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Two-Row Tripel


Vital Statistics:

Batch Number:61
Style:Tripel
Brew Date:4 August 2012
Original Gravity:1.074 (17.97 °Plato)
Final Gravity:1.002 (0.51 °Plato)
ABV:9.4%
ABW:7.4%
Calories per pint:311
Estimated IBU (Rager):38.9
Estimated IBU (Tinseth):31.5
Mash Temperature:149°
Mash Efficiency:74%
Days in Primary:50  
Days in Secondary:0 (kegged on 23 September 2012)
Ferm. Temp. Notes:66-70°
Yeast Used:3522 Belgian Ardennes
Apparent Attenuation:97%
Real Attenuation:80%
Rating:3.65
Entirely Consumed:Yes (finished 7 February 2013)
Availability:137 days
 Recipe:

12 lb 2-row pale malt

2 lb granulated white sugar, added with about 20 minutes left in the boil

6 AAU (12g @ 14.5% AA) Columbus @ 60
8 AAU (16g @ 14.2% AA) Citra @ 20
8 AAU (16g @ 14.2% AA) Citra @ 5

1 Irish Moss tablet @ 15 min

Wyeast 3522 - Belgian Ardennes
General Notes:

Used yeast cake from batch #60.
Tasting Notes:

Tasting notes taken 23 October 2012, 30 days after kegging. Dispensed from kegerator into a tulip.

Appearance: lightish golden hue with a touch of haze and a lazy effervescence. Head poured three thick, inconvenient fingers of pillowy white foam. Retention isn't great, but a couple minutes after pouring I still have about half a finger with a nice chunky lace. Not bad, but not great. (4)

Smell: sweet malty aroma with a definite citrusy character but a certain staleness as well. I think the Citra just don't quite work here; also, there is an almost sickly sweet quality which I'm guessing has to do with the yeast used. Hard to say, but the aroma isn't quite there. (3.5)

Taste: sweet malt with a definite alcohol kick. It's not "hot", per se, but you definitely feel the alcohol in a not-so-wonderful way. Again, that sickly sweetness is back. The bitterness is good, though; quite balanced to the strong sweetness and high alcohol. I shouldn't blame the yeast entirely; this was made with two-row American malt which is a bit sweeter and less grainy than European Pilsner malt. I think for my next tripel I'll go back to the Pils. (3.5)

Mouthfeel: medium body, which is surprising considering the basement-low 1.002 FG. Carbonation is good, yielding a nice creaminess. Not perfect, but quite good enough for me. (4)

Drinkability: not bad, but the sickly sweetness (not really cloying; just off-putting) takes away from the quaffability that a good tripel should have. Again, I think I have to go back to the Pils malt. (3.5)

Overall score 3.65 (B). Not a great tripel, but, you know, better than brew #11. I think I learned my lesson about Pilsner malt and over-hopping. Next time, I'll re-brew Thanksgiving Tripel or something much like it.
Hops Table
Hop Variety Addition Time AAU AA% Quantity (g) Type IBU (Rager) IBU (Tinseth) Notes
Columbus 60 6.00 14.5 12 Pellet 22.3 15.2  
Citra 20 8.00 14.2 16 Whole 12.1 12.3  
Citra 5 8.00 14.2 16 Whole 4.5 4.0