La Trappe Trappist Tripel

La Trappe Trappist Tripel. 

8 % ABV, 24 IBU. Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. 

This sort of thing just keeps happening. I check out my reviews on this blog about a particular brewery, and am shocked--shocked, I say!--that one of their offerings has slipped past my attention and never made it here on the Nib. Yes, that has happened with the Tripel from La Trappe. Have I not had it in over 10 years? A crime! (Looking back at old posts, Dubbel and Quadrpel appeared here when I had it on tap at the Blue Nile. The backbier showed up when it was on tap at Acadia Cafe. Others were bottles purchased at stores. And none was the tripel. Still can't believe this one got past me.)

Well, let's make up for that right away. Luckily, there was exactly one bottle on the shelves at the store where I currently work, and I bought that and now I will drink it, and write fresh notes. 

Lightly hazed, bright golden/amber hue, slim white-ish head. 

In the nose: Sweet and mysterious. Honey, peach, apricot, slice of citrus, with the twist of Belgian yeast adding a level of funk and barnyard. Ripe fruit, candy, and a touch of the wild. 

In the mouth: Slight kiss of the hops to kick it off, just enough bitter for balance. Citrus peel, stone fruit, a touch of honey. Lean bodied, and despite the high ABV, excellently easily drinkable. A joy to consume, hits all the right notes, all the way down the throat. Classic rendition of this style. And flat out delicious, let us not forget. 

Here's what they say: A golden blonde Trappist ale with a white head. Fruity aromas of peach and apricot combined with a floral aroma. La Trappe Tripel is a classic Trappist ale with a powerful and full flavour. In addition, this ale has a candy-sweet and light malty character. The aftertaste is bitter and slightly dry.

Now, just for kicks, a look at old notes, retrieved from BeerAdvocate.com, published there in March of 2003: A vintage 11.2 oz. bottle, exact year unknown. This is my first tasting of an aged beer, but I didn't do the aging, it was a gift from the distributor's sales rep. "Six or seven years old," he said, "Original recipe, with the x's on it, we were just storing it in the office, and it's probably reached it's peak. Had the dubbel last night, nice and chocolately." So why give it to me? Is he gunning for the title of Coolest Sales Rep Ever?

There's actually a "best by" stamp, but it's hard to read. "08:46 02 04"? Does it have another 10 months to go? I certainly don't care, I'm drinking it now!

Color: murky, peachy orange, with a few brown flecks nestled at the bottle of the glass. Head is white, ample, but short-lived.

Aroma feels arcane and hoary, like something from seven centuries ago, not seven years. Deep with citrus and spice, but mellowed, too. I almost don't want to drink it, and would keep this mysterious and lovely smell in my nose as long as it can last! Most akin to orange candy, glittered with spice.

Taste? Delirious, and a trifle devastating. ABV is kicking a little from the start, but the light, but complex flavor is a bit overwhelming. Hops are in charge, and fandango along the tongue for a turn or two, never really quitting the spotlight. A certain tartness soon overtakes at the end, while sugar and spice continue to cameo. 

Sadly, at the very end, my initial excitement has worn off, as has the brew's complexities. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, and the flavors have died down quite a bit. No doubt, my friend was right, and this bottle is in it's final stages. In my last few swallows, a little extra something reaches the back of the mouth. Is it the yeast? I pour the entire contents of the bottle in, and down it all...fuller, darker, boozier, an excellent end.

That was nice. But not earth-shattering. Maybe that other vintage bottle, the dubbel, will be different?

...

and now, enjoy my take on the relabeled Koningshoven Tripel, from 12 of 02:

Let's see about this...they're no longer "La Trappe", yet they still call it a Trappist on the label. I'm still not sure what's up with this.

Appearance: lovely amber/ orange color, with a generous, buzzing, bubbly head. Aroma: sweet as can be, fantastically sugary. Orange, honey, sweet fruits, (peach, apricot, melon) and more in the nose. Not too sugary, though, rather mellow, actually. 

Medium body, with a profusion of hops to delight the tongue. Light carbonation. Lacks in complexity, though.

