De Leite Enfant Terriple Blonde Triple

 De Leite Enfant Terriple Blonde Triple.

8.2 % ABV, 43 IBU, Brouerij de Leite, Oostkamp, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium. 

Clear, bright golden hue, ivory froth atop.

In the nose: bright, slightly spicy, hint of bubblegum. Some citrus. 

In the mouth: bold and beautiful. Bright and spicy, with increasing alcohol boarding the palate. Bubblegum feel is here, but not overpowering. Nice and warming. Just like I like ‘em. 

The love between Femme Fatale and Bon Homme issued a sprog! The first triple beer by Brewery De Leite was born. The couple baptised their first offspring under the name ‘Enfant Terriple’. A ‘unpredictable’ playful beer. (do you see the pun with ‘triple’?). The Enfant Terriple is a ‘devilishly’ sunny blond beer of 8.2 volume with a playful nose. A subtle bitterness with a faint-fine citrus touch that is enveloped in a sober spicy malt taste. The agreeable bitterness lingers long. For connoisseurs with a bright outlook on life.

Ursa Minor Drunk Gandalf Belgian-style Tripel Ale

 

Ursa Minor Drunk Gandalf Belgian-style Tripel Ale.

7.7 % SBV, 15 IBU, Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: banana and bubblegum, right off the bat. Citrus and spice and everything nice. 

In the mouth: flood of sweet and spicy flavors blasts the palate. Bright and lively, sweet, strong, with consummate grit. Massive texture, thoroughly magical. Delicious Belgian maltiness, enchanting yeast, sublime hops. And that boozy lilt to take it all the way to Mt. Doom.

. “A beer is never late, it arrives precisely when it means to” -Gandalf. This beer is complex, light, floral, and spicy. The alcohol level has a warming quality about it that will kick you in the butt if you aren’t careful. Styrian Golding hops provide a clean bitterness that balances out the Belgian character of the beer.

Dangerous Man Velour Hen Belgian Tripel Ale

 Dangerous Man Velour Hen Belgian Tripel Ale.

8.5% ABV, 21 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, Minnesota. 

Wonder what on earth a “velour hen” is? It helps if you can remember way back thirteen years ago when Tallgrass had a tripel called Velvet Rooster.

Clear, bright golden hue, ivory head. 

In the nose: bubblegum pops first, slightly fruity, yeasty…earmarks of s tripel.

In the mouth: sweet continues on the palate, with small bitterness, and encroaching high alcohol beating on the brain. Candi sugar and brash bubblegum, splashes of stone fruit and glimmers of citrus. 

Not too shabby of an attempt there at this slippery style

A velour golden masterpiece. This Belgian tripel wraps you in its smooth warmth, while leaving you refreshed and craving more. It dazzles like the bbq elusive Velour Hen: a little candy-like sweetness, a little fruity and just a smidge spicy!. 

Victory Merry Monkey

 Victory Merry Monkey. Belgian/style ale with cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg.

10 % ABV, 35 IBU, Victory Brewing, Downington, PA. 

Christmas is long over, the New Year in full swing, what better time to cozy up with a holiday ale?

Clear, with an odd complexion..,dark orange? Ruddy red? Light burgundy? With a brief white head. 

In the nose…sweet, fruity, tart, spicy. Quite a lot going on. Rather delightful.

In the mouth: holiday spices lead the surge. Gingerbread dunked in cranberry juice. Orange peel shows itself, mingled with nutmeg, all on top of a tripel, the most of which remains is the alcohol level. A warming, and charming,

This Belgian-style Holiday Ale combines the beloved flavor profile of Golden Monkey with notes of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg to deliver a delightfully smooth finish, perfect for merry gatherings with family and friends.

Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale

 Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale. 

9% ABV, 18 IBU, Allagash Brewing, Portland, ME. 

After more than 20 years, Allagash is back in Minnesota. Can those guys hold a grudge! Just because one distributor in a particular state goes out of business and owes you thousands of dollars, it doesn’t mean they all will. 

So, I’m returning to this beer that I first took notes on back in 2003, but forget about those. New notes this time.

Clear, with slight chill haze, bright golden, large ivory froth.

In the nose: citrus and spice, orange and coriander. Slight sweetness.

