Tripel Karmeliet
Brouwerij Bosteels

 

This is one of the best of the style without question. I let my wife, who doesn't drink beer, taste it and she simply said "complex." I think she nailed it because its shocking how complex it actually is. Loads of clove and some banana, apple, maybe some peach and an absolute perfect mouthfeel. Fluffy white head and it looks like a work of art in its proper glass.

This is easily a top 5 Belgian tripel and that's saying something.

Fruity Belgian Character

 

 

 

 

750ml bottle. Date stamp on neck wrapper is '08/12/2023E'. Green bottle.
Cloudy, straw colored body. Huge small bubble head upon pouring, which holds for quite some time. Left behind is some meringue lacing.
Aroma is grain malts, yeast, and fruit - pear, peach, and lemon.
Taste is fruity (pear, peach, apple, and lemon) and spicy. Yeast funk. Wheat tanginess. Long lasting aftertaste, in a sort of caramel apple sort of way.
Mouth feel has some heft. Very smooth and bubbly. Excellent carbonation.
Very lively and likable beer. Complex yet classic. Would like to try a fresher example.

The pour is golden yellow with some particles floating around. The taste is green apple, banana, mild clove, & mild white pepper. Cheers! A-

 

L: Golden body, very even and thick two finger head.
S: Fruity esters, pear and apple, floral perfume notes, a bit of funk, soft and sweet.
T: The classic fruity Belgian character upfront. Fruit esters, tart pear, medicinal flavors, wheat malt, white pepper, a bit more bitterness in the body than I expected. Rich and full tasting, but simple.
F: Moderate carbonation, noticeable warmth.
O: This tastes old, and not in an old bottle way, in an old recipe way. I don’t know how else to describe it. The esters and malt are so nicely balanced, and not overwhelming. It’s gentle for the style, and all the better for it.

I don't know what I've been doing but it's definitely fucking around because this is genuinely my first time having this one, and yet again in Brussels it of course comes in proper glassware!

The head is active as hell, so there you can already see how perfectly designed the glass is because it contains it top to bottom, while the body is a sparklingly clear wedding band gold.

Taste is more floral than I expect out of a tripel, which is unique to me, while still featuring some gently peppery phenols as well as some citrus peel and a touch of minerality. It's actually more beautifully bright of fruity characteristics like stonefruit, but also honeysuckle. It's incredible.

Tripel Karmeliet is one of most wonderfully expressive tripels I've ever had, and I regret not having had one of these ages ago. This could have changed my perspective of Belgian ales so drastically, and so much sooner. Hands down this is the best tripel on Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a: some chill haze on this burnt yellow color. huge, 3-4 finger off white rocky head

s: sweet grains, grass, lemongrass, band aid, and some barn yard funk. huge note of pear and green apple skin. clove and cardamom. pepper and a nice crusty bread backbone

t: sweet grains, grass, and lemongrass...just like the nose. big pear and green apple skin behind that. cardamom and pepper follow along with a nice crusty loaf of country bread. pepper and some Belgian yeast spice. a hint of banana and more grains

m: medium mouthfeel with high carbonation

o: world class Tripel right here. great earthy notes with a kiss of funk and grains

330ml. bottle in Vientiane, Laos. Pours a caramel brown with a good, white retentive head. Aromas of yeast, smoke and spice. A fruity and yeasty taste. Complex and pleasant. A good tripel.