Corsendonk Agnus / Abbey Pale Ale | Brouwerij Corsendonk
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Corsendonk
Belgium | website
Style: Tripel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 06-26-2001
Reviews: 481 | Ratings: 882
4.32/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into pint.
Pours clear golden with abundance of white head, excellent retention.
Smell - not so intense, spices, pear, lemon, yeasts.
Taste - spicy, lemony, peppery
Medium body, high level of carbonation, surprisingly drinkable. Hidden alcohol.
Masterpiece of clean abbey tripel - restrained in side-hues, but still complex.
★ 331 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into pint.
Pours clear golden with abundance of white head, excellent retention.
Smell - not so intense, spices, pear, lemon, yeasts.
Taste - spicy, lemony, peppery
Medium body, high level of carbonation, surprisingly drinkable. Hidden alcohol.
Masterpiece of clean abbey tripel - restrained in side-hues, but still complex.
★ 331 characters
3.62/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a cloudy golden colour with an aggressive head but quickly dissipates. Smell is light and zesty, matching the taste with crisp lemon flavours and a persistant acidic aftertaste. Mouth feel is light and highly carbonated. A good tripel.
★ 241 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a cloudy golden colour with an aggressive head but quickly dissipates. Smell is light and zesty, matching the taste with crisp lemon flavours and a persistant acidic aftertaste. Mouth feel is light and highly carbonated. A good tripel.
★ 241 characters
3.72/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
It seems the bottle art and labeling has changed since this picture was uploaded, so it has some BAers a bit confused and someone created a separate tripel. My guess is there is only one Agnus, the pale ale and tripel are the same thing.
Bright clear golden yellow, with a big foamy head that slowly dissipates. Persistent carbonation, with a slow and wide distribution of bubbles all throughout the glass, as opposed to just up the middle. After it sits in the glass for a good period it becomes very cloudy.
Aromas of lemon, bright crisp yeast, and maybe some honey and wildflower.
These aromas are accompanied with the taste of naturally developed hints of pepper and coriander without the overpowering flavor of them being added after the fact.
Quite an effervescent mouthfeel.
Listed as only 7.5%, but the bottle conditioning seems to have allowed for some growth on that front. Booze is not apparent, but the aftereffects are feeling quite nice.
★ 956 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
It seems the bottle art and labeling has changed since this picture was uploaded, so it has some BAers a bit confused and someone created a separate tripel. My guess is there is only one Agnus, the pale ale and tripel are the same thing.
Bright clear golden yellow, with a big foamy head that slowly dissipates. Persistent carbonation, with a slow and wide distribution of bubbles all throughout the glass, as opposed to just up the middle. After it sits in the glass for a good period it becomes very cloudy.
Aromas of lemon, bright crisp yeast, and maybe some honey and wildflower.
These aromas are accompanied with the taste of naturally developed hints of pepper and coriander without the overpowering flavor of them being added after the fact.
Quite an effervescent mouthfeel.
Listed as only 7.5%, but the bottle conditioning seems to have allowed for some growth on that front. Booze is not apparent, but the aftereffects are feeling quite nice.
★ 956 characters
3.94/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Let it be known that I don't like MOST trippel's.
Look up^. Cool.
L- Subpar. Cloudy off-gold with a thin crown. I will say that the initial carb screamed of effervescence. Those little scrubbing bubbles always put a smile on my face.
S- The obvious banana & clove seem restrained here, which I really enjoy. I get more candied orange, fresh-pressed cider, pear, coriander, & earthy hops than anything. The grist is also evident, with some biscuit & sweet corn.
T/M/O- More of the candied ginger/orange makes an appearance with a backing of earthy hops. Some citrus with a mild astringency make this a really easy drink. The finish is smooth with an off-dry overtone that just begs for another sip. For me, the subtlety of this trippel makes it world-class.
It's like wearing your favorite pair of jeans to the club. Sure you seem under-dressed, but in the end you're the only person that can have a real conversation. Perks of being a wallflower, I guess.
★ 961 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Let it be known that I don't like MOST trippel's.
