The Way Tripel
The Bold Monk Brewing Co.

Had The Way at Bold Monk ("restaurant, brewery, library, coffee house, and beer garden"), Atlanta, on draft into Teku tulip, and later poured from 12-oz. can, no date, into chalice.

Pours deep gold with clarity and 1-finger creamy off-white head, with good retention, leaving sketchy rings to thick drapes of lace down the glass. Up front aromas of mild malt, tart fruit and sweet melon, with the fruit increasing as warms. Begins nicely creamy, then unusual tart and piquant stone fruits assert themselves, leading into a big hop bite, and then a little Belgian yeast spice, which carries with the lasting creaminess into a crisp, fruity, warming alcoholic finish.

Despite the promising aromas and creamy body, this Tripel is a bit harsh around the edges. May cellar to try another in six months or so.

 

 

Appearance: Slightly hazy, medium amber color. Frothy white head, with good retention.

Aroma: Floral and estery. Clove and herbs.

Flavor: Floral, spicy and peppery. Moderate bitterness. Alcohol well hidden. Drying.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, Moderate length finish.

Overall: Excellent Triple. Not too light or heavy. Hint of sweetness at the beginning but transitions to dry quickly and through the finish. Esters are notable but balanced well with the malt. Bitterness is present but clean and not overwhelming. Well crafted, near perfect.

Look: Beautiful Clear Golden with nice lingering lacing on the glass
Smell: A Refreshing Citrus and Mellon
Taste: Crisp/clean orange/lemony Citrus notes with a little tanginess on the tongue.
Feel: Nice light Crispness with a well balanced amount of carbonation.
Overall: I usually try to avoid citrus brews but picked this one up because there is no mention on the label. It was surprisingly good. Will drink again.

 

 

Poured from an undated can into a snifter with a fingers worth of head. Color is transparent golden.
Aromas of bright honey and banana bread. Mouthfeel is fairly light given the higher abv with notes of white grape juice, chamomile tea with honey and a spritz of lemon. Finish is perfectly balanced, on the drier side of a tripel, yet still maintaining Belgian brewing integrity. Overall, a very solid take on a tough style for American brewers to get right.

Appearance: Pours a clear, honey-toned, golden body with a medium-sized,

Smell: Grainy, sweetish infused with an earthy, lightly peppery, spiciness and dehydrated bittered herb. Light fruity flourishes of citrus, pear, unripe banana. Its sweetish quality is embodied by a honeyish quality, some touches of golden syrup.

Taste: Honeyed and honeyish in a orange blossom honey sort of way. Moderately sweet with a wholesome dusting of powdered sugar. Growing, glowing clove bud note hooked to some lemony, orangey citrus, though a smidgen of banana slices are showing through. Additional sense of spice from the warming alcohol presence. Which, given some hop bitterness and a bit of background graininess, helps to counter the opening sweetness and maintain a pleasantly dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-bodied.

Overall: So many years ago, an interest in new styles led a rocky road to Belgian beers, including tripels. So often, so very American, they were ham-fisted, overly sweet, gloopy, boozy messes. Scan the shelves these days, you won't see many further attempts.