6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
A hazy light orange or dark yellow (can't decide) beer with an enormous head. The aroma is fantastic and fresh of apples, yeast, coriander, and grass like notes of hops. The flavor is dominated by coriander, apples, lemongrass, and hops on a background I've problems to describe. The background is not sweet because of the, for a Belgian Ale, low ABV, but it's not sour either as You find in low alcohol beers and beers where all sugars have been fermented - the background is closer to being dry - without that word really hiting what I experience. In the end the beer really turns dry from the rather high content of bitter hops. A great beer to sample, but I must admit that I like Chimay Doree better, so Westmalle is not going to be my monestary - but I still have to sample Petit Orval to decide my destiny. I must send a great thank You to Jeppe (Bierkönig) for trading me this bottle - after all Jeppe's hardship to get it, he made it quite easy for me. Thanks, Jeppe.
Tried
from Can
on 27 Apr 2004
at 15:48
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle: Poured a hazy yellow/brown colored brew with a huge bubbly head with better then expected retention. Aroma is quite complex with some different spices that are quite hard to identify and no trace of that high level of ABV. Carbonation is great with an above average body but still lighter then expected, I also noticed a lot of less or sediment floating around. Taste is quite refreshing with again the mix of spice overshadowing the malts and hops. Overall, a very good tripel but still not enough to make this the best Trappist.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2004
at 13:16
8.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottled (BB 04/2005)
Golden yellow color, steady creamy white head. Aroma is parfumic, citron. Taste has malts, hops and it is very bitter. Not alcoholic bitter but like a grapefruit. Excellent. (8/4/9/4/17 4.2)
Re-rate, bottled (BB 12/2004)
Golden yellow, hazy. Cloudy white head. Aroma of citrus and grapefruit. Bitter, citric and malty - perfect palate. Long bitter and warming aftertaste, I like this more than Orval. (8/3/9/5/17 4.2)
Golden yellow color, steady creamy white head. Aroma is parfumic, citron. Taste has malts, hops and it is very bitter. Not alcoholic bitter but like a grapefruit. Excellent. (8/4/9/4/17 4.2)
Re-rate, bottled (BB 12/2004)
Golden yellow, hazy. Cloudy white head. Aroma of citrus and grapefruit. Bitter, citric and malty - perfect palate. Long bitter and warming aftertaste, I like this more than Orval. (8/3/9/5/17 4.2)
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Apr 2004
at 13:38
7.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottled. Pours a big white head that takes up half a tulip glass, then settles to a half inch of meringue. Body is dark yellow with some wit-like cloudiness. Smell is "clean," with a citrus and yeasty highlight. Alcohol is very upfront in the taste, and low level carbonation gives it an asti spumanti feel. Sweetness is vinous rather than malty. As others have suggested on the forums, this may be a hard style to understand. I certainly like it, but I keep expecting more of a "big beer" taste. But with this, I finally got to celebrate Easter with some beer made by monks (Oooh... I coulda had a Salvator, too!)
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Apr 2004
at 16:43
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Pours deep, ruddy red-brown with a large tan head (including some dark brown sediment). Cherries, raisin, toast, spice, and a touch of banana in the aroma. Flavor is fairly dry with vinous character, caramel, and touches of cherry around the edges. High level of carbonation gives this beer a zesty mouthfeel. Finishes with alcohol and bitterness. A good beer but not distinctive.
Tried
on 11 Apr 2004
at 22:42
8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottled
Dark brown. Big creamy brown head. Aroma is fruity, a bit sweet, same time malty and alcoholic. Medium-bodied, carbonated, malty. Bitter aftertaste. (7/5/8/4/15)
Re-rate bottled BB 10/2004: Parfumic and complex aroma, smooth carbonated palate. (9/4/8/4/17)
Dark brown. Big creamy brown head. Aroma is fruity, a bit sweet, same time malty and alcoholic. Medium-bodied, carbonated, malty. Bitter aftertaste. (7/5/8/4/15)
Re-rate bottled BB 10/2004: Parfumic and complex aroma, smooth carbonated palate. (9/4/8/4/17)
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Apr 2004
at 13:20
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
This Dubbel poured a clear brown body with a huge off white head that was very creamy and long lasting with excellent Belgian Lace on the glass. The aroma is lightly malty with alcohol and a breadiness in the background. Slightly sweet with a short, acidic finish. A good Dubbel, but I couldn't rate it any higher than this.
Tried
on 30 Mar 2004
at 17:48
8.4/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle – Poured a red/brown quite opaque brew with a huge head with standard retention. Great carbonation with strong body. Aroma is very spicy with no alcohol noticeable. Taste is great with the usual Belgian style mix of malts and hops with some added roastiness to that one. The spice mix is a bit stronger then expected but overall very enjoyable. Overall, this is a good beer but I was expecting something greater from this well known Trappist. Re-rate 2008: Creamy texture, no alcohol, bubblegum-like taste. Very well balance from a very fresh bottle. Wow
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Mar 2004
at 11:40
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Westmalle produces a huge creamy head that floats on a hazy medium yellow body. Lightly malty with a a spicy, clean, lemon scent. The flavor is slightly sweet followed by a touch of sour bitterness. Typically light bodied with a dry finish. Clean and refreshing.
Tried
on 24 Mar 2004
at 16:10
6.6/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
2003? bottle. Burgundy red with deeper chestnut browns, fizzy (as expected) but a big off-white head with some brown flecks in it. bottle conditioned. Aroma of bittersweet prunes, light phenols, dry gingerbread?, and a touch of sweet molasses. Hmm, this is very light, much more so than expected or hoped for. Good cinnamon, brown sugar, earthiness, rhubarb, dry raspberry and a touch of lightly sweet chocolate. Very watery consistency, finish has some alcohol on it and a touch of astringency. Not terribly impressed, will try again at some point.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jan 2004
at 19:17