Bottleworks Tripel Krullekop
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

Bottleworks Tripel KrullekopBottleworks Tripel Krullekop
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From:
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
 
Belgium
Style:
Tripel
ABV:
9.8%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 6.47%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 17, 2008
Added:
Feb 09, 2003
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by OWSLEY069:
Photo of OWSLEY069
Reviewed by OWSLEY069 from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy yellow, with darker yellow hues, and a nice yeasty white head. In the aroma, tart, yeasty, and a small citrus like hop. In the taste, small citrus, hoppy, small tart fruitiness. A small bite and a lighter mouthfeel, with a small dry and small fruitiness in the aftertaste. Quite different for a triple, nice citrus hops, as well as, small fruity tartness.
Aug 31, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle. 2004 vintage.

Poured a medium golden color with an averaged sized lightly off white head. Lots of suspended floaters. Aromas of yeast, apples, bananas, and spices. Tastes of apples (tart and then lightly sweet), all around fruity, light spices and light yeast. Alcohol well hidden.

Notes from: 12/1/06
Dec 17, 2008
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A nice beer, and kudos to Bottleworks for having it brought in. Pours a very hazy golden with a decent head and lacing. Typical Belgian nose of complex yeast with some spicy notes. tastes are creamy, sour, spicy and yeasty. Somewhat light in body and overall impact given the alcohol. Very nice and I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't call it superlative it any way.
Dec 31, 2006
Photo of GeoffRizzo
Reviewed by GeoffRizzo from Texas

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hazy, murky dirty pond water yellowish in color; soapy white head, maybe nasty for a pond, but a beaut for a tripel. A massive aroma of spices, yeast, orange peel and sweet honeycomb. Sweet malts, butterscotch candy like feeling on the palate; spices form in the way of banana peel, cloves, citrus and tinges of alcohol. Becomes Belgium-creamy, a good thing--pear juice and sharp spices round of the finish. A mighty mighty tripel--sessionable this season!
Dec 17, 2006
Photo of Cresant
Reviewed by Cresant from Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured this 11.2 oz brown bottle into a Tripel Karmeliet tulip. Bottled 2004. Orange- grapefruit juice color with a wheat colored head rising three fingers. Mildly cloudy body;kept most of the yeast in the bottle.

Smelled of grape juice. Grainy/bready. Sweet fruit, plums and nectarines. Subtle alcohol smell arrived late.

Taste was tart. Jam-like sweetness. The hop presence complimented the significant sweetness. Very well hidden alcohol.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied with zesty carbonation. Finished smooth. Very drinkable. I would buy another.
Oct 31, 2006
Photo of ggaughan
Reviewed by ggaughan from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
My cousin obtained this bottle through a trade and shared it with me the other night. The bottle was a 705 ml/corked and caged. The beer poured a hazy golden color with good lacing and a thick white head. The initial aroma was mainly of the cork as I think it was too wet and the beer took on a character of the cork. There were also some touches of belgian yeast. The first taste also started off mainly being dominated by cork but after a refill I got a more pure taste of yeast and some citrus and spice notes. The overall taste was positive and a nice tripel, despite the initial corky nose and taste.
Aug 25, 2006
Photo of mmcave
Reviewed by mmcave from Illinois

4.62/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Pours very well, creamy off white head that slowly fades through out the duration of the drink. As it fades it leaves traces on the glass, like heads of the sunami in the edo period japanese paintings. The sent is sweet and inviting, not over powering, simply welcoming. I take the first sips and its excellent well spiced, but subtle alcohol worth touches me, notes of banana and pear. Swallow the mouth full down and its heaven. I love tripels and this may now be my new fav. Its an excellent beer. Thank you De Proefbrouwerij..
Aug 23, 2006
Photo of pmcadamis
Reviewed by pmcadamis from Illinois

4.07/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I bought this 330ml bottle (bottled in 2004) for a buck and a half at Friar Tuck's in Peoria.

The plain and unnatractive bottle looks very generic, but I can't judge a book by it's cover right? When I popped the cap, it started foaming a little bit over the lip of the bottle, and when poured into a 22 oz pint glass a HUGE four finger foamy head began to billow over the edge of the glass...I did however pour quite aggressively. A minute later, the head receded, leaving lace seemingly permanently glued to the glass, and the foam formed a conical mound over the hazy amber brew....very cool. I' ve never seen that happen before.

