Tripple Cab
5 Seasons Westside

 

 

750mL bottle poured into a tulip.

Pours a bright hazy golden orange with a big super-creamy white head that recedes to a thin cap with some thin lacing.

The aroma is sweet with sugar-coated green apples and pears with an interesting grape and oak character, some spiciness as well.

The taste has a light oaky spiciness up front with some red grapes before the big sugary sweet malt and light fruit base takes over. More pears and apples and the finish is fairly sweet with the oak and wine really subtle.

The mouthfeel is very, very smooth for the style and the barrel has taken away some of the carbonation which makes the body seem slightly thin, though not enough to bother me.

Another excellent Belgian style beer from Crawford - one that uses the barrel to perfect effect, not overpowering the underlying beer.

Bottle purchased from the brewpub.

Pours a hazy golden color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet malts with large amounts of fruit - bananas from the base beer along with pears and slightly tart grapes. Robust yet not overpowering cabernet aromas also hold court.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though with a bit more tartness. Sweet malt flavors up front are quickly joined by light fruits - bananas, pears, hints of peaches. Midway through the sip the barrel influence kicks in and mildly tart grape flavors enter into things, carrying through to a slightly dry and crisp finish.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass very quickly and could easily have another.

Overall I was a huge fan of this beer and look forward to trying the tripel aged in Bordeaux barrels at some point to compare the two. A well done beer and well worth a shot.

Appearance: Pours out a hazed, pale golden body with a slight, white head.

Smell: Notes of sweet, lightly malted barley predominate in the nose, mostly pils malts, with other hints of fresh honey and flowers as well as the fruity wine aroma.

Taste: Sweet-tasting pilsner malt with, perhaps, a bit of wheat all providing a moderate level of sweetness. Almost immediately, in creeps a lightly tart, jammy wine character for a pervasive, everpresent fruitiness. Some warming alcohol is felt throughout. Teeny pinch of salt. Flavor of fresh-picked peaches wrapped in honeysuckle. Tripple Cab finishes near dry and leaves you with some light, fleeting wine tastes.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-light carbonation.

Drinkability: A very enjoyable treat. It brings together some of the better attributes from each of the parent beverages for a rather lovely experience.