The world's first ever Belgian-style Tripel in a can! The folks at Tallgrass sure have taken a bold step by putting this 8.5% golden-hued beauty in 16 oz. cans. We're really looking forward to trying yet another first in the world of canned craft beers and very glad to see that today's craft brewers aren't shy about putting big, complex beers in cans. Cheers! 

From the Tallgrass site:

"This beer is a Belgian Tripel that lives up to its name. Smooth and carefully crafted like a fine velvet painting, but with an 8.5% ABV this bird has some spurs! The beer pours a golden straw color with brilliant clarity. Topped with a lofty pure white head the beer has a wonderful floral nose, with subtle fruit notes.  

The taste is clean and crisp, with subtle fruit notes and a touch of candy like sweetness. The beer has a Champagne-like effervescent that provides a crisp offset to its sweet finish.  While a pint glass is always nice, Velvet Rooster would also be at home in a tulip glass or Champagne flute. Something to crow about."

Here we go...

Pour - soft, golden yellowish-orange in color with a wispy white head on top. This is almost opaque despite the color and it definitely pours "heavy" with great carbonation. An innocent looking brew that certainly hides it's complexity.

Aroma - strong aromas of candy sugar, Belgian yeast spiciness and some warm toastiness. The spiciness from the yeast is very apparent and really draws you in. If you like what yeast can offer a beer in both aroma and flavor than this will definitely please your senses.

Taste - this is a sipper. As soon as you get this on your tongue the sweetness and the spiciness really take hold. Lots of flavors mingling and smoothing out as this warms. Some earthy notes are also detectable as are some faint hints at citrus (sweet oranges). Velvet Rooster is velvet-soft on the palate and the strength is so well hidden it's scary. 

Overall - absolutely incredible! I had no idea what to expect when I heard Tallgrass was canning a Belgian-style Tripel. This was a pretty big departure from their other offerings. I am very happy to say that they nailed it with this one. Velvet Rooster can strut proudly in a Belgian henhouse full of native varieties of this particular breed.

Note - Tallgrass currently cans six different beers covering a broad spectrum of styles from light and refreshing to malty to big and hoppy! Velvet Rooster is a great new addition to the Kansas brewer's portfolio. Cheers!