The first thing I smell is sweet, sugary, and syrupy honeycomb. Also, butterscotch, vanilla, malts, powdered sugar, and sweet bread. This is the most heavenly scent that I've ever smelled in a beer! Smells like the nectar of the Gods! Yankee Candle should make candles in Tripel Krullekop scent!! I don't even want to drink this yet! I'm not done smellin' it!! The scent is warm and inviting like grandma's kitchen in the winter, and ...I know I'm raving here.... but this is awesome!

First, sweet goey butterscotch hits the tip of the tongue. Then honey, grains, caramelized sugar and maybe a even a little banana. All of this confectionary goodness is followed by a very pleasant warm and mild alcohol finish. After a few more sips, I detect a faint gluey, chemical, or "artificial" taste behind all of those sugary flavors. This glue taste is in the background, but it keeps this from being just about perfect IMO.

Mouthfeel is a bit gooey at first ...like honey, then a nice alcohol warmth kicks in. This initial gooeyness combined with sugary candy-shop sweetness and that weird chemical taste are the reasons that I rated this fairly low on the drinkability scale.

This smells like all that is good in the world, tastes amazingly like honey-comb candy, and is a great value. But, this toothsome beer is surely meant for slowly sipping over the course of an evening, not sessioning. IMO the almost overwhelmingly gooey sweetness would prevent me from drinking more than one, but I could sit around sniffing (and occasionally even sipping) this all night. That smell only gets better as it warms!
Aug 18, 2006
Photo of TheBungyo
Reviewed by TheBungyo from Washington

3.83/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
From 2002.
A nice little head on the pour. Body is pale gold and looks nice. There's a smattering of lacing that reminds me of continental shapes. Nose is faint but I can detect some sharp alcohol mingled with honey, pear juice and lemon. Pretty nice.
Taste is more of the same though the alcohol is very well hidden. There's a bit of grain at the end and coriander also comes through very strong, maybe a bit too much for my taste. Mouth great ... you have to work at this to swallow it and I love it! This is pretty drinkable, but the coriander might become a bit much for me after a while.
Jul 23, 2006
Photo of IntriqKen
Reviewed by IntriqKen from California

3.35/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a cloudy pineapple orange with a disappointing head for a belgium tripel. Melts to fine lacing.
Aroma is belgium sweet yeasts and sweet citrus fruits.
Taste is strangely citrus, cloves, and medicinal alcohol.
Very drying on the tongue with a bitter citrus aftertaste.
Disappointing as a tripel, IMHO. Flavors are too unusual and unbalanced. Bottleworks makes much better beers than this one.
Jul 03, 2006
Photo of amicar
Reviewed by amicar from Missouri

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Glowing orange pour with dense white head of fine bubbles and yeast from the bottom of the bottle hitching a ride. That smell is something powerful; Reminds me of carmelized candied fruits; figs come to mind; so does barnyard smells. The taste is again like dark candied fruits, soy, licorice. Feels smooth and a little syrupy in the mouth. The alcohol bite starts to get noticable as it warms. Hard to have more than one of these guys, although very interesting.

a very intriguing beer; this one will challenge you for the sheer number of new flavors you will meet.
May 24, 2006
Photo of Shultzerdugen
Reviewed by Shultzerdugen from Missouri

3.7/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
330 ml brown bottle. Bottled 2004. 9.8% Alc. Vol.

Cloudy straw in color with a rocky white head.

Mostly fruit notes in the nose: apple, pineapple, pear - plus some heady booze.

Medium bodied with a slick mouth coating. Apricot and pear notes along with some melon flavors fades into a spicy alcohol finish. Powdery yeast and vanilla show at mid-bottle, at which point the big time booze starts burning down the gut. The pronounced alcohol vibe gets bolder and brasher as the beer warms.

This hot bastard was most likely saved by the Thai red currry chicken I paired it with. It was almost a perfect match until the alcohol got out of control.
May 23, 2006
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sparkling gold beset with a thick cloud of suspended yeast that gives the beer a wonderfully busy look. Filtered it ain't. I love the Belgianesque head too. It's polished ivory in color, thick and rich in consistency, mega-bubbly as it sits, mega-rocky as it falls. It's a fabulous crown of foam that is also impressive when it comes to lace deposition. A generous number of standalone and interconnected chunks have appeared on the upper third of the glass.

The nose is solid. All of the requisite style elements are in place and all are present in roughly equal proportions. Spiced, candi sugar-coated apples and pears let me know that I'm likely to find something good when I finally get around to taking a drink.

