Spectra Trifecta
Founders Brewing Company

GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 8/21/15; drank 11/2/15 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque orange/yellow appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small, noisy bright white head which quickly dissipated; decent lace.

Gingerbread, cinnamon & cream notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Cream & gingerbread flavors up front; cinnamon bite on the finish, which settled on my lips over the course of the quaff.

Nice Christmas vibes here; drinkable with a nice bite.

Oct 07, 2019

ONUMello from Ohio

3.77/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle dated 8/31/15 poured into a stange
A: Golden color with a 1/2-finger head that quickly settles
S: Lots of chamomile/lemongrass as described along with solid light malts
T: Matches the nose though the chamomile is a bit overwhelming
M: Light and crisp, would be good on a warm summer day
O: Can't say I love this as it's one-dimensional but still nice to try & still fresh given the age

Mar 24, 2016

mfnmbvp from Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, bottled on date 08/19/2015. Acquired a single bottle of this stuff at the local bottle shop.

Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.

A - Golden body on the pour, very cloudy with yeast sediment. Conjures only about a finger of white foam head that falls to a ring. Looks very nice.

S - A floral and spicy nose - ginger zest is very apparent, which evokes a citrusy / lemony aroma. The ginger definitely dominates. Notes of bread / cinnamon emerge.

T - Taste is the same - huge blast of tart, juicy, and spicy ginger flavor. Evokes flavors of lemon & citrus. Not entirely sure how to feel here; it's nice, but not really traditional of the style. Mildly bready. The ginger definitely dominates.

M - Feel is smooth, crisp, tart, and easy-drinking. Light-bodied with good carb.

Overall, not really identifiable as a kolsch style ale. Definitely a nice summer beer; crisp & refreshing. Very juicy, but the ginger dominates the other ingredients.

Founders Spectra Trifecta -----4/5

Mar 22, 2016

DonnieHops from New York

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Luv this beer. Germany meets Japan meets Hippies....Bright yellow flavor bomb. Drinks like strong soda pop for grownups.... If ya dig ginger, but don't want the sugar rot of ginger beer, this will do wonderfully. 5.9% is perfect ABV to give a buzz but not wobble.... Hints of chamomile, honey and lemongrass pair perfectly with the substanial ginger chew..... So unique in a crowded beer world that's getting derivative and redundant... Great with Asian food, or just to pound on a sunny day!

Another home run from Founders.....and another Founders funky cool label..... Great stuff!!

Mar 18, 2016

WoodBrew from Ohio

4.21/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

*****I am rating this beer against the brewers intentions.....not for my specific taste****** The Spectra Trifecta was good....but for me one was enough. There is a lot going on with this beer. It poured a golden yellow with white head and floaties. The scent carried ginger and chamomile. The taste was heavy with lemon grass and ginger with hints of chamomile. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall it was ok.

Feb 28, 2016

Ri0 from Wisconsin

3.22/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured 12oz bottle into weizen glass. Goldenn color with a white 3 finger head and suspended floaties. The aroma has a strong ginger and tea like scent with some malt and lemon grass. Too much ginger upfront, would be better if it was subtle and more of an afterthought. Some herbal tea like and floral notes with the lemon grass. Finishes with a bit of malt, but is kind of messy overall. Should have focuses more on the Kolsch style with a clean finish.

Feb 26, 2016

brewskifan55 from Mississippi

3.81/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a taster glass.

A: A hazy gold with off white one finger head. Decent lacing.

S: Wow, do those scents set you off. The chamomile, ginger and lemongrass take center stage over a light malty backbone.

T: Founders has taken an ordinary Kolsch and perked it up with some fun flavorings. Everything in the nose pops as the lemongrass and ginger fight for attention. Chamomile relaxes the drinker for a nice summery feeling.

M: Low to medium with medium carbonation.

O: A fun take on the kolsch that makes it memorable.

Feb 09, 2016

barczar from Kentucky

3.62/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Aroma is extremely ginger laden, fairly herbal and floral with a hint of crackery malt.

Flavor is chock full of ginger, as well, with a lemony finish. Moderate bitterness lingers in the aftertaste. Kolsch yeast surfaces late.

Jan 19, 2016

BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.81/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Holding onto any last gimmer of what's left of summer, Founders' never-say-die attitude has them clinging to the kolsch-style beer tightly. And not leaving well enough alone, they throw copious amounts of warm weather ginger and chamomile in for extra measure.

Pale gold and with a straw-laden haze, the beer pours with a cottony froth that billows with floral, spice and bread and herb. Underneath, the taste plays out with a light bread and dough medley that's a short cry from sugar cookie.

And then the spices begin to blossom across the middle as the pale pilsner base beer is no match for the florwery chamomile and the spicy ginger. With its taste of summer growing bolder and bolder on the middle, the finesse esters of apple and lemon lurk deep in the recesses while its hop front of lemongrass and pepper continue their tepid support.

Medium-light on the finish, the beer offers an alluring array of gingerbread and summer sweet tea to compliment the underbelly of pilsner malt, straw and spicy bitterness that still act in supporting role. With ginger winning out in aftertaste, Spectra Trifecta is a great thirst quencher any time of year.