Look up^. Cool.
L- Subpar. Cloudy off-gold with a thin crown. I will say that the initial carb screamed of effervescence. Those little scrubbing bubbles always put a smile on my face.
S- The obvious banana & clove seem restrained here, which I really enjoy. I get more candied orange, fresh-pressed cider, pear, coriander, & earthy hops than anything. The grist is also evident, with some biscuit & sweet corn.
T/M/O- More of the candied ginger/orange makes an appearance with a backing of earthy hops. Some citrus with a mild astringency make this a really easy drink. The finish is smooth with an off-dry overtone that just begs for another sip. For me, the subtlety of this trippel makes it world-class.
It's like wearing your favorite pair of jeans to the club. Sure you seem under-dressed, but in the end you're the only person that can have a real conversation. Perks of being a wallflower, I guess.
★ 961 characters
3.53/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look - cloudy straw colored body with white head
Smell - ginger, coriander, pear, Apple
Taste - ginger, coriander, pear, apple
Mouthfeel - medium body, high carbonation, spicy upfront, slightly astringent/bitter on the finish
Overall - middle of the road beer for the style that doesn't endear itself to a revisit
Price Point - $3.79/11.2 oz single
★ 355 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look - cloudy straw colored body with white head
Smell - ginger, coriander, pear, Apple
Taste - ginger, coriander, pear, apple
Mouthfeel - medium body, high carbonation, spicy upfront, slightly astringent/bitter on the finish
Overall - middle of the road beer for the style that doesn't endear itself to a revisit
Price Point - $3.79/11.2 oz single
★ 355 characters
4.1/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours clear and golden with a velvety head. Smell of butterscotch. Taste of caramel. Mouthfeel is chewy and smooth. Nice and drinkable, slick and slippery.
★ 155 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours clear and golden with a velvety head. Smell of butterscotch. Taste of caramel. Mouthfeel is chewy and smooth. Nice and drinkable, slick and slippery.
★ 155 characters
3.54/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Golden colored beer, with a white head. Standard aroma of cereal from the malt, bit of grass from the hops. Refreshing taste, some grass and herbs. Not a bad tripel, but not mind-blowing as well.
★ 195 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Golden colored beer, with a white head. Standard aroma of cereal from the malt, bit of grass from the hops. Refreshing taste, some grass and herbs. Not a bad tripel, but not mind-blowing as well.
★ 195 characters
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good Tripel. Lighter in .abv than some. Can be enjoyed at any time. Pours a light apricot color into a pint glass. Big, well carbonated bubbly head that fades to a covering of the glass. Good Tripel aroma. Light fruit (apples and pears), Belgian yeast and a little peppery spicing. Taste is good as well. The fruit and yeast are just right with a note of pepper. Mouthfeel is rich. Carbonation level is good. No hint of alcohol and the spices are just right. Not the best Tripel I ever had but a good one all the same.
★ 524 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good Tripel. Lighter in .abv than some. Can be enjoyed at any time. Pours a light apricot color into a pint glass. Big, well carbonated bubbly head that fades to a covering of the glass. Good Tripel aroma. Light fruit (apples and pears), Belgian yeast and a little peppery spicing. Taste is good as well. The fruit and yeast are just right with a note of pepper. Mouthfeel is rich. Carbonation level is good. No hint of alcohol and the spices are just right. Not the best Tripel I ever had but a good one all the same.
★ 524 characters
4.2/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
SRM 3-4, almost clear with three fingers of dense creamy white head that lasts an eternity. The head eventually becomes a pillow, while leaving thick, sticky lace above a continuous curtain of tiny carbonation rising from within.
The Corsendonk tulip glass focuses fruity, funky yeast with delicate horse blanket character. Fresh, zesty spice and floral perfume occupy the middle space, while clove and tangerine bring up the rear.
This ale is crisp, clean and delicate in flavor. While it tiers between sweet, tart, and bitter, the light acidity ties it all together.Lemon highlights a long mild finish with acidic and tart notes.
