Bruges la Morte
Fort Lapin

 

From the Rare Beer Club's Belgian Bliss Box. And I must have gotten one of the last boxes since the last review was 6 months ago. Reviews vary widely here. I tend to side with Stoned Trippin', my fellow Euro-Saison Head (his term.) We both are glad to see Fort Lapin because we both lament how importers have become too cautious, afraid that the American palate will not support the importers clients enough. (IMHO, Americans will support them; but the distribution system sucks.)

As for Bruges La Morte.... We need more. Tripels like this raise the standard for American micros because they are no different than Belgian micros like Lapin, but the focus is different. Yeasts like this are cultivated and kept over years, if not generations. And American micros should invest their time in yeasts... if they want this quality a brew in this tradition.

Because of the character in this yeast, there is much to like in this tripel. All ingredients seem to be distinct and, then, meld together by some miracle. In reading through Stoned's review, I decide to ditto him. But so rich is his stream of consciousness that I also want to nominate him as BA's Poet Laureate. Cheers, Bro !

a neat one from the rare beer club, love these little belgian operations, wish we had better access, but nationwide it seems like the import game has really slowed to a crawl in the last five or so years, maybe more, a total shame for the curious palate. anyway this one is unique for a tripel, i think disinct from the normal tripel they make, to me it hits almost more like a hoppy saison for a number of reasons, but i think it is a creative and distinctive take on the style, and we really enjoyed this at our thanksgiving table, usually you do not see these dry hopped. its soft straw colored brew, uniformly lightly hazy throughout, with an airy and popping white head, a little rustic. the nose is hoppy for sure, seems noble to me, but light pine, green tea leaves, and wet grass all present. a neat ester to this too, not quite funky or farmy, no brett or anything, but definitely more than just a clean high tone pear and white white note akin to normal belgian yeast, more distinct, perhaps a house strain that has evolved a little, i really like it, white pepper, hay, vitamin c tab, a little pink gum, a little wet dog. the flavor is similar, wheaty and even kind of raw on the grain side, less of the candy syrup sugar spike thing, and this ends up drier than most. the hops are not just on the back end either, and start getting bitter in the center, which helps this drink lighter than it is and also finish a little more crisp than i think most of us normally associate with the style. a little pencil wood and graphite chew thing to this, a freshness that is neat from the hops, spiciness in the ferment, less malt and residual sugar, and really no sign of the alcohol either, although this is low for a tripel. really uinique beer overall, i like how different the grain seems, how the hops transform this, and whatever this yeast is in here, all really come together well. great food beer too. i cant wait to try that quad that came in the same shipment! never heard of these guys before this one, but loved it!

 

 

 

 

Poured from 750 mL bottle into chalice.
A: Pours a clear golden yellow hue with very active carbonation jets fueling a generous 2-3 inch frothy white head with excellent retention.
S: Spiced (think clove and white pepper) apple and pear, soft herbal mint, and subtle toasted almond malt.
T: The dry hop elements hit first with lemon citrus and herbal mint and tend to dominate the nicer base elements of clove, spiced apple, white pepper and soft almond.
M: Light body. Dry throughout with herbal astringency. Earthy spice with fruit (mostly tree fruit with a hint of lemon) sweetness.
D: This started out as a solid tripel, then took a half-step back with the dry hopping. Definitely an interesting brew to try, just not outstanding.

Beautiful golden pour, lots of head. Notes of stone fruit on the nose, light yeast but more floral than bready. Full mouthfeel. Good carbonation. One of the best I have tasted. Up there with La Fin du Monde, Allagash, and La Grave.

Clean orange, a lot of beautiful white foam.
Quite heavy smell, fruty, melon.
Same for the taste, even if a bit more lean. Not too much.
Quite full body. Round, wjìith finish and aftertaste not too long.
Honey notes, spicy.
A bit heavy ath the nose, not a masterpiece, but drinkable.