The Beer Forum - It's really a thread but we're too drunk to notice. - Page 51

Humbaba · 05/03/07, 11:12 AM

I've had it in the past and it was good, but I haven't had a bottle lately. I just had the Summer Ale last night. I think tonight I'm going to have the Boston Lager and Boston Ale side by side.

Ozbourn · 05/03/07, 1:12 PM

I swear Sam Summer used to taste better. I think last year they started adding more lemon and now it's a bit too sweet (not as bad if you get it on tap though). I've gone back to harpoon summer and dogfish head 90 minute as my warm weather staples.

• Bad Luck · 05/03/07, 1:22 PM

I had a lot of guests that I have waited on complain about Sam Winter, said it was too plain. Sam Summer is being much better recieved.

I was at the Cambridge Brewing Co. in Kendall Square a couple of weeks ago and had one of their Triple Threats. I'm usually loathe to beer, but this one was exceptional. Spicy and quite potent in alchohol content.

They have since switched to new seasonal brews, but here is how Triple Threat is described on their site in the beer archives:

TRIPEL THREAT
BELGIAN-STYLE STRONG ALE

The tripels are generally the strongest specialty ales made by the Belgian and Dutch Trappist monastic breweries. Pale in color with a very distinct palate, they are painstakingly created as beers to be consumed on holidays and religious festivals. The Westmalle monastery originated this style in the 1920’s and continues to make the benchmark example. However, many secular breweries make a similar type. These are called abbey beers, as the term trappist is a legal appellation. The name tripel refers to the strongest offering in a range of three beers: single, double (or dubbel), and tripel (trippel). The name does not refer to triple fermentation, or the number of malt types used (and certainly not “triple bock,” whatever that is).

Fermented with a proprietary Belgian yeast strain and brewed using imported Continental malt and Hallertauer and Perle hops, Curacao and sweet orange peel, and fresh ground coriander. It is a light, hazy sienna in color, full-bodied, fruity, and very strong. Aromas of barley malt, orange blossoms and a hint of coriander first greet the nose, then carry through to the palate. A warming sensation then takes over, and blends into a complex finish of bread dough, spices, citrus, estery alcohol, and hops. We are serving the Tripel Threat in a tulip glass with a 12 oz. pour. This is a traditional manner of serving which should impress upon the consumer the unique and very special nature of this wondrous beverage. This will require some judicious serving - and perhaps an extra lost and found bin!

Is there anything in the mass-market that is similar to this that I would like?

Phalanx · 05/03/07, 1:29 PM

I'm not sure if I can recommend something similar without tasting it first, I'll add it to the list. It sounds rather unique, I'd recommend Rogue's Dead Guy Ale for the spice and maybe Ommegang Abbey Ale or Three Philosophers for the sweetness. Sounds like it might be somewhere in the middle.

Chimay Blue might be closer to what this actually tastes like as it's Trappist ale which this was modeled after, it appears.

duostrike · 05/03/07, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by ex-Bad Luck

Is there anything in the mass-market that is similar to this that I would like?

Don't know how "mass market" New Belgium is but they do have a fairly wide distribution. They do make a decent trippel. However, without tasting the one you had I can't quite say how it would compare. Most of their beers include amounts of orange and coriander.

http://www.newbelgium.com/beers_tr.php

You could probably get away with most Belgian style ales and have it be somewhat similar. Look for something local and in the style you like is usually my best advice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripel

Conoris · 05/03/07, 3:40 PM

Sounds like a mix of Belgian styles - the abbey tripel to start with, along with the orange peel and coriander of the "wit" style (Hoegaarden, Celis). If the spices are what grabbed you, you might consider the Hoegaarden or one of its kin, but if it's the sheer power and concentration of the beer that did it for you, one of the many Belgian tripels (Westmalle, Affligem) might be the ticket.

I've read this thread with great interest, as my beer-snob days have fallen somewhat by the wayside in recent years, but I still love a good quality beer. Speaking of which - anyone seen or heard anything from Rodenbach lately? The seminal Flemish sour red beer, whether in regular or Grand Cru form, but something I haven't come across in years and years. My understanding was that the brewery was bought out some years back, but never heard anything more about it.

