Beer - #609 - Harrington's - The Forgotten

Got a really pleasant surprise package from the nice people at Harrington's Breweries, a bottle of a limited (I'd say one off) "The Forgotten"

Unique beer, unique music, unique numbers and that unique moment at a party.

As you can see from their youtube video it mentions in words that it's a Belgiam Tripel, but the brewer calls is Belgium Ale in the video. Who knows, I'm easily confused.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCakefPpS5c

So a 500ml bottle of an 8.7% ABV beer, so that's 5.6 standard drink units of a beer that 261 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style of a  Abbey Tripel from the deep south as far away as Christchurch, New Zealand. Except that perhaps it's a  Belgian Ale.

What I do think is that this might be based on, or even some of, is their Belgium Tempest, which starts at a 7.2% ABV. I'm joining dots here that might not be able to be joined. I don't doubt they 'forgot' it, after all it's only a commercial amount of beer.

[caption id="attachment_11204" align="alignright" width="300"] Beard and Belgium Beer[/caption]

A Belgium Tripel brewed in 2012 and set aside with the intention of ageing for one year...

Shakes & aftermath... Another year, rebuilding & relocating... Put aside and forgotten...

Until now.  Age has done us proud - this Monk's brew has softly matured spicy, slightly peppery, tones on a gentle sweet citrus orange malt layer.

So then what else could possibly go wrong?

Well the beer is presented in a wonderfully shaped bottle, very continental long body, short neck.

On opening then I was slightly disappointed with the lack of any real stand out aroma. I press on.

Pour is a watery muddy affair, and although it looks well carbonated a head mysteriously and not unusually fails to appear. Aroma in the glass is somewhat more, and some familiar sweet and spicy notes.

First taste is promising, a wash of alcohol isn't well hidden, but there is that familiar warm sugar in this, and a finish that is surprisingly dry. It does though, at the moment, not offer a lot of body, not a full mouthfeel of billowing softness. It is surprisingly easy on the palate though and very sippable.

But you feel there is something missing, after all it's a great back story, a really good story for me this really does lack body and fullness that you'd probably expect from something as mature and aged as this beer is.

I'd have thought more fruits, more sweet malts, and perhaps some heightened spice notes.  But then I show;don't think too often.

For that though it isn't undrinkable or bad as a beer, it's one of those  expectations and delivery gap things.  The aroma in glass before you sip promises something deep and rich, the mouthfeel however is a bit thin and lacking.

I hate being harsh about beer that I feel should be nicer or better, but I'm writing as I drinking these are my thoughts uncoloured,  Annoying though because this does have small flashes of the things that you look for in a good Tripel, or Belgium beer, the astringent, perhaps the bubblegum, the malts.

The second half of the the bottle, the second glass, much darker and a head! I didn't see a thing about having a sediment or being 'en lees' but whatever happened it got a much more pronounced aroma and a slight bigger mouthfeel, became a much nicer experience.

[caption id="attachment_11206" align="alignright" width="224"] Now darker and with head[/caption]

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. That makes it 'Good' on the random scale. In places this is like a familiar friend, but the overall experience leaves you a bit empty and wanting a bit more, it's just not rewarding enough a beer until the second half, when it came to the party as it were, perhaps just a little late.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I love a Belgium beer, and this is nice in places, I'm not not enjoying it, I'm just not loving it.
Would I have another? Probably not, but it reminds me that I like Belgium beers.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Based on the story and the lovely bottle I would share this, but I think it'd be an interesting conversation about the style.

Music for this is 'Sweet Billy Pilgrim',  'Coloma Blues' from the new upcoming album 'Motorcade Amnesiacs'. Sweet Billy Pilgrim are an English experimental rock/art rock band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVIHC0E1Vpw

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

Related articles

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• Rock Media: Sweet Billy Pilgrim. Just Above Midtown.


• Is craft beer in a bubble?

Beer- #570 - Harringtons - Belgium Trapist - thRreedux

Same beer new name, Same band same name, same numbers and the similar parties

The 3rd time, a three-peat, that I've drunk this as a beer then. Except this time it's not the same. Or is it? Let's not get ahead of the game.

"...makes this beer big, rich and full of fruitiness. Palate is rich and subtle malty. Full bodied.."

Brewers standard 500ml bottle of beer, this time 60 IBU, and 7.2 % ABV, which is 240 calories a serve size, and it is 2.8 standard drinks. I note that 7.2% ABV is new, that's less. Is it more?

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style of a  Abbey Tripel from the deep south as far away as Christchurch, New Zealand. EXCEPT not, they now label is as a Saison/Farmhouse. I think they're reaching for a style.

Beer #132  and #32 it was labeled as a "Strong Ale" look at the pictures of the label, blue then, yellow now. It scored a 4 both time I had it before, perhaps I'll be swayed by a new packaging.

Even the brewer can't decide on this, it's listed still on the their website as "Belgium Tempest" and 8% ABV.

