness. Hints of banana. Slightly spicy Belgian yeast twang.

T-Chalk full of fruity sweetness, and bit of spicy punch with a moderate "Belgian yeast" characteristic. Fair amount of alcohol booziness.

M- Somewhat crisp with moderate/slightly low carbonation. Medium/thin feel. Alcohol is mildly warming.

D- ~Average. Reasonably enjoyable and easy drinking - flavor, feel and appearance are all OK, but not tremendously compelling.

Future outlook: Not a bad beer at all...but another case where there are other alternatives in the Tripel style that are clearly better, easily accessible, and reasonably priced....can't see buying this one.
Aug 16, 2009
Photo of Overlord
Reviewed by Overlord from California

1.86/5  rDev -45.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Thanks to bitterpachyderm (!) for sending me this brew. My delight at trying new brews is not always reflected in the review, however.

Pours a bright golden color with a huge sudsy white foam head. Interesting look for a tripel.

Took a whiff ... egads! That's a f***ton of grainy sugar and a whiff of defeated yeast.

The taste is, as the smell promised, way, way, way, way too out of control sweetness. Doesn't have the complexity or structure of a tripel, at all. . I know that the vast majority of tripels, and belgians in general for that matter, are malt forward brews, but this is sweeter than almost any liquid (of any type) I can remember. Almost no complexity, just malt sugar, candi sugar, sweet fruit sugar, and that weird aura of yeast that has given up the ghost. Despite the big head, not too much carbonation. Drainpoured about 1/3rd of it.

I imagine this would be a hummingbird's dream come true.
Aug 04, 2009
Photo of JamesS
Reviewed by JamesS from Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Bought at Kahn's in Indianapolis.

Poured a very nice golden color with good lacing, but no real head. Nice thick malty scent, very fruity, with banana being dominant. Nice flavor, very thick and malty, good fruity tones with a nice peppery spice aftertaste, and a very noticable alcohol kick. A little rough going down, but over all very nice.
Nov 28, 2008
Epiphany Tripel from Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 32 ratings