In the mouth: more spice tingling the palate. High alcohol warms up the insides. Pleasant hopping keeping the mouth happy. Medium bodied, thoroughly enjoyable. 

An altogether excellent take on this Belgian style. Good stateside renditions are rare and I’m overjoyed that we have back. (And in 6-packs!)

This strong golden ale carries herbal notes and passion fruit in the aroma. Suggestions of honey and biscuit are found in the beer's complex, varied palate. Brewed with our 2-row barley blend, hopped with Nugget and Hallertau, then fermented on our house yeast, Tripel offers up a complex, yet dry finish.

St. Feuillien Tripel

St. Feuillien Tripel.

8.5 % ABV. Brasseries St. Feuillien, Le Roeulx, Belgium. 

The beers of the Brasserie St. Feuillien have appeared six times here in the Nib. Grisette, Grand Cru, Wit, Saison, Speciale, and a collaboration with the Green Flash brewery called Biere de L'amitie. But not the Triple. Did I never tap a keg of it between December of 2010 and when I left the Blue Nile in April of 2014? Possible, but it seems unlikely. Perhaps it just slipped my mind when I had it on tap, and didn't use the opportunity to enter it here. Just doesn't seem like me, though.

So, some bottles showed up at the store I work at now, only 4 packs of 11.2's, for $20 I 'd rather pick up a bomber for $10. But that's okay. It reminds me of the time back in March of 2003 when a distributor rep gave me a bomber of this triple from a brewery I hadn't even heard of before then. I wrote the following words for BeerAdvocate.com and gave it 4.5 out of 5, a fell 12.8% higher than the average. I guess I must have really liked it. 

Clear golden hue, and a towering, fantastic, huge white head. 

Aroma is gorgeous and spicy, with citrus and honey notes. So far, it's a perfect profile for a tripel without even taking a taste.

And, that taste? Divine! Utterly lovely, light, buouyant, with a dazzling hop prominence at first, and a good touch of graininess in the texture. Sweet, light, and scrumptious, and the sugar starts to take prominence here in the middle.

An utterly unreproachable tripel, and a complete delight. Top-notch tripel, beautiful beer.

After 18 years, do I still like it? Yeah, a lot. Just the same and more. And I'm trying to figure out how we can get the young beer geek crowd into Belgian tripels, instead of thinking the only things worth drinking are over-fruited marshmallow sours and DDH DIPAs. There's got to be a way. Beers this delicious should not be ignored. How did the love of Belgians seemingly skip a generation? Something's wrong here, people, and it's got to be fixed. 

This beer has a white, smooth and very compact head. Its pale amber colour is very characteristic revealing a distinctive maltiness. It has a rich aroma with a unique combination of aromatic hops, spices and the typical bouquet of fermentation – very fruity. Secondary fermentation in the bottle gives it a unique aroma due to the presence of yeast. St-Feuillien Triple has a very strong and exceptionally lingering taste thanks to its density and its long storage period. Whether served as a refreshing aperitif in summer or savoured during the winter months, the Triple is a connoisseur’s beer par excellence.

Great Lakes Tripel Dog Dare Belgian Style Triple Ale

Great Lakes Tripel Dog Dare Belgian Style Triple Ale. 

9% ABV, 30 IBU. Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH. 

Clear...-ish. There are floaties about. This is not an old bottle. I purchased it in December, I believe. Or, early January. 

Color, a bright amber. Not quite the color I desire in this style, which would be a brighter gold. They can't all be Tripel Karmeliet, I guess. Slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and spice. Slice of funk. Banana and clove? Bubblegum. Touch of floral. 

In the mouth: Starts out pulpy and sweet. Not as clean and lean as I like from this style. Big, boisterous fruit and side of spice. ABV rises up to greet with a quickness. Bubblegum bubbles over the fruit. Much malt, minor hop bitterness. Full flavors.

This may not be the best American-brewed Belgian-style tripel, but I sure do enjoy the heck out of it. 

It’s the coup de grace of all beers! Brazenly bold with spicy clove and citrus aromas, Tripel Dog Dare is fodder for the rabble-rouser and mischief-maker in all of us.​ 

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.