[caption id="attachment_10721" align="alignright" width="300"] Multi personality beer, why would you frown?[/caption]

Belgium strong styled golden lager with plenty of malty flavour and rounded awarding characteristics.

Born out of a very old recipe, our Tempest is traditionally brewed with Nelson hops to a high alcohol level that enhances the warmth and vigour of this great beer style.

Brewed using Belgian Ale yeast makes this beer big, rich and full of fruitiness. Palate is rich and subtle malty. Full bodied sweetness dominates most of the palate but dies to a dryer finish with a herbal/phenol crisp hop bitterness.

So, what could go wrong? Based on the conflicting information, notes, the multi-personality labelling and all that, who knows what beer I'm having, Jekyll or Hyde.

So with a clear mind and empty head I venture forth.

Pops like a firework!,  Aroma though, bready, yeasty.

Pour is a lovely rich brown and a lovely head too! Aroma though, not so much, perhaps some orange peel. It looks ok though.

Taste. I can't shake the dull bready yeasty taste that pervades this.  BUT they've improved the aroma and the palate from other iterations of this.

So the you get to a point where either they have some bloody minded old curmudgeon that loves a name and thinks he's a master of style, or I have nothing else, they've clearly been floundering around with this as a beer for at least 3 different versions that I can find.

Based on a name. And this one does appear different in taste from the one's I've had before. Perhaps they should have stuck with Strong Lager?

Nothing at all Belgium. Nothing at all Trappist. Not even close to a Saison. not even. A Lager or Ale, someone in marketing or sucking up to the originator of the beer needs to look in the mirror, man up, and tell the man. today. Honest.

On the other hand, a really really nice drinking beer, that offers up low bitterness, a lovely maltiness, and a hint of a dry finish. If it could drop the bready yeast bit it's be a really good beer, really it would.

Based on my diary notes of the last two times I had this (Beer #132  and way back when #32)  this is hardly the same beer.

As it warms it picks up a sour note, which the maltiness just fails to carry, the aroma still confuses and confounds, and the finish is bitter and not totally pleasing.

This though is a world away from the previous versions, and in the right direction, I wonder if the brewer would be open to leaning further in the same direction because he would have something good going on.

Hey what where did all the beer go, he said, disingenuously, as this is more than sipping beer, nothing that is sharp or discordant to make you put it aside, I might even venture that I'd go again on this version as it clearly is on a journey that I hope they want to continue as the future looks bright if they do. But it isn't perfect and it is a little jaggy and unbalanced, unfinished and a bit rough. For a Brewery staple this should be more polished. Perhaps.

The pdubyah-o-meter - delightful as this is stretches t a 7.5

Lower ABV more enjoyment since when did that happen last? It has because this really is an improve on the other versions.  I'm not going to even pretend to be the voice of the punter or even to know what I'm talking about, should they even care to listen at the brewery but I might be tempted to make this a really strong ale as a 'special' and take it off the standard brew list where I think it's been struggling. I have no idea their consumer test group comes from, if it is friends of the brewer people stop listening to them, really please, this has such potential.

And on that bombshell.....

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I rather am.


2. Would I have another?  I think I would, I might, I'd think about it. Perhaps. It's complicated.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No. It's just not up to scratch, yet.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue. 

Musically I was listen to Leonard Cohen on Spotify here an album called "Popular Problems"  This is "Slow"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwvy_QsWffY

I really am betwixt and between on the spoken word as 'singing' and yes I include 'rap' in that, and only John Cooper Clarke or Sam Hunt should be allowed to do it.  Send me a message if you want to discuss this :-)

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

SAISON

Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.

 

Beer - #569 - Garage Project - Touch Wood

Peculiar beer, peculiar music, peculiar use of numbers and a peculiar party.

You need a bit of good luck to pull off a beer like this – so ‘touch wood’.

The Elderflower and Honey Tripel is in  a 650ml bottle, is 9% ABV, and 4.6 Standard Drink units  and about 495 calories in the bottle.

Brewed by Garage Project  this is in the style that is an Abbey Tripel and GP are in Wellington, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10711" align="alignleft" width="300"] A bottle of your most intricately wrapped beer please[/caption]

Malted barley and wheat infused with Elderflower sugar syrup, fresh Elderflowers and honey create a beer alive with the verdant joy of Spring.

You need a bit of good luck to pull off a beer like this – so ‘touch wood’.

Each bottle hand wrapped and individually numbered.

[caption id="attachment_10712" align="alignleft" width="224"] Bottle 1454 - my lucky number[/caption]

What were they thinking? and What could go wrong?

Bottle 1454 of only 2500 wrapped and shipped. Which makes it all the more mysterious and desirable, and once it's gone, it is gone.

I've had this in the fridge for a few weeks waiting for a good time, and there is no time like now to be a good time.

Sour Belgium beer yeast aroma on opening, which is a good sign,

Pour is crisp clean golden, a well carbonated beer that clears to leave a really nice white and fluffy head that look a big luxurious.

