I recently spent sometime cleaning my beer cellar out and came across the Tripel Overhead from Mother Earth Brewing out of Kinston, North Carolina. I purchased this back in August while on vacation down at the Outer Banks. Mother Earth really impressed me when I tried their IPA Sisters of the Moon, so I’m looking forward to this one.
Every time I find a new beer from another country I have to give it a go, and if that country is Belgium it is a must. The Abbey Pale Ale from Brouwerij Corsendonk caught my eye while perusing the aisles at my local beer mart. While the bottle says Pale Ale the style is actually a Tripel. So to recap, a Tripel from Belgium? Yeah, I’m drinking this.
When The Bruery’s Batch 300 Homebrew Contest was announced, with one winning beer to be bottled by them, it was a no-brainer something unique would be coming. Enter Grant Phillips winning recipe of an Oaked Tripel at 8.20% ABV. Available only locally, here’s a much deserved “thank you” to Scott out in California for sending this my way!
Westmalle Brewery if you’re an American, or Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle, is a Trappist brewery located in Belgium. Producing only three beers annually, Westmalle is credited for being the first brewery to use the term “Tripel” in regards to its golden strong pale ale. With such history behind this beer and hearing of its high praise, it was simply too much to pass up.
After my article on the differences of Belgian beers, I felt it was necessary to do a review on a beer of each style. I will start with the more commonly found Abbey-style, specifically the Maredsous 10 Tripel from Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat. Yes, the brewery that is responsible for Duvel, though this beer is brewed under the Maredsous label in respects to the Benedictine monks. The Maredsous 10 is still produced in accordance with the original recipe and is supervised by the Abbey’s community.