Inbound Halucidation 2019

Inbound Halucidation 2019. 14 % ABV.
Belgian tripel fermented with grape must.
Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, MN.

I thought that this beer had never appeared in the Nib, but apparently forgot that 2018 was the first time I dropped twenty bucks for a bottle of this stuff. (Although it's been created by the various iterations from Lucid to North Loop to Inbound, for about 8 years.)
On the first day of 2020, I did so again, and I decided tonight was the night to drink it up.


Also of note is that last year's version used their Imperial Saison, and this year's the tripel.

Clear, light crimson coloring. Slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly fruity, slightly funky. Grapes are showing, stone fruit, juicy stuff. Getting bigger and more expressive as it unwinds. Sweet, ripe, tart, and more.

In the mouth: Fruit is forward, juicy, berry-fun, and not hiding the triple. Plenty of Belgian funk, yeast, and warming alcohol. The 14 % is making itself knowing right away, not being shy in the least. Boom, boom, boom, boo. A nifty nightcap for sure.

Light bodied, refreshing, and delicious. Tangy and tasty. Juicy and boozy. I may have to go get another bottle to sock away for a special occasion.

Let's read the label, shall we?

Release your expectations and open your mind to Halucidation. Brewed somewhere in the valley between beer and wine, Halucidation is a collaboration beyond your wildest drinking dreams. Inbound’s own Belgian Tripel fermented with Frontenac grape must from Parley Lake Winery.  Halucidation is a hybrid temptation of mind-tripping proportions. deceptively light and sweet for a boozy masterpiece the seventh iteration of Halucidation is this season's greatest temptation. 

I wondered what music would pair best with this beer, and I eschewed the obvious first thoughts of something psychedelic and trippy by the Beatles, Hendrix or the Strawberry Alarm Clock, and thought that this little track by one of my favorite bands would do the trick. Put on your headphones, sports fans, for "We Are Normal" from the second LP by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, 1968's "The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse"
They're singing just for you covered in sequins:

Unmapped Disorientation Belgian-style Tripel

Unmapped Disorientation Belgian-style Tripel. 8.9 % ABV. 22 IBU.
Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Clear, golden/amber color, slim, short-lived off-white head.

In the nose: Belgian delights. Candi sugar, bubblegum, spices, fruit.

In the mouth: Big booze pours onto the palate from the start. Hops buzz, malt tickles, Belgian yeast gives it it's all, and spicy/fruity flavors remain at play. This has all the hallmarks of a terrific tripel. Personally, I enjoy it.

Brewed with malts and hops from the European continent, Disorientation pays homage to the great brewing traditions of the Trappist monks. Belgian candi sugar and high-cropping yeast take this beer to new heights with elaborate ester flavors that compliment its malt sweetness

Town Hall Tripel Vine

Town Hall Tripel Vine. Red Wine Barrel Aged Belgian-style Tripel Ale. 11.8 % ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, light crimson coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet and sharp. The tannins, fruit notes, and oak of the red wine barrel come through first. Underneath, the sweetness of the tripel pops out. Barrel's done it's work.

In the mouth: Repeat. Juicy red wine flavors dominate the palate. Barrel flavors have covered up the character of the tripel. Not that I mind. Light-ish bodied, pulsating with the flavors of the barrel. Alcohol strength is roaring up, and spilling all over. Quite tasty. I'm digging this a bunch.

Belgian style Tripel aged in red wine barrels.

Venn Batch 125: Belgian Tripel (return of Batch 11)

Venn Batch 125: Belgian Tripel (return of Batch 11). 10.5 % ABV, 25 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden color, big, fuzzy white head.

In the nose: Sweetness and spice. Classic Belgian triple nose, here. Slightly sugar-y, light and airy spice, stone fruit, a touch of citrus, and a bit of bubblegum. Lively and invigorating.

In the mouth: All that and more appear on the palate. Sharp, sweet, spicy and delightful. Alcohol comes in a little hot. Vibrant. Lustrous. Light bodied and beautiful.
Just a little sting of the booze riding with all the other flavors.

A very nice interpretation of a favorite Belgian style of mine. Well done, Venn.



Complex, strong, dry. Venn's take on a classic Belgian Tripel. 