Aroma to me seemed like candied sugar. The taste, well, the taste isn't like a beer that I've ever had, it's hard to put a finger on that.

A savoury tasting beer in some ways, a sweet beer in others. No hint at all at alcohol content, no astringent burn, nothing.

More bitter than a normal Tripel might be, where you could expect more sugars, perhaps. Certainly not a dry finish that should expect.

I though that this is an understated bit of good despite the lack of the floral or overt sweetness. It isn't boring to drink and has some favour points that prick and peak.

It warmed in the glass, the alcohol became slightly more pronounced, slightly.  Second pour and it's still crisp and the carbonation is perfect, the glass hazy then snap clear, head is lovely. I finally got the hat cloudy as I poured the bottle empty, just because I could, not because I should. It made no difference, didn't add anything to the taste that I could discern.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. It is certainly an entertaining and performance beer, which could only have been improved with a cork and cage. It is an unusual take on a Belgium beer style that you could probably argue wasn't even a bit close, more a hat tip to rather than an interpretation.

I think that this is a beer that could have done with some more oomph in the profile, and that packaged otherwise I might have been less generous. As it is the arbitrary nature of things means that unless you are a complete grinch you should perhaps enjoy it like I did, live a little!

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I think you get caught up in the whole thing starting at the presentation and the 'hidden' thin in the wrapping, the way interest is piqued about the flavours.


2. Would I have another? I would certainly entertain another, it is alarmingly easy drinking for a strong beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It's a pre-wrapped present and flowers and a bottle, it's the real deal of beers to. Of course I'd bring one, except there are no more and that'll never happen, but if there was and I could etc etc.

Do yourself a favour and check out here for a better and more detailed set of pictures for the table art, it's a bit amazing

Musics I was listening to "Kodakid" the album "Kodakid" and this is the opening track "Outta Sight" You'll find it on Sptofy here  Seems they might have called it a day though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEA8-Rpy77g

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

BELGIAN STRONG ALE

Belgian Strong Ales can vary from pale to dark brown in color, darker ales may be colored with dark candy sugar. Hop flavor can range from low to high, while hop aroma is low. The beers are medium to full-bodied and have a high alcoholic character. Types of beers included here include tripels, dubbels and ultra-strong abbey ales.

Beer - #545 - Moa - Tripel Sauvignon 2014 Vintage

Experimental beer, experimental music, experiments with numbers and an experiment at a party

A Belgian style Tripel experimental fusion beer

A Moa Tripel Sauvignon 2014 Vintage beer, in a cork and cage special presentation 375 ml bottle, and at 9.3% ABV, makes it 2.8 standard drinks, the bottle would be around 300 calories.

Brewed by Moa Brewing Company in the style that is Abbey Tripel and they are in Blenheim, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10409" align="alignleft" width="300"] Classical beer, ideal for classical music[/caption]

A Belgian style Tripel experimental fusion beer where the candi sugar adjunct was replaced with unfermented Sauvignon Blanc grape juice from the 2014 Marlborough harvest.

The end result is a beer where the typical Tripel banana and spice fermentation derived characters are complemented by vineous yet fruity and tropical notes.

What could possibly go wrong?

Love the cork and cage, even if it bumps up the pricing, makes it a celebration beer somewhat.

That popped with a bit of urgency, so well carbonated.

Sweet sugary aroma.

Pour is quite pale, and then clouds as you forget the bit in the bottom. The head, as is, is thin but persistent. Aroma blooms a little to be more banana like,

it is very familiar. Alcohol is noticeable too.

The initial taste is quite bitter and tart, but with familiar sugars and softness. The finish is towards a dry and arid.

I'm really enjoying this, but then I secretly really like the Belgium style beers and would generally be very enthusiastic about them, I like the mouldy mildew kind of thing, I like the over-the-top sweet candy sugars, I like the sour bitterness and I enjoy the colours. There I said it.

This does have a fairly noticeable alcohol astringent in it that could be considered a bit of a handicap to some, but it appears to be all up front and not at the back.

As it warms slightly you get more of the sauvignon notes and overall it become a bit deeper and some of the more tart notes begin to come through.

If I was the brewer I'd be a bit chuffed with this one.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a solid 9  of its things from the thing. I might be slightly generous with that number it seems to have been a while between good Belgium beers for me, good ones that is, and when you get one you realise that you should get another. Not quite a desert beer but this is a nice end of drinking finisher.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am a bit blown away by how good this one is. Yes I am.


2. Would I have another? I would be in heaven if I had another, it might be worth getting another for later in the year.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This is a decent beer that would go well at the end of the evening, with or after the desert, sitting under the stars or in the warmth of the music room. It really is a beer to mull over and  enjoy.

Music is a challenge, and so with this I'm listening to something completely left field. Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat major.  This is performed by Wynton Marsalis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9z2q2YSu4I

I know right, be unpredictable and enjoy it all.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

Related articles

• Are NZ sauvignon blanc the wine world's IPA?


