7.1

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Goudgeel bier met schuim. Smaak is bitterzoet en kruidig met wat honing, sinaasappel, banaan, wat rijpe peer en een sterke alcohol smaak. Op zich een heel degelijk bier maar iets "over de top" qua smaakervaring vind ik.

6.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Tripel brewed by Batteliek, the brewpub opened in 2022 in the deconsecrated church of Battel in Mechelen by owner Het Anker - now itself owned by Huyghe, so I wonder if this Batteliek project has any chance of survival. In case it has not, I purchased this 'tree-like tripel' at the Carrefour supermarket of Sint-Denijs-Westrem, because I had only one Batteliek beer before and wanted to have a broader view on their output, given my longstanding sympathy for Het Anker. Thinnish but stable, snow white, shred-lacing, partially opening head on a crystal clear, pure 'old gold' coloured robe with vague apricot tinge and visible sparkling throughout, turning misty with sediment. Aroma of breakfast cereals, unsugared oatmeal porridge, 'oude jenever', dried apricot, candied peach even, banana peel, clove, birch tree leaves in summer, linseed, grass, old musty lemon zest, vague hints of old cumin seed, sugarfree cookies, triple sec, violets, fennel. Fruity onset, sweetish peach, banana, pear and slight medlar, lively carbonation even for a tripel, with pronounced minerally effects; smooth-edged white-bready and cereally pale malt core with a layer of honeyish sugars on top - yet not as much as in the majority of Belgian tripels nowadays, I must admit. Slight herbal aspects in the finish - cumin, clove and anise spring to mind but only very distantly so, while a juniper berry-like aspect becomes much more pronounced, its bitter side merging with the leafy, slightly peppery hops - the promised citrusiness of which remains altogether very restrained and 'dry' instead of juicy. Somewhat 'rooty' finish in which part of the honeyish sweetness survives, along with that typical smoothness of oats - all warmed up by a notably 'jenever'-like booziness, both in flavour and in harshness, to be honest. Maybe this beer contains more alcohol than it can bear - a flaw often seen in strong beers not up to the job - but for me, it felt a bit wry and unbalanced, especially considering the tripel style that was intended here. Then there is this weird, bitter, juniper berry-like 'alkaloid' aspect I disliked - and which I could not identify unless actual juniper berries, but I cannot find any data anywhere that would confirm that. Not a very big success for me - the original Gouden Carolus Tripel is, at least in my recollection, a whole lot better.

6.5

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Canned 330ml. -from Wild Lab Liege. Unclear orange/golden coloured, small off-white head, caramel and light ripe fruits in the nose. Sweet malty, bready, caramel, light ripe fruits and some alcohol with sweet finish.

6.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

Can on the 1940 St Pancras International to Broadstairs, picked up from the Carrefour at Brux Midi, 10/10/2025.
Clear golden with a good sized lasting white cap.
Nose is sweet malts, peach, straw, melon.
Taste comprises sugars, straw, caramel, stewed fruits, kick of booze.
Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a lick of booze.
Okay for a Tripel ... not silly sweet.

6.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Slightly hazy golden pour with a fluffy white head. Aromas of white bread, yeast, lemon, some banana. Taste is sugar, white bread, peaches, apricots, (lots of) sugar, peppery finish. Slightly boozy. OK overall, but a bit all over the place.

6.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

5.9

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

5.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 4.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Can 33 cl. Pours a deep brown with an orange hue and a small, creamy cappuchinoish head. An aroma more of ashtray than coffee. Medium body, lightly sweet roastiness with coffee notes. Dry finish with no real bitterness. 060525

7

Intense coffee bomb. Base beer could be a bit more full bodied though