Beer 382/365 – Tripel Karmeliet

Tripel Karmeliet

Style: Tripel

ABV: 8.4%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate Wine & Beer – Boardman Ohio

What makes this beer different: Very sweet/sugary even for a Tripel

Will I be drinking this again: Yes it was damn good for the price.

Grade: A

3/15/2011: I bought this beer on a recommendation from a friend. She lived in Belgium and said this was one of her favorite beers ever, and I was crazy for not having tried it yet. I would love to visit Belgium because their bottles only run about 1-2 American dollars, as opposed to at least 5 dollars here in the states. Someday!

I already know this beer is going to be sweet as there are chunks of candy sugar around the mouth of the bottle (you can actually see it in the picture above). The nose is even parts sweet and spicy, maybe cardamom? The flavor at first is very very sweet; toffee, caramel, honey, candy sugar. About halfway through my glass a lot of the spice starts to show up; cardamom, clove, maybe some orange peel? Lots of good carbonation keeps the beer from getting cloying. Overall this was one of the best tripels I have ever had. Highly recommended.

Picture of the day: Put that candy away!

Published in: on March 15, 2011 at 8:29 am  Comments (6)  
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Beer 359/365 – St Bernardus Tripel

St Bernardus Tripel

Style: Tripel

ABV: 8.0%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate – Boardman OH

What makes this beer different: Lots of pineapple flavor.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes, one of my favorite Tripels ever.

Grade: A

11/2/2010: This is only the third St Bernardus beer I have had to date, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite Belgian breweries. I have had the abt 12, and the Christmas Ale, both of which were excellent. I’m going to have to pick up the prior 8 next time I am up at Vintage Estate.

The nose of this Tripel is fruity as all hell; pineapple, honeydew, honey, and yeast. The flavor isn’t overly complicated in my opinion, but it is really good. Pineapple stands out the most to for sure, pears, honey, and a pinch of white pepper. Medium mouthfeel for the style, with good carbonation. Not quite as creamy as some other tripels out there, but thats about the only knock on this beer in my opinion. I knew St Bernardus made a good tripel, but i didn’t think it would be THIS good.

Picture of the day: What your smart phone says about you.

Published in: on November 2, 2010 at 8:33 am  Comments (2)  
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Beer 325/365 – Unibroue La Fin Du Monde

Unibroue La Fin Du Monde

Style: Tripel

ABV: 9.0%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate – Boardman, OH

What makes this beer different: The best North American brewed Belgian style beer I have ever had.

Will I be drinking this again: I have 3 more aging in the basement, so yes!

Grade: A

9/29/2010: La Fin Du Monde is Unibroue’s highest ranked beer. Which is why I am kind of surprised I haven’t reviewed it yet. I think its almost goes unsaid that Unibroue makes the best Belgain Style beer not brewed within the borders of Belgium itself. I also picked this beer because I really wanted to knock off as many of the Top 100 BeerAdvocate beers as I could before I wrap up my 365 (La Fin comes in at #33 at the moment).

The nose of La Fin Du Monde isn’t quite as funky/yeasty as a true Belgian, but its still good. Pears/Apples at the front, and a touch of clove. The flavor is what makes this beer, its on the sweeter end of the Tripel scale. Lots of apple/pear type flavors, maybe some banana? Clove and pepper are in the background, but theres just enough for you to know its there. Not as spicy as other tripels I have had, but thats okay by me. Mouthfeel is the only knock on this beer, as it doesn’t have the full creamy feeling of a true Belgian. I have yet to find a North American brewed beer that gets the Belgian mouthfeel right. That being said this is still a great great beer.

Picture of the day: Free Sex!

Published in: on September 29, 2010 at 10:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Beer 160/365 – Captain Lawrence Xtra Gold Tripel

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Style: Tripel

ABV: 10.0%

Purchased at: One of the bottles I won via the superbowl block poll on beeradvocate

What makes this beer different: Fluffiest head I have ever seen on a beer, even more than Duvel.

Will I be drinking this again: Pretty sure they don’t distribute to PA, but if they did I would for sure buy more of this.

Grade: A

4/17/2010: How do you like the green walls at my buddies fishing camp? Gotta love fishing camp though. My buddies pap is 87, and was up doing snakebite shots at 2am with us. As far as the beer I have to be honest in saying that I have never heard of Captain Lawrence Brewing before I got this bottle. After looking up some of their beer it looks like they brew some good stuff. I have never seen any Captain Lawrence on the shelves here in the burgh but I will have to keep an eye out now.

Tons of fluffy head Very sweet smelling, typical yeasty smell you get with a belgian, and a good bit of fruity action going on also. The taste really took me by surprise. Its a complex flavor, but at the same time no one ingredient is out doing the others. Sweet rock candy type flavor is the first thing you notice, with some nice citrus flavor going on also. Floral hops finish of the main trifecta of flavors, which is pretty unexpected for a belgian. Flavors aren’t super intense, which makes this very drinkable. Mouthfeel is perfectly creamy. To be honest Xtra Gold Tripel probably got the closest on mouthfeel to an Authentic Belgian more than any other US brewed Belgian I have ever had. Did not expect this beer to be as good as it was.

Picture of the day: I try not to be too political on here, but sometimes I just can’t help it, especially when its funny and points out hypocrisy. The Daily Show and Colbert Report are probably two of my favorite shows on TV. Here is Jon Stewarts take on the latest with Goldman Sachs.

Published in: on April 17, 2010 at 12:11 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Beer 149/365 – Victory Golden Monkey

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Style: Tripel

ABV: 9.5%

Purchased at: Sent to me by the guys at SCAATB

What makes this beer different: Pretty close to a “Real” Belgian, but not quite

Will I be drinking this again: Yes, it is a pretty solid belgian beer for being american made, and reasonably priced.

Grade: B+

4/6/2010: Ugh, been so busy lately that I have been forced to drink my beer in the 10-11 o’clock hour. Makes me feel like a lush drinking so late on a work night. I work at the Mellon Arena as an usher (to watch the pens for free), and on days that I work I don’t end up getting home until 10:30-11pm. Maybe I will start getting up earlier on those days, and instead of coffee I will drink a good coffee stout?

Thanks to Gary and Guy again for sending this to me. Wow there is a TON of yeast in his mad boy. Almost looks like a snow globe in my chalice. The smell is heavy on banana and yeast. Taste is a good bit of banana, and a little spiciness. The alcohol is hidden pretty well, but peeks out a little bit too much. Mouthfeel is close to a true Belgium brewed Belgian beer, but I have yet to drink an American brewed Belgian that really gets that amazing mouthfeel you get with a true belgian beer. This does get close though!

Picture of the day: The subway sandwich artists must have failedGeometry.

Published in: on April 6, 2010 at 9:11 am  Comments (1)  
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Beer 18 – Westmalle Trappist Tripel

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Style: Belgian Tripel

Purchased at: Vintage Estate

What makes this beer different: Tart flavor

Will I be drinking this again: Yes

Grade: A+

Image11/27/09: The Belgians are undoubtedly the end all be all when it comes to brewing good beer. This beer is just another example of that. This beer has incredible head (the foam that collects on the top of the beer you perverts), and has an amazing mouthfeel (The consistency/carbonation of the beer in your mouth… pervs). These two things are typical with Belgian brew, but the taste is whats just so different about these beers. This one has a slightly tart flavor to start, with a peppery malt behind it. I am usually bad at picking out specifics in Belgian beers, but lets just say this one is a must try. I have a hard time seeing anyone who likes ANY kind of beer, disliking this one.

Published in: on November 27, 2009 at 6:29 pm  Comments (5)  
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