• Air NZ ditches Moa contract


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Beer - #498 - Unibroue - La Fin du Monde

Canadian Beer, Canadian Music, Can I count and Can I share?

"The end of the world"  - Triple fermented ale, Mildly yeasty with a complex palate of malt, fruit and spice notes followed by a smooth, dry finish"

Unibroue La Fin du Monde, a beer I've been looking forward to, Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo) in the style that is  Abbey Tripel and they are in Chambly, Canada.

This is 9% ABV, and 19 IBU beer, it is in this bottle (12 fl oz) 355ml a 2.52 standard drink thing and there are around 270 calories.

[caption id="attachment_9911" align="alignleft" width="300"] It would make a good song title[/caption]

"The excellence of triple fermentation through a blend of special yeasts gives this malt beverage an exquisitely robust flavour of exceptional refinement"

To this date, La Fin du Monde has earned more medals and awards, including some of the world’s highest honors, than any other Canadian beer.

This is a Bottle conditioned beer, and having watched the video this is a beer that needs gentle rolling and bold pouring. Otherwise it could be the end of the world right ?

I've bee drinking other beer, in a break from buying the new and adventurous, I think I got into a bit of dilemma about getting to write about beer  #500 and therefore stopped drinking new beer, the OCD in me wants to post in numerical sequential order, and not as I drink them, because the order would then look a bit weird.  So I've made my mind up about the next two beers #499 and #500 and I've made a start on the next lot. This means that November was a beer lite month.

I digress though.

I like the presentation, the foil adds a certain lift, Aroma is that slightly sour sweet that you'd expect.

Lovely golden orange pour with a deep and rewarding looking head of foam.

Deep mouthfeel too, lots of sugars and sweetness in this, nice bold bitterness, this is smooth drinking  thing. Pretty much as you'd expect and this is delivered pretty well, nothing to harsh at the edges, the astringent alcohol note not present, the soft full mouthfeel counterbalances the bitterness, the sweetness a soft pillow in the mouth. Complaints? I have not many.

If anything this isn't bold enough with the flavours that you might think you like, banana, bubblegum,  or the citrus tangs. But it is a beer that is worth drinking and worth the contemplation, and has been worth the wait.

This has been an easy drinking full flavour profile sweet and sour beer of some merit. Despite the way it settles in the glass to look a bit average it manages to keep it all together. It looks a picture of colour, the head of great joy disappeared early which was disappointing, the nice carbonation at the first settles, and you get left with a still looking cloudy headless beer.

A beer that I enjoyed as a good beer, and they are precious.

Didn't need a foods to go with this, it was just a bit awesome all on it's own, and as usual when this happens I sit and pout not having had the foresight to buy two. Then again two would stop me having the next one, #499.....

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9.25 a of its things from the thing.  Looks are deceiving as this packs some decent flavours and reminds me how much I like the Belgium beer profiles (and of a beer in the fridge - Mikkeller – Mielcke & Hurtigkarl, which I have found to be most enjoyable (I even found a place that despite my protestations has it priced incorrectly by 50%, mad if I don't have one))

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes


2. Would I have another? Yes, this is a cracker of a beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes I would, this is delightful and isn't the thing you'd talk about, it's a really good beer, enjoyable for what it is, conversational but not demanding a conversation. Brilliant.

Musically is count have been Avril or Alanis, but I settled on "Cowboy Junkies" this is their standout track amongst many - Sweet Jane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHRFZFmEq9o

Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

Related articles

• Does Canadian Beer Really Contain More Alcohol Than Beer Made in the United States?


• Cheers for beer advent calendars!

Beer - #494 - Left Coast - Asylum

Asylum, Notes you never wrote, A Sum and a Summing up.

Drinking great beer brings the world together. “Vrede op aarde”

Left Coast Asylum Belgian-Style Tripel Ale is brewed by Left Coast Brewing Co. in the style that is of an Abbey Tripel  and they are in the exotic sounding San Clemente, California  USA

This is a 650ml bottle (22fl oz) of beer that is 11% ABV, making it  5.63 standard drink units, and around 354 calories a serve, or about 600 for the bottle.

Asylum is in the style of a Belgian Tripel. It has a beautiful golden color. Its relatively light body is deceiving for a beer of its character.

[caption id="attachment_9848" align="alignright" width="300"] I have nothing to add[/caption]

It has a sweet and spicy, complex fruity aroma and flavor derived from our distinct Belgian yeast strain.

Asylum finishes with a subtle, warming character to help you relax on any night. Asylum is an exceptionally smooth Belgian-style brew.

Drinking great beer brings the world together. “Vrede op aarde” (Peace on earth).

I'm already in a good place, so this should nudge me towards the drunk texting and random acts of kindness... or not.

