Big Rock Chop House Michigan Cherry Tripel

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

Sampled March 2009
A solid pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet glass produces a finger-and-a-half thick, lightly pink tinged, off-white colored head. The beer is a deep amber color that shows a lightly hazed, red-gold color when held up to the light. The aroma as I pour this beers is lightly cherry scented with a slightly tart backdrop. A deeper inspection yields a bit of mustiness and a substantial oak-barrel character that provides aromas of coconut and vanillin that are perhaps the most prominent note of the nose. Other aromas provide a touch of butterscotch, something a bit like spicy cherry cough-syrup, a solid woodiness and a touch of cracker-like malt. The cherry notes and the oak aromas combine to form an almost cinnamon like note. The aroma is not overly aggressive and I like the notes that it does have, though it could be a bit more integrated than it is.

Nicely carbonated, the beer has a bit of fizz to it as it rolls across the tongue. The flavors are almost surprising, though in line with the aroma, as I first notice a tart, fruity, cherry character that morphs into a lingering, distinctly coconut like flavor in the finish. My second sip has me noticing more of the woody flavors in the finish as well as a touch of oak spiciness, but that lingering, appetizing, toasted coconut flavor is still there as well. This coconut like note also reminds me of nutty almonds. The cherry notes are quite present up front in the flavor and almost lean-towards / morph-into a distinct blueberry like note towards the finish. I want to describe the fruit character as spicy, but don't quite know how to say that in a more descriptive fashion. The tartness here contributes a significant tang, but I wouldn't necessarily describe this as a sour beer. This beer has some body to it, at times it can seem even chewy because of the malt character, though it remains fairly quaffable overall.

The finish of this beer is quite fantastic with its mix of spiciness and coconut / almond flavors. Definitely an interesting, even enjoyable, beer; though it could perhaps use a touch more complexity (fermentation funkiness would be nice) or a tighter integration.