Malts: Pilsner, Vienna

Hops: Warrior (United States), Tettnang (Germany)

Yeast: Belgian Ale 

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale

Town Hall Trip'd Out Tripel Ale. 11.8% ABV. Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: bubblegum, fruit, sweetness. Slightly sharp, alcoholic.

In the mouth: A sweet, malty, fruity thing in the mouth. More bubblegum. Sweet, sharp and boozy. Mellow malt. Not as dry and spicy as I'd like from a triple, but not bad, not bad at all. Nothing too complex or complicated, easy-drinking, despite the strength. Pleasant stab at this Belgian style.

Belgian-style Tripel Ale brewed with candy sugar and honey.

Scaldis Triple Blond Ale

Scaldis Blonde Ale Tripel, Brasserie Dubuisson, Pipaix,Belgium. 10.5% ABV.

I can't believe I've never had this before. Where has it been? Here in the Nib, I've included only a few beers from Brasserie Dubuisson, those being the Scaldis Noel (they're called Scaldis in the States and Bush in Belgium, probably due to issues with Anheuser-Busch.) and the Cuvee des Trolls 10th Anniversary edition. Over in BeerAdvocate.com, where I posted my reviews before starting this blog in 2010, I've had, in addition to those, the original Cuvee des Trolls, Peche Mel, Scaldis Amber, and Bush de Noel Premium. How did this one escape me? Well, I finally found it, marked down at a local store.

I can't help second-guessing my glassware choices.
I hunted for my Scaldis glass, which must have gotten
broken long ago, but should definitely have gone with
a fancier Belgian chalice, rather than this simple snifter.

To the eye: slim, white head, murky appearance, amber hue, very rustic-looking.

In the nose: a little sour at first, slightly fruity, touch of hops.

In the mouth: Hops, fruit, alcohol. Bigness in each. A load of crispy, cracker-y malt on the palate, but high hops, booze, yeast loom over all. Large and boozy. Not that that's ever a bad thing. Big, boozy, Belgian-y, yum. I enjoyed this big bottle until the night came to a crashing end. Funky, fruity, wild and weird. These guys....man, these guys. Note to self: Go out and get the rest of the Scaldis', bring 'em all into the Nib.

In this tripel, the in-bottle re-fermentation has given an intense effervescence to the aromas of the Bush Blonde. The re-fermentation has also sympathetically developed the Blonde's well-rounded, tender character. 

I yanked that off of Untappd, not sure where they got it from. This is the back label: "Scaldis Blond Triple is Brasserie Dubuisson's golden ale. Sharing the finesse and balance of all the delicious Scaldis beers, it is an elegant and day ale with wonderful orchard fruit aromas of orange and peach. And because it is re-fermented in the bottle, it has the natural sparkle that perfectly compliments it's flavors. Suitable for cellaring."

Indeed Tripel

Indeed Tripel. 9.2% ABV. 44 IBU. Indeed Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Clear, golden-hued, slimmish, ivory head, looking fine.

In the nose: lightly spicy, fairly fruity, low hop bitterness, just enough malt.

In the mouth: high spice, high heat. Bold, brash, high alcohol. Bubblegum, fruit, spice. Clean, lean-bodied, light, bright, and delightful. Nicely spicy. Good triple and you can drink it.

I was surprised by this at the taproom, didn't know they'd ever done a tripel. Barman informs me that it's been brewed a few times before. Shame on me. This visit was the first time I've been to the taproom since December of 2016. Maybe I don't stop in as much because I don't think there are as many new beers on tap as I require. Maybe I'm wrong.

Oliphant Also Bort Belgian-style Tripel Ale.

Oliphant Also Bort. Tripel Ale. 9.2% ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI.

It's crazy. This beer has been around for nearly two and a half years, and I've just recently got my first taste of it at the taproom. I'm never there when it's on, or it's brother, just plain Bort. You can be sure that I would have if it were, for I certainly wouldn't have skipped a beer of a favorite style named after such a great Simpsons reference.

I'd seen it in a crowler recently at a local liquor store, but passed, knowing that I'd be at the taproom soon and wanted to get it straight from the source. Went with a glass growler on this, instead of the crowler. This way, instead of having to finish one can in one night, I can reseal it and finish it off tomorrow. See how smart I am. S-M-R-T! I am so smart! I mean, S-M-A-R-T!

