De Graal Tripel
Brouwerij De Graal

 

 

 

 

Sampled a 0.33l bottle (€4.00) at cafe Gollem in Antwerp on 30SEP15.

Poured into a tulip, it was a bright golden with a bit of haze and minimal carbo. Had a creamy, smooth marshmallow head. Started at 1/2" and slowly ebbed away to leave a solid covering layer and excellent lace. Smelled really bready with loads of tropical fruit. Had a medium body, and felt quite nice; not much roughage on the tongue.

Tasted of cookie dough, bread, and some crackery malt. The light sweetness was augmented by lots of fruit - pear and green apple in particular. Then it turned spicy, with peppery action and yeastyness. Verrry nice! Prosit!!

4.39/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1772

Great beer with a smooth finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

330ml bottle. Tulip glass. Enjoyed on jan´12. Golden color, foggy appearance. White froth. Close, slowly dissipated, crown. Candies, sugar & hints of cinnamon to the nose. Sweet upfront, mildy malty flavor. Peppery, spicy & soft warming sensation. Velvet palate.

A - A light yellow hazy fluid with a thick white head.

S - A fresh hoppy smell with a little pine and a vague corn like scent.

T - A touch of sweetness, malt and a heavy yeast taste, not bad though. Quite excellent even, the hop makes it bitter and piny.

M - Creamy with a medium carbonation and a bitter aftertaste.

O - A nice rather dry tripel.

A: Pours a clear golden amber with an initially puffy white head that quickly recedes to a creamy, even mousse. This beer is obviously unfiltered, as little chunks of yeast are suspended in the liquid. Little streams of bubbles are also easily spotted once the beer settles in the glass.

S: The smell is a bit nondescript. Aromas of citrus, caramel, spice, and pungent, lactic yeast make their presence known after a couple of seconds, gradually becoming stronger once the beer begins to warm.

T: Strong notes of lemon, bitter orange, caramel, pepper, herbs, hay, oak, and lactic, pungent yeast are immediately evident on the palate. I also detected flavors reminiscent of candy sugar, coriander, and ginger. The finish is tart and fruity with lemon, orange, hay, and lactic yeast notes.

M: Full bodied and dryish, but very smooth in the mouth. Carbonation is a bit restrained for the style, but the alcohol is exceptionally subdued. One of the more drinkable Belgian tripels I've run across, this beer is very well balanced.

O: I find this to be an excellent tripel, and a beer that I would not mind revisiting in the very near future. I love the complex of spicy, pungent yeast and tart, citrusy hop flavors that this beer so skillfully displays. If you've grown tired of the more readily available abbey ales, give this one a go.

Pours a murky golden yellow with orange hues beneath the foamy, pure-white head that patiently dissolves to leave a sticky lacing.

Aromas are of lemon zest, yeast, citrus hops, sour apple, and grapes rising from the glass. Candy sugar and honey seem to appear as it warms.

Flavors consist of candied sugar, yeast, apples, and apricots. It becomes a bit floral as it warms as well, perhaps the hops.

Medium in body with medium carbonation and a drying finish.

A decent tripel overall, perhaps not as crisp and clean as some of its counterparts with more subdued aromas as well, but overall worth a try.