Fourchette
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

 

Bought at Melbourne's Purvis (a great Belgian source.) A relatively young brew, Fourchette was a recent World Beer Award Bronze winner. While this is but one reason to like Fourchette, there are others. It Looks a lovely lively tripel with a big foam that settles into protein swirls. Smells start mostly as fruity malt (friendly like an apple), but then the yeast and other spices supply balanced aromas. Tastes follow with a short fruit attack that gradually gets replaced by a mix of spices; but in the final finish, fruits have a modest comeback. More than medium-mouthed, due to the yeast working well the mixed malts.

Now in its sixth generation, I remain impressed by Van Steenberge and give them excellent Overall Hugs. Now recently introducing a Grand Cru, Fourchette represents an emerging line that innovates the classics.

3/21/26 Drank on tap at the Bierboom restaurant in Lebekke who has an impressive and select beer list. Also confirming my rating above was that Fourchette paired well with lunch of a veggie burger and frites. Tripels often are not good with food. Fourchette was.

 

 

 

Caught between Belgian pale ale and tripel ale, van Steenberge rolls out a friendly, refreshing and characterful tripel ale that hits the best of both worlds.

Pouring a nearly bright gold and teeming with bubbles, Fourchette builds a lofty and arid white froth with delicate floral aromas filled with fruit, spice, herb and hay. Medium sweet with malty suggestions of honey, biscuit and light bread, the bubbles quickly break up the sweetness and usher in a fruity middle palate of apple, pear, lemon and grape to await a modest balance of white pepper, grassy hops and vinous spice.

Medium bodied and departing from the common tripel with a lower bitterness, sweeter taste and fruit-forward balance, the ale is just as deceptively smooth and dangerously drinkable as most beers of the style.

Élégant hazy with a clean sophisticated nose and a bitter crisp taste nice rounded mouthfeel with a bit of alcohol coming through. Lingering grassy malt aftertaste.

Golden colour, slightly hazy. White, high, persistent foam. Very nice on the glass, marking almost every tilt of the glass.
Aroma: moderately sweet, distinctly malty, spicy, yeasty, "Belgian", hint of fruit.Taste dry, spicy. Moderately high, medium-long bitterness, more intensely spicy on the finish.
Alcohol nicely hidden. High saturation, although I am not fond of such, it fits here. Texture a little rough. Medium body. Aftertaste of medium length, dry.

Eindhoven 30/9 2023. 33 cl bottle from AoH Supermarket, Septemberplein, Eindhoven. Simple black label with gold letters.

Pours unclear golden yellow with a big white head. Settles as a thin, uneven layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing.

Aroma is sweet and a bit sugary odor with sweet malts, white sugar and a touch of yeast. Sweet pale malts, humid basement and alcohol.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, almost flat texture.

Flavor is medium intense with a strong sweetness followed by a moderately strong bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet with a touch of booze. Lingers for a while. Finish is sugar and alcohol.

Solid Tripel - not afraid to admit it’s considerable ABV.

 

 

I had this on draft 6/27/24 @ the Hopleaf.

Mostly opaque dark orange appearance.

Huge bright white head; a thick curtain of lacing remained.

Banana, bubblegum, orange peel & faint muesli notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Banana & faint orange peel flavors up front; dry clove notes on the finish.

Nicely balanced; I'd have another.

 

 

 

330 ml bottle at 7,5% abv. Tripel style Belgian blonde. Special one: wheat and rice added to the usual ingredients. This might explain a bit the versatile. ambivalent character of this lovely blonde.
Highly carbonated. Pours with a huge head. Good rentention. Great lacing.
Pour in a big glass to prevent spilling.
Huge 3-4 finger head with long retention.
Smell, fresh bread and some citrus notes. Lime maybe grapefruit.
Second taste: dirty yeast. A nice tanginess to it. Upnotched the beer a bit.
Third taste, more round and flowery.
This beer is an enigma to me. But all versions are very good.
Mouth feel, good balance, sour, sweet, spicey dry after taste, almost oaked.
Taste,very good, with . Some dry little bit of grapefruit aftertaste. Not too bitter, not too sweet, Special.
This is a very good beer. Will drinkt it a bit more. This grows on me.

Bought in Brussels, opened in Paris. Ours hazy gold with thick white head. Bit of banana and bubble gum as well as floral bouquet. A bit of spice and lemon flavor. A little acid with a dry finish.