Out of the Cellar: Golden Tripel

2013

One year later, it's time to break into my cellar and revisit 2012's Golden Tripel.

Let's start with appearances. First off, the beer's clarity has improved, but not by a lot. The beer definitely suffers from a bout of chill haze. The head is less dense and doesn't stick around as long. There's still some lace to be had.

Of course, what we really care about are the flavor and aroma changes.

I noted back in my Golden Spark blog that my beer had almost reverted back to its younger self over time. Meanwhile, my Dubbel was about the same as before, albeit spicier. This beer is a completely different animal. It's drier, spicier and much more like white wine.

2012

The pale fruits that were out front before are much more subdued. Coriander and pepper now dominate, while the sourdough aromas cut through more. The overall picture is spicy and dry, with just enough pear sweetness to balance the load. Carbonation is still soft, but not quite as aggressive. The body's lightness carries on, as does a well masked alcohol warmth.

I have to say that Cellaring beer is really fun. My 2012 Quad is up next.

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