Humbaba · 05/03/07, 3:50 PM

To add to the list of things that might compare to the Tripel Threat, you might want to try La Fin Du Monde. The flavors and the mouthfeel are complicated enough that I feel like I'm almost drinking wine when I have it. I personally think it compares very well to the Chimays (I prefer it) and it's a few dollars cheaper.

macka · 05/03/07, 3:56 PM

not sure what qualifies as "mass market," but there are a number of widely available, authentic belgian tripels out there.

personally, i think the st. bernardus tripel is among the best

if you're looking for something made in the US, the allagash tripel is pretty damn good too

Darlal · 05/03/07, 3:57 PM

I'm a lesser fan of Hoegaarden simply because I the bars I frequent (NYC) usually have old kegs, giving it a really bad aftertaste. I'm very partial to the Delerium Tremens and Nocturnum where I can get them. I also really enjoy a good Kostritzer.

Being from Germany, I have a special place in my heart for a good Weissbier, although I find that most of the stuff I run into hasn't been kept properly.

Elfan · 05/03/07, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

Back to beer, I picked up a 12 pack of a Sam Adams "Summer Sampler." It has 2 each of the Boston Ale, Boston Lager, Pale Ale, Summer Ale, Hefeweizen and (gag) Cherry Wheat.

Does the Cherry Wheat actually taste like cherries? If so, do you dislike it because you do not like cherries or because it's a bad beer? I was impressed that the winter Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic actually tasted like cranberries.

♦ Hotspur · 05/03/07, 4:23 PM

I've never really felt that Sam Adams did the flavored beers very well. Cherry Wheat is ok, I guess, but it's too sweet to have more than one. The Cranberry Lambic I can't even drink at all. I somehow associate the taste of Summer Ale with the smell of Pledge furniture polish. Go figure.

For something to drink in the summer, I usually go for the Saranac Lager, by Saranac Brewery. Their lager has a nice, crisp finish that makes it refreshing and drinkable when it's annoyingly hot outside. Though, in looking at their website to get the right name, I see they have a "Pomegranate Wheat." This is... odd.

Surion · 05/03/07, 4:31 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

I've had it in the past and it was good, but I haven't had a bottle lately. I just had the Summer Ale last night. I think tonight I'm going to have the Boston Lager and Boston Ale side by side.

Summer Ale wasn't bad at all, nice easy flavor. Had some 2 Below the other night that I enjoyed a bit too much while wiping in SSC. =o

Humbaba · 05/03/07, 6:10 PM

I think we had the Cherry Wheat discussion earlier in the thread, but I dislike it because it tastes overpoweringly of cherry syrup. I'm sure it's made with real cherries, but the taste that comes out of the bottle is not something I remotely enjoy. To be clear, I don't really like cherry flavoring with anything except fresh cherries.

I enjoy lambics, though I prefer raspberry to cherry. Cherry lambic is far more drinkable than the Cherry Wheat, in my opinion.

Kaubel · 05/03/07, 8:59 PM

Yeah, I think we finally concluded that Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is nothing more than a gateway beer. Newbies can learn to like it, then they need to move on to the real stuff.

Ironically speaking about the real stuff, I'm just not a huge fan of Tripel, especially New Belgium's. I like their Abbey (Dubbel) though. But really, if you're going to drink New Belgium, there's no reason to drink anything other than Fat Tire and 1554.

LucidityAxel · 05/03/07, 10:05 PM

Terrapin is a beer company based out of Athens, Georgia (home of the main campus of the University of Georgia) and I'm drinking their Rye Pale Ale as I type this.

It's the first domestic bottled beer I've ever had that reminds me of an imported Belgian trappist ale. (Chimay Blue, to be exact.) It's a truly outstanding pale ale brewed with a little bit of rye and has incredible complexity of flavor. (Even the hop aftertaste has some complexity.) Don't drink it fridge-cold: let it warm up a bit so you can really taste everything that's going on with it.

For all I know, Terrapin gets fuck-all for distribution outside of the Southeastern US, but it's a great beer if you're fan of the style. Well worth seeking out.