On the 6th day of Christmas, Frank About Beer drank for me - Trippel Belgian ale from the New Belgium brewery.
If you're a fan of Belgian-style beers, you may be aware of one known as a, "Tripel". They're named for the huge amounts of extra malt that is used (sometimes triple the amount) which creates a heavier, usually sweeter beer with all the great things about Belgian beers cranked up a few notches. You also tend to get much higher alcohol content (because of the extra sugar).
In the case of New Belgium's "Trippel", you get all of the above! It pours a dark good color with good carbonation, albeit with a high alcohol of 8.5% ABV, which is actually less than the typical 9-12% you tend to find in a tripel.
The taste is wonderfully Belgian - aromas of banana and bubble gum, along with the typical cloves and smokiness you often get with them. One surprising thing is that it tastes deceptively smooth, and you'd never guess it was that high in alcohol.
Overall, this is an excellent beer that's easy to find (and affordable) that you could line up against much higher-end tripels. Definitely one for Belgian beer fans.
Check back tomorrow for the next beer in our #12BeersofXmas series.
Cheers!
Christian and Eric