Fruits and sweetness on the opening.  Pours caramel orange, and without a head, big aroma of what I thought was chewing gum and pepper, bit of a confusion and melange in this.

Less sugary sweet than I would have liked, and this also tends towards sour more then I I would enjoy. But a bunch of warmness in the middle and real decent length that, to me, finishes towards a peppery.

The alcohol takes a high note too, intruding on what should be more balanced. For me then, and I am after all the one who counts, this is a tad lopsided and uneven.

As it warms up it gets harsher in the alcohol astringent, which doesn't really add to the enjoyment.  An uncomfortable beer then that doesn't really hit any particular mark or level and becomes a bit wobblier as it warms up.

By now perhaps you get an idea that this is "a swing and a miss"

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing, for all things this isn't a disaster, but it's not a roaring success. Of course the charitable would suggest it's a firm favourite at 11% which means you get to "Care factor low" pretty quickly, which isn't a good thing, as the alcohol astringent gets harsher, and the dryness in the finish rises.

I'll end by saying that I didn't enjoy it, wouldn't want you spend money on it, and despite its high alcohol level I've not finished in my happy place :-(

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? Naaa, not like I should be enjoying a beer, especially a Belgium style which I like to think I like a lot.


• Would I have another? Of course..... not, this is a shambles.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't even want to finish the rest of the bottle. /sadface

On the Music machine time marches on, but in reverse, and I settled on an oldie .. Wings - at the speed of sound, this is the song "The note you never wrote" from an album of some enjoyment and merit for what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmsSkZaUUoc

At least I got to sing at my loudest and worst, and the cat sought asylum in another room.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

Related articles

• 5 Great Orange County Beers for an OC Autumn

Beer - #478 - Moa - St Josephs Tripel

A realisation, records, randomising and ruminating.

Moa St Josephs is a classic Belgian Tripel. Strong spice, caramel and banana ester characters create complex flavours and aromas which are heightened by its extended bottle conditioning period. The combination of bittering hops, malt and candy sugars compliment the high alcohol content and integrate into a very approachable and drinkable Tripel.

This is beer that I have drunk and I thought that I'd written about, turns out yes I have drunk it and no not for this diary. I'm now looking forward to this, the Moa St Josephs Tripel.

Brewed by Moa Brewing Company in the style that is of Abbey Tripel and they are based Blenheim, New Zealand

Beautifully presented 375ml bottle, cork and cage too, with beer that is 9.5% ABV, and 285 calories. and 2.8 standard drink units in this bottle to round that out.

[caption id="attachment_9682" align="alignright" width="300"] Mini Champagne, cork- cage, custom bottle[/caption]

Moa St Josephs is brewed in the traditional style of a classic Belgian Tripel. Strong spice and clove characters create complex flavours and aromas which are heightened by its extended bottle conditioning, with a combination of malt and candy sugars complimenting the high alcohol content produced by the Belgian ale yeast. Best served at 8°C in a goblet after gently rolling the bottle to distribute the sediment signature. 

Moa St Josephs is a true abbey style tripel with strong clove and spice flavours apparent with a noticeable fruit ester profile. Smokey phenolic characters can be detected. The bitterness is designed to be complimentary rather than dominant. Moa St Josephs is a complex beer that has no added herbs or spices, and is best served at approximately 8˚C in a tulip glass. 

Love the presentation, it makes it a real occasion beer. And I like the Belgium style, so I should be happy as this unfolds. From memory of drinking this I should just be happy.

Fantastic sweet malt aroma initially that fades. Orange golden pour that you need to work at to make cloudy as desired by the brewer, head is light but persistent.

Chewing-gum aroma is there but it's not prominent.

Full sweet mouthfeel of beer, lots of sweetness. But it's tempered by the bitterness at the top.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. It's a style that I like to enjoy and although this isn't a jaw dropping example it is very good and very enjoyable.

So, to summarise, I would have thought more aroma, slightly fuller body, tad more sweetness and more alcohol at the end would make this overly much better.

Not that you need alcohol astringent, but it is by some measure a feature of the style. I'd really like a fuller/fluffier mouthfeel than this gives, it's as if the malts have been held back for a reason. You can pick the typical Belgium style aromas and notes on the palate, but you have to go looking for them a bit.

It's not as good as I remember it being, or it's in someway different than I remember, bearing in mind that a lot of beer has been drunk between, and I've had a few good beers since. Perhaps my own benchmark has changed, again. Or of course I don't remember drinking it, as mentioned, and came in with rose tinted glasses in hope.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, I am because for its faults it isn't all bad.


2. Would I have another? Yes, I'd be keen to go again, it's an occasion beer for any occasion.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, I'd be happy to share and share this, they make it in a a proper sized bottle too for the grand occasion.

The new Johnny Marr  album is a whole level much better than the last effort, so I thought.

This is "Easy Money" off that new Album "Playland"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_P5iSG_APE

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

Beer - #469 - Yeastie Boys - The Sun Before the Darkness

Next; Spoonbenders, 23 minutes of Kraftwerk, my own private number, and going again.

