Redux Big Rig Belgian-Style Tripel 2021

Redux Big Rig Belgian-Style Tripel 2021 by Garage Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood Aged Beer (Category 33B) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

Redux Big Rig Belgian-Style Tripel pours a hazy deep gold with a thick and creamy white head that lingers for a short time, then falls to a thick ring around the glass. The aroma features a prominent bourbon and barrel character with a big hit of spicy alcohol. No hop aroma or fermentation character developed behind the bourbon, but a hint of bready malt did emerge as the beer continued to warm and vent.

The bourbon character was also quite prominent in the flavor, but did eventually fade down to allow a very light bready malt to peek through, followed by a suggestion of mixed citrus esters. The moderate spicy alcohol was slightly hot as it passed through mid-palate into a medium-dry finish and warmed the palate. There was no hop flavor and the hop bitterness was quite low. The medium-full body and moderately high carbonation rounded out the mouthfeel.

If you enjoy bourbon, this is a fun beer to try, but it was quite dominant and did not allow the character of the Belgian-style tripel to shine through enough. Perhaps less time in the barrel would provide better balance and make the barrel character more complementary instead of the focus.