Lassen Ale Works 'Belgian Style XXX' Tripel Ale. 10% abv. 35 IBU. Copper color with finger of white foamy head that gradually recedes to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Good retention and lace. Nose of cloves, grapefruit pith, allspice. Aromas of malt and tangelo emerge as the temp rises to room.

Front taste is cloves, citrus rind, juniper, supported by a foundation of amber malt. Aftertaste is evergreen, bright herbal hops, botanical spice, white pepper, fresh ground coriander, with a dry finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is cool-warm, round, carby, clingy on the back end.

This is an outstanding beer, a big, complex tripel made in the style of the ancient Abbey beers. An exemplar of its category, the flavor profile is pure Christmas, a winter warmer that's predominantly bright spice with subtle herbal and citrus notes throughout, all maintained by a balanced malt expression. A well-crafted, bold, old-world-style beer, refreshing in a world of wacky craft beers often too eager to push the envelope. Perfect for this time of year. Sure to keep you warm on a cold night. Grab a bottle or two, if you can find it. Highly recommended.

I had the privilege of meeting Michael Blaschak, Head Brewer of Lassen Ale Works, during a weekend camping retreat. He shared several Lassen bombers with the group, all of which were excellent. He offered to give me a bomber to review later at home. I chose this Belgian-style tripel, so that I might later be able to fully savor such a big, bold brew. Michael's a great guy. I plan on sampling all of his beers at the historic Pioneer Saloon the next time I'm in Northern California. Cheers!


From the brewery:

"Dark straw colored, wonderfully malty, complex, and rich Belgian Tripel. Belgian strong ale yeast contributes subtle notes of clove and citrus. Malt and alcohol sweetness is balanced by subtle hop bitterness and mild spicy noble hop finish."

[source: lassenaleworks.com]

This bottle was filled the day before I received it. Doesn't get much fresher than that.

Me and Michael Blaschak, Head Brewer of Lassen Ale Works in Susanville, CA. We met at a weekend camping retreat. Good guy with great brew!

Green Flash Brewing 'Le Freak' Belgian Style Imperial IPA. 9.2% abv. 101 IBU. Orange-honey color. Hazy. Two fingers of foamy white head. Nose of bright sweet citrus, orange, biscuit, tropical fruits. Outstanding retention, excellent lace.

Front taste is passion fruit, strong pine, bitter herbal hops. Aftertaste is marmalade, abundant floral and herbal hops, strong citrus rind, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, jammy, sticky.

This is an exceptional beer, a big DIPA with a ton of tropical and citrus flavors, particularly orange, complemented by huge herbal hop bite. This beer is actually a blend of Green Flash's superb Belgian Tripel and Imperial IPA, a wining recipe that's become a reliable favorite and classic American craft ale. 

The bottle I enjoyed was aged for at four years, which no doubt helped mellow the tall hop bill, allowing the round bittersweet citrus tastes room to spread their wings. The result is a wonderful balance of flavors. I'm curious to compare this to a new bottle of Le Freak in a little flight. I'll look into it. In the meantime, this beer, regardless of age, is definitely worth your palate. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"First of its kind Belgian-American freak. Le Freak is the first-ever hybrid ale of its kind: the convergence of a Belgian-Style Trippel with an American Imperial IPA. This zesty Amarillo dry-hopped, bottle-conditioned marvel entices with fruity Belgian yeast aromatics and a firm, dry finish. Aromas of orange and passion fruit with sweet bready malts, and flavors of orange marmalade and citrus fruit pith. Experience a legendary beer."

[source: greenflashbrew.com]

Duvel 'Tripel Hop' Special Edition Belgian Golden Ale 2014. 9.5% abv. Pale lemon color. Hazy. Two fingers of bubbly head. Good retention, fair lace. Nose of bright tropical, pineapple, grapefruit, floral spice notes. Front taste of pine, abundant floral hops, bitter citrus rind. Aftertaste is tall bitter floral hops, grapefruit, white bread, white wine, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, juicy, resiny, tangy, hop sting on the back of the tongue.

