Now on Tap: Trippel

Trippel Belgian Style Ale

Brewer: New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado

Style: The name says it all

ABV: 7.8%

 

The New Belgium Brewing Company's (fairly) new "Explore Series" of beers offers a quartet of brews that the company has either never tried or is reimagining. The first thing that grabbed me is the break from the traditionally-framed NBBC labeling; the Explore Series packaging has a simple dichromatic design, perhaps as an intentional suggestion that the beer, like its packaging, is not a permanent endeavor. And truth be told, I might not have picked it off the shelf if it had the old label, so good on New Belgium for switching things up.

Thankfully, the quality of the drink is what you'd come to expect from the New Belgium name. If all you've sampled from the New Belgium Brewing Company is their Fat Tire (no slouch, of course), do yourself a favor and pick up some of these experimental beers.

Trippel didn't have the same cripsness that I've come to expect from a light-colored Belgian, although I think that was kind of the point. Any time a beer is named for a multiple, you can usually expect a strong, oftentimes dominant flavor. True to form, Trippel seeks that strong alcoholy punch, moving the Belgian from a nice accompaniment to a headliner.

The New Belgium website provides a wonderful palette of food pairings. I enjoyed my beer with an eggs Benedict salad (egg, grilled ham, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes on fresh baby spinach). The strength of the drink overpowered the delicate flavors a bit, but it still paired well. I wouldn't recommend this with brunch, though.

That being said, this beer does not overpower the drinker. The major change is the context of when I would drink it. This is a back porch sipper for Friday afternoons. Which, come to think of it, is only a few hours away.