Refreshingly light-to-medium body with a nylon texture and slightly warming alcohol. Carbonation is explosive and the finish is quite dry.
This is another good beer for contemplation while waiting for dinner and would pair nicely with brie or gorgonzola.
★ 890 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
SRM 3-4, almost clear with three fingers of dense creamy white head that lasts an eternity. The head eventually becomes a pillow, while leaving thick, sticky lace above a continuous curtain of tiny carbonation rising from within.
The Corsendonk tulip glass focuses fruity, funky yeast with delicate horse blanket character. Fresh, zesty spice and floral perfume occupy the middle space, while clove and tangerine bring up the rear.
This ale is crisp, clean and delicate in flavor. While it tiers between sweet, tart, and bitter, the light acidity ties it all together.Lemon highlights a long mild finish with acidic and tart notes.
Refreshingly light-to-medium body with a nylon texture and slightly warming alcohol. Carbonation is explosive and the finish is quite dry.
This is another good beer for contemplation while waiting for dinner and would pair nicely with brie or gorgonzola.
★ 890 characters
4.11/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Such a positive and religious sounding beer, I found it a little unsettling to pour it (with vigor) into my Lucifer snifter. Ah, the ironies.
Look: Fluffy, stark white top-hat of foam. That eventually settles down. A touch hazy, displaying tiny bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Hues of tangerine/nectarine or perhaps, more mundanely, No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil.
Spicy, zesty, florally, bright aroma. A hint of bubblegum from the yeast. Only the slightest suggestion of hops.
Taste: Oh, yeah. I’d say right on the mark for flavor expectations. Sweet malty front, moving into a spicy, fruit middle. It ends grainy, drying with a crisp finish. This guy is like a string quartet hired for an upscale, low-key affair: everything works in quiet harmony to put together something greater than the sum of its parts. A death metal concert, this is not… that’s later.
Feel: Medium or medium minus body, but great prickly carbonation. Not profoundly coating on the tongue, though certainly nice and a good example of the style.
Overall: Great, approachable offering from Corsendonk. This brew reminds me why I love tripels so much, and Belgian beer in general.
★ 1,171 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Such a positive and religious sounding beer, I found it a little unsettling to pour it (with vigor) into my Lucifer snifter. Ah, the ironies.
Look: Fluffy, stark white top-hat of foam. That eventually settles down. A touch hazy, displaying tiny bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Hues of tangerine/nectarine or perhaps, more mundanely, No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil.
Spicy, zesty, florally, bright aroma. A hint of bubblegum from the yeast. Only the slightest suggestion of hops.
Taste: Oh, yeah. I’d say right on the mark for flavor expectations. Sweet malty front, moving into a spicy, fruit middle. It ends grainy, drying with a crisp finish. This guy is like a string quartet hired for an upscale, low-key affair: everything works in quiet harmony to put together something greater than the sum of its parts. A death metal concert, this is not… that’s later.
Feel: Medium or medium minus body, but great prickly carbonation. Not profoundly coating on the tongue, though certainly nice and a good example of the style.
Overall: Great, approachable offering from Corsendonk. This brew reminds me why I love tripels so much, and Belgian beer in general.
★ 1,171 characters
3.58/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
T:
-very grassy,lemon upfront
-then a very spicy pepper & Coriander note
-honey,earthy notes
-well carbonated
-sweet and spicy finish with a mild hop bitterness
O:
Not outstanding, but pretty good
★ 196 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
T:
-very grassy,lemon upfront
-then a very spicy pepper & Coriander note
-honey,earthy notes
-well carbonated
-sweet and spicy finish with a mild hop bitterness
O:
Not outstanding, but pretty good
★ 196 characters
3.97/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
330ml bottle from Beers of Europe (£2.49):
This one is another very nice Belgian beer that goes down a treat. The beer is quite fruity and lively with an excellent balance but perhaps falls just short of being a classic, only just though and that's probably just because some of the other Abbey tripels I've tried have set the bar so high. I definitely liked this one more than I thought I would but again sadly it's probably not one I'd pick up again unless I stumbled across in a bar which is quite unlikely as it stands.