Enough palaver, it's time to drink some Also Bort. (And maybe, just maybe, someday I'll get some regular Bort, too. We can't have everything we want all at once, can we?)

To the eye: Clear, bright golden hue, under a slim, but sturdy, ivory head.

In the nose: Classic triple aromatics, slightly sweet, fruity, spicy, candi sugar and bubblegum. Orange, peach, and puree of pineapple.

In the mouth: Sweetness and spice lead the charge again, with moderate hop bitterness, and mostly malt on the playing field. High alcohol is also apparent from the start, but it's not troubling in any way shape or fashion, not yet. As I mentioned above, I'm not finishing this in one sitting, no mama, I'll drink half now and down the rest tomorrow....or, maybe I won't, and I'll just wish I hadn't in the morning? With all the fruit and the spice and the booze, I am throughly digging it. It certainly reminds me of Delirium Tremens from the days when that beer was novel and fresh.

Remarkably smooth and terrifically tasty. Starts sweet, ends dry. It only tastes a little bit like burning.

(If you're confused, that's another Simpsons

reference. Classic Ralph. )

In this permanent chalkboard illustration, Jeremy has used
an old Tommy Roe Greatest hits album as his canvas.
It's called 12 in a Roe, and a large Tommy looms over many
smaller Tommys. Jeremy replaced Mr. Roe with Bartholomew
J, and his miniature selves. 

also bort
dangusrous is what this is. it's also what we aim to beeeeeee. c'mon and flap, flap away with us to a land where everyone is also bort. that's nice! peace.

Bonus: I got a keg of it recently that I will soon tap at Acadia. Every day we can all drink all the Also Bort we want!

Victory Golden Monkey

Here's another one from the sample man, bringing me way back in time. I first wrote about Victory's 9.5% ABV Belgian-style triple back in March of 2003. Or was that the last time I wrote about it? In any case, it's the one on BeerAdvocate. The notes are rather interesting. Here they are:

Nov o6 02 bottle. Important. The Sept 06 bottles I'd purchased were undrinkable.

Color is clear and a honeyish golden, the white head is sadly short.
Aroma, is out of this world! Gorgeous! Citrus is on top, mingled with more fruit (peach, apricot), honey, spice, straw, a touch of sugar. Ticklish nose, deliriously arousing.
Texture is excellent, balance is perfect. Hops pounce upon the palate, then swiftly fade back. Delicious maltiness! Mouthfeel is utterly unreproachable, warm, yeasty, and giving. Finish is sweet, heavenly, nearly interminable.

Alcohol content is quite sneaky, the fantastic flavor beguiles you so long that you don't notice until the kick comes in. Still, this is one monkey I would love to have on my back! (Label design is also among my all-time favorites!)


Footnote: I was so taken by this brew on our first introduction that I put it on the list at my restaurant/bar. One of the musicians in our Tuesday night band last summer had a serious monkey fetish (tied into the "Hundredth Monkey" concept...on one tune he made monkey sounds...). This was the beer for him! And, when one woman asked a bartender for our "sweetest beer", he chose GM, and she was an instant fan. The furor spread, and for a short time in the summer of '02, Tuesday night was Golden Monkey night at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis. Ah, memories.

And here's the official description, just for kicks: A magical, mystical Monkey whose golden sole glows with the wisdom of the ages. This radiant ale is rich in the spirited tradition of Belgian-inspired brewing. Our Golden Monkey is both playfully delightful and profoundly satisfying. Exotic spice from the East rounds out this global journey to joy. Get on board. This Monkey's bound for glory!

Dogfish Head Beer To Drink Music To Belgian-style Tripel

Dogfish Head Beer To Drink Music To Belgian-style Tripel, 9% all. by vol. Brewed and bottled by Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Delaware.

Official Beer of Record Store Day. Cool. I will celebrate by listening to Wayne Shorter on a DVD.

Clear, light golden coloring, slim white head.

Aroma pops with stone fruit & some citrus, peppers, other spices, bubblegum, Belgian yeast. Bright, fruity, funky.