This is a wonderful little big beer, a golden ale with a bushel of floral citrus hops in every sip. The aroma is an overflowing garden of flowers, tropical fruits, and fresh hops. The taste is juicy and bittersweet throughout, with the hop bill leading you every moment.

I had the 2014 special edition, a full two years from its bottling. Hoppy brews are normally not meant to be aged, and so I'm curious how this would taste closer to birth. Nevertheless, it was an excellent beer all around, one that makes me want to try the younger years. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"For this 2014 edition, our brewers have selected Mosaic. This new U.S. hop variety enhances the beer with a tangerine sweetness, hints of tropical fruit, and an interesting blueberry flavor."

[source: bottle]

"Duvel is traditionally brewed with two hop varieties. Duvel Tripel Hop is brewed with three hop varieties and each year the third hop is changed to provide its own unique taste and aroma. This keeps the final flavor profile surprisingly exciting for any true beer lover. For 2016 our brewers selected HBC 291 from the Yakima Valley in the USA. By using three instead of two hop varieties to brew, we obtain additional hop aromas and an increased bitterness. The typical Duvel palate is enriched with HBC 291 hops providing fresh notes of citrus, black pepper, lavender and roses. HBC 291 hops are added again during ‘dry-hopping’, extracting additional hop aromas into the beer. The higher aromatic intensity rounds out the beer, backing the final alcohol content of 9.5%."

[source: duvel.com]

Lost Coast Brewing '25th Silver Anniversary' Belgian Ale. 8.8% abv. 18 IBU. Hazy red-orange color. Finger of white bubbly head that quickly falls to a thin surface. Good retention, excellent lace.

Nose of light fruit, berries, white bread. Front taste of sweet red berries, jammy, yeasty back end. Aftertaste of bittersweet fruit, biscuit, dank earthy sustain, slightly sweet finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, clingy, thick on the back of the tongue.

This is an excellent beer. The aroma and flavor profile bring to mind the also excellent Toaster Pastry, of which I am a big fan. That beer is one of my go-to beers, due to its perfect balance of bready and sweet fruity tastes. Today's beer captures that balance in a meaty Belgian ale. 

Sadly, it's an anniversary ale, which means it cannot become a regular year-round experience. However, the local bottle shop where I found this had several in stock. Two years old. I plan to buy them all. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Belgian ale brewed with Belgian & American Malts, perfectly balanced with European hops and traditional Trappist Ale yeast for a ripe, rich fruitiness."

[source: bottle]

Samuel Adams 'Thirteenth Hour' Dark Belgian Style Stout. 9% abv. Nose of dark fruit, raisin, strong plum, wood notes. Front taste of heavy dark chocolate, black coffee, plum, cherry. Aftertaste of red wine grapes, bittersweet chocolate, sour berry. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, alcoholic, thick, resiny.

This is a wonderfully decadent beer, with a complex profile of dark fruits, strong cocoa and wine notes, all coupled by an oak presence throughout. The wood impression is round and mild, likely from the fact that this particular bottle was aged two years before my friend and I popped its cork. This mellowing of the barrel taste allowed the fruits to pop, with a tartness that approaches a sour beer. Superb all around. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"The 13th hour is the witching hour, and a time when strange brews can occur.  With 13 ingredients, we combined the roasted chocolate and coffee flavors of a stout with the complex spicy character of a Belgian-style ale aged in oak for a deep, robust, and captivating brew."

[source: samueladams.com]

"“With 13 ingredients, we combined the roasted chocolate and coffee notes of a stout with the complex spicy character of a Belgian-style ale aged in oak for a dark, robust, and bewitching brew. One of our brewers’ favorite places to experiment is in the barrel room at our Boston Brewery. It’s here that each of our Samuel Adams Barrel room Collection brews was born."

[source: bottle]

Rinkuskiai 'Hell on High' Belgian-Style Quad Bock. 14% abv. Hazy yellow-gold color. Collar of bubbly white head. Poor retention, moderate lace. Nose of sweet malt, light fruit, slight orange-citrus. Front taste of amber malt, toffee, sweet citrus. Aftertaste is alcohol, light brown sugar, fruity hop sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, astringent, somewhat thick, sweet back end.