★ 524 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
330ml bottle from Beers of Europe (£2.49):
This one is another very nice Belgian beer that goes down a treat. The beer is quite fruity and lively with an excellent balance but perhaps falls just short of being a classic, only just though and that's probably just because some of the other Abbey tripels I've tried have set the bar so high. I definitely liked this one more than I thought I would but again sadly it's probably not one I'd pick up again unless I stumbled across in a bar which is quite unlikely as it stands.
★ 524 characters
4.88/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
This is one of my all time favorite brews! I loved it the first time I had it 20 years ago, and I still love it now. Not as heavy as many Belgium dark beers, but still very complex.
★ 183 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
This is one of my all time favorite brews! I loved it the first time I had it 20 years ago, and I still love it now. Not as heavy as many Belgium dark beers, but still very complex.
★ 183 characters
3.99/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very light pale yellow in color. Forms a large foamy, but stable, white head. Lots of lacing on the way down. Aroma is somewhat subdued, but what is there is standard for the style: mostly yeastily phenols mixed with a light sweetness and some floral citrus. Taste is likewise typical for the style. Most yeasty phenols, a touch of band-aid, moderate sweetness, and some orangey citrus. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation. Mild bitterness.
★ 438 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very light pale yellow in color. Forms a large foamy, but stable, white head. Lots of lacing on the way down. Aroma is somewhat subdued, but what is there is standard for the style: mostly yeastily phenols mixed with a light sweetness and some floral citrus. Taste is likewise typical for the style. Most yeasty phenols, a touch of band-aid, moderate sweetness, and some orangey citrus. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation. Mild bitterness.
★ 438 characters
4.58/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
05/24/12 On tap At Beer Authority, NYC. This is one helluva beer. Very smooth, light and yes I'll say it ...sophisticated. It has so much character it should be appreciated year round. This is one of the few beers I will order whenever and wherever I see it. And so considerate at only 7.5% ABV.
★ 295 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
05/24/12 On tap At Beer Authority, NYC. This is one helluva beer. Very smooth, light and yes I'll say it ...sophisticated. It has so much character it should be appreciated year round. This is one of the few beers I will order whenever and wherever I see it. And so considerate at only 7.5% ABV.
★ 295 characters
3.65/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This was one of the first tripels that I had, and I was impressed by the depth of flavor. The aroma was fragrant and full of delightful spice, as was the beer itself. The mouthfeel was one of the best parts; nice carbonation, and full-bodied without seeming dense or heavy. Words I would use include spicy and nutty, with a lovely long finish and little bitterness or sourness to speak of. I have not had many tripels yet, but would recommend this beer to anyone who was interested in a moderately complex and tasty sipping beer. Would certainly buy again.
★ 556 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This was one of the first tripels that I had, and I was impressed by the depth of flavor. The aroma was fragrant and full of delightful spice, as was the beer itself. The mouthfeel was one of the best parts; nice carbonation, and full-bodied without seeming dense or heavy. Words I would use include spicy and nutty, with a lovely long finish and little bitterness or sourness to speak of. I have not had many tripels yet, but would recommend this beer to anyone who was interested in a moderately complex and tasty sipping beer. Would certainly buy again.
★ 556 characters
3.76/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
One of the "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" -- #50 of the ones I've reviewed here.
There are a few Belgians that, at least in my neck of the woods (Philadelphia) seem to be omnipresent. I don't know why, they're not necessarily better or worse than any other Belgians, but for whatever reason if a bar or a restaurant or a beer store sells Belgians, they'll have these. Maybe its distribution?
One Belgian you can find throughout Philadelphia is Corsendonk, both it's dubbel and tripel. I had the dubbel yesterday and rather liked it, its a little less sweet and more "bracing" than other dubbels I've tried.
The one in the "1001" book is this, though, the tripel. Pours really wonderfully, a sort of brownish yellow that I suspect is hard to come by, because I don't see it all that often in tripels. The nose is flat, biggest disappointment of the beer IMHO, although after a bit you'll get dried fruits, alchohol, some citrus, a bit of honey. Mouthfeel is exceptionally soft, almost silky, though somehow it manages to retain its effervescence in the glass, no mean trick.
