Tripel
New Trail Brewing Company

Draft in a medium snifter
Lots of light head, very drinkable.
For a triple not much style clove or banana. Very light mouthfeel, a little fruitiness, smooth finish.

 

 

 

Pours a nice amber with a cream colored head.

Sour and citrus fruit with earthy floral notes.

Spicy fruited grain with an earthy malt backbone. Notes of raspberry and sour wood and floral mushrooms.

16oz can into a pint glass. NO freshness dating.

Looks very nice in the glass. Crystal clear golden yellow body with reddish tints. Small white head quickly shrinks to a ring and covering, but the lacing is exquisite.

Bubblegum and raspberry on the nose.

On tasting, raspberry is the strongest flavor. No bubblegum, banana, or yeast. Quite sweet, with a faint bitter note late on.

Mouth between medium and full, finish warming, fruity.

Overall, the tripel aspect is in the background. Tastes more of a strong fruit beer. Decent though.

It's different.
It tastes mostly like a Triple, but with a flavor in the middle I can't quite describe.
Kind of tastes like apricots?
It is a very unique offering for the style. Definitely Americanized version of the Belgian style.
It's worth a try if you're interested in Belgian beers, but keep in mind, it's definitely American.
I'd buy it again, just for the change of pace, but it has nothing over a real Belgian Triple. Very unique is my overall impression.

Probably the leader in Pennsylvanian hazies, New Trail hasn't been reluctant to explore other styles. Some, like their Imperial stouts can rate among the best. Their dessert beers largely don't get the job done. So, what do we have here, as the brewery again branches out? To look at, after a pint can has been emptied into a clear glass Imperial pint mug, is a nice lightly colored copper-amber brew that's light and almost translucent. There's a modest white head that looks like it's here to stay. The aroma is just like many other Belgian triples, mainly yeasty with that Belgian character that is often described as banana-like. For those that don't particularly like that distracting aspect of Belgian ales, this might be for you. For those that love it, this will not be for you. Overall, this is a very pleasant beer drinking experience. It's sort of a hybrid between a Belgian Triple and a New England IPA. The Belgian aspects are there and readily identifiable, but they're toned down in the way NEIPAs often cushion the bite of bitter hops. This is a fairly amazing concoction that successfully straddles two major categories. It's truly like a Belgian ale that you're unlikely to ever find in Belgium. This is a try it if you can beer, just to understand what it accomplished by being what it is. Beer is so amazing that it still can produce new concepts and in this case, good for its drinkers.

Can into goblet. When will New Trail start dating their cans? Also this beer is going by "Belgian Style Tripel" now, for whatever reason.

L: Deep copper, akin to apple juice. Short head that fades quickly. Very clear, surprisingly so considering who makes it.
S: Like a tripel. Yeasty, bready, bananas.
T: Doesn't quite live up to the depth of the smell, but it's true to the style. Hops kick in at the end.
F: Smooth, but with a slight shock of bitterness to finish.
O: I personally get a little lost in all of New Trail's NEIPAs so I'm happy to see them branch out, especially with one that nails the style so well. I don't know if I'd return to this one when the OG Belgians are readily available at Wegmans, but it's almost by default Central PA's best Belgian beer.

Smells much better than it tastes-pretty bland.

Pint can, no date.

Pours a hazy copper color with a soapy off-white head.

Nose is the classic spicy/yeast/clove profile that you’d expect from this style.

Flavor has some layered fruity notes up front, tart that gives way to the sweet. The spice and yeast profiles come on with a pleasant alcohol warmth. Carbonated a little more than other tripels I’ve had. Mild aftertaste, doesn’t kill your palate.

 

Undated can (typical for New Trail) into into pint glass. Pours a clear amber color (SRM 4) with a brief off-white head. Initial impression is clove and banana so it's true to style. Mouthfeel is medium, as is carbonation. Finish is sweet and slightly spicy.
I'm not a Belgian fan, so I tried to keep my prejudices/preferences out of my review. As a Belgian, I think it adheres to the style pretty well. As a New Trail fanboy,I like their NEIPAs better.

 

 

 

 

16 oz can poured into a tulip.

Appearance
Apple juice color. Good clarity. Lively carbonation. Short head dissipates immediately.

Nose
Clove, banana, candy sugar, gold apple, and pear.

Taste
Belgian yeasty with tons of clove and banana with a pinch of pink peppercorn. Golden apple, pear, and pale Belgian candy sugar.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, oily, crisp, dry, and spicy.

Overall
I'm not crazy about this Tripel but I'm happy to see New Trail brewing different styles. Keep 'em coming!