Bells Sparkling Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

I found this to be closer to a hazy blonde ale than an Abbey Tripel. They got the hazy golden pour down pat, but the aromas and flavours were very grainy with citrusy hop tones. To be a truer Belgian style I would have expected some yeastier notes as well as some more sweetness and balance.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours a clear straw yellow with an average white head - not inspiring, but appearance isn't everything with beer. Fortunately, the rich, fruity, slightly yeasty and slightly sweet aroma promises much better. Flavor is fruity and yeasty, a bit sweet, a bit bitter, with just a touch of butterscotch. Flavor is quite smooth and fairly tingly.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

What a unique pour for this style. A crystalline rose color, with a big frothy white head, that hangs around awhile. Settles into a decent lacing. Smell is syrupy, fruity. Kinda a turn off, but I’m adventurous. The body is light and distinctively smooth in that lightness. As it’s name implies, this one is bubbly on the palate. Big, upfront fruity taste. Bananas are hanging out there. It gets high marks for originality.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Pours a deep yellow color with a short-lived white head, no lacing. Despite the name, only light carbonation hidden behind the chunky, unfiltered body. A surprisingly full nose of ripe sweet fruit, yeast and spice. Full, rich, warm mouthfeel. The medium-to-full body also belies the sparkling ale moniker. Flavors of too-sweet malt, fruit and light spice with pleasant warming but a somewhat cloying finish – where’s the sparkle? MUSIC: 'Sparkle and Shine' by Steve Earle

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 5

Batch 8204, November 2007 bottle date; Sampled July 2008
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three-finger thick, frothy, light tan colored head. The beer is a copper color that shows a lightly hazy, dark gold color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite fruity up front with notes of pear and ripe melon noticeable as I pour this brew. A closer inspection yields the same with a soft earthy spice note, aromas of golden raisins, some spicy esters and a touch of warming higher alcohol notes. There are also some lighter, malt derived notes that remind me of a herbal honey, some cracker-like grain and some dusty crushed malt. I really like the nose on this, it can be a touch hot at times from the alcohol, but it is enjoyable.

The flavor is sweet up front and has quite a bit of fruitiness to it; the flavors remind me of a mix of white grapes (chardonnay perhaps) and some light pear. The beer finishes with a light sweetness, some hot alcohol & fusel notes, a peppery spice note and some clove-like phenols. This definitely has some heft to it as the body clings to the palate a bit; this is definitely a sipping beer. Grassy grain notes are quite pronounced and actually a nice addition here; the grass flavors even manage to taste sweet here.

The higher alcohols and fusels get to be a bit much at times; they actually almost give me a headache. A decent beer that seems to be lacking some depth. Actually if it wasn't for the hotness of this beer it would be quite enjoyable and flavorful.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle courtesy of Unclemattie: Poured a cloudy yellow with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of fruity ester with some sweet malt. Taste is a mix between some interesting fruity ester, some sweet malt which may include some wheat. Full body with some great carbonation but some light alcoholic phenol which were not too upfront. While I really enjoyed this beer I thought it lacked some complexity and subtlety.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Courtesy of Phishpond and BeerHunter. Pours a light amber, very slightly hazy, with a medium head and good lacing. Good carbonation. Aromas of yeasty malts with a fruity base and some hops. Taste is sweet malts, light ripe fruits - dates, raisins, bananas - and a very noticeable hops presence. A little bitter for a tripel to me.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This one poured a nice golden color with suspended sediment and a white frothy head. It had a dry aroma with a somewhat fruity flavor and nice smooth finish.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle. Poured a clear golden color with a light white head. Some lacing. Aroma of Belgian yeast and banana. Nice mouthfeel, with about the perfect amount of carbonation. Flavor has a lot of apricot and banana in it, with that Belgian yeasty aftertaste. Yet another solid Bells offering.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Another impressive beer from the folks at Bells. This beer pours a golden colour with a slightly orange tint. Small creamy white head reminiscent of whip cream. Aromas are of light fruit flavor, peach, pear and oddly enough a little chives. Earthy in taste, sweet malts, alcohol and green tea. Plenty of carbonation, silky and virtually flawless. Nice job guys!