Triumph Sorachi Ace IPA

This Saturday is one of the first that I’ve had off in awhile. I’ll be up in New York to see Val’s family for Mother’s Day. It’s always nice to go up there and I have a feeling I’ll be making a stop at Half Time, especially since we have all the room in the house now for beers. Sunday, we’re planning on going to see my family and then on Monday, I’ll be able to tool around the house. Anyways, let’s see how this beer was that I ordered at Triumph.

ABV: 6.6%

Style: American IPA

Trivia: The pedigree of this hop, according to Hopunion.com is a “cross between Brewer’s Gold, Saazer – OP and Beikei No. 2 male.”

Random: I haven’t been watching much baseball lately because of work. I guess it’s for the best since my team is awful.

This beer poured with a two finger, cream-colored head that dissipated slowly and left limited lacing on the pint glass. The body was a hazy orange with no carbonation visible due to the haziness. The nose had a pleasant aroma with generous citrus notes (specifically Mandarin orange) and lemongrass. The taste had lemongrass and citrus with a touch of vanilla at the end of the sip. This was definitely hop-forward without much malt, which I wasn’t complaining about. It had a medium body and light carbonation, which could have had more to improve the drinkability of this. It had a long finish with lemongrass. If you follow the blog at all, you know that this is a hop that I not only enjoy, but seek out. This beer could be one of the best I’ve had from Triumph. I would definitely have this one again.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Triumph Small World Coffee & Cream Stout

The other half read that Triumph was brewing a coffee beer in collaboration with Small World Coffee in Princeton. She she likes Small World Coffee and likes coffee in general, she wanted to make a trip to Triumph to give this a shot. She was gracious enough to let me take a sip of it.

ABV: 5.6%

Style: American Stout

Trivia: According to the Small World Coffee website, “We have been serving up quality coffee, food, art, and community in Princeton, New Jersey since 1993. Our attention to detail and commitment to quality are what allow us to thrive.”

Random: As usual, they sat us upstairs and the service was alright, but not great.

This beer poured with a three finger, thick (almost nitro-like) tan head. It was slow to dissipate and left generous lacing on the glass. The body was black with no visible carbonation due to the color. The nose had a lot of strong coffee and roasted malts. I didn’t pick up any of the lactose on the nose. The taste was more balanced than the nose. It had a lot of the same strong coffee and roasted malts as in the nose, but transitioned into cream-like sweetness from the lactose. Chocolate was present as well, but coffee dominated. It had a really thin body with low carbonation and needed both dialed up. The finish was long with coffee and roasted malts. This wasn’t a bad beer, but I dinged it on the body and carbonation being low. If you like coffee and are around Princeton, it’s worth a shot.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Triumph Hefeweizen

Last night, the other half and I decided to go to Triumph in Princeton because she wanted a burger. We have a running joke that whenever we go out, the service is just awful and this didn’t normally happen to either of us before we started dating. As usual, the service was awful and I didn’t like my food, which is disappointing because it’s such a convenient spot for us. I think we’ll be taking a break from Triumph for a little bit. Anyways, let’s see how the beer was.

ABV: 5%

Style: Hefeweizen

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “Made from a 50% wheat mash and fermented with a special strain of yeast, its complex flavor, with notes of clove, banana and smoke, is unique in the world of beer.”

Random: I just ordered a weizen glass since I don’t have one at the house.

This brew poured with a quarter of a finger of white head that dissipated slowly and left no lacing on the pint glass. This by the way, slightly annoyed me as I was really hoping for it to be served in a weizen glass. But, I digress. The body was a very hazy, light yellow color with moderate visible carbonation despite the cloudiness. The nose had notes of banana, clove and bubble gum. The taste had even more notes of banana and bubble gum. The clove spice was a little less than in the nose. There was also some orange present as well. What I didn’t get was the smoke, but I was definitely okay with that, because it may have been odd in the brew. The body was medium thickness for the style with moderate carbonation. It had a medium long finish with banana and clove. Given that I find Triumph beers to be mostly middle of the road, I really enjoyed this one and would definitely have it again.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Triumph Holy Smoke

A week or so ago, the other half I ended up at Triumph in Princeton. I wanted to watch some of the Phillies game and we didn’t get it on our tv. Unfortunately, the NBA playoffs were on, so I couldn’t watch it there either. But, I was able to try this brew, which I was hard-pressed to find information about online. Let’s see how it went.

ABV: 5.3%

Style: Rauchbier

Trivia: According to beerstainedletter.com, “For the brewing, Tom opted for moderation in the beer’s alcohol, malt and hops, to ‘let the wood come through.’ Dogfish Head’s version is based on a London porter, but Triumph’s appropriately named ‘Holy Smoke’ is a simple pale ale base served in a cask. The result’s a malty, smoked ale with a murmur of incense in the background. The wood comes through slightly in the aroma, but much more so in the flavor – middle and finish, with a slight chewiness in the body. Having never tasted the DFH Ahumado, I can only compare Holy Smoke to the DFH’s more popular and weightier Palo Santo Marron brown ale. And one can definitely taste that unique incense-like flavor, which I for one, have not discovered in any another beer. Tom liked his results and definitely plans to make another cask of the brew. After all, it’s not every day you can drink an interesting beer and cleanse negative energy as well.”