The flavors are about what you'd expect for the style: dried fruit (especially raisins or prunes), some xmas spice, a bit of citrus. A dry blast at the end makes this a bit crisper than other beers in the style (their dubbel has something of the same effect).
While I do think the nose is deficient all in all I think this is one of the better tripels out there, nothing overwhelmingly fancy but exceptionally well-made. Arguably a good entry point into the style, actually, due to its intrinsic competency.
★ 1,603 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
One of the "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" -- #50 of the ones I've reviewed here.
There are a few Belgians that, at least in my neck of the woods (Philadelphia) seem to be omnipresent. I don't know why, they're not necessarily better or worse than any other Belgians, but for whatever reason if a bar or a restaurant or a beer store sells Belgians, they'll have these. Maybe its distribution?
One Belgian you can find throughout Philadelphia is Corsendonk, both it's dubbel and tripel. I had the dubbel yesterday and rather liked it, its a little less sweet and more "bracing" than other dubbels I've tried.
The one in the "1001" book is this, though, the tripel. Pours really wonderfully, a sort of brownish yellow that I suspect is hard to come by, because I don't see it all that often in tripels. The nose is flat, biggest disappointment of the beer IMHO, although after a bit you'll get dried fruits, alchohol, some citrus, a bit of honey. Mouthfeel is exceptionally soft, almost silky, though somehow it manages to retain its effervescence in the glass, no mean trick.
The flavors are about what you'd expect for the style: dried fruit (especially raisins or prunes), some xmas spice, a bit of citrus. A dry blast at the end makes this a bit crisper than other beers in the style (their dubbel has something of the same effect).
While I do think the nose is deficient all in all I think this is one of the better tripels out there, nothing overwhelmingly fancy but exceptionally well-made. Arguably a good entry point into the style, actually, due to its intrinsic competency.
★ 1,603 characters
4.11/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from bottle into tulip. Nice coloring, slightly hazy orange to golden amber, with a quickly dissipating two finger head. Aroma is grass and wheat. Taste increased in complexity as I drank the beer, I got a strong malt kick on my first sip and after a few more started picking up the wisps of fruit like pear apple and raisin. Towards the end I even started to pick up some honey and citrus. Overall an awesome
Tripel!
★ 425 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from bottle into tulip. Nice coloring, slightly hazy orange to golden amber, with a quickly dissipating two finger head. Aroma is grass and wheat. Taste increased in complexity as I drank the beer, I got a strong malt kick on my first sip and after a few more started picking up the wisps of fruit like pear apple and raisin. Towards the end I even started to pick up some honey and citrus. Overall an awesome
Tripel!
★ 425 characters
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pale and golden with a lively white head. Hints of light fruits, some pears, white grapes, orange peels, and a touch of yeasty bread. A bit of clove as well. Very classic Belgian pale ale and tripel flavor. Goes well with a flaky white fleshed fish with butter and rosemary. Effervescent and light, this beer makes for a nice compliment with dinner.
★ 349 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pale and golden with a lively white head. Hints of light fruits, some pears, white grapes, orange peels, and a touch of yeasty bread. A bit of clove as well. Very classic Belgian pale ale and tripel flavor. Goes well with a flaky white fleshed fish with butter and rosemary. Effervescent and light, this beer makes for a nice compliment with dinner.
★ 349 characters
4.27/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
big yeast funk, spice, orange slice, everything nice. solid tripel, loads of carbonation making for fun excess swirling, cool bottle, at first it seems less tinted but its just lack of a paper label, lets some more light in but at least it isn't a green bottle. look forward to more from this brouwerij. this is close to westmalle but it doesn't pack the same punch
★ 365 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
big yeast funk, spice, orange slice, everything nice. solid tripel, loads of carbonation making for fun excess swirling, cool bottle, at first it seems less tinted but its just lack of a paper label, lets some more light in but at least it isn't a green bottle. look forward to more from this brouwerij. this is close to westmalle but it doesn't pack the same punch
★ 365 characters
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle (stamp on label = 14/02/15 H 12:29) poured into a Tulip glass. Slow pour to leave the yeast sediment behind. Was mostly successful on the pour - only a tiny bit came along.
Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with a hint of brown/grey tint to it. Beer glows a bit the way it defracts the light. Thin off-white rocky head that died back to a ring at the edge of the glass. Some islands and strands of lacing noted.
Smell: Fruit/berries, sweet, and a hint of banana. Just a hint of citrus too as the beer warms up.
Taste: Crisp, sweet, hint of honey and apple, with a strong herbal / spicy finish of German style noble hops.
Mouthfeel: Robust, but not fizzy, carbonation that scrubs the palate. Tiny bit sticking to the teeth. Nice thickness under it all.
Overall / Drinkability: A definite sipping beer, but I wish I had a larger bottle, so good marks for drinkability. Good with a meal (fish and green beans) but I think it would hold up all on its own....although I think it would always be better with some food. I can't quite put my finger on it, but a beer like this seems best with food. By itself it does quite well, but I think more of the flavors are notable with food to contrast against. A solidly outstanding beer.
★ 1,244 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle (stamp on label = 14/02/15 H 12:29) poured into a Tulip glass. Slow pour to leave the yeast sediment behind. Was mostly successful on the pour - only a tiny bit came along.
Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with a hint of brown/grey tint to it. Beer glows a bit the way it defracts the light. Thin off-white rocky head that died back to a ring at the edge of the glass. Some islands and strands of lacing noted.
Smell: Fruit/berries, sweet, and a hint of banana. Just a hint of citrus too as the beer warms up.
Taste: Crisp, sweet, hint of honey and apple, with a strong herbal / spicy finish of German style noble hops.
Mouthfeel: Robust, but not fizzy, carbonation that scrubs the palate. Tiny bit sticking to the teeth. Nice thickness under it all.
Overall / Drinkability: A definite sipping beer, but I wish I had a larger bottle, so good marks for drinkability. Good with a meal (fish and green beans) but I think it would hold up all on its own....although I think it would always be better with some food. I can't quite put my finger on it, but a beer like this seems best with food. By itself it does quite well, but I think more of the flavors are notable with food to contrast against. A solidly outstanding beer.
★ 1,244 characters
4.24/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a light lemon-yellow color with a 1/2 finger head in a Trappist glass.
Immediate stone fruit aroma- peaches and more. As the beer warmed up, more spice,and more prominent in the balance of aromatics. Stone fruit aroma and taste are less common in a tripel.
The mouth feel was not too carbonated. This transitioned well into the taste which continued with
stone fruits: peaches and apricots.
The finish rounds off the beer: dry and perfect accompaniment to the fruit-spice character of the aroma/taste.
Overall: I really enjoyed this Belgian Tripel. Different than others in the style.
Brouwerij Corsendonk
★ 617 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a light lemon-yellow color with a 1/2 finger head in a Trappist glass.
Immediate stone fruit aroma- peaches and more. As the beer warmed up, more spice,and more prominent in the balance of aromatics. Stone fruit aroma and taste are less common in a tripel.
The mouth feel was not too carbonated. This transitioned well into the taste which continued with
stone fruits: peaches and apricots.
The finish rounds off the beer: dry and perfect accompaniment to the fruit-spice character of the aroma/taste.
Overall: I really enjoyed this Belgian Tripel. Different than others in the style.
Brouwerij Corsendonk
★ 617 characters
3.98/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I found this hidden between some American 'Abbey' style beers at my local Wine and Beer shop. Seeing as how I'm on a Belgian kick as of late I figured I would try one from Belgium to see how they stack up against their American hybrids.
Golden, tan hay-like color, slight haze, with vigorous head that attacks my tulip glass like a Belgian should. Long lasting thick lacing and cap.
