Groot Barren
Northwest Brewhouse and Grill

The beer pours to a hazy and or foggy golden yellow, the head is planetary in size, spumescent in texture and bright white in color as it degrades every so slowly the lace forms a glutinous sheet to smother the glass. The nose sweet and fruity, fresh cut pineapple, hints of bubble gum, quite a treat for the schnozzle, start is ambrosial, dry, rich in malt, top is fair to middling in feel to the palate. Finish is personable in its acidic bite with the hops delightful and mellow in their spiciness, yet they stay through to the desert dry aftertaste, a fine beer, a fine brewery, my thanks to RoyalT for this sample, “Woo Hoo”!

As part of the amazing supply of beer from RoyalT, I received several unlabeled bottles from this brewery. It was a different twist on beer sampling when you don't know what is in the bottle. It really tested my (limited) beer knowledge.

Poured a lovely semi-clear honey in color. Thick and pasty white lace sits proudly atop the brew. Long-lasting and excellent, tightly-ringed lace on the glass. Aromas are complex. Lots of scents dance across the ol' schnoz. Fruity esters, yeasries, a whole spice rack, even! The profile changes as it warmed, with some of the spicy notes becoming more dominant. Flavor is a little too sweet for me. Some fruity flavors come through as it warmed. The alcohol is there and lets you know he cares. Finishes with a hefty dose of palate-coating sweetness that could be unpleasant for some. Drinkability is good, but a little out of whack from the sweetness.

Notes: A very nice first attempt and one I'd love to try again after a little aging. Huge thanks to RoyalT for this one.

Poured from an unlabeled 12 oz bottle provided by BA brother RoyalT. It's hazy gold, with a big-ass white head that foamed up at least three inches even with a fairly slow pour. A layer of white stays on top of the beer and climbs the sides of the glass. Small champagne-like bubbles continue to work their way to the top right to the end. It has the classic Belgian tripel smell, with the distinctive yeast. A lot is happening in the taste; unfortunately much if it is on the just too sweet side. With the high carbonation level and the fruity sweet flavors, it was reminiscent of a soda at times. However, enough spiciness and bitterness come through to keep it from becoming oppressively sweet. The mouthfeel is nice and creamy. Getting a handle on drinkability would be easier if the ABV were known. It's a nice effort at a difficult style. Thanks again to RoyalT.

Appearance – Nice, light, cloudy orange with a monster white foamy head that lasted a lifetime and laced the hell out of my Chimay glass.

Smell – Big, giant, Belgian aroma. The yeast and banana filled my house. I’ve also got some wonderful cherry syrup, tangerines, ripe melons, grapes, and maybe even a hint of fresh raspberries. The classic spicing is just as nice. The coriander, white pepper, allspice, and other (indefinable) spices make this aroma a standout.

Taste – This is more like a BSPA than an Abbey Tripel. The orange banana yeast flavor is scrumptious. There’s a slight alcohol warning in the mix, but otherwise everything is clean and satisfying. The spices play a big part in the overall flavor as well, making this a terrific effort.

Mouthfeel – Big carbonation and a full, fluffy mouthfeel make this a Belgian for sure.

Drinkability – I loved this example of the style. It reminded me of North Coast’s Pranqster or the Bornem Tripel, but with a bit more foam. Excellent ale!