This is another beer from Heavy Seas in their Mutiny Fleet series of big, bold brews. The difference here is that this is a Christmas Ale. Having just popped a two year old bottle of Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Letter of Marque Dubbel, I was in a Belgian mood and the Tripel seemed a natural. This one had about a year of age on it.

From the bottle label:

The Mutiny Fleet was “berthed” by Heavy Seas brewers who were discovered secretly brewing small batches of big beers to amuse the palates of their fellow crew. 

Since most secrets are best kept bottled up, we’re bringing you these big flavor extraAARGHdinary brews in 22oz bombers.”

Heavy Seas beers are brewed by Baltimore’s Clipper City Brewing; the brand is one of the lines they own. Yule Tide is a winter seasonal, and a hety one at that with an alcohol content of 10% by volume. I paid a reasonable $6.99 for my bottle.

Ingredients used are UK Goldings hops; Abbey, Pilsner, 2-row barley, and Vienna malts; with light candi sugar thrown in as is normal for the style. Currently, Heavy Seas has this listed as a "marooned" beer, meaning it is not currently in production, though that does not mean it won't return at some point.

Heavy Seas Yule Tide Belgian Style Tripel pours to a brilliant golden orange color with a thick and very creamy head formation and a delightful nose of tropical fruits. Taking a sip, the beer has a wonderful richness and sweetness up front followed by a rush of tropical fruit (pineapple and definitely passion fruit). There’s some wonderful Belgian funk going on next, and then cotton candy before the whole affair is dried in the finish by spice and warming alcohol. 

A very nice Belgian-style Tripel if you ask me, and you did or you wouldn’t be reading this. It’s a beer you can enjoy during the winter season or years later. Properly stored, it should keep for some time after your purchase. 

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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