In the mouth: flash of fruit, splash of spice, alcohol buzz, and candy floss. Malt and spice are big in this one. Medium-bodied, easy-ish drinking', save for the oncoming alcohol. "A Belgian-style ale brewed with sweet orange peel, green cardamom, peppercorns, and vanilla." Vanilla? I didn't catch that at all. Let's try again. ....Oh sure, I can see that. Mmmm, yeah, how could I miss it?

Nice, interesting take on the Belgian style triple. I like this one just fine.

Val-Dieu Tripel

The Sample Man came 'round again, and this time he brought me a good ol' beer I haven't had in a long time. Val-Died Tripel. Took notes on a 750 ml bottle way back, almost 11 years ago, in late November of 2004. Let's take a look at those notes:

Right now, I'm in desperate need of relief from an excrutiating night at work, and this bottle just so happens to wait in the fridge. Let's hope it does the trick!

Untwisting the wire cage, almost there, and POP!, goes the cork with no effort or urging at all! Someone could have gotten hurt that way!
It's a foamy gusher, too, the suds filling the glass immediately, and spilling out of the sides, soI'll take time to admire the appearance, while it dwindles down. Hazy golden color, gorgeous, lace-weaving head, crystalline, pure white, fluffy as they come.

Aroma: light and angelic, a sublime sweetness, distinct candi sugar, a little fruity, spicy, ethereal and ultimately uplifting.

Now, to taste: very sweet, candy-ish, with fruit notes, peach, apricot, and orange, in attendance as well. Light in body, but long in flavor, with the sweetness profoundly impacted upon the palate, stays on board and tickles the senses for a few sweet seconds, then lightly drifts off. Flavor gets lemony, more spicy, prickly and sticky, near the end of the first glass, but let's not forget, this is a full 750ml bottle I'm exploring.

I consider what uses and occasions are ideal for this brew, and they can only be times when you need to bring up the happiness in your life, (like now, for weak and weary me), or when you're already happy, but could stand a little extra joy, what the hell. It's here in this bottle, just watch the cork, and get ready to slurp up some foam!

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Tripel Vison

A few years ago, a question was posed on the boards of the Beer Advocate.com website that caught my attention. "How many beers from a single brewery have you had?" the user asked. Some answers came out, like so: "24 from Victory for me." "I've got 36 from Three Floyds." "I'd say about 40 from Dogfish Head." So, I did some adding, strictly going by the reviews that I'd posted on that site, and came up with my numbers. "205 from Town Hall for me." That's it, thread over.

That was a few years ago, so the number has to be, oh, 240 by now. I've been trying out the beers and writing about them for almost 13 years now. Sometimes an old one comes back, and none of the staff had ever heard about it. Like the Belgian-style tripel, Tripel Vision. I saw a beer with that name had been released and check out my reviews. Looks like I added it to the BA database back in September of 2004. Here are those notes from then: 7.6% ABV.

Wearing a coat of hazy, deep orange, proudly behatted by a fine layer of foam, Tripel Vision looks the part, and is off to a good start.

Aroma starts funky and tart, heavy citrus, thick orange and lemon, with cloves and coriander, and other spices entering the mix. Candy sugar peeps up a bit, giving this complex nose another twist, and further fruits add another voice, peach and apricot have their say. Very well-rounded, sweet, and satisfying.

To taste, though, that's the true reckoning...Full flavor, right from the start, fruit and sweetness show their colors, and flood the palate. Very delightful fandango on the tongue, with a good, full body, lush, tasty character. Weighs a bit on the palate, but that's a fine thing in a brew like this, it hangs down enough to force one into contemplation, and in this hurly-burly world, that's a damned necessity. The imbiber succombs to a situation of slow coinsideration and rumination. "What is this beer doing to me?" he asks. "Come to think of it, what is life doing to me? I'll take the beer, please, for life is good, when the beer is, too...enjoy these moments, they are far too rare."

Things like that...yeasty, strong, and sophisticated and subtle in it's sweetness, this is a unique stab at a tripel, different from many I've had, but superior to others, as well. Just a well-crafted ale, and I'm so glad I don't have to join a cloister to enjoy it. I like being alone with my thoughts, but not that alone!