Trois-Portages
Les Brasseurs Du Temps

Appearance: It has a nice cloudy golden/orange color to it. It has a thin bubbly white head that dies down quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of Belgian yeast, bready malts, spices, fruit and floral hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some Belgian yeast along with citrus and banana, some spiciness, sweet bready malts and floral hops.

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

When I picture and taste a traditional or modern Belgium Triple I don't expect bright yellow as a look, or unique pineapple, and orange peel during the tasting. This beer falls a bit flat on the nose and has a unique bitterness and hoppiness in the aftertaste not complementary of a Belgium Triple. Unfortunately not a great example in my perspective of a Belgium Triple with to much attempt at altering something good. It is a nice ee beer however in the citrus department of you like that, and quite smooth on the pallet.

 

Trois Portage is much more attractive without the last couple ounces added in; the suspended chunks of sediment remind me of head cheese. OK, it's not nearly that bad. Actually, given the bright yet dense orange complexion it strongly resembles marmalade, bits and all.

Tripel is a style designed by perfumers; these notoriously ambrosial bouquets are made up of different fruits, spices, florals and grains. This particular scent is front-loaded with tropical fruits like mango, pineapple and tangerine, while rose petals, peppercorns and honeyed cereals sink to the backdrop.

The brewer remarks a Cointreau-like quality and, given the intense orange flavour and not-so-subtle alcohol presence, I notice it too. They've done a fairly poor job at masking that 9.5%. Fortunately there's an abundance of banana, nectarine, peach, and pear. It drinks like a fruitcup, syrup and all.

For those who can't read between the lines: Trois Portages is delicious but also quite sweet. All notions of both tropical and stone fruits are way overripe and even the malts taste honey-coated. The zest and spicy phenols from the yeast help to balance things out a bit, as does a dry straw-like finish.

The Québecois share more than just a common language with Belgians - they have the same penchant for brewing styles, both in terms of taste and ability. Trois Portage is a very good Tripel that, like many Brasseurs Du Temps offerings, fits in on shelves next to the bonafide, benchmark Old World examples.

 

 

 

From a 750 ml bottle to a tulip.

This beer poured a lovely gold with a tinge of haze and a two finger head that had good retention. Excellent lacing was left behind as the I drank the beer. The smell is typical of a tripel, with yeast spices, sweet fruits and cloves being present. The taste is much better than anticipated, with the yeast and spices coming through up front and the sweet banana flavor ending the palate with a clove kicker. The feel is smooth and the carbonation is medium. The high 9.5 abv is hidden well.

BDT has always been hit and miss with me, but this beer is a definite hit. Wow, it is a damn nice take on a Belgian triple.

Special thanks to hoppypocket for sending this beer.

Created June 2009, Bottled April 23, 2012.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden colour with 2 fingers of white head with some nice lacing along the sides of the glass.

S: Over ripe bananas, yeasty and buttery bread together with spices of pepper and cloves. End notes of alcohol esters suggestive of over ripe fruit. Overall it is rich and creamy.

T: Ripe bananas and candied orange peel, followed by brioche. Finishes with a slight alcohol heat. Mild notes of white pepper and cloves. Agree with notes on bottle suggesting reminiscent of Cointreau.

M: Thick, syrupy and coating. Extremely low carbonation and very smooth.

O: Buttery, rich and creamy, this is a comforting triple that isn't complicated, but is clean, precise and very enjoyable. Would definitely seek out again.

 

Bottle shared by a friend. From notes.

A - Cloudy golden pour with a one finger white head. No lace, no retention.

S - Rich. Wheat, sweet spice, banana.

Good carbonation, full body, and a sweet, dry finish.

O/D - Nice Tripel. Doesn't break the mold, but it was tasty. Drank more like a weizenbock and lacked the strong yeast character of a Tripel.

 

 

 

 

 

The beer is copper in color with a nice foamy head on top of it. The head looks like soap foam. White head. The aroma is fruity (apple) with some peach notes. Nice aroma. Refreshing in the nose. In the mouth, I get some pepper notes, fruits. Light bitterness. Very good. There is a little bite at the end, that I really like. It's there in a subtle way but it is there. I like it a lot. Quite complex in the mouth. A chewy beer. A true sipper but so good it's dangerous. I could drink more than one, but the next day would be hard on the head :).

Enjoyed on tap at the BDT brewpub. Above average mouthfee, caramel apparent. Lacey, yeasty Hits the style and middling for the style.Drinkable if you are having only one or two beers, as the sweetness, yeastiness, is filling.Alcohol more or less hidden. Bit of bannana.

Three Bridges pours a hazy yellow with orange hues in the light. It is topped with a frothy blecahed white cap. Pretty lace. Nose is of yeasty esters and fruit, very malty, quite spicy and floral. Tastes of sweet fruit, floral and herbal hops, very yeasty. Creamy mouthfeel, full bodied, but no hint of the ABV. Very good.

On tap at the brewpub: Poured an orangey color ale with a small foamy head. Aroma of fruity ester and light spicy yeast is interesting. Taste is a nice mix between some Belgian style malt with good notes of fruity ester and some light spicy yeast notes at the end. Body is full for style with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done for early stage of the brewpub and something I will revisit again.