Saint Barb's Tripel
The Brewhouse

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
The Brewhouse
 
California, United States
Style:
Tripel
ABV:
9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 9.19%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
18
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 11, 2016
Added:
May 07, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by barleywinefiend:
Photo of barleywinefiend
Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a deep golden color with a nice white head and good carbonation. Nose is alcohol, belgian yeast,honey. Taste is pretty hot, fruits, belgian yeast and lotsd of sweetness. Mouthfeel is warming and good, belgian yeats strains. Drinkability is good but not the best Tripel in the world.
Dec 07, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of DukeTristao
Reviewed by DukeTristao from California

4.3/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The color is gold. Head is dense and creamy. Aroma and flavor is spicy phenolic, fruity. Not as Bitter as would be ecpected, excellent balance. I would recommend this brew to everyone!
May 11, 2016
Photo of Darkman89
Rated by Darkman89

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Strong tripple from a local Santa Barbara brewer is served in appropriate goblet and has a nice finish. Drinkable and smooth.
Jun 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by hayesjw from California

Jul 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SB_Brewmaster from California

Sep 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by GeorgeH from California

Sep 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by bh123 from California

Jun 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by t0rin0 from California

Feb 28, 2013
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at the Brewhouse

Pours a fairly clear golden orange color with a small white head. Sugar is the first thing to hit the nose. Plenty of banana and spice, mostly clove, with a touch of booze. Some citrus peel, pear, and a light cotton candy aroma. The flavor is quite sweet with table sugar, cotton candy, and bubblegum notes on the palate. Some nice fruity flavors of banana, pear, and apple with a touch of sweet cider. A hint of booze is there on the back end.
Aug 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by leodarko from California

Mar 10, 2012
Photo of bulletrain76
Reviewed by bulletrain76 from California

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught at the brewpub. Hazy gold color with a big white head. Yeast and pineapple aroma. Lots of yeast again in the aroma, with spice and tart, tropical fruitiness. Full and smooth body. More belgian character than the abbey ale, and pretty nice for the style.
Jun 02, 2008
Photo of charlzm
Reviewed by charlzm from California

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Draft at brewery, 02/18/08. 9.0% ABV for this batch.

Clear, darkish golden pour. Still retained some head and active carbonation ten minutes after it arrived. Slight banana and clove aromas. Very sweet. Some spicy yeast character. Some kind of grape or fig flavor, as well as some bubblegum notes. No trace of alcohol flavor.

Nicely done, but not world class.
Mar 08, 2008
Photo of gpcollen1
Reviewed by gpcollen1 from Connecticut

4.07/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
via trade with solomon420 - thanks D

This bad boy held up well for a month now at cellar temp in a growler. Pours a golden huron-like color - didnt know where else to go with that one. Don't think it is that nutirent rich as Jim described as just one vitamin C will get me to orange and a vitamin B, well forget it.

A slow and gentle pour into my Troubador tulip yields a huge head and this clear as a bell brew. Head slowly subsides to drinkability. Aromas are crisp and spicy with hints of sweet - almost getting a nice Alsace Gewurztraminer sweet but dry kinda aroma.

Brew sits nicely on the tongue - medium to light bodied but not too thin; carbonation spot on - me likes. Flavors dance around - a bit sweet tasting but not too much; lots going on as the bubbles tickle the taste buds. A hint of citrusy sour-like hoppy dryness on the finish that does bring the glass to your lips another time...

This was pretty good. I do love Tripels and this is a decent American Tripel. Not everything has to be Karmeliet or St B. I do like the bottled condition versions and the cloudiness, but I can live with this for sure. If this doesnt make sense at any point, it is b/c the Rangers are down 3-0, I am searching for a dead mouse (smell is god aweful) in my wall or floor (yup got the built ins ripped out and have the circ saw going) and the growler is almost empty!
Apr 26, 2007
Photo of goodbyeohio
Reviewed by goodbyeohio from Connecticut

3.44/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
growler via solomon420

hazy yellow with some nutrient-rich piss highlights. i could have sworn i saw at LEAST five bubbles rising from the bottom to the top in the time i spent staring. maybe four, who knows. the head is slight and hazy, the lacing drippy and solid. something about my initial impression leads thoughts astray of traditional tripel character.