Random: The meow really likes the cream filling in Oreos.

This beer poured with a half a finger of white head that dissipated slowly. There was some lacing left on the glass. The body was a dark, clear mahogany color with light carbonation visible. The nose was really smoky, like putting your head into a fire pit (which I don’t recommend doing). It also had some coconut notes, which I wasn’t expecting. The taste was also very, very smoky like charcoal smoke. There was sweet coconut as well, but the smoke was definitely the star in this. There was also an unexpected herbal note to it. It had a thin body and moderate carbonation. The finish was long and really smoky. Despite this being a smoke bomb, I found that it was really enjoyable. I would definitely have it again.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Triumph Belgian Dubbel

Last Saturday, I managed to do something on a Saturday that I hadn’t be able to do in a very long time: get out at a decent time. The weather was absolutely beautiful and I got home at right after 7. It was a crazy day at work, but the trucks finished at a decent hour and I got home to my honey nice and early. We ended up going out for dinner to Triumph in New Hope. We walked around for awhile and wanted to go somewhere with outdoor seating, but most of the menus of the local restaurants were still featuring winter fare, which definitely did not fit the weather. So, we decided to go to Triumph. Although I like this location better than the Princeton one, the food was only alright. I tried this brew while we were there. The picture is awful since we were sitting outside and it was already pretty dark when I ordered this one.

ABV: 6.3%

Style: Dubbel

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “The sweet malty aromas derive from imported dark Belgian candi sugar and caramel malts. Our strain of yeast creates the depth of flavor, fruit-like esters and sophistication.”

Random: I think next time we’re in New Hope, we’ll try a different place to eat. There are so many good restaurants and we always seem to end up there.

This brew poured with a barely there tan head. It dissipated quickly and left slight lacing on the glass. The body looked to be a cloudy chestnut color, but it was hard to tell since it was really dark out. For the same reason, I couldn’t tell how much carbonation was in this brew. The nose had some dark fruit and Belgian yeast to it. It smelled pretty good, so I was interested to see if the taste was good. On the sip, I got significant raisin and dates with some prune and Belgian yeast. There was also some cherries in there with biscuit. The body was on the thicker side with high carbonation. It had a quick finish with dark fruit. I was surprised at how good the flavor on this beer was. Normally, I find Triumph beers to be alright, but this one was really enjoyable and I would definitely have this one again. If you see it on tap, it’s definitely worth a sip.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Triumph Oatmeal Stout

This week was an insane work week. A bunch of my staff got the flu, which in turn means that for the past two days, I have come down with the flu. I had so many people out yesterday that I still had to go in despite having a fever, body aches, etc. Today, I woke up without a voice and my throat was killing me. I’m already on my second cup of tea of the morning, so why not update the blog?

ABV: 4.5%

Style: Oatmeal Stout

Trivia: Triumph now offers a beer and cheese pairing with four of their beers and four local cheeses.

Random: I’m almost done with the first season of “The Real L Word.” I can say as of now, it’s absolutely awful, but in a really entertaining way.

This brew poured with a thick, half finger tan head that was slow to dissipate. It left a lot of lacing on the pint glass. The body was a dark brown color that was almost black with occasionally visible carbonation. The nose was dark chocolate and slightly bitter with a touch of cream as well. The taste was shockingly good (especially for Triumph). It had dark chocolate and cream with a touch of oatmeal at the end of the sip. There wasn’t a great deal of bitterness to it because the creamy characteristic really balanced it out. It had high carbonation and a light body for the style. The finish was quick with some dark chocolate and oatmeal. I let the lawyer try it and even she liked it. This was probably the best beer that I’ve ever had a Triumph and was a great example of an oatmeal stout. If you find yourself at Triumph and this is on tap, it is definitely worth a try.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Triumph Chocolate Stout

Ah, Triumph. It’s a place that I love to go, but I’ve never had a beer from there that I really consider “great.” I mean, they get the styles down, but they’re never anything more than middle of the road to me. They’re generally drinkable, but just not fantastic. I hit this place up with Aly on Saturday, saying she lives pretty close to Princeton. I saw the offerings for the night and none really floored me. So, I figured I’d go with the chocolate stout and see how it was.

(So, I totally thought that I took a picture of this beer. I think I trashed it instead of saving it. Imagine a picture here instead…)

ABV: 5.8%

Style: American Stout

Trivia: According to wikipedia.com, “Cocoa solids contain alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body. It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Some research found that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure.”

Random: I do love the fact that they have one cask offering every time on there.

This brew poured with a one finger, tan and fluffy head on a black body. There was no visible carbonation on the brew due to the color. The nose had a lot of coffee and roasted malts, not so much chocolate. But, it smelled inviting anyways. The taste…actually a total letdown. I really didn’t find much chocolate on the taste. There was coffee there, a lot of it, but it didn’t have a lot of bitterness. There was low carbonation on the taste (way too low, if you ask me) and the body was a touch too thin. There wasn’t a lot of flavor to this brew. The finish was quick and unremarkable. I wouldn’t have this again. One word: avoid.