This is good beer. I was a little worried when I spotted the 'bottled in 2002' running along the side of the label, but the flavor profile and the mouthfeel have held up well. In fact, given the slight rawness of the alcohol, I'd have guessed that it was a year old at most. The flavor isn't quite so bold, but it's bold enough that Krullekop (which translates as 'curly head') can hold its head high when in the company of its fellow tripels.

The flavor is akin to chunks of ripe pear sprinkled with ground clove and macerated in eau de vie. Again, for optimal enjoyment, I'd like to see the alcohol tamed a fraction; something that ought to have been accomplished after close to 4 years in the bottle. This is still a delicious, tripel lover's tripel.

The mouthfeel is perfectly in keeping with the rest of the beer's attributes, both in terms of character and in terms of quality. It's neither light nor heavy (for the style) and could fairly be described as firm with a light silkiness on the finish. Some older beer experiences a breakdown in body as well as in flavor. This one appears to have escaped that fate.

Although Tripel Krullekop is good, I'm not tempted to heap praise on it. Perhaps if I had run across a bottle in '03 or '04 I would have been blown away. But then again, the alcohol might have been even more raucous than it is now. If De Proefbrouwerij is still brewing 'curly head', I'd love to get my hands on a newer bottle to do a delayed vertical.
May 03, 2006
Photo of styrene
Reviewed by styrene from Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a slender bottle (different from that in the photo) into an Achel glass.

Appearance: Perfect orange-y tripel color, substantial head that leaves a patchy, frothy lace as it disappears. There's a fair amount of yeast (for a tripel) suspended in the liquid. Active carbonation visible.

Smell: malty, with a bit of underlying alcohol

Taste: Light and citrusy at first, then a bit grassy, finally a bit thick and bready in the finish. Very well balanced, not too sweet, and the alcohol is well-concealed under the mild sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Incredibly smooth, almost creamy. Exceedingly pleasant.

Drinkability: Ultimately, this beer seems a bit lighter than the standard tripel. This lightness enhances the beer's drinkability.

All in all this is a lovely tripel, and I was pleasantly surprised. Can't stand that 'bottleworks' name, though...
Apr 24, 2006
Photo of kmpitz2
Reviewed by kmpitz2 from Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy, very lightly peachy straw color with a finger of head white head that falls to a full coat, with an island of big bubbles. Nose is interesting. I get notes of estery banana, moderate puffs of alcohol, and a touch of grainy husk. I expected a touch of lemon and a stronger sweetness. Flavor is a little harsh. Initially I get a harsh spice from the alcohol and a touch of a grainy bite. This moves to a raisiney sweetness, with just a hint of banana ester on the finish. The finish is a touch bitter, to slightly astringent. Its also got a very odd aftertaste. I'd describe it as almost like the flavor of the shell of a walnut and even a touch cardboardy, but not like oxidation. Its interesting. The feel is moderate to thick with a moderate carbonation. The only real tell on the alcohol is in the nose. It warms my stomach and I can feel the alcohol going to my head a touch as I drink it. This one is okay. Its not really doing anything to jump out at me and make me remember it in the future.
Apr 04, 2006
Photo of maxpower
Reviewed by maxpower from Missouri

4.37/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
11.2 oz bottle 2004 pours a cloudy light peach color with a decent creamy off white head that leaves a sticky lacing in my glass. Mango and pineapple aromas, pear, pineapple and clove flavors. Full bodied with a full and soft mouthfeel, finishes sweet, very nice.
Mar 18, 2006
Photo of Dukeofearl
Reviewed by Dukeofearl from California

4.07/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
750 ml bottle purchased at iTIme Wine in Costa Mesa, CA. for $5.99 in February 2006. Reviewed a few days after this brewery's Bottleworks Blonde, which was really very good.

Pours a bright yellow, almost flourescent. Almost scary in it's yellowness. A slight golden cast saves it from true scariness! Carbonation is flat and minimal- there's some there, but it needs a vigorous pour to make much happen. A very thin bit of bubbles at the top are the best it can do.

Aroma is honey, pineapple, and pear nectar. A slight spiciness is present, but it really takes a back seat.

Flavor is a follow-through of the honey-fruit, with a decent pepper spiciness that offsets the sweetness fairly well. Lemon tartness and some other spices (coriander?) are also along for the ride. I find minimal to no hops in this puppy.

