On tap at Ambulance, contrarian yellow-clouded Belgian tripel seems closer to an American pale ale with its mild yellow-orange fruited souring, subtle grassy hop bittering and sugary spiced malting. Orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, apricot, peach, mango and clementine tang picks up herbal nip. Phenolic fruity finish fades quick, but retains a nice hop bite.     

On tap at Ambulance Brew House, exemplary limited edition (January ’15) ‘black’ tripel makes fine use of brown-sugared dried fruiting. Pureed raisin, sugared fig, prune and plum overtones ride above creamy caramel-chocolate malting. Tingly sugar-spiced sweetness contrasts dry bourbon tinge, heightening the relaxedly noir-ish mood.  

On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, hybridized 2015 tripel shows off Carton’s passionate open-minded exploitation. Bringing earthen white truffle leathering and Belgian candi-sugaring to tart orange marmalade midst, this unique medium-bodied change-up suits expandable palates. Vermouth, vodka and white wine undertones detected.

Engrossing Indian palm-sugared Belgian-style ale maintains strong medicinal pungency as dank cellar-like yeast mildewing and lemony white-peppered hops contrast honey-fruited caramel malting and creamy vanilla sedation. Obvious bourbon-tinged alcohol burn may dissuade lighter thirsts, its but massive flavor profile provides tremendous depth. Ancillary banana daiquiri, bruised orange, lemon meringue, peach, apricot, mango, pear, apple and mandarin orange undertones sweeten fulsome fruit-spiced finish.

Sparkly IPA fruiting brightens sharp piney hop bite of boozy (9.5% ABV) tripel. Orange-peeled yellow grapefruit, pineapple and tangerine tang given vodka-tinged banana daiquiri spike. Dry rye spine plays possum for subtle white-wined peach, melon, mango and quince flutters.

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On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, imposing Belgian tripel tosses buttery Chardonnay wining at white-peppered tropical spicing, expressive Citra hop spritz and gluey vodka-like solvency. Ripe cantaloupe, honeydew, apricot, pineapple, mango and tangerine fruiting contrasts acrid aspirin-like astringency and salted lemon pith bittering. Banana daiquiri illusions sweeten the malt-sugared honeyed wheat spine.

Lemony vanilla-creamed luster invites honeyed tropical fruiting and floral-spiced herbage to the party. Prickly hop fizz adds carbolic spritz and white-peppered Belgian yeast fungi provides contrasting bitterness. Coriander spicing trickles into ancillary nectarine, mandarin orange and peach sweetness as well as tart grapefruit, pineapple and mango tropicalia. Champagne grape, orange marmalade, lemon custard and almondine undertones add complexity.

Initial ’90 recipe – purportedly the first Belgian-styled ale ever commercially produced in America –  comes to life again in bottled ’13 version. Honeyed citric spicing and candi-sugared tropical fruiting contrast fungi-molded black peppering quite efficiently. Peppy hop bittering underlines lemony peach-pear-apple-grapefruit splendor, gentle curacao orange tartness and white-caked vanilla creaming. Doughy pastry-like apple buttering and rummy banana-coriander-clove nuances increase succulent splendor of world class Belgian strong ale.

Respectable copper-hazed full body brings musty fungi-like Belgian yeast peppering to lemon-bruised orange rot souring, contrasting sugar-spiced caramel malting and tingly brandy-wined sweetness. Pungent 9.8% alcohol musk never overrides ancillary citric-candied banana, cantaloupe, melon, pineapple, pear and peach fruiting.

Soothingly fruited Belgian yeast influence splatters white-peppered candi-sugaring across up-front coriander sweetening and wispy orange-peeled lemon zest. Vanilla-creamed banana-clove pleasantries nestled beside waning peach, tangerine and cherry undertones. Light hop astringency confronts corn-liquored tease at delicate citric-spiced finish.

Vigorously fruited herb-spiced tripel with sugary Vienna malting and moderate Saaz hop bittering makes for devilishly delicious dessert. Juicy pineapple, peach, nectarine and marmalade fruiting commingles coriander-spiced banana daiquiri respite enveloping white-frosted yellow cake sweetness. Sharp white-peppered basil and sage snip adds further distinction to well-balanced surety.

On tap at Copper Mine, lovely sweet-fruited Belgian-styled full body makes fine dessert treat. Candi-sugared orange-apricot-pineapple-cantaloupe-pear medley slices thru subtle sugared spicing contrasting salty white or black peppering. Banana-bruised coriander and clove niceties abound.