Phoenix: Oak Aged Tripel
White Birch Brewing

 

 

 

## Filled a growler at the brewery on 12/18/15. ##

*Look* Copper-honey color, like amber jewelry. Slender, quickly dissolving head. Fine carbonation, almost like a nitrogen charge but without that foaminess.

*Smell* The smell is the brew's weakest attribute. It has a kind of natural rubber smell--not unpleasant but unexpected. (I think of those Art Gum erasers that are hard to stop sniffing.) Once that fragrance fades, it's malt.

*Taste* Nice hop balance--clearly not an IPA. A touch of butter rum candy and an herbal hint that I associate with lavender. Phoenix has a really nice oak finish--worth the entire brew.

*Feel* Very light carbonation. Silky texture. Very pleasant.

*Overall* A really good beer, strong but not forceful. I will probably fill my growler again before it runs out. White Birch needs to adjust the recipe to give the aroma a better character (bring that lavender to the nose, maybe) and find a way to get those fine bubbles to last a bit longer. Phoenix feels like a prototype that simply and unapologetically needs an iteration on the recipe. The taste is great and worth grabbing a fill. You'll love it in some ways and feel it lacking in others. I guarantee you'll appreciate its uniqueness in the field of Tripel Ale offerings.

Look - a lovely orange/copper, light head, good clarity
Aroma - a little harsh, sweet and malty
Flavor - sweet, malty, slight whiskey notes.
Body - rich, creamy

Maybe the best thing I've had from White Birch

 

 

 

Fruit, medium malt and traces of smoke on the nose. Pours hazy amber with a 1” off white foam cap that produces intricate lace patterns on the glass. The beer enters creamy with traces of toffee sweetening peachy to apricot fruit and culminates in a pleasant bitter hop accent on the finish. Has a big, creamy, rich Belgian body with above average carbonation. The alcohol is barely perceptible – not hot or solventy.

Without a doubt, one of the more unique beers I've ever tasted. Up to this point, I had never had an Oaked Age Tripel and honestly, I don't think there's many out there.

Huge amounts of rye in the nose and hints of oak and apple in the flavor. Certainly don't taste the 9% in this one. Wish I was splitting or thirding this beer as it's a 22oz bomber but absolutely worth trying.

Generally I can give my rating within the first sip or two but this actively took half the beer to get my 3.75 and I'm still not quite satisfied with that.

 

From the 650 ml. bomber date July 2014. Sampled on August 2, 2014.

The pour is a kind of bronze-golden amber with not a lot of head. Pretty good clarity.

The aroma has a Tripel feel to it with its citrus, apple, spice, yeast, and toasted malts notes. There is even a hint of honey.

Medium body and chewy.

The taste tends to emphasize the Belgian candied sugar, malt, and honey notes with the hoppy citrus only in the background. a 9% ABV beer but until you finish the bottle you wouldn't know it. No booze or alcohol to speak of. But don't tell my head that. Short version: I liked it.

Draft sample at the Granite State brewery fest yesterday. Slightly hazy deep golden color. Sweet sugary honey like malts with earthy spicy phenols. Huge wood notes get overpowering at times. Nice brew but might need a bit of age to calm down a little bit.