Regal billowy-headed blonde (brewed in Belgian Abbey) features Old World herbal gruut influence and rampant clumps of Brussels lace. Sharp grain-malted presence, aromatic creme de cocoa keepsake, and thickened yeast-candied butterscotch resonation bring intial attention. Recoiling barleywine sweetness hides chocolate subtleties until strong whiskey-licked medicinal finish takes over. Creamy texture loses out to overriding fuzzy carbolic fizz, sucking out its essence. Perhaps a spicy kick in the ‘grain’ would increase resiliency.

On tap, vinous grape-quince sourness juxtaposes cherry jubilee tartness, bruised orange tang, and candi-sugared sweetness of 10% alcohol feast. Clove, coriander, and banana underscore vanilla wafer pleasantry halfway through. Turbid bottled version allows creamier medicinal warmth and bourbon boozing to accelerate yellow apple, melon, and kiwi illusions propelling bruised cherry-banana-orange motif.

Spotty yeast sediment clouds alcohol-fueled burnished gold tripel. Sour malt aroma and maize-like astringency severely downsize floral-hopped honeysuckle savor, but brimming creaminess will knock guzzlers for a loop. Sticky ethanol malt liquor cheapness ruins the buzz.

Modest Belgian-styled tripel laces white ale nuances, such as herbal-hopped black-peppered coriander-clove-allspice spicing, with honeyed orange blossom sweetness. Subsidiary apple, pear, peach, strawberry, and cherry fruiting receives refreshing menthol-eucalyptus jaunt, but soapy finish weakens not-so-strong pale ale.

In wide-mouth bottle, fluffy-headed light body places wheat honeyed sweetness above wafting citrus tartness and creamy caramel malting. Hushed apricot, pear, and green apple illusions receive mild spicing. Foamy carbonation nearly wipes away pilsner-like grain blend and cocky Bavarian-style luster. Indistinct finish and ill-defined adjuncts spoil the party.

Puffy white-headed straw-clouded dry body proffers honeyed wheat stickiness to zesty lemon-grapefruit tartness, brightening truly accessible, viscous 10% alcohol delight. Overflowing champagne-like carbonation and floating white yeast particles decorate vinous center while peppery hops, floral hints (rosebud-dandelion), and herbal nuances enliven busy farmhouse finish.

Ambitious floral-accented Belgian-styled tripel boasts loud bruised orange tang, peppery clove-coriander spicing, and nose-tingling carbonation. Ambrosial peach-pineapple-mango perk and lemon-candied flux overlay buttery oxidized bottom of golden-hued medium body.

Richmond brewer captures special Belgian style nearly as well as Ommegang with this admirable unfiltered ’04 ale. Though lighter than expected, effective butterscotch-fogged knockoff gains corky medicinal warmth for connective malt-candied bruised orange and floral tangents. Apricot, sugarplum, grapefruit, then allspice, clove, and rosebud, fight for attention beneath cereal grain sweetness, finishing with balmy citrus tranquility.

Savory bottle-conditioned strong ale contrasts sweet yeast elegance and candied barleywine interaction against cork-like grape-skinned dryness. Lemon-soured grapefruit stronghold gets raw honey surge fortifying wheat-backed inertia. Clove spicing drifts into floral hop sharpness complementing addictive white grape finish.

Musty grape-grained odor precludes subdued green apple tartness, corky brut champagne dryness and tangy orange-bruised cherry-grape splat of brettanomyces-soured golden-clouded ale. Subtle butterscotch malting softens lame wheat spine by astringent yeast-endowed white-wined finish. Vinous Sauvignon Blanc illusions wisp by unripe peach-pear undertones. But this is arguably the least defined Belgium-brewed triple attempted yet.

Heavier malted version of Long Trail’s Double Bag boasts woozy 8.2% alcohol buzz, wafting red-wined bourbon-port notes, and creamy liqueur warmth. Sinewy honey-sugared mocha malts enrich fruity bouquet and perfumed spices intensifying lovely slow sipper. Bruised banana-orange sweetness saturates vanilla-doused cinnamon-clove spiciness, usurping leafy bark-twig singe. Tangy peach, tangerine, red grape, and black cherry illusions dovetail white grape sourness, adding further fruitage.

Lusty copper-clouded medium body conveys boozy Belgian yeast dankness above sugary cotton-candied malt thrust. Enlightening banana sweetness invigorates bruised orange tang, cherry pie tartness, lemon meringue piquancy and tannic grape souring as well as tertiary pineapple, pear, and cantaloupe illusions. Wispy peppery hop bitterness usurps imminent earthen barnyard funk and floral clove-spearmint tingle as alcohol-stricken finish flags.