Belgian Tripel - Attenuation Too High - Does alcohol taste mellow with time?

[joeldp144]

Does alcohol taste mellow with time?

I recently brewed a Belgian Tripel with a SG of 1.084, and I used WLP 530. I used a two step starter. I expected the yeast to take the FG down to about 20, but it ended up at 10. Needless to say, that yeast is a monster. I was siked about the alcohol content, but unfortunately, my IBU was only around 35. I just tasted the beer after bottling, and it tastes too "hot". The alcohol really comes through and is a little overwhelming.

I did a pretty good job of keeping the ferm temps low, so I don't think the issue is related to that. I just think that the alcohol content is too high for the IBU range.

Will the alcohol taste mellow with time? I realize that the beer is effectively only a week or so old and that it should age for a while, but I am just trying to console myself during this long wait.

 

[Patster]

I've brewed a Tripel myself. I still have another month to go before it's ready.

It is going to be a strong beer. I haven't drunk my own obviously, but when I've gotten a tripel at a brewpub it has a very noticeable alcohol taste, certainly not a beer you can chug.

 

[Tlylebrew]

The answer is no. Pack up your beer and ship it to me for further testing LOL!!!

Actually the answer is yes.. Most tripels are recommended to age 6 to 9 months. Any beer that big will take time to mellow.

 

[abbot555]

The answer is no. Pack up your beer and ship it to me for further testing LOL!!!

Actually the answer is yes.. Most tripels are recommended to age 6 to 9 months. Any beer that big will take time to mellow.

+1

My tripel tasted best around the 8 month mark.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Does alcohol taste mellow with time?

I recently brewed a Belgian Tripel with a SG of 1.084, and I used WLP 530. I used a two step starter. I expected the yeast to take the FG down to about 20, but it ended up at 10. Needless to say, that yeast is a monster. I was siked about the alcohol content, but unfortunately, my IBU was only around 35. I just tasted the beer after bottling, and it tastes too "hot". The alcohol really comes through and is a little overwhelming.

Unfortunately? Seems about spot-on for the style! But yeah, give it time. At least six months

 

[Poindexter]

I bulk aged my trippel for about two months before I bottled it, then six months in the bottle.

I only made the one trippel, but anything I ever made with an OG over 1.080 needed months on the shelf to settle down.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Have no fear, it will definitely mellow with time.

I brewed an extract dunkel last year with a little too much extract and some of that alcohol booster stuff...it came out to around 8%, which is pretty fierce for a wheat beer. It came out of the fermenter really hot, but four months after brewing it really mellowed out into a delicious beer. It's hands down my favorite beer.

 

[david_42]

9.6% Give it 10-12 months, but sample a bottle on every national holiday. Take careful notes on flavor changes.