This is a good beer that falls below its potential, slightly out of category. It's thin for a quad, and its taste is not as malty as one would expect. The aroma of sweet fruit and malt is barely present, and the flavor profile not nearly as complex as I would have liked.

It's an enjoyable beer that lands below lofty expectations. I suggest trying it, so long as you know what you're getting into. It tastes like Firestone Helldorado without the round body and ""wood notes from barrel aging. Take that as you will. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Euro Super High Alcohol Lager. Orange-gold. Smell is of rich full caramel malt and well straw. Smooth and well ballanced, with just enough malt and hops to add a fruity taste. Alcohol flavor is not prevalent despite 14% ABV, almost is not noticable until you’re through. Really good with BQ pork or pulled pork."

[ratebeer.com]

"Brewers family takes the old brewing traditions - beer brewed only in pure water, barley malt and hops. Beer boiled water is extracted from the territory RINKUŠKIAI installed 150 meters deep borehole. It is prepared in modern water filters. Beer brewing using only a light barley and caramel malt or barley malts several combinations. Aromatic and bitter hops transport from hops is a famous German Hallertau region. The bitter and aromatic hops gives the beer a unique combination of taste and aroma. Beer is fermented in modern tanks, using special lower or upper fermentation yeast. We do not recognize the technology to artificially speed up the fermentation process or after the maturing beer diluted with water ("high gravity" method), enabling better returns. The beer does not make any additives, preservatives or colorings. Do not use in the production of beer peas, corn, rice or other unmalted raw materials.  As a loyal Biržų edge of brewing tradition, we make no concessions to the quality of the beer."

[source: rinkuskiai.lt]

The Bruery 'Autumn Maple' Belgian-Style Brown Ale. 10% abv. 15 IBU. Hazy copper-brown color. Finger of foamy tan head. Fair retention and almost no lace. Head was completely gone in three minutes. Nose of bright spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple. The spice bouquet blooms with the rise in temp. Front taste is malty, nutty, caramel, orange zest, cloves, allspice on the back end. Aftertaste is pumpkin, strong nutmeg, wood notes, herbal hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, astringent.

This is an excellent brown ale that feels like it could have been extraordinary. It tasted "young" as if racked from its fermenter a couple of weeks too soon. It tastes like a delicious wort rather than a finished brew. The lack of carbonation would support this notion.

Nevertheless, this beer was yummy indeed. The spice and pumpkin (yam) come across well, starting with a complex inviting aroma, ending with a tall hot aftertaste. I was looking forward to this beer for a long time and while I am not giving this a perfect review I was certainly not disappointed. Grab a bottle. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the 'pumpkin' beer style. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, maple syrup, and fermentation with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, make this bold and spicy beer perfect for a cold autumn evening. We have also created bourbon barrel aged, 100% brettanomyces and soured versions of Autumn Maple."

[source: thebruery.com]

"We don't need pumpkin in our beer! Big, bold, spicy, and oh so yummy, our delicious Brown Ale is perfect for those cold autumn nights... Our spiced Brown Ale is a unique take on a Fall seasonal, brewed with delicious yams and seasonal spices. Best enjoyed fresh, but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly."

[source: bottle]

All traces of head and lace were gone within minutes.

North Coast Brewing 'Brother Thelonious' Belgian Style Abbey Ale. 9.4% abv. 32 IBU. Dark brown-red  in color. Finger of bubbly beige head. Good retention, moderate lace. Head recedes to a thick sustaining collar. Nose of sweet malt, dark fruit, bright spice, chocolate notes. Front taste of toffee, dark malt, sweet tangy citrus, spice notes, molasses on the back end. Aftertaste of prune, molasses, bittersweet dark chocolate. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is  hot, clingy, small-bead carb.