So, how does it compare to it's predecessor, La Trappe Tripel?

Wouldn't you know it, someone gave me an 8 year old bottle, the original stuff! ...darker color, some brown spots on the foam, aroma more pungent and sour, as well as sweet, and a vast cornucopia of fruits, more citrus and grape, cherries and berries...hops are huger, chocolate flavors show up!...alcohol stronger... more more than your average tripel..let's hear it for cellaring!

Though it's not fair to compare with an aged sample, this newer version does not compare to what I remember from fresher versions.

Brunswick Bierworks & La Trappe Ora Et Labora Doppelbock

Brunswick Bierworks & La Trappe Ora Et Labora. Doppelbock. Brunswick Bierworks, East York, Ontario. Canada. 7.5% ABV. 30 IBU.

I'm always about the proper glassware, so it's time to break out my La Trappe chalice for this one, lacking any Brunswick Bierworks chalice, that is.

Clean, deep burgundy color, slim brownish head.

In the nose: Dark fruit: plum, raisin. Molasses, brown sugar. Big, sweet richness, but not too much.

In the mouth: More plump, malty flavors. Good balance. More richness, more sweet, but all kept in check. Creeping alcohol. Clean, with a dry finish. A tasty nightcap. Even if I'm not quite ready for bed.

Editor's note: If you live where I do, and are interested in this beer, I have to apologize. I think you have to be in Ontario. I just have to write about every beer I drink, and share it here, whether you can find it locally or not. Sorry.

And to Nick, the next two are coming, sorry it took so long.

Handshake brews for a Good Cause

The first of the Brunswick bierworks handshake Brew Series serves an almighty moreish New World Double Bock named Ora et labora which translates to Work & Pray the philosophy of the La trappe monks Brewed by La Trappe's Brouwmeester Lodewijk Swinkels and Brunswick Bierworks Brewing Ambassador Christian Riemerschmid von der Heide, this collaboration weaves traditional krausen fermentation with a mighty maltbill and a unique blend of Opal, Loral, Mandarina Bavaria and Ontario Newport hops sourced from the Americas and Europe; bridging the two worlds of brewing

La Trappe Bockbier

Hey, check out what's on tap!

And I wrote these notes back in 2008, probably from a bottle.

Enjoy:


Murky plummish purply-brown coloration, creamy beige/brown head, slipping into a thin ring.

Rich, ripe fruit hits the nose...raisins, plum, a bit of fig, dates?just a tad?...a touch of port...

Tasting: Snappy, then smooth. Mellow mouthfeel overall, but plump with malty flavor. Yeast and malt are king here, and we've got a very Belgian trappist-y Dutch-style bock. How many of those have you had lately?

More I drink of this, the more I like it...I'll repeat mellow again, and it's just that kind of deep satisfaction I get from the Trappist ales, an enveloping feeling, the seeps out from the consumption of the brew and into the very heart of the drinker.

Hmmm: IBU: 36. Malts: pale, caramel, munich, barley, wheat and rolled oats. Hops: Hallertau, Northern Brewer, and Spalt.

Lightly spicy, a little funky, but mostly a fruity affair, but uplifting, and exalting.

Am I tasting the silence? I might actually be!

La Trappe Jubilaris

La Trappe Jubilaris, for the 25th anniversary of one of the monks. I'd read the label but the type is so small, and I didn't bring my glasses. Let's just open up this bottle and see what's inside.

Bold, bright amber coloring, slim, off-white head. Looks every bit like a Belgian-style pale ale.

Aroma: First sniff: Banana cream pie. Spice. Fruit. Belgian trappist yeast. Yeah, it's got it going on. Just lovely.

Let's taste it: Little bit of grit. Lush, tasty, smooth malt, Minor hops. Very nice, indeed. 6% ABV. Smooth and delicious. Yum. It's a good trappist beer, and you can drink it.

Wish I had more to say, but what I said says it. Enjoy, but don't go in expecting anything awesome. Just really good. And sometimes that's good enough.