Mouthfeel is rich and creamy, slightly honey-like.

Alcohol is very very very well hidden (speaking of scary).

Overall a good beer, much enjoyed, but not as good as the blonde. I have a feeling that this one has past its prime, and is not what it originally was.
Mar 07, 2006
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.32/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled - 2002

Presentation: 750ml, sealed with a plain unmarked thumbed cork, wire cage and black steel cap. Brewed for Bottleworks of Seattle, WA as part of their ~ Verbeeldingsreeks ~ Imagination Series ~. Blue edged monochromatic label with a backdrop of Belgian architecture. Listed as ‘Tripel Krullekop Flemish Ale’. Side writing indicates that this is a whopping 9.8% Alc. Vol. and ‘Bottled in 2002’.

Appearance: Semi-opaque pineapple juice body which offers a golden smoked glass shimmer when backlit. Individual wisps of white foam spiral out like galaxies during the pour, gently fusing to form a white cap universe that settles slowly. Sadly the head doesn’t live for too long and it steadily breaks down to reveal a broken surface with scattered pools. Medium conditioning, subsequent top-ups do tend to produce a fizzing head. Looks good. Time tends to clarify this brew and the opacity reduces to produce a pellucid soft-golden torso which reveals a few mall floaties towards the end of the 750.

Nose: Incredibly sharp nose, it has a biting hoppy character from the off, but this one is packed full of so many sharp Styrians that I fear cutting my nose if inhaled too deeply. Furthermore it has a Saaz like pinch in the back end. As it warms it reveals a luscious fruity aspect that enthralls. Pineapples, pears, brown suigar, spices, orange rind and yet more bitter hops. Mmmmm!!

Taste: Pale malts littered in a candy sugar space dust. Hop trails the hike from the lower Stryrian river basin right up to the fruity cliff edges of the canyon. At its base it is a sharp confluence of hops, spice and a V-shaped bitterness. At the mouth it is wide, ever expanding, complex yet connubial. Time reveals the finer aspects of this aged beauty, alcohol soaked oranges, spices, wheat, lemon and ever-so-feint hint of Coriander.

Mouthfeel: Bold feel but it lacks that lively spritzy feel from something with a little more dissolved gas. I feel that age has eroded the Mouthfeel a little here. This does have a strong defined contribution from the alcohol though; it adds a lingering feel to the hops, spices and tingling orange zest.

Drinkability: Superb nose, supreme flavors and a fantastic Tripel. The only downside here though, was the low conditioning that sadly made for a heavier finish and dowdier Mouthfeel than I would have liked, or that it had in its heyday - otherwise this is a very attractive brew. Even so I guess I’m nit-picking and splitting hairs here. Nevertheless, this is one of those beers that you just know had a lot of life some years ago and that the carbonation is slowly fading with time, so my bet would be to enjoy it now whilst it (the 2002 bottling) has some left.

Overall: On Sale at Hi-Times for a measly $5.99, this turned out to be a great purchase. Weird thing is that I didn’t even realize until I pulled this one from the fridge tonight that it was labeled as bottled in 2002. This is quite the aged treat I have to say. An outstanding fruity Tripel with a high end complexity that just delights the senses. I would love to get my hands on a couple more bottles of this one, sadly, I think the lowering carbonation may well mean that this is good to go right now and may not get any better with a few more months on the Odometer - so my advice is…get it…try it…enjoy it.

Damn good stuff and Highly Recommended!
Mar 01, 2006
Photo of masikon
Reviewed by masikon from Washington

3.65/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dirty blonde with a white head of moderate density. Nose was straightforward with slight melon aromas as well as a bit of alcohol. Taste is simple and easy drinking for the style, subtle fruits and a bit more sweet sugary backbone than expected, flavors are well balanced and not overwhelming. A good intro to the style, easy to drink and pleasant with nothing off-putting...could be more complex.
Jan 27, 2006
Photo of putnam
Reviewed by putnam from Michigan

4.17/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
"Imagination Series"

Pound cake and marmelade aromas are launched by a solid sphere of cream and curdled butter aromas. Bitterness shuffles in to join the sweet fruitcake flavors. Dried bananas, lemon drops and poppy seed are covered with butter dripping from crumpets. Hazy surges of gas carry some of the burden for outlining the volume needed for the rich flavors. Nicely focused bitterness keeps it sustainable.
Aug 02, 2005
Bottleworks Tripel Krullekop from De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 30 ratings