Cerberus Tripel
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub

I noticed the tap handle shaped like a femur and asked my server what poured from it. She told it me it was a Belgian-style tripel called Cerberus, named for the mythological three-headed dog. I'm a little rusty on my Greek mythology, but the next day it finally occurred to me why the beer's name suggested a "tripel."

My first thought upon being served a snifter of this potent 10.1% golden ale was that I'd never known a beer to smell so much like Listerine. There's also some Belgian spice along the lines of clove and white pepper. But the inescapable aroma of solvent intrudes with a fury. The taste is similarly harsh and unfortunate. It tastes like you could strip paint with it or strike a match to it and burn down Ballard. A few elements of Belgian character emerge but not enough to invite drinkability.

Hale's has been brewing for 26 years and this is the one of the only Belgian-style ales they've ever released. It is not very good.

Poured from growler into sturdy chalice. Poured with almost no head and less lacing. Slightly more cloudy than expected. The spice and fruit aromas typical for the style are very subued. The flavor presents the expected spice and apple/pear notes a little better than the aroma would indicate. Body is a little thinner than expected, but not out of range for the style. Smoothly drinkable, the 10.1% alcohol is not noticeable. Basically an average version of the style. I'm not sure if this is Hale's first shot at this style, but this is not up to their usual standards. I'm a big fan of the brewery, and expect that with time, they will improve this beer.

9oz pour at Bittercreek Ale house... So it is obviously not retired. Served out of a Chimay Goblet

Hazy peach brew with little lacing

Nose is Spicy and floral .... a little peach.

Flavor is all spicy pale malts clovey and a little sweet a little musky peach and apple skin.

medium body and less than average carbonation. A good effort on the style... Just lacks some expected complexity.

reviewed on brenda's iphone.

Sampled in a 6 ounce glass at the Brewery Pub.

Hazy yellow with a soft white head that holds well and clings to the side of the glass.

Aroma is a soft honey sweetness with a waxed red rose aroma from the hops.

Honey malt character in the initial palate leads to a long pulling beer with a growing sense of cinnamon and nutmeg drying out the finish with a faint back flavor and alcohol