Homo Sapien Cherry Tripel Ale
Dark Horse Brewing Company

Pours a shimmering amber with very little head or lacing. It is also almost crystal clear, which is somewhat off compared with expectations for the style. It isn't an ugly beer, but it doesn't look like a tripel.

The aroma of cherry is very present but not overpowering--it is just "there" as a fruity note. The nose is lacking in typical yeast notes for the style, but other fruity esters are definitely on display, along with purer grainy wheat. Overall, the aroma isn't bad, it's just underwhelming--it could be stronger and bit more complex.

The flavor is solid in its own right but, like everything else about the brew, it isn't consistent with the style. Still, there is plenty to like. Fruity/bready malts are very forward, as are estery banana flavors. Phenols, mostly in the form of clove and a touch of band-aid/medicinal flavor. The cherry is again present, but doesn't take over. The base brew, in fact, shines through quite a bit, but this version is better.

The mouthfeel is easily the biggest star of the brew. Medium bodied but crisp, with more carbonation than expected and just a touch of boozy warmth.

Overall, like the base beer, this isn't a bad brew, it's just not what it purports to be. It isn't a tripel. It's more like a double-strength wheat beer with cherry and clove for good measure. Still, not bad, and a much better brew overall than the base is. The cherries do add a little "something."

Thoroughly enjoyed from the growler via Jungle Jim's in Fairfield.
This FINE ale pours a luminous yet subtly cloudy peach tinged deep
amber with a fantastic head of white foam that subsides to a thick
ring, thin pool, and features nice sudsy lacing. Nose of cherries,
fresh sweet bread, light candy sugars, and subtle yeasty esters laden
with light banana notes with a touch of herbal qualities. Flavors hit the
right note between fruit and style of the ale with balanced cherries and
fluffy yeasty sweet baked bread dashed with a nice layer of Belgian candy
sugars and a light herbal note on the rear showing slight hops and a subtle
hint of Belgian spice. Exceptional mouth feel; medium body, medium carbonation,
and a sweet lightly dry and herbal touched finish.

Overall this is one darn fine ale worthy of seeking out and worth having a second
time around IF you can find it.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I should preface this review that I am not the biggest fan of Belgians.

A: Very honey like in color and hue. No head, no lacing. But lots of bubbles.

S: This has such a complex smell; there is so much going on here. Cherry, banana, malts, toasted bread, buttery, vanilla, pineapple, peaches, some clove & cinnamon.

T: Holy beer! This its fantastic. Delicious. Outstanding. the cherry its perfect. Almost tarty cherry. I love it. No banana or clove or cinnamon. Peaches &, pineapple. Vanilla.

M: thick and chewy. A great coat left on the tongue. But that infamous Belgian foam thing.

O: This is Mad Elf on roids. Unbelievable. My new favorite Belgian/tripel.

 

 

 

 

 

Served in a tulip glass at Farmhouse.

My second choice beer today, though I wanted to try it anyway. It pours a hazy sunrise amber topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises black cherry, light greens, and light wheat. The cherry is the star of the show here, o'ershadowing any potential Belgian characteristics. The taste brings in more of the same, though the cherries definitely come through a bit tarter here. Still, not all that much in the way of tripel-ness. The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a solid, generally enjoyable brew, though I took it as more of a cherry wheat than anything, as there was nearly no Belgian tripel qualities that I could find.

Poured on tap at Churchkey into a tulip glass.

Really nice body color, slightly cloudy but a real nice dark reddish orange. Off white creamy head, thin lacing.

Nose has a dense fruit, bordering on lambic sense. A dry doughy dense malt tripel classic smell, with maybe some juicy character.

First taste is wonderful, great mild cherry flavor, wonderful candy sugar balance not too sweet. Soft sweet bakery dough and feel, dive into that with light taffy and peppermint, even some mild hop bitterness on the finish. Tea like almost with some mild cinnamon.

As a tripel fan I am really impressed, absolutely wonderful. A great marriage of fruit and tripel, fantastic!