Westmalle Trappist Tripel | Brouwerij Westmalle
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Westmalle
Belgium
trappistwestmalle.be
Style: Tripel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 11-06-2000
Ratings: 4,537 | Reviews: 1,747
4.32/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Steadily poured into a Rochefort chalice. Pale golden yellow with a one finger white head. Lots of carbonation and very clear. After a few sips I poured in the yeast, which gave a more cloudy (and overall better) beer.
Scents of banana, cloves, caramel, malts and fresh baked bread.
Up front, I get flavours of pepper, spices and Belgian yeast. There are some hints of alcohol at cellar temperature, with a fairly strong bitterness, similar to that of lemon rind, but more malty with only a hint of the fruit's flavour. Once the yeast is added from the bottom of the bottle, the beer becomes sweeter and more balanced, with a bread sweetness, some biscuit and toffee...
Good carbonation that helps the flavours materialise on the pallete. A lovely Tripel overall.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Steadily poured into a Rochefort chalice. Pale golden yellow with a one finger white head. Lots of carbonation and very clear. After a few sips I poured in the yeast, which gave a more cloudy (and overall better) beer.
Scents of banana, cloves, caramel, malts and fresh baked bread.
Up front, I get flavours of pepper, spices and Belgian yeast. There are some hints of alcohol at cellar temperature, with a fairly strong bitterness, similar to that of lemon rind, but more malty with only a hint of the fruit's flavour. Once the yeast is added from the bottom of the bottle, the beer becomes sweeter and more balanced, with a bread sweetness, some biscuit and toffee...
Good carbonation that helps the flavours materialise on the pallete. A lovely Tripel overall.
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3.71/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.45/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.28/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into teku, 2 finger cream colored head recedes to 1/2 finger and hangs around a while, nice lacing. Opaque bright golden in the glass. Smells of Belgian esters, juicy fruit the most predominant. Initial taste is Belgian sugar, .alt sweetness followed quickly by the yeast, juicy fruit, maybe some pear. Finish is spicy and dry, perfectly done, all residual sweetness is cleaned up on the finish. Great beer.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into teku, 2 finger cream colored head recedes to 1/2 finger and hangs around a while, nice lacing. Opaque bright golden in the glass. Smells of Belgian esters, juicy fruit the most predominant. Initial taste is Belgian sugar, .alt sweetness followed quickly by the yeast, juicy fruit, maybe some pear. Finish is spicy and dry, perfectly done, all residual sweetness is cleaned up on the finish. Great beer.
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3.56/5 rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The appearance started out closer to a 3 finger white foamy head that quickly settled to a one and a half finger head and held adequately for a good "tripel." It had a good hazy yellow/golden orange colored body with a fair amount of stringy lacing a bit all over the place. The smell had some slight wheat, nice fruity (probably closer to a "pear" aroma), and a bit of yeast. The taste was a wheaty maltiness with a slightly yeasty iciness I get when I normally do most tripels, yeasty wheat aftertaste, dry finish. On the palate, it sat super dry, wow, never had a dry tripel, but ok, no worries, honestly really doesn’t affect much in my opinion, but probably about a medium in body, fairly sessionable. Carbonation seems good for the style and for me. Overall, this was kinda wheaty for a tripel, but hey who’s complainin’, good tripel that I would have again, get it if you see it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The appearance started out closer to a 3 finger white foamy head that quickly settled to a one and a half finger head and held adequately for a good "tripel." It had a good hazy yellow/golden orange colored body with a fair amount of stringy lacing a bit all over the place. The smell had some slight wheat, nice fruity (probably closer to a "pear" aroma), and a bit of yeast. The taste was a wheaty maltiness with a slightly yeasty iciness I get when I normally do most tripels, yeasty wheat aftertaste, dry finish. On the palate, it sat super dry, wow, never had a dry tripel, but ok, no worries, honestly really doesn’t affect much in my opinion, but probably about a medium in body, fairly sessionable. Carbonation seems good for the style and for me. Overall, this was kinda wheaty for a tripel, but hey who’s complainin’, good tripel that I would have again, get it if you see it.
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4.91/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.19/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
I've picked this up a couple of times from the local Toom Bier store in Landsthul, Germany. I't a bit too pricey to be a regular "go to" bier but, if it weren't so pricey it would most be a regular. Cloudy amber with a nice head. Can bet a bit strong if you're not used to stronger biers. Cheers my friends.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
I've picked this up a couple of times from the local Toom Bier store in Landsthul, Germany. I't a bit too pricey to be a regular "go to" bier but, if it weren't so pricey it would most be a regular. Cloudy amber with a nice head. Can bet a bit strong if you're not used to stronger biers. Cheers my friends.
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4.54/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter via a friend from work----a hearty thanks to Kevin
for the chance to review this classic.