It took me a while to get anything out of the aroma, but now that the head has died down substantially and I've drank a bit of it I'm getting a nice, strong Belgiany smell. More farmhousey than it's American brothers, with a strong green fruit presence. Like a dry champagne with malt. Nice breadiness to the aroma, as well, which I love.
Taste is a super clean, pale Belgian. Right away I can recognize the differences between this and an American BPA/Tripel. Slightly drier, more robust yeast and malts, less hop presence but with a nice bitterness that you would expect. Nice yeast spiciness without the feeling of being a 'Spiced Belgian' beer. Bready, nutty, and fruity, this would go great with some fresh pears, goat cheese, and good sourdough bread.
Mouthfeel is a reminder of the effervescence, with a light and tingly character from the dryness.
Superb brew with some good live yeast in the bottle. I could see this doing well as a Cellar beer, and I will be picking up another bottle. Belgium does make some fine beers, and there are plenty of American brews up to the task of taking them on in their own game.
★ 1,509 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I found this hidden between some American 'Abbey' style beers at my local Wine and Beer shop. Seeing as how I'm on a Belgian kick as of late I figured I would try one from Belgium to see how they stack up against their American hybrids.
Golden, tan hay-like color, slight haze, with vigorous head that attacks my tulip glass like a Belgian should. Long lasting thick lacing and cap.
It took me a while to get anything out of the aroma, but now that the head has died down substantially and I've drank a bit of it I'm getting a nice, strong Belgiany smell. More farmhousey than it's American brothers, with a strong green fruit presence. Like a dry champagne with malt. Nice breadiness to the aroma, as well, which I love.
Taste is a super clean, pale Belgian. Right away I can recognize the differences between this and an American BPA/Tripel. Slightly drier, more robust yeast and malts, less hop presence but with a nice bitterness that you would expect. Nice yeast spiciness without the feeling of being a 'Spiced Belgian' beer. Bready, nutty, and fruity, this would go great with some fresh pears, goat cheese, and good sourdough bread.
Mouthfeel is a reminder of the effervescence, with a light and tingly character from the dryness.
Superb brew with some good live yeast in the bottle. I could see this doing well as a Cellar beer, and I will be picking up another bottle. Belgium does make some fine beers, and there are plenty of American brews up to the task of taking them on in their own game.
★ 1,509 characters
3.75/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
330ml bottle into a goblet.
Pours a slightly hazy medium gold with just a small fizzy white head that is quick to fade away. No lacing to speak of.
The aroma is a pleasant bouquet of flowers and spice in the way of coriander and a touch of orange peel. The pilsner malt really comes through in the aroma as well.
The flavor has quite a bit of bread malt and is almost reminiscent of a pilsner at first. This transitions into coriander along with a touch of citrus in the way of pear and apple. Very light bitterness along with more stickiness than I was expecting in a tripel. This beer, being only 7.5% abv, should be quite dry but this one isn't.
Overall, an ok tripel but far from great. A little too much spice and malt and not dry enough. Probably won't pick this one up again.
★ 786 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
330ml bottle into a goblet.
Pours a slightly hazy medium gold with just a small fizzy white head that is quick to fade away. No lacing to speak of.
The aroma is a pleasant bouquet of flowers and spice in the way of coriander and a touch of orange peel. The pilsner malt really comes through in the aroma as well.
The flavor has quite a bit of bread malt and is almost reminiscent of a pilsner at first. This transitions into coriander along with a touch of citrus in the way of pear and apple. Very light bitterness along with more stickiness than I was expecting in a tripel. This beer, being only 7.5% abv, should be quite dry but this one isn't.
Overall, an ok tripel but far from great. A little too much spice and malt and not dry enough. Probably won't pick this one up again.
★ 786 characters
Corsendonk Agnus / Abbey Pale Ale from Brouwerij Corsendonk
3.95
out of 5
based on 882 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very lively tripel, with a pale golden colour and lots of bobbles, resulting in an impressive head of foam. This seem to block the smell of citric and malt a bit though. Taste is vineous and earthy, not as fruity as the average tripel. Very balanced, though complexity is a bit lacking. Nice tripel nonetheless.
★ 311 characters