"Strong golden ale with botrytised viognier candi-sugar."

Yeastie Boys - The Sun Before the Darkness - one of 3 special beers, this seems to be the rarest of them for no reason I can fathom but when I saw it on the shelf I reached for it. I haven't got the other two, yet, lets see how this pans out.

For  Yeastie Boys brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style closest to  Belgian Strong Ale , but perhaps Abbey Tripel and YB are in Wellington, New Zealand.

Packaged as a 330ml bottle of 10% ABV which makes is 2.6 standard drink units,  of 300 calories in this serve, and 50 IBU things.

[caption id="attachment_9595" align="alignleft" width="300"] Friday... for starters....[/caption]

A new world Tripel with a bouquet of citrus blossom, ripe peach and mango flavours, a silky mouthfeel and a warming, herbaceous spicy finish.

Drink now or cellar for up to five years. 

Like that could happen, although the idea of cellaring beer has ab appeal greater than the depth of my current finances.

Aroma is sour and of a lot of fruits, then is just the fruits.

Lovely orange golden chestnut pour that I couldn't get to a head, but that happens, Aroma is strong in this one, rich and with a strong od something I want to say is banana but isn't, quite.

Wow that is sweet, and definitely  of it's style, an almost over-full mouthfeel. Alcohol is obvious, to me and just larger than that really rich middle, but no present at the end which is where you might expect it more. It also feels more than 50IBU things.

A 'big' beer then sums this up, there are a lot of loud and all in synch things going on which makes this a really interesting and interactive beer to drink, not one that you can quaff and move on from in a hurry. At this point I question my wisdom in starting with this, but it is Friday and what the heck.

As it warms you get more of the harshness of the alcohol showing through, this isn't a down tick, it's the way it behaves and I've experienced it before, it's just a thing. Retains it lovely aroma, and that lovely sensation of soft malt sweetness though.

This is only one of the 3 in the Spoonbender series, and from my observation this was the one that was least available, at least when I had beer tokens for shopping with, and honestly I would have gone for the Belgium style beer first time, and almost every time, since at least in my mind they're my favourite style. Looking at the drinking list you'd pick IPA though, since that is a much more predominant brewing style and standard.

I'm not sure how I'm going to follow this. I know have an IPA ;-)

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. I can't not award this a rare 10 from 10, it has so many good things that make it likeable and not a lot of the rough edges that make you question yourself and your experience. A 10, what trickery in that. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, it makes me smile.


2. Would I have another? Yes, I might get me another if I see one, for that mythical cellar that I keep or think of keeping, or to drink, whatever my mood.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, I would stand this up against any of this style with no issue at all.

I was listening to a local radio station bFM, and they have a segment called "that song is longer then 6 minutes" and they cracked out this particular number -  the band Kraftwerk, the track -Autobahn. The original first track of the album Autobahn (1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-G28iyPtz0

23 minutes of all things, should be able to knock off a beer to that.

The title track features both untreated and vocoded vocals. Kraftwerk used a Minimoog, an ARP Odyssey, an EMS Synthi AKS and various devices of their own design and implementation, such as their famous electronic drums.

BELGIAN STRONG ALE

Belgian Strong Ales can vary from pale to dark brown in color, darker ales may be colored with dark candy sugar. Hop flavor can range from low to high, while hop aroma is low. The beers are medium to full-bodied and have a high alcoholic character. Types of beers included here include tripels, dubbels and ultra-strong abbey ales.

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Beer - #423 - Celt Experience - Ogham ‘Oak’ Exotic Belgium Tripel

It's all on with this then, a Welsh Beer in the Belgium Abbey style - Celt Ogham ‘Oak’ Exotic Belgium Tripel

Brewed by Celt Experience in their take on the style that is : Abbey Tripel and they are in the place that has a cheese named for them, Caerphilly, Wales

This is a 330ml bottle of crafted beer which carries 8.5% ABV, 255 calories, 35 IBU, which would be English Bitter or Stout kind of bitter, and 2.21 standard drink units in NZ

"Exotic Triple brewed with Belgium Yeast with Orange and Cinnamon flavours's"

Each batch is brewed with fresh ‘tripel’ yeast borrowed from a secret location in Flanders. The beer has a complex flavour combining resinous bite from the American hops, spicy esters from the belgium yeast and fruit and cinnomon twists from the belgium fruits and spices. All finished with supreme British malt and candy sugar…

Belgium Yeast, Orange Peel and Cinnamon - check their video piece 

I am looking forward to this.

Beer - #317 - Chouffe - Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Beer with the longest name award contender "Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel"

Brewed by Brasserie d’Achouffe (Moortgat) in the style of an Abbey Tripel and they do that in Achouffe, Belgium

330ml bottle of a 9%ABV beer, in NZ thats 2.34 standard drinks, 59 IBUS, and 270 calories.