Pouring from the bottle into a snifter this FINE ale pours a lightly cloud amber tinged
straw color with a fantastic head of white foam that subsides to a thick fluffy layer with
excellent lacing. Nose of sweet candy sugars, subtle earthy yeast, light sweet breaded notes,
and moderate booze with a touch of citrus. Flavors exceed the nose with sweet candy malt crusted
light sweet bread with a lemon zest accent that flows over a subtle herbal hop note and warming
booze with a light cracker finish touched with yeast. Exceptional mouth feel; medium high carbonation
that is light and airy, medium light body, and a subtly dry finish.
An exceptional ale of extraordinary quality that is worthy of all the praise that is generally
heaped upon it.
Fantastic!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter via a friend from work----a hearty thanks to Kevin
for the chance to review this classic.
Pouring from the bottle into a snifter this FINE ale pours a lightly cloud amber tinged
straw color with a fantastic head of white foam that subsides to a thick fluffy layer with
excellent lacing. Nose of sweet candy sugars, subtle earthy yeast, light sweet breaded notes,
and moderate booze with a touch of citrus. Flavors exceed the nose with sweet candy malt crusted
light sweet bread with a lemon zest accent that flows over a subtle herbal hop note and warming
booze with a light cracker finish touched with yeast. Exceptional mouth feel; medium high carbonation
that is light and airy, medium light body, and a subtly dry finish.
An exceptional ale of extraordinary quality that is worthy of all the praise that is generally
heaped upon it.
Fantastic!
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4.88/5 rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Look - Pours a vibrant golden/yellow color with fine sediment, three fingers of white head, excellent retention and lacing.
Aroma - Woody, musty, lemon candy, grains, dry wheat, hay.
Taste - Soft. Biscuity malt, light sweetness, notes of apple and pear. Grassy but delicate hop flavors towards the middle. Has a twangy grain note in there as well. Yeast comes in towards the end with a very soft hay and nutmeg flavor. Aftertaste is dry and relatively clean. Rustic but refined. Perfect balance here, nothing offensive or out of place.
Feel - Medium bodied, soft carbonation, fluffy, dry. No alcohol warmth. Perfect.
Overall - This really has everything I want in a beer. The only thing that keeps me from giving this a perfect rating is the aroma, which I find enjoyable but a little weak. Other than the aroma I don't see how this beer could be improved. God bless those monks, this is a phenomenal beer.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Look - Pours a vibrant golden/yellow color with fine sediment, three fingers of white head, excellent retention and lacing.
Aroma - Woody, musty, lemon candy, grains, dry wheat, hay.
Taste - Soft. Biscuity malt, light sweetness, notes of apple and pear. Grassy but delicate hop flavors towards the middle. Has a twangy grain note in there as well. Yeast comes in towards the end with a very soft hay and nutmeg flavor. Aftertaste is dry and relatively clean. Rustic but refined. Perfect balance here, nothing offensive or out of place.
Feel - Medium bodied, soft carbonation, fluffy, dry. No alcohol warmth. Perfect.
Overall - This really has everything I want in a beer. The only thing that keeps me from giving this a perfect rating is the aroma, which I find enjoyable but a little weak. Other than the aroma I don't see how this beer could be improved. God bless those monks, this is a phenomenal beer.
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3.5/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Belgian style ales aren't my, but I've been trying more lately and found some I like, but this is not one of them.
A: light yellow very thick frothy head.
S: smells like yeast, some subtle bread tones
T: very light flavor, yeast, bread, lemon, too much alcohol. I let it warm up to see if more flavors came out but didn't notice much of a difference.
M: super high carbonation to the point it took away from the enjoyment of the beer. The carbonation came back up after every other sip, flavor and mouthfeel dissipated quickly to nothing.
O: pretty disappointing for me. I'd much rather have Rochefort 8 or 10.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Belgian style ales aren't my, but I've been trying more lately and found some I like, but this is not one of them.
A: light yellow very thick frothy head.
S: smells like yeast, some subtle bread tones
T: very light flavor, yeast, bread, lemon, too much alcohol. I let it warm up to see if more flavors came out but didn't notice much of a difference.
M: super high carbonation to the point it took away from the enjoyment of the beer. The carbonation came back up after every other sip, flavor and mouthfeel dissipated quickly to nothing.
O: pretty disappointing for me. I'd much rather have Rochefort 8 or 10.
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3.62/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.31/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.13/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.51/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Westmalle Trappist Tripel from Brouwerij Westmalle
4.28
out of 5
based on 4,537 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From the bottle, it pours a clear light golden color with a nice head that lasts a bit. Add the yeasty bottom and it becomes a cloudy light amber, still with a nice head. Scents of fruitiness and bread permeate the nose. The mouth gets some pepper and yeast, which amplifies, unsurprisingly, with the addition of the yeasty bottoms. Alcohol is definitely present, but in a pleasant way, along with the breadiness, particularly after the yeast is added. Yum!
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