Ballmer Peak
Trillium Brewing Company

 

A very hazy, nearly turbid, orange color with a dense off-white head, this Citra-hopped TIPA collab is packed with citrus aromas of orange peel, mango, and pineapple. Wow.

The orange peel is forward, and there’s a significant pineapple and mango note, but there’s also that herbal lychee note and a biscuity malt flavor that leads to a lingering boozy note as the beer settles at the back of your palate.

The mouthfeel is on the softer side, and very full, not surprising given the 10.6% ABV. This is a Citra-hop howitzer, so if you enjoy Citra-hopped beers, this will be in your wheelhouse. Sign me up.

L - pours a dark, toasted orange with a bit of murk. Lofty yellow-stained white head that looks fragile, but lasts surprisingly long for a Trillium beer.

S - grains, dough, and honey. Definitely EQ-inspired. Pithy lemon and slick lemon peel, we're getting a nice balance between herbs and candied sweetness. Strong berry character. Raspberry jam and sweet booziness.

T - more more more berries. Fermented berries, orange slice candy, and a light cream flavor. Kinda like creamsicle, but a little harsher or rindier. Ripe mango and fruity syrup. Berry-flavored honey, warming alcohol, and a hint of peppery grapefruit peel spiciness. Finish is a touch dry, and not as sweet as you'd expect.

F - borrows more from EQ in the feels department and that's ok with me. Not as syrupy as this ABV might suggest, but decent fullness and electrifying zestiness.

O - so if the "Ballmer Peak" hits after a beer or two... when should I expect it to hit since this is a 10.4% 16oz can? Do I need to drink two of them? Because then I'll be hitting something, but it probably won't be the peak of anything except maybe the sharp jutting edge of the armrest on my couch. Ouch.

 

Poured from a can dated 11/10 into a tulip glass, imbibed on 11/28. Could tell this one was going to be a doozy on the pour- really thick and syrupy coming out of the can, like pouring a tropical fruit nectar. Dark golden yellow, almost orange in color. Loads of tropical fruits on the nose - mango nectar, candied pineapple, orange pulp, lychee. Sweet flavors of mango nectar, prominent lychee, papaya, guava. Very sweet. Virtually no alcohol burn or bitterness at 10.6%(!!), I could see this one sneaking up on you pretty quickly. Impressive to pull off such an indulgent TIPA at that ABV with this kind of mouthfeel and flavors without an overpowering alcohol flavor. Was a bit disappointed when I missed this one the first time around, so was glad to have a chance to pick up a 4 pack of this ‘refresh.’

Canned on 11/10/2020. Enjoyed on 11/28/2020.

 

 

I’ll preface by saying, as a rule, I prefer single ipas to doubles or triples. Where this triple is very successful is in masking the alcohol. It’s not cloyingly sweet or syrupy like some triples. I struggled initially to identify the hops... i picked up a harvey wallbanger-esque orange and vanilla, mango, papaya but somehow I did not think “single hopped with citra.” Now I feel stupid, it should have been obvious. The honey and wheat threw me off. Its a wonderful thick concoction and you can see its viscosity as it very slowly moves in the glass. Its heavy. The flavors are like a swirling cloud and retain an airy, ethereal lightness that doesn't smack you in the mouth. Ive had all-citra ipas that ive enjoyed more so Im going to chalk that up to it being a triple and just not my preference. Excellent nonetheless.

Canned 11.10, opened 11.20

Trillium Collab with equilibrium

Two finger off white glassy bubbly foam cap over a dark orange liquid . Settles to a pencil thick layer, good lacings

Orange citrus aroma, tangerine

Taste is orange , mango, papaya

Has a heavy gravity mouthfeel , full almost syrupy feel, pulpy orange juice without the pulp, hop taste , no bite, hint of alcohol but with no heat

Good beer

 

 

 

Pours a hazy orange, like an unfiltered cider, with a small short lived head.

Smells of pine and grapefruit and orange citrus. Sips first taste of sweet pineapple and tart citrus followed by a peppery hop bitterness ending with some alcohol warmth. The bitterness subsides and the sweet tastes come forward as your glass warms.

Medium body and carbonation. Lush, lightly syrupy mouthfeel.

This is a tour de force brew with a lot of complexities.

 

 

I gotta say, this one just knocked it out of the park for me. Yes, pretty sweet, but it was just one of those beers that hit on all cylinders for me. It poured thick and creamy out of the can, and created a thick white head. Mouthfeel was thick. Taste was sweet and thick, almost like there was some Lactose in there; resembled and one of the better Other Half triples to me. Alcohol was well hidden. Really hope they do more with Equilibrium.