Slumbrew Trekker Trippel
A couple of weeks ago, I published a review for Slumbrew’s Flower Envy Saison. In that post, I mentioned that I had picked up two bottles from this company that were both pretty darn old. Whether it was the brewery, the distributor or Total Wine, someone dropped the ball. The previously mentioned saison was a year old. This particular sample of Trekker Trippel, bottled in May of 2012, was even older.
Unlike, the saison, The Trekker Trippel handled the extended period of time in the bottle much better. In fact, this beer probably would have benefited from a little more time in captivity before it hit my tastebuds. The 9.5% ABV brew was still quite big and boozy with a character I can only describe as raw and young — it needed some time to mellow and come together.
Appearance
Golden amber in color the beer sites with a short-lived cap of beige foam.
Aroma
Light bready malt character, subtle fruit, light yeastiness, a touch of banana and soft alcohol fill the nose.
Taste
Fruity yeast and alcohol arrive first as soft bready malts flow in smoothly. The beer is very warming in the chest. There’s a moderate-to-high level of sweetness that persists and only makes the beer seem that much more off balanced. Peppery and herbal notes are also present, but mostly it’s just too boozy.
Overall
Again, I’m not sure why such an old bottle was on shelves, but at least this one handled the time better than the Flower Envy I reviewed earlier. Still, it’s not a great tripel. It’s a bit too young and not as refined as some of my favorite examples of the style.
Rating: 3/5
