Orabelle Belgian-Style Ale
Great Divide Brewing Co.

This is a pretty solid dubbel in my view, but they refer to it as a tripel on the style guide. It's not quite heavy and sweet enough to be a tripel for me, though 8.3% is nothing to sneeze at for sure. I like this beer, I just feel like it needs a bit more of something to really pop. Good flavor, good smell, just not quite as impressive as I was hoping, but I'd drink it again regardless.

RB transfer

 

On tap at GD, Denver airport

A- pours a hazy golden orange with a one finger foamy white head

S- clove, banana, pear, orange peel, coriander, bread

T- peppery yeast up front gives notes of clove, banana, pear and some phenolic notes. The finish gives more peppery yeast with a linger of clove and banana

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into the finish

 

 

 

Poured from a can. Golden and hazy with a white head. Smells of grain, orange and coriander. Flavors of bread, banana, coriander, and hints of rye. Good mix of flavor, pretty smooth and avb is hidden well.

L- Pale orange color that is about 70% opaque. Head is white and foamy but collapses quickly leaving a touch of lace and a partly cloudy type surface. 3.75

N- Light yeast notes, some faint bread crust and apple skin. Late a faint bit of banana show up 3.5

T-Nice bread like malt flavor with an apple cider like sweetness around the edges. A hint of unsweet cinnamon powder is behind the apple notes with a hint of banana. A light clove and some alcohol dryness along with faint heat, add to the somewhat tangy fermenting cider finish. Subsequent tasting leave this too malty for my palate. Still enjoyable but some more experience with the style helps.

M- Nice medium body slickness that is not cloying and with very fine carbonation that is on the lighter side. Smooth and well balanced feel. 4.0

O- I like this very nice example of a Belgian style ale. Lacks some of the unique ester notes yet has enough going on to keep it from being flat and boring. I especially like that the malt is not too caramel like; I’m thinking Golden Monkey as a contrast. 4

 

 

 

Very hazy straw yellow color with substantial and lasting foamy head that manages some nice lacing. The aroma is yeasty fresh bread, spices, including coriander, cloves, allspice, and a touch of white pepper.
The taste is sweet yeasty fresh bread with some apricot, bananas and golden raisin notes. This mild sweetness leads into coriander, possibly enhanced by rye and then cloves and allspice.The finish becomes dry with lingering spice and peppery notes. Very nice!
The body is light/medium, slightly creamy, with a fairly high carbonation level.
Altogether this is a very enjoyable, somewhat complex brew. While maybe not quite up to Trappist standards, this is at least a respectable shot and somewhat more affordable for frequent enjoyment.

 

Pours hazy, milky gold in color with 1/4 inch head. Taste is honey, hay, and green apple. Medium body and carbonation, funky. Makes for a solid tripel. I prefer the Belgian classics but still very good.

 

This was solid, I feel like I would seek other belgian style ales before coming back to this but if you find yourself on that journey of trying things I would recommend, I would buy this again I just seeing myself buying more Trappist ales first to get into the style

Look: semi-hazy matte banana yellow
Smell: belgium sugar, banana,
Taste: sweet, pleasant and soothing. A classic and smooth belgium triple. A little hop finish, which is not something I normally note in tripels, not bad, just unexpected
Feel: medium
Overall: a pleasant belgium tripel with a little kick with the hop. If belgium tripels are cheddar cheese, this is a slight aged sharp cheddar (hop that makes sense)

 

Really nice and foamy brew - flavorful and slightly sweet - dries out as you go - no real hops to speak of - nice spices and Belgian yeast - great beer - would buy again for sure