This is an outstanding beer, one that pays tribute to authentic Abbey Ales, quite similar to a Chimay Première (Chimay "Red"). The complex aroma is backed by its equally complex flavor profile, offering rich malt, sweet fruits, spices, and a decadent caramelly sweetness. The brief head and lack of lace are made up for by a thick collar that remains nearly until the end, along with a creamy carb in the aftertaste. A well-crafted beer made in the tradition of old world Trappist beers. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"North Coast Brewing Co. is proud to partner with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in support of Jazz education. The Brewery makes a donation to the Institute for every bottle of Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale sold. Like a Belgian 'Dark Strong Ale,' this beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%. The package features a label picturing the Jazz master himself, and comes in either a 375 or 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish, or 12 oz. 4-packs."

[source: northcoastbrewing.com]

Firestone Walker 'Stickee Monkee 2015' Central Coast Quad. Bourbon barrel aged. 13.4%. 45 IBU. Black in color. No head, retention, or lace. Nose of rich, sweet malt, dark fruit, caramel. Nose becomes more complex as the temp drops, with emerging port wine grapes and green herbal notes. Front taste of caramel, oak, brown sugar, plums, molasses. Aftertaste of sweet dried fruit, raisins, plums, sweet wine, wood notes, sweet coconut husk in the sustain. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, rich, sticky, thick.

This is an extraordinary, world-class beer. It's very rich, sweet, malty, fruity, and at times is herbal, botanical, woodsy. A complex myriad of flavors dances in the aroma, the first sips, on though the aftertaste and sustain. The barrel aging is expressed throughout, always in the background, with flavors of toasted oak and port wine. Outstanding. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Belgian Quad by recipe, but aging it in spirits barrels garners its own category: Central Coast Quad.  A beer formulated to sit on the sweeter and malty side so that we could utilize it for blending.  Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico and Belgian candi sugar add wonderful molasses flavors.  It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over this beer: toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco."

[source: firestonebeer.com]

“Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. In the Fall of 2006, we embarked on a program to barrel age a series of vintage strong ales that would later be used as components of a blended beer. That blend would become our first Anniversary Ale, ’10’. After the release of ’10’, we released limited amounts of the components beers on draft only. Many of these beers gained a cult following that craft beer fans raved about and begged for us to put in bottle. Stickee Monkee was one of these beers. We present the 2015 vintage of Stickee Monkee, a barrel-aged Quad. It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolved and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful molasses flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco. This Central Coast Quad is a one-of-a-kind sipping beer built to last and will reward careful aging for years to come.”
[source: box]

This big beer is best shared with friends

My friends and fellow beer enthusiasts Patrick and Michelle shared their Stickee Monkee with me and some friends for my birthday. Cheers!

Orval Trappist Ale. 6.2% abv. Hazy honey color. Two finger of thick large-bubble head. Outstanding retention and superb lace. There was a half-inch of head all the way down. Nose of sweet fruit-berry, notes of honey, banana, white cake. Front taste of bittersweet stone fruit, light caramel, cloves, tangy light tropical on the back. Aftertaste is tangy, bitter fruity hops to start, dank earthy hops on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, carby, sticky on the tongue.

This is an outstanding beer. The complex aroma is prominent throughout, as is the wonderful rich head. The flavor profile is equally complex, ever changing, tall and bright. So many different tastes come through: sweet, dry, fruity, earthy, herbal, bitter, dank. This masterpiece of a beer has been brewed since 1070 and is only one of two beers offered. A classic that you absolutely must try. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Lovers of Orval's beer bear witness to a fidelity that continues to amaze us.  They seem to have influenced their friends to such an extent that this so typical beer is in very high demand.  As a result, both stores and taverns are running out of this beer too often and too quickly! The birthplace of 'Orval' beer continues to be Orval's Brewery, located within the walls of the monastery of Orval, where Trappist monks live and are the shareholders and manager of the company.  The production facilities, completely renovated in the course of the last fifteen years, represent the most modern technologies of brewing science.  They are finely tuned for quality and respectful maintenance of the original methods of production which have been in use in this same location for almost eighty years."
[source: orval.be]

Petaluma Hills 'Big House Blonde' Belgian-Style Blonde Ale. 6.4% abv. 24.7 IBU. Hazy honey color. Thin white head. Moderate retention, very little lace. Nose of light malt, floral, flat grain. Front taste of grassy-herbal grain, wheat, bitter hop back. Aftertaste is yeasty, earthy bitter hops, sustain is harsh grassy. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, dank.

