Trade Winds
The Bruery

Trade WindsTrade Winds
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From:
The Bruery
 
California, United States
Style:
Tripel
Ranked #93
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,964
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 9.41%
Reviews:
368
Ratings:
1,162
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 16, 2023
Added:
May 25, 2008
Wants:
  55
Gots:
  176
Our Summer seasonal, Trade Winds Tripel is a Belgian-style Golden Ale with a Southeast Asian twist. Instead of using candi sugar (typical for such a beer), we use rice in the mash to lighten the body and increase the gravity, and spice with Thai Basil. The result is an aromatic, digestible and complex beer made for a lazy summer evening.

25 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Jun 16, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.86/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.6%. Hazy golden colour, large white head. Pleasant sweetish and fruity (citrus and strawberries) and spicy (thai basil, coriander, cloves) aroma. The flavour has some sweetness, but not more than normal for a tripel. Fruity and fairly distinct spicy flavour. Moderate hops, a little more would not hurt, even for a tripel. A lovely beer anyway.
May 14, 2021
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle. Likely from 2015 or so.

Dark golden color. Off white head. A nice American brewed tripel. Spiced with zest and citrus. Biscuit and toffee malts. A bit of sweetness. Not bad.
Mar 27, 2021
Photo of laquebrada
Reviewed by laquebrada from California

4.11/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bought the bottle in 2009, decided it was time to drink it. Quite surprised how well it has held up, no oxidation or sherry character, maybe because it's bottle conditioned, but still, at 8.1% ABV did not expect that. Well carbonated, but the head did not persist very long. No specific spice was discernable in aroma or flavor. Alcohol was apparent in the flavor, more than expected from the ABV. Bitterness was minimal, to say the least. There was something in the flavor that is difficult to describe, a mix of toast, root beer and ginger ale perhaps? Well attenuated, but not dry or thin. Overall, it's amazing how well this beer has held up, and could be taken as an indication of their brewing prowess.
Dec 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by einman from Minnesota

Sep 04, 2020
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Reviewed by HighABV_HighRating from Missouri

2.94/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Trade winds pours thin, with a quickly dissipating head. Five minutes in, this beer resembles a macro lager, with a taste to match. It's certainly sweeter than a typical American Lager, with the *tiniest* hint of spice (more would be appreciated), but I'm not sure it's better. Overall, it's a poor example of the style, and with so many great Belgian Tripels to choose from, I don't see myself giving this one a second chance.

This is a Belgian-Style Tripel for beer drinkers not ready for the real thing.
Aug 21, 2020
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Reviewed by CraigDeMoss from Kansas

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Eggshell white frothy foam head atop a burnt orange. Serious mellow and balanced sticky rice, orange citrus, basil spice, rounded out with a malty backbone. Little bitterness, smooth and creamy finish, fizzy and slightly drying. This is really good, fairly interesting flavor combination and brewing approach.
Jul 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Oct 25, 2019
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Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours clear golden in color with a one-finger foamy white head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- spicy yeast on the nose gives aromas of cracked pepper, clove & banana. Fruity notes of lemon and melon, phenolic notes close it out

T- spicy and peppery yeast with flavors of clove and white pepper. Mid-palate starts to bring out the basil, which adds a green and refreshing note that compliments the yeast. The finish brings out a variety of fruity flavors with notes of green melon, citrus peel, pear & cantaloupe

M- medium body wit moderate carbonation leads to a foamy bubble mouthfeel and a crisp finish

O- the basil works very well with this beer and is just enough to add a refreshing note and increase drinkability
Sep 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.11 by Luckydog91 from Texas

Sep 13, 2019
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Reviewed by Thankin_Hank from Texas

4.4/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
A pretty beer with the creamy head. The sweet is strong and it’s typical for a Belgian Tripel. It tastes sweet and I think I like the Thai basil if you can wait long enough to savor it. Rather special. It’s great on the tongue. There’s nothing here not to like. Overall this is an excellent brew and I hope to see it again. On draft at Ron’s Corner Tavern.
Aug 17, 2019
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Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

3.87/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
PKG 04/25/19, 16oz can.