Untappd Rating: 2.0/5.0

Triumph Framboise

My second beer of the night. This is also beer number 364 for the year. This is from the growler that my sister picked up at Triumph last week. I tasted hers at the restaurant and I was pretty impressed. I wasn’t aware of how high alcohol it was though. Anyways, I figure that this will really hit the spot while I watch Food Network. My sister and I are now obsessed with the Food Network. I’m also going to be making pulled pork this weekend (using the new smoker) and I’m very excited. So, onto the brew…

ABV: 8.6%

Style: Fruit/Vegetable Beer

Trivia: Here are some interesting facts about raspberries, “The medical benefits of raspberries include: They do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol, they are high in fiber, vitamin C, potassium and folate, they can help lower high blood pressure and raspberries have an anti-inflammatory property that may help to reduce inflammation of the joints.”

Random: I love watching any sort of competition food show. I love watching how people cook under pressure.

The brew poured with almost no head, except for a hint of white on top of the cloudy reddish body. Due to the color, there was no visible carbonation. This looked like a liquid raspberry. The nose was just some tart raspberries. I didn’t get much else. The taste was a lot of raspberries, but mostly tart at the start and then with a hint of sweetness. I think that some of the carbonation dissipated from the age of the growler. I remember this being much more fresh and carbonated and I definitely enjoyed it more when I first had it. The brew was also a touch thicker than one would expect from a fruit beer. The booze was very hidden and the finish was all raspberry. I definitely enjoyed the beer when I first had it, although the flavor has definitely decreased in satisfaction since sitting in the fridge. I would definitely get this again and kill it while it was fresh. If you find yourself at Triumph, grab one of these.

Untappd Rating: 3.0/5.0

Triumph Bengal Gold India Pale Ale

This was the second brew of the day. I was between having this one and a stout. I chose this one to go with my lunch (which was this wonderful vegetarian sandwich). I think I had this beer the last time that I went to Triumph. I really don’t remember a lot about it, which probably means that it wasn’t amazing. But, let’s see how it goes.

ABV: 6.2%

Style: English India Pale Ale

Trivia: This beer took Bronze at the 2006 GABF in the English-Style India Pale Ale category.

Random: My sister had the framboise beer and actually liked it. She even brought a growler home of it.

This brew poured with a one finger off-white head that hung around for awhile and left some lacing on the glass. The body was a clear golden color with mild visible carbonation. The nose had a decent amount of fresh grapefruit with some hints of flowers, but this is definitely mild for an IPA (again, I didn’t know that it was an English style IPA until I got home). On the taste, I got a bit of sweet malt that came through with bitter grapefruit. I also found that this brew was a bit on the under carbonated side. But, the brew was decently thick and the alcohol wasn’t really a factor. The bitterness was really mellow (even my sister agreed and she hates IPAs, she said that she could actually drink it). The finish was quick. My final opinion of the beer was that it started off hoppy and then just got a little boring for me. I wouldn’t rush back to have this beer.

Untappd Rating: 3.0/5.0

Triumph Rauchbier

Today my sister and I headed to Princeton to run some errands and grab a late lunch. We ended up at Triumph Brewery in Princeton. I had two brews during my meal there and this was the first one.

ABV: ?

Style: Rauchbier

Trivia: According to wikipedia, “Renovation of the Princeton, New Jersey, location began in the spring of 1994 and opened to the public on March 19, 1995. The first purpose-built brewpub in the state, the 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) facility features 30-foot-high (9.1 m) cathedral ceilings, seating for over 275 people, and a two-story, glass-enclosed brewhouse. The non-automated 11-barrel stainless steel brewery was fabricated by Newlands Systems of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Dubbed the largest and ‘grandest’ brewpub in the state, it is said to have the ‘most architecturally striking interior’ of any in New Jersey. The brewing equipment is behind the bar and visible to patrons, and the decor is industrial chic. The brewpub ‘has long produced more beer than any’ other in the state.”

Random: This is the second time that I’ve been to Triumph in Princeton. I always manage to have a good meal and some good brews at this place.

The beer poured with a one finger white head that lingered and left a hint of lacing on the glass. The body was a clear chestnut-brown color. The first thing that I noticed was that there was almost no visible carbonation on the brew. The nose was like barbecue in a glass. I love anything that smells like barbecue, so I was totally into this beer already. Specifically, I got some smoke and bacon on this one. On the first sip, I was surprised that the beer wasn’t as smoky as the nose. There was also almost no carbonation on the brew. The taste had notes of smoke and again, bacon. It reminded me of when I throw mesquite chips in my barbecue. I also couldn’t find the ABV on this brew, but on the taste, the alcohol really didn’t come into play. I assumed that this was in the 5% range. The smoke lasted until the finish. I really enjoyed this beer, but it really did need some more carbonation.

Untappd Rating: 3.0/5.0