This beer starts out well enough but is plagued by an unpleasant yeast taste that's present throughout, particularly in the aftertaste. It makes for a beer that's overly earthy, almost like soil in flavor. The brief head and almost zero lacing do not help the overall impression. Disappointing.

My friend took a trip to Petaluma and bought this beer for me, from a small nano-brewery across the street from the mighty Lagunitas Brewing. Based on this beer, it seems that Lagunitas has nothing to worry about. Pass on this one.

From the brewery:

"This Belgian style Blonde Ale is made with Belgian pilsen and Belgian aromatic malts plus lots of East Kent Goldings hops for lots of flavor. However, it's the Belgian Abbey yeast that defines this ale, adding a spicy bonus to a crisp, clean taste."

[source: petalumahills.com]

Mendocino Brewing 'Anniversary Ale' Saison. Belgian Style Spiced Ale. 7% abv. Hazy honey color with velvety white head. Excellent retention, good lace. Nose of sweet bread, mild citrus, flowers. Front taste of grapefruit rind, ginger, cloves, floral hop back. Aftertaste is light fruit, sweet spice notes, bitter citrus sustain, biscuit. Light body. Mouthfeel is warm, small-bead carb, foamy.

This is a very good beer, an nice example of a "French farmhouse ale" saison, or in this case, Belgian style. It has a more abundant bouquet of fruits and spices than most beers in this category, which tend to have such flavors fewer but more prominent. It's clear this beer is aiming for complexity rather than height, and it mostly achieves this. I would have like some of the flavors to shine through more, at least in the aftertaste, but it's still a beer worth having. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"This limited edition classic saison is an unfiltered bottle conditioned ale. It is brewed with star anise, coriander, ginger, and orange peel. Our saison is richly refreshing and artfully balanced with notes of spices and fruit."

[source: bottle]

Clown Shoes Beer 'Muffin Top' Belgian Tripel IPA. 10.5% abv. Hazy honey color. Thin white head that falls to a collar. Moderate retention and lacing. Nose of light malt and bitter hops. Front taste of light fruit, citrus peel, herbal hops. Aftertaste is an immediate hop bite, grapefruit, herbal bitter. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, stingy from the hops, effervescent.

This is an excellent IPA that goes big with the bitter hop flavor, stopping inches from going over the cliff. The light fruit-candy taste goes well with the bold flavor profile. It's not as complex as I'd like from such a big beer, but it is well crafted and worthy of your time. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Hoppy Belgian-Style Tripel – ABV 10% Muffin Top combines the attributes of a Belgian Tripel with a huge burst of American hops. Intense flavors from the Belgian yeast, reminiscent of candied fruits, mix with the hop bitterness and sweet orange peel to create a unique take on a Belgian-Style ale."

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]

Josef Belgian Blonde Ale. 6% abv. Gold-yellow color with white head. Head is a finger thick off the pour, shortly receding to a thin scattered surface. Low-moderate retention. Decent lacing. Aroma is bready, floral. Front taste is mild sweet hoppy, malty. Aftertaste is grain, crackers, with the sweetness falling to a dry finish. Thin body. Mouthfeel is sticky, clingy, but brief.

This is one of those beers brewed on contract for Trader Joe's, which is hit-and-miss with its house beers. This entry was more enjoyable than expected, definitely a good value, but far below most other blonde ales or Belgian beers. I probably won't buy this again. However, I would encourage you to try it if only to compare to other Belgian beers you’ve enjoyed. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"In this bottle is Belgian brewery know-how dating back to 1867 - the year the recipe was created. It’s a crisp, golden ale brewed using only water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. The dry-hopping procedure, in which uncooked hop heads are added after the brewing process, gives this beer its unique floral aroma and taste."