Left Hand Brewing Company – St. Vrain Tripel *

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Jul 082011
 

This may be even more evidence that I lean on American craft brews far more often than those from other countries.  Though I do not often drink this style of beer, when I do I end up with a Belgian Tripel from Colorado rather than somewhere else.  Like Belgium!  Even as I look at my shrinking collection of beer across the room I notice only one beer not from the US and that was a gift.  I do get my fair share of beers from other places at work, but I probably need to start bringing them home as well.  For educational purposes of course.

Bringing the shortened week to an end . . .

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, CO)

Name: St. Vrain Tripel

Style: Belgian Tripel

ABV: 9.00%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and pulled slightly early to warm some before serving in a stemmed goblet/chalice.  Bottle conditioned beer.

Aroma: Mildly sweet fruitiness that is faintly like oranges with a slight spiciness and some floral notes in back.  Soft, but full overall (if that makes any sense). – 9/12

Appearance: Pale golden yellow color.  Slight white head that dissipates quickly (and audibly so I might add) leaving a slight trail on the glass.  Incredibly clear with some rising bubbles visible. – 2/3

Flavor: Lightly fruity and spicy up front and also has a sweetness to it.  The spiciness combines with a moderate bitterness that holds from middle to finish.  Finishes a bit dry with some of that bitterness lingering.  All of those flavor components are noticeably in there, but none are overwhelming.  – 12/20

Mouthfeel: Medium to light in body with a fairly high level of carbonation that is deceivingly effervescent.  Somewhat creamy on the palate and seems to have some warmth coming through at the finish. – 3.5/5

Overall Impressions: Admittedly I am not all that well versed in drinking this style of beer.  The warmth is sneaky and certainly becomes more prominent as the beer warms up some.  Many subtle flavors are there initially, but seems very one note after having more than a few sips.  The finish and the bitterness are the most enjoyable components.  Not bad, but not great. – 6/10

Overall: B- (32.5/50)

5905073420 f66ebaa5b8 Left Hand Brewing Company St. Vrain Tripel *

Left Hand Brewing Company - St. Vrain Tripel

 

 Posted by Lucas at 11:00 am  Tagged with: , ,

Redhook Ale Brewery – Tripel

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Sep 072010
 

It is not often that I go searching for specific beers, so I leave myself open to outside influences wherever I happen to be shopping for my brews.  You probably already know that I am a sucker for interesting labels if I have not had the beer before, but I am also one for limited release offerings.  Now I am generally not as crazed about those beers like some who make special trips to breweries or order ahead or whatever, but I do like to grab them when I can.  I do think that in the back of my mind I hold limited release beers at a higher standard going in and I do think that probably influences my evaluation of them.  This is likely one of those cases.

For the Tuesday review this week . . .

Brewery: Redhook Ale Brewery (Woodinville, WA & Portsmouth, NH)

Name: Tripel

Style: Belgian Tripel

ABV: 10.20%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge (51 degrees +/-) and served in a goblet.  Limited release – $4.99 for 22 ounces.

Aroma: Light malty aroma with a moderate level of clove-like spice and some slight sweetness that seems to have a bit of vanilla character to it.

Appearance: Full coppery gold color.  Slight, off-white head that quickly dissipates with some slight legs on the glass.  Clear with many rising bubbles visible (at first then becoming few).

Flavor: Slight, almost banana-like fruitiness with an even spiciness throughout.  Very low bitterness and a low, smooth malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body and very carbonated (effervescent).  Creamy on the palate with warmth noticed evenly at the finish.

Overall Impressions: All flavors work pretty well with none being overpowering.  More harshness at the finish as it warms a bit.  No need for me to buy again (if available) as I just did not love the flavor and body overall.  The Wife quickly limited her intake of this limited release with just a reaction of “No.”

Grade: C+

4159915355 e22a9071c6 Redhook Ale Brewery Tripel

Redhook Ale Brewery - Tripel

4160669576 2cec153495 Redhook Ale Brewery Tripel

The close up.

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,

The Bruery Trade Winds and CCB Guava Grove

 B Notes  No Responses »
Aug 072010
 

The “B Notes” are so much fun that I am back with another entry and actually a two for one.  I always have a folded scrap of paper in my pocket to take notes on and I am happy those scribbles have a place to live now.

If you missed the introduction of the new page check out the very first entry and the description by clicking on the dropdown under the “Tasting Notes” page above.

Now on to the first for today . . .

Brewery: The Bruery (Placentia, CA)

Name: Trade Winds Tripel

Style: Belgian Tripel

ABV: 8.00%

Location: Redlight Redlight – Teege at the bar

Tasting Notes:

  • Orange(ish) copper in color with a slight white head.
  • Sweet, slightly spicy aroma
  • Honey-like sweetness up front with nice herbal notes and a little bit of fruity flavor after.
  • Nice crispness and dryness at the finish
  • Slight warmth noticeable after it warms a bit.
4865452883 ecabbb0f7f The Bruery Trade Winds and CCB Guava Grove

The Bruery - Trade Winds Tripel

And now the second . . .

Brewery: Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, FL)

Name: Guava Grove

Style: Saison (perhaps Fruit Beer)

ABV: 8.00%

Location: Redlight Redlight – Teege at the bar

Tasting Notes:

  • Slightly cloudy/hazy orange to copper color having a frothy white head with good retention.
  • Sweetly sour aroma (slightly acetic?)
  • Somewhat tart up front with the ripened fruit flavor after (guava of course, though I am not familiar with that flavor).
  • Grows nicely on the palate as I drink (second sip and on).
  • Oddly addictive.
4866069714 980eb245fb The Bruery Trade Winds and CCB Guava Grove

Cigar City Brewing - Guava Grove (with DFH Palo Santo Marron to the left)

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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