Bella Vigna Tripel - Whetstone Bella Vigna Pinot Noir Barrel-Aged
Westbrook Brewing Co.

Bella Vigna Tripel - Whetstone Bella Vigna Pinot Noir Barrel-AgedBella Vigna Tripel - Whetstone Bella Vigna Pinot Noir Barrel-Aged
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From:
Westbrook Brewing Co.
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Tripel
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 13.82%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 28, 2022
Added:
Jan 03, 2012
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  5
This beer is the premier offering in a collaborative series between two South Carolinians – one went to California to make wine, the other stayed home to make beer! We aged this Tripel for 9 months in French oak barrels that were used to mature the 2008 vintage of Whetstone Bella Vigna Pinot Noir. A re-fermentation in the bottle creates the tiny bubbles that bring this exciting fusion of brewers’ and winemakers’ crafts to life.

25 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 2.59 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Apr 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by analienacorn from Florida

Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by ChrisMetcalfe from South Carolina

May 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by tommyguz from Pennsylvania

May 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Apr 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by mikeincharleston from North Carolina

Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jsanford from Georgia

Jan 30, 2013
Photo of kylehay2004
Reviewed by kylehay2004 from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: large three finger head with excellent retention on a murky amber orange body.

S: grapes, banana, belgian yeast, clove, herbal hops.

T: there is a little bit of the butteriness that is really just the oak that my palate senses with a nice belgian character including the yeast but the red wine comes through near perfectly applying dark fruit notes and a dark wine presence.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: This is a very nice beer, the base beer is excellent and perfect for aging. The wine barrel aged beers I have had sometimes arent very good which speaks to the base beer used here.
Oct 16, 2012
Photo of nickfl
Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

4.79/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours with a large head of fluffy, white foam on top of a hazy, dark golden body. The foam settles quite slowly and leaves great lace on the glass.

S - Soft, fruity malt noes of pear and pineapple with lots of oak, dark cherry, and a hint of leather.

T - Spicy, fruity malt and yeast up front with an unusually complex melange of oak, pineapple, leather, and clove. Some black pepper and cherry in the middle and a finish of oak, vanilla, pipe tobacco, black cherries, and European hops.

M - Medium thick body, high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Really complex, interesting, well balanced, and spectacular. Even better than the other Westbrook wine barrel tripel, this might be one of the best beers I've ever had. A nearly perfect blend of the best aspects of both red wine and a Belgian tripel.
Oct 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by slowdaddy from Alabama

Aug 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by freduardo from Alabama

Jul 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

Jul 06, 2012
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

3.57/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Shared this one while hanging out by the pool in Florida with the aasher wedding party along with the other two versions! Served from bottle into a Boulevard tulip. Poured a hazy yellow-orange with a five finger off-white head that subsided to one finger extremely slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, earth, funk, dark fruit, wood, spices, and grape. The flavor was of sweet malt, grape, wood, earth, dark fruit, and spices. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. The carbonation on this one was pretty high if you ask me personally. It felt like it exploded in my mouth after each sip. This definitely hurt the flavor on this one in my opinion. As you were so focused on the explosion of carbonation rather than the subtle notes in the flavor. Worth trying but definitely the short-faller of the series.
Jul 06, 2012
Photo of aasher
Reviewed by aasher from Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Wedding week beer courtesy of thagr81us. Thanks Calton!

This one pours a medium bodied dark amber in color with a billowing three finger head. This one is definitely overcarbed. The nose is very sweet with plenty of dark fruits, red berry, and sweet malt. It smells of an aged Belgian amber. The flavors also follow that notion. There is a lot of red fruit, slight pinot characteristic, and a slight touch of butter. It also has a touch of alcohol. It's ok. It's kind of weird and doesn't have a whole lot of Tripel characteristics. In fact, I wouldn't think its a Tripel at all if tasted blind. It's ok. I'm looking forward to trying the others.
Jun 21, 2012
Photo of mikeyv35
Reviewed by mikeyv35 from New York

3.96/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Date: 06/09/12
Type: 750ml. Bottle
Vintage: 2012
Glass: Southampton Large Tulip

*Big thanks to beeruser (Zach) for getting me these 3 wine barrel treatments from Westbrook! This one forced my hand a bit as the cap shot off like a champagne cork when I removed the electrical tap off the top from the in-transit shipping.

Pours a light murky brown in color w/ a massive 2-3 finger off-white head that left heavy lacing. Aromas of Pinot Noir obviously over top of citrus, breadiness, and a touch of funk. The flavor starts off w/ orange peel and lemon zest, which leads into a touch of caramel malt and breadiness, and finishes w/ straight dry Pinot Noir. Medium bodied w/ ample carbonation. Pretty drinkable, but drinks much larger than 8.5% ABV as the Pinot Noir presence is strong and hot.

Overall, the perfect marriage between beer and wine! However, for me the Pinot Noir influence was too much and the carbonation was to high. Looking forward to sampling the other 2 variations. In the end, this was a pleasure to sample and a well done BA brew by Westbrook.
Jun 09, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jun 09, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by whitekiboko from South Carolina

Jun 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by tclapper from Maine

May 05, 2012
Bella Vigna Tripel - Whetstone Bella Vigna Pinot Noir Barrel-Aged from Westbrook Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 28 ratings