59 IBU is somewhat more than a Stout and a skerrick less than a IPA.



This is very highly rated

A unique marriage between the English tradition of IPAs, the new American revolution of Imperial IPAs and the classic Belgian way of brewing. Houblon Chouffe, although very much hopped as it is, showcases the unique balance between a very strong IPA and a very special Belgian Tripel exclusively created for this ale (Big malty body,  distinct dryness, expressive estery fruitiness). - IBU: 59, Original Gravity: 1092



So, I know it's early for me on a Saturday, but I was beer free on Friday for a thing, and so I've made myself a dispensation.

Familiar fruity type aroma on opening, slightly sour. Orange golden poor with a small head, which is persistent, aroma settles to a sweeter flatter note.

I thought that this tasted more sour than hop bitter. I enjoyed the nice malt though but this isn't enough to carry it to a long finish. Nice  mouthfeel though, great lacing and the head is still in order.

You can tell it's a Belgium beer, that's not in question, the take on an IPA is something else, it certainly elevates the profile away from the malts into the bitterness.

It isn't a bad beer to start with.

I would though have enjoyed this more with some food accompaniment to accentuate it and help it shine more.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this in its arbitrary way, as it does, and this time it stops at 7 on the scale of things. 7 is good but this doesn't rock my boat or lead me to thinking that "why didn't they think of this before?" thinking.

As it warms in the glass it does get somewhat harsher on the finish, and all in all a mixed bag.

A bit like the music for this, which today is on vinyl machine behind me, and the album being flipped  is "New Orleans Funk - 1960-74" This is one of the arbitrarily chosen tracks.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvRd8DiZ7Mc&w=480&h=360]

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

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Beer - #245 - Green Flash - Le Freak - another redux

I have to stop doing this, however in my defence this was in tap and not in a bottle, so I ware sore tempted and couldn't resist.  I had this over a year ago, and I wasn't overly impressed with it, to start with, which might explain why I've forgotten about it. It was a over ago and I've been drunk since.

So, it's a trip back back to  "Le Freak", which is  Brewed by Green Flash Brewing Co. in the style of an Abbey Tripel, and they make that in San Diego, California USA

I have a, from the tap bottle of  1 Litre of a 9.2 % ABV beer -  which makes it I have there equivalent in NZ of 7.2 standard drink units. In going back to the previous review it might be a long evening.  But I do have Pork ribs sitting in a marinade of some Moroccan concoction and so the evening might turn out alright.

“Le Freak is a modern ale created by converging two beer styles, BelgianTrippel and American Imperial IPA. The use of two yeast strains further marries the styles and American hops give thebeer its modern flare…”

I said a bit "game of two halves, neither of them relevant to the other", sort of, because I changed it to be a much better beer than I thought once I and dwelled on it a bit, and that doesn't happen often. Mostly I get remorse about being too kind. This of course based on I've spent my own money and therefore have to enjoy it. I don't always enjoy it, but always feel bad about a low score.

Anyway to the beer.... and hopefully I'm focussed and paying attention.

In some weird universe I got the aroma of bananas on popping the top, Hazy cloudy in the bottle .

Nice pour has a head that we persistent but faded. Cab't however shake the banana thing, what is that about ?  The taste is of course the familiar Brlgium style yeast, but there is a the hop edginess , and it finishes a  bit like the astringent alcohol burn.

However no way at all of telling if you're drinking a local domestic strength or this barnstormer.  It really is quite a thing, and it could end badly.

Nice balance, nothing to shouty and arrogant in the glass, and all a bit sedate and behaved.  I really do mean a strong aroma, and seriously I thought banana, I said it again, therefore must be true, probably isn't.

This is an interesting beer, it's not one thing or another, and I think I said before that both together don't equal the sum of the parts in some way. I get the holiness, even chucked in a hop belch there, and I get the Belgium style yeasts in this. I love the cloudiness, I like the soft fluffy mouthfeel, this really is a beer that you need to be paying attention to as it is quaffable and therefore going to end badly, if you're not a bit paying attention.

I think I marked this an 8 before, I think from the tap this is better than a bottle version it's less edgy and there isn't a two face thing going oh, it's more an equal partners enjoying a thing.  The from the tap in the take-away "growler" rates. according to me, a a very good 8, straight off the bat. I know shut-up, but this is a very good beer. It is well behaved, has enough of a presence for you to interact with it, teases you to go back to it and have a little more, and rewards you by being just a bit nice.

at 9.2% ABV this really is a quiet achiever, there isn't any taste clues that you're being made incompetent and incoherent by the mouthful, as you can with some beer, taking your clues from the very bitter grassiness, or the alcohol astringent burn, it's just not there with this. Dangerous much?

A real gem that would  enjoyable but a wide range of drinkers, if only they'd take a chance and a punt.  I am so not disappointed that I brought this, despite my frail memory, even though I keep a list, it's kind  of made my weekend (so far) a good thing.