La Trappe Isid'or Oak-aged Trappist Ale

La Trappe Isid'or Oak-aged Trappist Ale. 12.7 % fluid ounces. 7.5% ABV.

The first barrel-aged La Trappe brew was so expensive I steered clear of it. One I tasted it, I regretted that mistake and bought this bottle the very same day, similarly expensive. Sorry, but I forgot how much. Somewhere between $12 and $15. So, here's a regular Belgian-style pale ale from the Netherlands from an oak barrel. Let;s get to it. It's been sitting in my DBF (dedicated beer fridge) for about 3 months, and tonight's the night to tackle it.

Appearance: Deep, dark burgundy coloration, very slim, soon gone head.

Aroma: leaps right out at you, screaming …what? wine? bourbon? cognac? what barrel is involved here. It does not say. And I haven't even brought it up to my nose, I've only sat erect in my chair, with the aroma leaping out from the glass. Let's go in…whiskey? brandy? I just can't nail it. There was definitely something in those barrels, because I'm not just getting oak, plenty of richness, fruit, and booze oozing out of the nose. Grapes, berries, leather, plum, dates…tobacco, brandy, …yes.

Taste: the barrel's work greets the tongue faster than the base ale does. Lots of oak-y, barrel-y, I'm still not sure, but feeling very brandy/cognac-y like goodness. Very deep stuff, and deliriously delicious. The base beer is mild and lovely enough to buoy any barrel-ation. Plenty of dark fruit flavors mash up against plenty of booze . A brilliant blend.

Let's read the label a minute: "La Trappe Isid'or was specially brewed to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Beerbrewery de Koningshoeven and was named after Brother Isidorus the first brewer of the O.L.V. Koningshoeven Abbey. The first brew of this ceremonial brew was aged in oak barrels. This aging ensures the balanced and rich taste of this unique, exclusive Isid'or Oak Aged."

La Trappe Dubbel

As you may know, part of this blog is covering my history. I've had a long history with La Trappe. Picked up a bottle of the dubbel yesterday, drank it down tonight, looking at my notes from March, 2003:


An old favorite, and, dagnabbit, I always stick by my first loves...
Deep cherry red color, creeping into a purple, and a great, creamy, long-lasting head. The aroma is thick, full and rich with fruit, fresh and uplifting, citrusy, soft, and vinous (meaning:grapey, grapey, grapey). Lively alcoholic notes, but,still thoroughly mellow. Texture is also delicious, and smooth, and, well, this is not too complex, actually juuuust right. Extraordinarily drinkable. This is deep, rich, full, utterly delicious, with a long and lovely finish. Small bitterness, huge, sweet, malt component. Spicy, and smooth, and, well, not dazzling, but dependably delightful.

...
here's my take on the Koningshoven bottling, from some time in '02:
Appearance: deep, dark brown, with a smallish head. Looks good for a dubbel, but I've seen better.
Aroma: just right for style, a lovely, sweet, rich, chocolatey, fruity melange of deliciousness. Toasty, tasty, hoppy, and loaded with mouth-filling maltiness.
Very smooth and drinkable. A fairly nice dubbel, probably a notch or so below the LaTrappe bottlings. But having recently sampled the higher tier of dubbels (westveletern & such), the bar has been raised for my palate. A more affordable version of a very satisfying style of ale.
Their new slogan is a tickle, too: "Taste the Silence." Sure, I'll be doing that just after I dance to the architecture!
------------------------------------------

there we have it, two reviews in one,

La Trappe Isid'or

La Trappe Isid'or, named for Isidorus, the first brewing monk in the history of the Konigshoeven brewery, was released several years ago (2009, I believe) for the brewery's 125th Anniversary. When it first came out, I went through about three kegs on tap at the Blue Nile, and took notes one night, but somehow lost them. Gone somewhere in the missing spaces in the internet.
I put it on again not too long ago, last year or the year before, and I kept meaning to re-review it, and never got around to it. Well, it's back, and the third time is the charm...I think...we'll see...doing it now, before I go home to take on the oak-aged version.

7.5 % ABV. Belgian-style pale ale, or strong pale ale?

