Tripel Vision
Frankenmuth Brewery

 

A unique American take on a Belgian classic here, my first beer from these guys. It has a little richer color to it than many, not quite caramel, and a high rising just off white head, looks the part. It smells a little tired on the yeast side, still obviously Belgian, but instead of fresh bright fruity esters, I get a staleness, bready and dusty, heavier than normal. The flavor is good though, and gets better as it warms. We all get honey, floral and sweet, and some wheat too, grainy for the style but not heavy in that sense at all. A light candy sugar thing, white grape, dried apricot, green pear, and lots of alcohol. This is strong even for the style, and the booziness really comes out after a few minutes in the glass. Its not out of place, but it does slow me way down here. Carbonation is nice, and there is a lot of body here. It tastes a little past its prime, but it’s a solid beer overall. A little different than I am used to in the classics, but I like the nuance here. Honey forward and not so estery.

 

 

 

22 ounce bottle into chalice; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy golden orange color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lemon, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, clove, banana, candi sugar, biscuit, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast. pale malt, and moderate earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of big lemon, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, clove, banana, candi sugar, biscuit, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal bitterness and yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, clove, banana, candi sugar, biscuit, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast. pale malt, and moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitter/spiciness, that increases through the glass. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth and moderately grainy/creamy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Belgian tripel style. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast. pale malt, and moderate earthy hop flavors; and very smooth and easy to sip on for the big ABV. A very enjoyable offering.

 

 

Had as part of a flight at the brewery. Aroma of bananas, cloves, Belgian yeast. Taste is on point, the only problem being that it's a bit too spicy. Decent attempt by an American brewery.

 

Sigh, was this the right beer? Who knows the waitress messed up the flight