The Brü Revü - Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Tripel

I'm always a sucker for a good Belgian Style Tripel as I began my craft beer journey with the Belgian styles and quickly fell in love with Tripels. It's not a style that is as hip in this Craft beer renaissance but one I will always try. When I saw this version that was made by Sierra Nevada in collaboration with the Monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux I was instantly intrigued. The beer poured a deep golden amber that was slightly opaque and had a lively carbonated head that dissipated quickly. The aroma had the trademark Tripel spices with the Belgian yeast and a hint of sweet fruit and pear. The taste was spicy with those trademark tripel notes and Belgian yeast. There was also an underlying floral and fruity sweetness that helped hold the spices at bay. The lively carbonation kept the flavors dancing on my palate and as the beer warmed the nuances of this deeply complex brew emerged.  A great rendition of a classic Tripel along with sweet fruit and malt tones that made this a formidable brew.  All in all a very well done Tripel in the hands of the great brewers at Sierra Nevada and one that I will gladly drink again.

Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Tripel

The Brü Revü – Victory Golden Monkey

Ahhh the Golden Monkey!  Victory’s year round Belgian Tripel that has been a staple in my beer rotation for years. The beer poured a deep gold with a large fluffy white head that left generous lacing.  The aroma was full of Belgian yeast and spices with cloves being the dominant spice.  The taste followed the nose with the clove spiciness and Belgian yeast notes that were accompanied by sweet candi sugar notes.  The sweetness became more prevalent as it warmed as did a slight peppery spice finish, but the main Belgian yeast and clove spices were at the forefront of this delicious brew.  The Golden Monkey hid its high ABV while remaining full flavored with a medium to full mouthfeel and a good level of carbonation.  All in all this was a great American version of a Belgian Tripel that I wish more brewers would produce.  The Belgian styles allow room to move and experiment, but I may be a bit biased as I got my craft beer start on Belgian Tripels and Dubbels.  I always need a tripel in my fridge so a well done year round version like the Golden Monkey keeps me in heaven.

Victory Golden Monkey

The Brü Revü - Stone Brewing Points Unknown IPA

The Stone Points Unknown IPA collaboration with Ecliptic and Wicked Weed had my name written all over it.  Double IPA, check.  Barrel-Aged Belgian Style Tripel, check.  Two of my favorite styles a Double IPA and a Belgian Style Tripel all rolled into one bountiful beer.  The beer poured a deep golden amber with a huge fluffy head with great retention.  The aroma was more in the double IPA territory with citrus and tropical fruit hop tones like a fresh orange with some slight tinges of Belgian yeast and spices.  Not a dynamic aroma but still a nice citrusy IPA aroma.  The taste was where the Points Unknown really took off. There was a plethora of dank and citrus hop notes with a hint of pine that were intertwined with the Belgian tripel yeast and spice tones and a hint of barrel to round it all out.  There was a lot going on in this one.  As soon as one flavor exerted itself another came behind it and pushed itself to the forefront.  It was a dynamic and delightful drinking experience that never became overly bitter or overly boozy. There seemed to be a slight tannic finish as it warmed but in the end the Points Unknown IPA was a unique and exciting beer to drink.  Stone seems to never fail on these collaborations and this was another home run in my book.

Stone Brewing Points Unknown IPA

Beer Bums Meeting – February 2014 – Adelbert’s Brewery

We are always trying to keep it fresh, so we made the trek to Adelbert’s Brewery for our February meeting.  On Saturday’s they are open from 1-4 with tours every 45 min.  For $13 you get a nice branded tulip glass and 6 sample pours, with some of the stronger beers taking two marks you could get anywhere from 4-6 samples. Adelbert’s specializes in Belgian style beers which I really enjoy so I have been looking forward to visiting the brewery for some time.  

The brewery tasting area was set up well with plenty of places to hang out and even two dart boards for fun.  The tour was informative and to the point which is all you want while you are sampling beers, and the servers handled the crowds diligently.  The brewery is named after the head brewer’s brother, Adelbert, who passed away in his prime.  Each beer is inspired by his many adventures and with names like the Naked Nun and Scratchin’ Hippo there are great stories behind each one.  

Adelbert’s has all the usual  Belgian styles with a Wit, Saison, Bier de Garde, Dubbel, Tripel and a Quad.  In addition they had a Black Ale and a beer they brew for Naughty Brewing that was a smoked Saison.  I enjoyed everything I tried and wish I could have sampled some of the beer they had been barrel aging.  That will be for another trip!

