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Tricky Tripel

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The beer that started the adventure: Tricky Tripel was the first recipe that worked every time at home, the first the sisters shared with friends and gave as gifts, and one of those gifts ended up with a pub owner who wanted it on tap. At 7.8% and brewed with heaps of malt, it tastes of ripe orange, caramel and a touch of banana, with a long aftertaste. Hops are Saphir and Willamette.

ABV
7.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelorangemalty
caramel
orange
malty
fruity
banana
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus notes—ripe orange peel and zest—layered over soft caramel sweetness from the substantial malt bill.
also:bready,yeasty
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Tricky Tripel

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with delicate lacing. The carbonation is lively yet refined, creating a steady stream of small bubbles that maintain the foam structure throughout the drinking experience.

pale goldenbright claritypersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus notes—ripe orange peel and zest—layered over soft caramel sweetness from the substantial malt bill. A gentle fruity character emerges in the mid-palate, with hints of banana and subtle spice from the yeast, while Saphir and Willamette hops contribute a light herbal undertone that frames rather than dominates.

ripe orangesoft caramelbanana estersubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate is full and malty, with caramel and orange flavors interweaving across the mid-palate in a smooth, balanced progression. The 7.8% ABV provides body without heat, and the 25 IBUs deliver just enough restrained bitterness to offset the malt sweetness while allowing the fruity and bready notes to remain in focus. A touch of dryness emerges on the back palate, adding complexity without harshness.

malty sweetnessbalanced bitternesssmooth mouthfeelorange-caramel blend

◑ Finish

The finish is long and gradually drying, with lingering caramel and orange notes that fade into a gentle, spicy warmth. The aftertaste remains clean and inviting, encouraging another sip.

long finishwarm spiceclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 9–12°C

Serve at 10–13°C in a goblet. The yeast character and carbonation are the stars — cold would suppress both.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

Drink within 2 years. Some complexity develops with age but the yeast character is best relatively fresh.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Tricky Tripel

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About Tripel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Tripel?

Tripels are strong Belgian ales with 8–10% ABV. Deceptively pale, they offer fruit esters, spicy yeast, sweet malt and a warming finish.

Finding a similar Tripel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, orange, malty character as Tricky Tripel will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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