Moeder Overste
Brasserie Lefèbvre SA

Without doing elaborate research and calculations, here is how Moeder stacks up against its competition... of which there realistically are two classes. U.S. crafters are the lower class because too few understand how to make and keep the tripel's yeast which is critical to its character. Then the upper class is the Belgian brewers who understand better, in part because yeast individuation is in their training and blood.

Moeder is above average by U.S. standards, but is only slightly above average by Belgian standards.

Moeder could have a more active yeast. It would improve its foam and lasting lace. Its Smells, fruity but tame, also would be fruitier. While balanced, Tastes would have the added dimension of a spice imported from the yeast... the style's renown pepper. This is a bit light of medium-mouthed.

I like how Lefebvre is giving women their due in the abbey brewing world. But I also should note that the nun on the label has a fulsome shape. Draw your own conclusions.

I would have Moeder Overste again, but also would not seek it out.

Copenhagen 23/10 2023. 33 cl bottle with a swing cap from Spar, Langestraat, Oostende. Yellow label with a silhouette of a Nun with a mug of beer.

Pours unclear golden yellow with a big white head. Stable. Settles as thin layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Clinging to the sides of the glass. Substantial lacing.

Aroma is medium intense with a sweet malty odor mingling with a sharp sourish scent with a slightly metallic notes rummaging in the background. Caramel and toffee. Sour grains. Hints of citrus.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, smooth, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a slightly more moderate sourish bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter with a notable sweet undertone. Lingers for a while. Finish is rather dry.

Decent Tripel with a nice touch of alcohol.

From the International Beer Collector subscription in February 2022. Drunk in October that year.

L: Pours a dark, thick, honey-coloured yellow in the glass. Bright white head with a persistent, centimeter-high rim of foam that recedes towards the middle of the glass into a thin covering. Lacing down the glass.

S: Aroma is sweet malt, fairy floss, and honey. Spicey Belgian yeast, and a slight clovey note that becomes more pronounced as it warms.

T: Taste is sweet malts, a touch of booze, some grape must, and spicey Belgian yeast. The beer carries its 8% ABV very well.

M: Mouthfeel is soft and sherbety. Carbonation is restrained.

O: Overall this is quite a restrained tripel with nothing standing out to overwhelm any of the other aspects of the beer. It's a good thing that ultimately everything works in harmony, but it also means it misses that certain something to make it stand out from other tripels.

Cheers!

 

Bottle, at Den Tatoverede Enke, Copenhagen. Brown colour, large foamy head. Pretty standard tripel aroma. Nice moderately malty flavour with mild spices. ABV is well hidden, finish is a bit bland.

L- Light chestnut brown, pours clear (it's filtered), with 1.5Cm pillowy white head. [ps 15mins later, head holds really well].
S- Some fruit notes, quite mild for me.
T- Initially light then fast into deep and pungent, like deep/dark/intense stewed fruits
F- Wonderful! Clearly a Tripel, and with the oomph of it's 8% there to relish. Zero out of place/balance for me I'm really enjoying this.
O- What a lovely beer, pretty meaty at 8% yet still so elegant and refined with it. I'd very happily drink this again, even more so if I would have to pay less for it!
£4.09/330ml caged and stoppered bottle, bought from BeersOfEurope/UK for home delivery.

 

 

 

 

Pooured into goblet.
L: Turbid amber color with a medium white foam head.
S: Dark fruits, plums.
T: Typical tripel with a little sourness.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: This one had exceeded my expectations.

C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE

 

33cl bottle. Pale golden pour, with a coarse grained near-white head. Smells like Belgian yeast, pilsner hops and a bit of caramel. Tastes sweet with an added medicinal bitterness, taste notes including Belgian yeast, corn, bread, spices, bitter herbs, a hint of lambic funkiness.