Alpha Hop Society: Gin Barrel-Aged Belgian-Style Tripel
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Tripel
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- +3 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.1 | pDev: 6.83%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 22, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 02, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
“The yeast is the star” in a Tripel, says AHS brewer Nick Ison, but 8 months in St. George barrels shakes things up into “sort of a cocktail feel.” Belgian phenolics still command the aroma, yet bonus notes of pithy citrus and delicate botanicals somehow evoke a honey whiskey sour. The wood offers hints of vanilla that weave into smooth malt and “a little bit of an herb garden,” Nick says. This genre-bender finishes dry and is ready for musings around fall fire pits.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.16/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Many thanks to CarolinaCardinals for this bottle!
A - Golden bronze pore with alot of tiny floaties and uber-thin lacing.
S - Nice blend of gin, Belgian light mineral, and light Belgian candy sugar.
T - Light Belgian candy sugar, pear, light fruit, and ends on the sweet side with an underlying Gin presence.
M - Medium body, silky soft, and light warming on the way down.
O - This is rock solid.
Oct 19, 2024A - Golden bronze pore with alot of tiny floaties and uber-thin lacing.
S - Nice blend of gin, Belgian light mineral, and light Belgian candy sugar.
T - Light Belgian candy sugar, pear, light fruit, and ends on the sweet side with an underlying Gin presence.
M - Medium body, silky soft, and light warming on the way down.
O - This is rock solid.
Reviewed by turfy from Texas
4.18/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a deep gold with some muddy brown, adding to a hazy body. Aroma was of some fruit , maybe apple, along with the expected Belgium phenols. But they were not overpowering, which I liked as I am not a fan of the strong banana/clove notes of some Belgium beers. Taste was the same...muted phenols, fruit and definitely presence of the gin barrels. Mouthfeel was delicate. This was my second Alpha Hop beer, and again impressed. Overall, a well crafted sipper.
Dec 10, 2022
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.26/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Picked up AHS Release #6 from Mills River 9-20-22. Consumed for review 11-30-22.
Beer poured golden brown with a nice white head.
Nose is very nice, hints of light fruit esters and juniper berries.
Taste is a substantial but light malt base where the yeast provides an apple and pear ester. The barrel gives a nice subtle juniper berry and gin edge that compliments the base beer nicely. Finishes well balanced.
Mouthfeel is very light with each sip being so smooth.
Overall gin barrels are not for everyone who likes bigger barreled aged beer but this one is done up very well!
Nov 30, 2022Beer poured golden brown with a nice white head.
Nose is very nice, hints of light fruit esters and juniper berries.
Taste is a substantial but light malt base where the yeast provides an apple and pear ester. The barrel gives a nice subtle juniper berry and gin edge that compliments the base beer nicely. Finishes well balanced.
Mouthfeel is very light with each sip being so smooth.
Overall gin barrels are not for everyone who likes bigger barreled aged beer but this one is done up very well!
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.3/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
I didn't know Sierra Nevada had a society, I'm jealous of it's members. The mouthfeel here is light and fluffy, very authentic. The phenols are prominent, again coming across as very authentic. It isn't very sweet overall, the gin barrels won't let that happen. They add and herbal quality and drying oak. This is quite lovely.
Nov 07, 2022
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