Adelbert’s Brewery Philosophizer

Their version of a Saison with citrus spicy notes and some fruit.  It had a bit of a bitter finish that faded as it warmed. It was a little heavier on the palate than I would want in a Saison, but it was still a great rendition of the style.

Adelbert’s Brewery Dancin’ Monks

The daunting Dubbel had a good fruity nose with dark fruits and a malty sweetness. The taste had the same dark fruits and malt with a slight bitter finish that again faded as it warmed.  While it was a deep amber in color it was a little light and clear for the style.  In the end this was a damn delectable Dubbel.

Adelbert’s Brewery Tripel B

Now we are moving on to the heavy hitters.  A tripel was right in my wheelhouse and the Tripel B fit the bill.  Right away the color and look of the beer was spot on as well as the aroma that held the Belgian yeast, coriander and spice elements.  The flavor was light and zesty while the mouthfeel held just the right amount of heft for the style.  This was a great locally brewed Tripel.

Adelbert’s Brewery Flyin’ Monks

Finally the best of the bunch in my opinion was the Flyin’ Monks Quad.  They tout it as a richer version of the Dancin’ Monks Dubbel that is conditioned on oak cubes used to age Pecan Street Rum.  It was a deep dark amber brown that had a more intense dark fruit and slight oak nose.  The flavor again followed with the deep dark fruits with heavy sweet dates all with a hint of oak on the finish that perfectly balanced the brew.  The Flyin’ Monks was well done and well balanced.

The Brü Revü – (512) Brewing Company 5th Anniversary Party

I try to never miss the (512) Anniversary Party and I always have a great time.  This year was no exception.  It was a great way to kick of Austin Beer Week and turned into a really well done and organized event.  You could easily get a core beer at any one of their numerous tents, and while the line for the “special beers” got long it moved quickly and efficiently.  I really enjoyed the selection at the “Special Beer” tent with the highlights being the Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter 2012 and 2013 on tap and the Stingo.

(512) FIVE - Their Anniversary beer was an Imperial Stout and it was tasty. It was full of heavy roasted malts and a bit of chocolaty goodness and dark fruits to boot.  Underneath it all I kept thinking I tasted some similarities to the Pecan Porter, but definitely bigger and bolder.  Well done!

(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter - They had the 2012 and 2013 versions and I opted for the 2012.  So good.  Just a perfect beer that highlights their Pecan Porter. Nutty, chocolate, vanilla and whiskey barrel goodness.

(512) FOUR - On Firken with something added, but I didn’t catch what it was.  I really liked their FOUR from last year, but this was just OK for me.  It could have been because it had to follow the Barrel Aged Pecan Porter.

(512) Pecan Porter on Nitro - The only way to drink the Pecan Porter.  Thick, creamy and delicious.

(512) Stingo - I was looking forward to the Stingo.  It’s their FOUR barrel aged for a year on American Oak and dry hopped.  Wow!  It was good.  Lot’s of woody barrel character with a dry finish.  Tart and tangy with wine like flavors and some vanilla smoothness.  Unique and complex.

(512) THREE - I am a sucker for a good trippel and this one was great.  I little different than most of their offerings but just as good nonetheless.  I wish it was available more often so I could drink it again and again.

(512) Pecan Porter with pumpkin spices through a pumpkin keg.  It was surprisingly good as I didn’t think I would like the pumpkin spices.  They caramelized the inside of the pumpkin then added cranberries and spices.  Very good way to finish the day.

The Brü Revü – Great Divide Orabelle

I am always a sucker for a Belgian Style Tripel so I had to give the Great Divide Orabelle a try.  The Orabelle’s cloudy golden orange color and frothy white head gave off whiffs of orange peel, Belgian yeast and fruitiness. The taste was very delicate yet deceptively deep with a good dose of Belgian yeast some light fruits and a spiciness that was perfectly in the Belgian Tripel realm.  The light color and subtle flavors belittled it’s bold ambitions and held no hints of booze or alcohol.  The Orabelle was a very smooth and solid Tripel and something to look forward to every year from Great Divide.

