New Belgium Trippel

4/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

12 ounce bottle into chalice, best by 11/20/2011. Pours clear, yet cloudy, golden straw color with a 1 finger fairly dense white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some bits of lacing on the glass, with a nice amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big banana, clove, pear, pepper, lemon, coriander, bread, bubblegum, grass, light tart grain, and yeast spices. Nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of lemon, pepper, pear, coriander, biscuit, banana, herbal, clove, lightly tart grain, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of lemon, pepper, clove, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Nice overall balance of flavors with no cloying sweetness as expected. Medium carbonation and body; with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Very drinkable and smooth for the level of alcohol, but it is a bit of a sipper. Overall this is a damn nice and well balanced Belgian style tripel. Nice flavor profile and complexity.

Very nice tripel offering that is nicely drinkable. This would be a nice introduction to the style for someone who has not had the style before.