Jan 16, 2016

Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Look: Cloudy gold color with a quickly vanishing head. Lots of tiny bubbles rising up.

Smell: Floral, pungent almost with a complex aroma. Herbs, grass, ginger tea & perfume. Minimal earthy wood like hop aroma.

Taste: Upfront herb and citrus give way to a complex taste of ginger and herbs. Edible flowers, minced ginger, hop bitterness and spice keeps the palette on a swivel.

Feel: Dry, clean finish for such a beer. Ginger, powdered aspirin and pollen linger in a minute fashion.

Overall: Calling this a kolsch and reviewing to style would be much lower, it was reviewed for what it is, a tea beer or herbed/spiced brew. An experiment that worked out well enough. Drinking more than one would become a bit more of a challenge. Its alright for a spiced brew.

Jan 14, 2016

Evilyak from Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pale yellow. No head or lacing.

The ginger dominates, with strong chamomile afterwards. Flavor is nice for what it is, but not something I'd want a lot of.

Reminds me of a Yankee candle. I lost the base beer entirely here.

Jan 09, 2016

MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

poured from a 12oz bottle into a half pint glass.

looks a slightly hazy pale white-yellow. nice fluffy white head which persists and leaves good lacing.

really nice on the nose spices and lemon.

the lemon and spices come through really nicely on the taste as well, although i couldn't find the ginger, which i would have liked.

mouth is somewhere between thin and medium, a little on the dry side.

overall fairly enjoyable. would like to try it again in the dog days of august, where i think it would be pretty refreshing.

Jan 04, 2016

Raime from Greenland

4.23/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Another quicky from the box. No huge review. Perfect tea beer.

EDIT : Again no true review so delete as you may..but a horrible beer based on top comments? Did you guys even read the description? No shit it isn't a typical kölsch. Your eyes were the only thing taking a guillotine while drinking this one on seeing that you couldn't read.

Dec 31, 2015

BEERMILER12 from Maine

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a lightly hazy yellow color with a fingers worth of head that fades down to pretty much nothing

S: Lots of ginger and chamomile up front with touches of the lemongrass and a general lemony note. Nice ratio between the three additions. A bit of wheat malt behind that

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with lots of ginger and wheaty notes, followed by a mellow chamomile and lemongrass. Lemon lingers into the finish. Finishes with lingering ginger and fruity notes

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: Does a nice job integrating the three stars of the show (ginger, lemongrass, and chamomile) while keeping a solid base kölsch alive. Very easy to drink and quite refreshing. A solid benefit for ArtPrize

Dec 23, 2015

Sabtos from Ohio

2.4/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Straight up potpourri. If you have anything else on your palate this is just a combative additive to say the least.

To me there is too much going on in this beer for also being a very light, thin brew. Kolsch should be an exercise in complexity through simplicity. This beer misses the point.

Dec 21, 2015

krh from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Not really sure what to make of this one. On tasting it I couldn't identify the flavors, but reading reviews it was likely a mix of ginger and lemongrass. Probably better for Summer than Dec, but not interesting enough to make me buy it again.

Dec 21, 2015

DudMan from New Jersey

4.02/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle 12/13/15.

Nice foamy head and slight smell of ginger. Tastes of ginger and lime/chamomile. Easy drinking. Very light mouthfeel and decent carbonation. It is a great summer beer!

Dec 14, 2015

SHDoyle from Ohio

3.67/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Description: Clear, with a light golden color and white head. The smell was pretty much as advertised: chamomile, ginger, lemon grass. Or at least that's what I think those things should smell like. Not a lot of chamomile experience over here. The taste is consistent with the smell and there's really no booze to speak of. Might have been a hint of spice in there and a little bitterness on the finish. Body was very light and the beer quickly dissipates off the tongue.

Suggested food pairing: Some crumbly, fluffy tea cookies

If you like this beer then you should also try: A ginger beer. Or maybe just ginger ale.

Overall: 3.75 (This beer is good but I would not likely drink it again)I don't have much experience with the Kolsch style and the reviews on this weren't too hot. However, Founders is my favorite brewery out there and I make it a point to try everything of theirs that I can, even when I'm not that excited to do so. In defense of Founders I don't think too many brewers would even try something like this and it's nice to see brewers go outside the box, even if the end result isn't outstanding. Also to Founders' credit, this beer was full of flavor as most Founders beers are; the flavors it was full of just weren't that great. I saw a post that suggested putting this in cans and releasing it in the summer:probably not a terrible idea. All in all though, this was a little too far out there. For me, it evoked images of stuffy, Victorian women gossiping around a knitting circle. Not necessarily what I look for in a beer.

Dec 13, 2015

yemenmocha from Arizona

2.25/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Carbonated, alcoholic herbal tea is what this stuff tastes like. Horrible, and probably a waste of a perfectly decent Kolsch underneath.

Good color, but perfumey herbal nose with the expected chamomile, ginger, lemongrass. On the palate it was like drinking a straw colored potpourri basket, nearly inducing my gag reflex on a couple of occasions. What a horrible concoction of additive flavors to make this instead of a lovely kolsch, like they quite possibly could have done.