The look: gorgeous burgundy, reddish-brown coloring, opaque, showing clearer at the foot of the glass, underneath a creamy off-white head of foam, a good 1/2 inch, long-lasting, looking great.

The aroma: I'm getting hops first, a particularly floral, herbal, fruity hop, grown at the monastery, called Perle. Apple and apricot with a caramel twist. Malt flavors linger here, too. Utterly pleasant and arrestingly simple in it's complexity.

The taste: Smooth plus rich. Totally even, completely cool, balance incarnate, but a wonderful blend of tingly, tangy hop sensations on the palate, with the herbal, fruity malt flavors. terrific mix. A maltier, bigger Belgian pale, close to a Belgian amber, but really a thing unto itself. This feels, to my memory, a bit different from when it was first released, but I could be completely wrong. Maybe I was expecting something bigger, thicker, boozier, perhaps, and was disappointed.

This review is a good place to include this photo taken by Bob Kreutzer of Hohensteins Distributing, of myself, Linda Haug, and Todd Haug, meeting Father Isaac of the Koningshoeven brewery, while he was on a bit of a tour for the 125th anniversay. The reception was at the Bulldog NE, and I was doing a very rare thing, which was getting up early(-ish) in the morning on a Saturday. I've yet to make it to Belgium or the Netherlands, so this was a rare chance to meet a brewing monk from a trappist monastery, who was able to shake off his vow of silence for this tour.

What this is, is excellent. If you're not chasing after trappist rainbows or Belgian unicorns, just relax and be happy, get lost and ....taste the silence. Yeah....

I like this beer a lot. you should have one.

La Trappe Quadrupel Oak-aged Trappist Ale

La Trappe Quadrupel Oak-Aged Trappist Ale. Product of Holland.

K22I 10 12:11 Batch 3. "Oak aged Quadrupel is matured in small barrels and is bottled by hand, resulting in pleasant variation from batch to batch and reflecting the living nature of an unfiltered, unpasteurized ale. We invite you to visit our website at www.latrappe.nl to learn more about Oak Aged Quadrupel, the brewery, Koningshoeven Abbey and our other Trappist Ales."  Oh, and…"Taste the silence"

Murky beige burgundy…plenty of carbonation, under a comfortable creamy solid head froth.

Aroma: Oak, vanilla, chocolate, toffee, warm, soft, wonderful.

Taste: soft, mellow, sweet, scrumptious. Caresses the mouth. Dark fruit, chocolate, incredibly mature, sophisticated, alcohol factor is fairly muted…beautifully blended.

Those are the notes I scribbled down while drinking half a bottle with a friend who graciously shared one with me after I told him that I had a hard time spending $15 on a single 12 ounce bottle of beer, no matter how good. I said that I would turn these into complete sentences or something later, but looking at them now, it says it all. Not much more to tell. It really is a wonderfully beer. One that I'd happily pay $15 for if it weren't a mere 12 ounces. What else need be said. It's all that and a little more.

La Trappe Quadrupel

Original notes from a bottle, Febrauary, 2003:

Big, creamy head. Dark burgundy color. Aroma: unbelievable! A smorgasborg of flavor and fruit, heavy on grapes, but also including subtle sensations of berries, melons, and a touch of citrus. Great, playful bitterness, lively, just-right carbonation. Long finish, the flavor sticks out, and holds on! 10%, and you can definitely taste it, but the well-balanced malt and hops cover up the sting some. Slight sourness near the end. All in all, one of a kind, in my opinion, and one of my all-time sentimental favorites.
If my ranking seems excessive, compared to some, I offer no apology or excuse. I simply cannot find fault, or wish for any change in this glorious brew!

That was my gushing, fannish blurb-ery way back when I was a gushing fan-boy. Shortly after, it disappeared due to some distribution and importing shuffles. Came back a few years ago as Koningshoeven, through Artisanal Imports, and just last year re-gained the right to call itself La Trappe.

Eight years later, having it on tap, and the Trappe is back! I can taste the silence, actually.Mmmm, silent-y....