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: 4,534 | Reviews: 1,745
4.22/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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.
431 characters
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.
307 characters
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!
899 characters
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!
899 characters
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
4.84/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Pour is a pleasant cloudy yellow with sporadic lacing. Smells of unique foresty yeast. The mouthfeel is frothy, I expected it to taste a lot more like it smells, but instead I'm getting something more lemony, zesty, and floral. This beer is both dense and fluffy in texture while maintaining a light and refreshingly satisfying taste that doesn't remind me much at all of any others I've had in the style.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Pour is a pleasant cloudy yellow with sporadic lacing. Smells of unique foresty yeast. The mouthfeel is frothy, I expected it to taste a lot more like it smells, but instead I'm getting something more lemony, zesty, and floral. This beer is both dense and fluffy in texture while maintaining a light and refreshingly satisfying taste that doesn't remind me much at all of any others I've had in the style.
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4.59/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Grateful to try this monk made beer. Golden hue with darker floating clouds of yeast inside. Smells like, well, a good belgian yeasty tripel. Nice white foamy head, and some splashes of sticky lacing which eventually dissipate. Poured into a tulip glass out of a bottle bought here in Beaumont.
Tripel taste comes in full force. Yeasty, refreshing, with a little bit of a booze to it unlike many others in the style. A refined example of what many North American brewers attempt. A wheaty character combined with a summer type of scent which carries over into the beer. Some spice to it, perhaps coriander. The little bit of booze I feel adds a lot of character. An easy to drink, flavorful charactee with a lot of good culture behind it.
What can I say other then I love it? True belgian tripels have a character you won't find anywhere else in the world most likely due to their long running development of the yeast. A solid choice, although a little pricey for a 12 oz bottle. Definitely worth the try.
1,008 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Grateful to try this monk made beer. Golden hue with darker floating clouds of yeast inside. Smells like, well, a good belgian yeasty tripel. Nice white foamy head, and some splashes of sticky lacing which eventually dissipate. Poured into a tulip glass out of a bottle bought here in Beaumont.
Tripel taste comes in full force. Yeasty, refreshing, with a little bit of a booze to it unlike many others in the style. A refined example of what many North American brewers attempt. A wheaty character combined with a summer type of scent which carries over into the beer. Some spice to it, perhaps coriander. The little bit of booze I feel adds a lot of character. An easy to drink, flavorful charactee with a lot of good culture behind it.
What can I say other then I love it? True belgian tripels have a character you won't find anywhere else in the world most likely due to their long running development of the yeast. A solid choice, although a little pricey for a 12 oz bottle. Definitely worth the try.
1,008 characters
4.49/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours an effervescent, bubbly, pale yellow color with a pure, satin white head of fine foam that laces the glass well and hangs around for a good five minutes before finally settling down.
Aroma: Banana bread, vanilla cookies, sweet ginger, mildly spicy clove, honeycomb and beeswax, notes of lemon balm and hints of bubblegum.
Taste: The flavor is creamy, floral and spicy with a slightly dry finish. Complex, with a nice long aftertaste.
Upfront there are flavors of saffron, spicy clove, mild fennel seed and slightly soapy coriander. Almost instantly it turns sweet, with creamy notes of sweet baked banana, savory cheese cake, vanilla bundt cake and soft hints of honey. The beer ends on warm, alcoholic notes of Anisette liquor, bitter lemon balm, crackers and white pepper. Maybe even some notes bubblegum and condensed coconut cream on the finish as it warms.
Feel: Alcohol profile is apparent, but in a clean way, with a soothing warmth that undulates from the initial flavors. Body is creamy with modest carbonation.
Overall: A pleasure to drink. Creamy, mildly effervescent and pleasantly alcoholic profile. Features a complex range of savory, floral, semi-sweet flavors and spices. Predominantly it reminds me of rosewater, anise cookies, banana bread and shortcake. One of the drier, more peppery versions of the style I have tried.
Rating: [A-] Excellent. 4.49/5
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours an effervescent, bubbly, pale yellow color with a pure, satin white head of fine foam that laces the glass well and hangs around for a good five minutes before finally settling down.
Aroma: Banana bread, vanilla cookies, sweet ginger, mildly spicy clove, honeycomb and beeswax, notes of lemon balm and hints of bubblegum.
Taste: The flavor is creamy, floral and spicy with a slightly dry finish. Complex, with a nice long aftertaste.
Upfront there are flavors of saffron, spicy clove, mild fennel seed and slightly soapy coriander. Almost instantly it turns sweet, with creamy notes of sweet baked banana, savory cheese cake, vanilla bundt cake and soft hints of honey. The beer ends on warm, alcoholic notes of Anisette liquor, bitter lemon balm, crackers and white pepper. Maybe even some notes bubblegum and condensed coconut cream on the finish as it warms.
Feel: Alcohol profile is apparent, but in a clean way, with a soothing warmth that undulates from the initial flavors. Body is creamy with modest carbonation.
Overall: A pleasure to drink. Creamy, mildly effervescent and pleasantly alcoholic profile. Features a complex range of savory, floral, semi-sweet flavors and spices. Predominantly it reminds me of rosewater, anise cookies, banana bread and shortcake. One of the drier, more peppery versions of the style I have tried.
Rating: [A-] Excellent. 4.49/5
1,389 characters
Westmalle Trappist Tripel from Brouwerij Westmalle
4.28
out of 5
based on 4,534 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5