Great Divide Orabelle

The Brü Revü – Green Flash Le Freak

When I read the description of the Green Flash Le Freak as a modern ale converging a Belgian Trippel and an American Imperial IPA I knew I was in trouble.  A Belgian Trippel and an American Imperial IPA are my two favorite beer styles so combining them into one behemoth beer could easily destroy me.  I wasn’t wrong.  The beer poured a bright golden color with a large fluffy white head that reflected its bottle conditioning.  The aroma was big and fruity with a fresh hop nose and Belgian yeast undertones that had me eagerly anticipating my first taste...  and that first taste blew my face off. It started lightly sweet and fruity and melded into a slightly bitter citrus hop flavor that was expertly nuanced and balanced. The best flavors and profiles of the Trippel and Imperial IPA blended exceptionally and continued to pull me back in for sip after blissful sip.  I see the Le Freak as the more refined and sophisticated older sibling to the Rayon Vert, (an excellent beer in it’s own right).  It is not often that a beer can wow me with such ferocity, and this unique brew may ruin my ability to love another beer again.

Green Flash Le Freak

The Brü Revü – Anderson Valley Brother David’s Triple

The Brother David’s Triple was my first beer from Anderson Valley that I received as a gift for Christmas.  The Triple was right up my alley as it is one of my favorite styles.  The Brother David’s Triple poured darker than most triples with more of an amber color than the typical golden color.  It had a good fruity Belgian yeast aroma that yielded a sweet and fruity flavor with plenty of the Belgian yeast notes of candy sugars and cloves.  There was little to no perceptible bitterness to this incredibly smooth and highly drinkable triple.  It had a high ABV which was well hidden and made it presence known as I drank this tasty triple too quickly.  I will be on the lookout for more Anderson Valley offerings.

Anderson Valley Brother David’s Triple

The Brü Revü – New Belgium Trippel

Forget everything I have stated previously about a New Belgium beer or it being my favorite.  Their Trippel is easily my favorite and has been my “go to” beer for many years.  It is always easy to find and very cost effective for such a great beer… and I have a special weakness for Belgian Style Tripels.  It pours a gorgeous golden color with a decent head a plenty of carbonation.  The aroma is sweet and flowery with a hint of the Belgian yeast.  The taste is fantastic and very smooth with the Belgian yeast tones and a sweetness that balance a very smooth mouthfeel.  Sometimes I get a mild bitterness on the ending, but not this time.  It was smooth and well balanced throughout.  Mmmm… I need another one.

New Belgium Trippel

The Brü Revü – Left Coast Asylum Belgian-Style Tripel Ale

Left Coast Beers are now available in Texas, at least in Austin.  I was lucky enough to go to Oggi’s Pizza while in San Diego and sample a few of their beers, The Black Magic Stout and an IPA, both of which were fantastic.  When I saw the Left Coast beers at the store I had to pick one up, and of course I landed on the Asylum Tripel.  This was a great Tripel that kicked everything off with the signature Belgian yeast aroma and substantial off-white head.  The Asylum was a big impressive Tripel with hints of sweet candi sugar, malt, and even a bit of vanilla.  It was a bit on the sweet side, but I was really enjoying this one and it went down fast and smooth.  It’s great to see another great craft brewery available in Texas!

Left Coast Asylum Belgian-Style Tripel Ale

The Brü Revü – Real Ale Devil’s Backbone

I love this beer!  This is a fantastic local seasonal brew that I look forward to every summer, and why Real Ale doesn’t brew this year round is beyond me.  I always love a good Belgian Tripel and this is a great Texas example of the style.  It is a light golden color that deceptively hides its high alcohol content, but while the color is light, there is nothing light about the taste.  It has all the signature Belgian yeast notes with some spicing and a slight hop to help balance out the flavors.  It has a robust mouthfeel with a smooth balanced finish.  This is a solid Tripel that makes the sweltering Austin summer all that more bearable. Now I just need a case or two to make it through the winter!

Real Ale Devil's Backbone

The Brü Revü – Pike Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale

I am a sucker for a Belgian style Tripel, so when I saw this at the store I had to grab one. The Pike Brewing Company is from Seattle and is a new brewery for me.  The aroma had all the classic Tripel notes of bubblegum and Belgian yeast followed by the same classic notes in the taste with a bit of the clove spiciness and candy sweetness.  The biggest disappointment was the finish.  Every sip ended with a bitter back-end that was not good.  Don’t get me wrong, I can take bitter as I love the hoppy IPA’s, but this bitter ending is not what I look for in a tripel. With the high alcohol content, I took my time, and as it warmed the taste and aroma remained consistent as did that bitter finish.  In the end it left me a little underwhelmed as I expect a lot out of a Belgian style Tripel.  It was definitely worth a try, but I will probably grab a different Tripel in the future such as Real Ale’s Devil’s Backbone or Victory’s Golden Monkey.

Pike Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale