Maredsous Tripel

It's Friday!  *Commence Happy Dance*

Tonight I'm drinking Maredsous Tripel, brewed by Maredsous Abbey, who licenses their name to Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat.  I've seen this beer in the past, and I believe it used to be named under a number system (Maredsous 6, 8, and 10), and this would've been the '10'.  A lot of Belgian breweries use this system, and it seems to be most commonly organized by alcohol strength.  But it looks like Maredsous moved away from the number system and now just calls it the Tripel.

The label is pretty basic, with a little description on the back.  The color of the beer is dark golden, slightly hazy and holds a massive layer of web-laced foam.  The aroma is full of that signature belgian yeast funk.  Plenty of light fruits, cloves, pears, maybe even a little pineapple.  Oh, alcohol is also in there.  The first taste is a bit different than I expected......lots of pale, pils maltiness laced with a tangy belgian yeast flavor.  Alcohol is a heavy hitter in the middle, along with peppery cloves.  The middle and into the finish brings an odd flavor that's hard to describe - it's a bitter, bubbly, fruity sweet champagne-ish-ness - not in a good way.  Mouthfeel is dry, with heavy carbonation.

Overall Rating:  This turned out to be a real let-down for me.  I'd pick an Orval or a Gulden Draak over this any day of the week.  Something just seems off, the bitterness holds a vegetal, medicinal yuck that's not good.  Possibly a bad bottle?  Hard to say.  C

Two Brothers Brewing - Oh Brother! Tripel Ale

This evening I will be enjoying an Oh Brother! Tripel from Two Brothers Brewing in Warrenville, IL.  This brewery has continued to grow on me, with some deliciously hoppy concoctions like the Resistance IPA and their Cane and Ebel Red Rye.  Cane and Ebel was the collective favorite craft brew for my family over the 4th of July weekend... it received lots of high praise against a tough field of craft brews including Surly, Flying Dog, Brau Brothers, and a couple others.  Tonight's brew is a Tripel Ale, and part of their line of Artisan Beer.  I couldn't find any information on this brew on their website, so I'm guessing it's no longer available?  I did find it at a brew-shop I don't normally frequent, and it was on "fire sale", so it's probably a bit aged.  There are a couple references on the google-brain that say this is an 8.5% alcohol brew...but that's about it! 

I can't find a bottled-on date anywhere.  There is, however, a cool drawing of a monk holding a glass of beer...awesome label art.  The beer is a cloudy, soft honey-gold with very little foam appearing after a rough pour.  Lots of sediment is visible in the bottle and in the glass.  Aroma is full of spicy apple cider, plenty of sweet honey malts, more pepper, cloves, and some funky banana yeast.  The taste brings all of those scents straight home with even more maltyness than expected.  Starts off with fresh cut apples and apricots.  Then comes a wave of spices and cloves, which rides on some seriously spritzy carbonation.  Coriander and some warm booze come towards the end, and the finish leaves a lingering banana yeast-ness.

Overall Rating:  This was a nice Tripel with plenty of the typical characteristics of the style.  The alcohol bite was a tad bit harsh, but I didn't have a problem finishing this pint.  Two Brothers continues to impress.  B+

Brouwerij Van Steenberge - Gulden Draak Ale

Tonight I'll be crossing the ocean and heading to Belgium for a glass of Gulden Draak.  According to BJCP, this brew falls under the Belgian Dark Strong Ale category, although I've also seen references of it being considered a Tripel.  The Gulden Draak is named after a golden statue that was originally donated to the city of Constantinople by the Norse king Sigrid Magnusson in 1111 during one of the first crusades.  It's been fought over since then, but ultimately it ended up on top of the Belfry in Ghent.

The bottle is unique - painted white with a golden drake emblem on the front.   It notes a reminder that this is a 'Product of Belgium", and also reminds of the potent 10.5% ABV.  After a soft pour, the head is furious and frothing, massive.  As it recedes, it leaves a web of lace like I haven't seen before... I took a picture of it below.

The beer is a dark blood-red color with a light tan head.  The aroma is full of sweet caramel malts, fruity esters, and plenty of alcohol.  There's also a slight yeasty belgian funk that swirls around in there.  The taste starts off with a blast of sweet malts - sweet caramel malt, then a wave of cherry and other fruits that I can't quite discern...apples?  Definitely apples.  Alcohol then heats things up, potent when blended with the fruits and the high carbonation.  The finish is spicy and sticky.

Overall Rating:  This was a big hot mess of Belgian goodness.  Lots of flavor, big chewy malt body, tart fruits, and a prominent alcohol note that wraps the flavors up in a basket and delivers them with a buzz.  Delicious.