Sled Dog Trippel Bock
Wagner Valley Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Bottle purchased at Finger Lakes Beverage Center in Ithaca, NY.

This one pours a ruddy crimson brown, with a small quarter foamy head, and not a whole lot of lacing.

This one smells pretty malty and bock-y, with some brown sugar, brown bread, and a bit of fruity lager yeast.

This is certainly not the most complicated or complex beer. It's biggest achievement is how smooth it drinks for the 10% ABV- you would know it's a "triple bock" at all. There's a good amount of brown sugar and toffee here, and distinct toasted brown bread flavors, along with some fruity esters from the lager yeast. It all melds together decently well. No flavor stands out that strongly, though- I wish one of the flavors popped a little more.

This is medium bodied, with a crisp and bready mouthfeel, and a moderate level of carbonation. This one goes down very very easily for the ABV.

One of the better beers made in this area of my state. This is definitely worth a shot.

 

 

 

 

 

My bottle says "Reserve Trippelbock", but I think this is the same beer. No vintage or freshness information on the label. I thought their doppelbock was just okay, so I opened this without too much excitement.

This was a clear, dark, ruby tinted chestnut color. It poured with a relatively short lived, medium sized head. Wonderful aromas of nutty sweet bread, toffee, rich chocolate cake batter, and dates waft from the glass. Very little alcohol for a 10% abv. What a pleasure to sip and ponder! Rich and chocolaty overall without being overly sweet. I found notes of toffee, figs or dates, nuts, and sweet bread. The finish was an amazing, dry cocoa tingle with just a trace of bracing warmth. This was gently carbonated and full-bodied.

What a treat! What a surprise! What a disappointment that I only bought one bottle! This does not drink like a 10% doppelbock, it drinks like a well made German version with more typical for the style abv levels. High praise indeed. I am so glad I got tot try this amazing brew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Trade with Milles35, thanks!
Date: None on bottle
Glass: Ayinger Celebrator bock glass

Wagner Valley's Trippelbock is a fairly sweet version of the style, focusing on candy and light caramel-like sweetness. While not unenjoyable and somewhat above average, I found the beer too sweet, and one-dimensional for my tastes. This is one I would not seek out again.

Pours a 1cm tall head of tan colored foam, made up of small bubbles, with average retention of about one minute. Head fades to a thin ring around the perimeter of the glass and leaves minor lacing of a few thin patterns clinging to a small portion of the glsas. Body is a dark brown amber color, with light bringing out deep brown-orange hues. Carbonation is visible through the transparent body, low in number and activity.

Aroma of light melanoidins (light caramel and sugar sweetness) and floral characters, with dried dates, brown figs, slight burnt dust, and smoke in the background. A bit excessively sweet and one-dimensional.

Flavor is exceptionally sweet and smooth, with lesser emphasis on dried fruits and toasted bread crusts than this fairly bright, candy-like, slightly like light brown sugar sweetness, with hints of a floral potpurri lingering in the background. Front of palate finds moderate melanoidins (light caramel), light sugar sweetness, with dried dates, brown figs, a hint of smoke and cocoa. Mid-palate of light melanoidins (light caramel and brighter sugar sweetness), fairly bright dried dates and brown figs, hints of floral characters that slightly remind one of potpurri. Back of palate is of bright sugary sweetness with light brown sugar, mild melanoidins, and fairly notable floral characters. Aftertaste of candy sugar like sweetness, light melanoidins and toasted bread, and residual floral characters.

Beer is medium-heavy in body, with carbonation of low intensity, resulting in a beer that is mostly smooth (3/4) and slightly foamy (1/4). Some additional carbonation would be appropriate for this beer, bringing out more of the aroma and flavors. What is amazing is how the ethanol is completely absent from this 10% beer. Closes quite dry, with low stickiness on the lips and palate, somewhat surprising.

 

 

 

 

 

appearance- crystal clear, deep mahogany red, almost no head and dissapears quickly with no lace

smell- very sweet malt aroma, with big fruity notes. no hops noticeable

taste- follows the nose, big sweet upfront smooth..not much carbonation. syrupy flavor lingers, a little fruity like sour apple, cant taste any hint of alcohol, but definately feel it after the first few sips.

mouthfeel- semi-full body, gets thicker as it warms

overall- this is a nice beer, great for someone who is looking for a huge malt lager...i little too sweet for my taste and the hop flavor just isnt there, but still a worthy beer for sweeter beer drinkers.