Pours a hazy golden orange, with soft, frothy lace that culminates into patches above the beer. As it settles there's a decent amount of residual lacing left behind.

Definitely lots of familiar Belgian notes on the nose, clove and banana with compliments of Belgian yeast, peppery spice, and herbal hops. It's traditional but at the same time unique in its execution, an intriguing Belgian tripel.

Similar to the nose but more potent, the flavors here are bold and bready. Clove and banana again run the forefront here, with Belgian spices intermingling nicely and compliment honey, pear, apple and baking spice undertones. Everything works together nicely, and if I wasn't already drinking this I feel like it would be great to cook with.

Medium-bodied and bready, with a soft, almost frothy carbonation and a smooth finish down the hatch. It's soft but at the same time the carbonation gives a nice snappy crispness; a great mouthfeel.
Aug 14, 2019
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Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L - Golden - with some haze with a white, creamy head that dissipates and leave behind some lacing.
S - Sweet notes of honey, spices, some light fruits - melon, peaches.
T - Notes of sweet honey, light fruits - melons, peaches, pear - along with spices throughout - some hints of rice as well.
F - Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation - crisp, yet creamy
O - An interesting, though not traditional take on a triple that pulls off a pretty enjoyable brew.
Jul 22, 2019
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Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Pours a hazy golden color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has nice spice hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a nice spice flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A good Trippel
Jun 01, 2019
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Wow can't believe I haven't done a review for this one yet. This was one of the original Bruery beers, I think there was Rugbrod, Orchard Wit and this? I dunno. Anyways, as far as tripels go, I like this one.

Pours a cloudy and bright yellow with 2/3" white head on the top. Impressive appearance. Great lace and retention. Aroma hits those basil notes, while leaving a mild phenolic yeast and small alcohol heat behind. Keeps notes of fresh cut spring grass going in the mind.

Taste has a white pepper thing going for it in addition to the basil and grassiness. Mild warming from the alcohol. A little bit of those mild fruits like pear and apple in the background. Its like an imperial saison almost as much as it is a tripel. The rice is well done as the body of the beer isn't heavy and makes the tripel style more appealing to me. I like it a few ounces at a time, but I couldn't see doing 25 oz of this to myself.
Feb 05, 2019
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Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
25.4 oz brown bottle 2016 Edition - dated 5/19/2016

The Bruery Trade Winds Tripel poured a cloudy golden color producing a generous off-white foamy head that was long in its retention. Nice chunks of foamy lacing were left behind - a nice looking ale. The nose is ; clean/fresh, fruity, grassy, of citrus and is a little spicy. The taste is similar to the nose. Up front is light fruit followed by spicy/peppery notes. The body is light-medium with crisp carbonation.

Trade Winds Tripel is a different take on a classic Tripel with adding rice and basil. It may be different but I like it..
Feb 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.9 by desint from Belgium

Jan 26, 2019
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Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.11/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Form the 750ml bottle in a snifter. This interesting take on a tripel
pours a lightly murky amber tinged golden color with a nice head of
white foam that settles to a thick ring, beautiful white layer, and
displays some fantastic lacing. Nose of spicy herb notes, candy sugar,
pear, and astringent alcohol notes. Flavors surpass the nose with
a light spicy mild basil note awash in pear, apple, subtle peach,
white grape notes, and soft grain flavors. Nice mouth feel; medium
light body, medium carbonation laden with effervescent carbonation,
and a crisp apple like finish touched with a spicy mild basil note.

Not a fan of basil beers, but this one hits the spot and could serve
fantastic as an aperitif or a palate refreshing brew after a heavy meal
let alone a fantastic brew along side a spicy meal----even Thai or
spicy chili. Nicely done.

Cheers
Nov 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.58 by chiefz1 from New York

Aug 25, 2018
Trade Winds from The Bruery
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 1162 ratings