Pass on this one, or serve it as a white elephant drink to unsuspecting Christmas party guests.

Dec 12, 2015

pat61 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Pours hazy straw gold with a thin wisp of an off-white foam cap.

S: Ginger aromas with the chamomile and lemongrass suggesting tropical fruit aromas

T: Spicy, tropical fruit, ginger, citrus, lemon. The added flavors dominate.

F: Medium light body and medium carbonation.

O: This is an interesting and well made beer but the added spices mask the delightful kolsch character.

Dec 08, 2015

woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.42/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

I broke down and bought this intriguing bottle at The Fridge last night. I just feel as though I have tried (and reviewed) so many Founders BC beers that I owe it to all of us to keep up the pattern.

From the bottle: "Brewed in the traditional Kolsch style, which requires fermenting ale yeast at a colder temperature and gives the beer a clean finish without fruity yeast esters. This bright, golden beer is brewed with a Trifecta of natural ingredients: earthy, floral and slightly sweet chamomile; a touch of citrusy lemongrass; and a hint of spicy fresh ginger."

Having Pop!ped the cap, I nearly inverted the bottle in my haste to get the party started, but that was an ill-advised idea as I got a rush of foam that settled into two-plus fingers of fluffy, bone-white head that sat back down about as quickly as they had stood up. Holding it to the light, it was a pretty Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 -5), but it had minuscule floaties in suspension and so the Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus turned up their noses at it. My nose, however, was right in it. It smelled like the mellowest Celestial Seasonings tea EVAR! The ginger was huge and immediate, but the chamomile and lemongrass were easily discerned. Well, lemon, anyway. I don't know that I would have defaulted to lemongrass. Peace, love & beer, baby! Mouthfeel was light, airy & ethereal and man, this is the one to get the hippie chicks to peel their knickers. It was incredibly mellow. The taste really was like cold tea, loads of ginger balanced with a perfume-y chamomile and just a hint of lemon, like zest shaved into it. Again, I would not have defaulted to lemongrass, just lemon. Thanks to the ginger, the finish was semi-dry, but they had really found a happy medium to it with the chamomile & lemongrass. Today's helpful hint to Founders: put this in a CAN at summertime and see what happens. I would totally have this in the cooler for the ladies.

Dec 03, 2015

Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

thanks to my brother, tenderbranson69 for sharing this from the 12oz bottle.

The color is golden with a light amber hue with thin white head. The smell is ginger-y with a slight grassy-citrus smell of lemongrass and perhaps some malt. The feel is great -nice balance of malt with a slight spice effect in the residual feel.

The flavor has more ginger than the other spice/herb elements but I like the way the tropical and spice in the ginger is balanced by the malt with a slight lemony and herbal quality with a nice sweetness level. all in all this is a great hybrid spiced ale/lager which I would drink anytime since it is refreshing and drinkable.

Dec 01, 2015

bwood06 from Wisconsin

3.99/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle into a small pint glass (multiple pours)

A - Normal pour produces a frothy white head that dissipates rather quickly and levels off at a thin lacing. The beer itself is golden with an ever so slight yeasty haze to it. Light, slow rising carbonation is easily visible. 3.75/5

S - Just as the bottle says there is a definite aroma of lemongrass and ginger with a bit of chamomile. The lemon and the ginger really stand out and mute anything else that could possibly be in the aroma. 4/5

T - Lemongrass and ginger are the first two notes I get in the flavor profile with the flavor of ginger steadily increasing to a crescendo that crashes suddenly into an herbal and floral note (chamomile). There is a slight light fruity sweetness throughout the flavor profile reminiscent of underripe pears until the very end when the beer finishes with a very clean light cereal grain note. There seems to be a slight bit of clove and pepper as well. Interesting combination of flavors that really work well together. 4/5

M - Light bodied beer that features a slight carbonation burn. Finishes very clean with no drying. Leaves the mouth ready for more and not weighed down in the slightest. 4/5

O - The combination of flavors and aromas in this beer speaks more of a smooth elegance that the Founders brew masters feature in comparison to many others brewers who try to beat the drinker over the head with flavors. This beer is very complex but also very light at the same time, almost like a fine wine as compared to a 2 Buck Chuck. 4/5

Nov 23, 2015

Dr_Bahmbay13 from Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Clean Pour into a pint glass. Frothy white head that dissipates fast. smell the ginger and wheat grass right away . This taste amazing floral , ginger spice adds to the chamomile then the slight wheat grass twang! Almost tart after taste with the spice tingle .If you ever had a Reeds Jamaican ginger beer you definitely enjoy this. Very solid take on the style and very original in the take the style with those added ingredients. My only regret is that i only have one bottle.

Nov 21, 2015

Mnowaxki from Michigan

2.14/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.5

I was really hoping for a kolsch with a ginger bite to it when I gave this one a try, but in the end I had to force myself to get through the entire six pack (I don't waste beer). By far, the flavor of this beer was completely over powered by the chamomile. The taste was flat and just felt like I was just drinking cold tea mixed with a light beer. I appreciate breweries experimenting with different recipes, but I would take a pass on this one.

Nov 19, 2015