aroma blends a gruff mix of sincere belgian yeasties and uber raw grainy freshness. freshness with a tinge of sour, silly wheat funk. this beer is not dominated by the sweet aromas i usually anticipate from a tripel. it almost prevents me from wanting to drink it.

tastes distinctly better though, the perceived tart aromas culiminate in a dry flavor which pleasantly contrasts any present tripel sweetness. pancake batter initially, which quickly changes to blasts of botanical wheat stalk followed by a dry belgian boost. slight fresh fruit tinge and a finish like brown sugar-laced syrup. breakfast in a glass, if you're all about pancakes and maple over eggs and bacon.

a bit heavy in the end, but surprisingly drinkable.. probably moreso because i expected it to taste like a heavy mess of a tripel. yet i continue to sip it in mansize gulps like a raging alcoholic.

in conclusion, this beer is uneven, unbalanced, but charming like a kid with down's syndrome. fun and silly with little-to-no coherence. recommended, for sheer, brash, clueless boldness as an approach to style.
Mar 14, 2007
Photo of Solomon420
Reviewed by Solomon420 from California

3.97/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: At first, the cute waitress poured this into a pint, then I asked her for a fluted glass, in which she poured it into a Chimay goblet. Did I mention she was cute? Moving on, this part of the review got the lowest number rating cause it was a little too clear for its type. Most tripels have a haze to them, and this one was very crystalline, but thats the only downside, if you consider that a downside.

S: When this beer was just poured, it wasnt alive yet, meaning it took a while of sitting for the beer to awaken. Once it got some more temperature on it, it smelled wonderful. Citrus and a nice crisp air to it.

T: Again, at first the taste was masked by the cold temerature. Once it warmed a bit, the classic Tripel taste was very apparent and welcomed. Easy to drink and enjoy

M/D: Overall this is a very easy Tripel to drink, as most should be. Its high in AC however the alcohol does not overpower the beer. It has a good blending of flavour and alcohol. I would recommend anyone searching for a good local brew, to try this one as its a good beer.

Prost, Saludos!
Feb 27, 2007
Photo of rallison
Reviewed by rallison from California

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A quick note - this can be ordered in the 12oz size which is a "well-suited for this beer" goblet. I'd recommend doing this over the standard 16oz pour into the standard 16oz pint glass.

A: Nice golden/yellow color. Looks sticky and rich. Not much of a head, just a bit of white fluff.

S: Smells kind of citrusy sweet. Definitely smells like it's a bit heavy.

T: Definitely on the sweeter side. Rich too. Not delicate like many good tripels. Citrus in there too. Although, a bit one-dimensional.

M: Thick, rich. Satisfying as a late night drink, but the mouthfeel is not suite to the style either.

D: I kind of enjoyed it, so I'd order again. But drinkability is not too high, as the alcohol and the sweet richness both will keep you from drinking much.

While this is no tripel, it's decently tasty. It's more like a cross between a tripel and an old ale. Also could use some other flavors thrown into the mix. Like above, a bit one-dimensional on the sweet, citrusy flavor. Still enjoyable enough though.

Overall, I can't say for sure if I'd recommend it. If you're there, maybe get a taster of it.
Jan 29, 2007
Photo of JayTheFinn
Reviewed by JayTheFinn from California

3.15/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Nice golden look with a lingering white head and lacing, served in a pint glass. (I think pint glasses are all they do at the Brewhouse.) The Santa Barbara influence is noted in the scent and taste where citrus reigns. The alcohol content contended with the citrus flavor through out each sip right in the aftertaste. Didn't finish my one pint of this one.
May 20, 2006
Photo of DrewBeechum
Reviewed by DrewBeechum from California

3.62/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served ice ice cold in a standard straight pint. (Why no goblet, chalice or tulip?)

Sweet low spice aroma with a mildly fruity peach and pineapple

Flavor is shortly sweet with a growing acidic bite and a drying spice of pepper and ginger

This spiciness in the finish really accentuates the final draw of the beer. Behind ti there is still a detectable sweetness. Probably needs more attenuation to brew.
May 07, 2004
Saint Barb's Tripel from The Brewhouse
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 18 ratings