Related articles

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Beer - #195 - Chimay - Triple / Blanche (White) / Cinq Cents

Chimay Triple / Blanche (White) / Cinq Cents, Brewed by Chimay and this one in the Style of an  Abbey Tripel in Baileux, Belgium.

The final in the group of three, Blue, Red and White.

Chimay Tripel, with its typical golden colour, its slightly hazy appearance and its fine head is especially characterised by its aroma which results from an agreeable combination of fresh hops and yeast. The beer’s flavour, as sensed in the mouth, comes from the smell of hops: above all it is the fruity notes of muscat and raisins that give this beer a particularly attractive aroma. The aroma complements the touch of bitterness. There is no acidity, but an after-bitterness which melts in the mouth. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurised.

This is in the big 750ml bottle, and at  8%ABV beer makes it about 4.8 standard drink units. Presented in a cork and cage, in the standard bottle this is as much a performance as a beer, and today being a Wednesday it seems like a good time as any to get enjoyed.

Lovely fizz taking the cork out, and a burst of sour aroma to follow (not a bad thing) Pours a lot darker than I expected, and much more hazy, but it does have a nice foamy head. The slighly sour aroma remains, but again it isn't a bad thing.

This has a nice fluffy mouthfeel, but lacks a high note in the palate, and doesn't have length. This is nice and 'dry' though, and is vey drinkable. This is very soft tasting, there aren't strong notes of fruits, and yeasts, it's all a big muted really.

As it warms the yeast begins to be heard a bit more, and the warmth releases a few more base notes in the taste.

The pdubyah-o-meter is biased at 8, because I knew I'd like this. I gave the Red and 8 and the Blue a 9 on previous drinkings. I think on reflection that this is better than the Red, bit still isn't as good as the Blue.

For a Wednesday, this is a good beer. As a Abby Triple it's a nice beer. This would be a good starter if you wanted to try Trappist style beers.  It's made me smile and forget all my worries, and I don't have a problem with that.

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Beer - #161 - Brewaucracy - In Triplicate

Brewaucracy  - In Triplicate is an Abbey Tripel beer from a new brewer in the 'Tron.  Brewaucracy Brewed at Shunters Yard Brewery in the Style of an  Abbey Tripel in the glorious Waikato town of Hamilton, New Zealand.

500ml of a  10.3%ABV beer, and at 35IBU things (bitter/stout bitter).  Oh it's 4.1 standard drinks.  Thse website says 9.6, the bottle says 10.3, these boys are onto it with batch measurements, I do say well done to that!.

A Belgian-inspired beer, roughly straddling the Tripel and Belgian Golden Strong styles, if we're being all style nerd about it. If we're not, it's a warming, spicy, zesty, and disturbingly drinkable beer for 9.6% abv. It's a beer designed for celebrating the good times in life, and to toasting the eventual defeat of every wowser who would try to tell you how you may or may not enjoy those times.

Share In Triplicate with the people you love, and try it with a crisp summer salad, ideally featuring chorizo, or perhaps corn fritters or crab cakes.

Of just with some cheese and a cracker, which is all I have left.  That and the Rolling Stones on Spotify.

There doesn't appear to be a rush of sweet aroma / alcohol with this. It's very pale, well carbonated and again nice white fully head on the pour. Still not a sweet aroma but a touch of yeast perhaps. O hit really is pale translucent pale.

Gosh though how do they do that. There is a massive amount of caramel and sweet in the taste, I'd thought it was going to disappoint, and whilst it didn't stun me it surprised me. The alcohol that you expect from a Tripel is there making itself known, it's a little sour and not as sharp as I'd expected.

It has a fair length of taste in it too, and I'm comfortable that this is hitting the spot. And I'm also a bit amazed they've got the taste into such a pale beer. Oh and I'm glad I'm at home because this is a fairly strong beer that could become quaffable and get you into trouble .

There is thought a disappointing lack of any aroma in this, there is one, you have to work hard to get it though, it's delicate for no reason I can figure,  and frankly I'd rather there was one. I'd like the nose of caramels and sugars before the crash of tastes onto the tongue.

It is a little sour and might not sweet enough, the alcohol note might be just right, I like that the batch ABV is measured and noted. But you know what it's a chuffing good beer, and it made me smile.

I especially like that Brewaucracy haven't picked an IPA, or plain old Lager to kick off with and have taken a high ground in craftiness, I especially like that the "Smoko" and this are totally different beers and not beers on a theme of...  I just like it.

The pdubuyah-o-meter loves this a lot at 9. it's fairly decent and something I'd buy again, and that makes it ok. I'm not going to offer you money back if you don't like it, you just will, it's good.

Beer - #137 - Maredsous 10 Tripel

Back to the Belgium beers with a Maredsous 10 Tripel - Brewed by Duvel Moortgat In the style of a Abbey Tripel in Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium.

A bottle conditioned  Golden beer with a characteristically fresh bouquet and sweet after-taste. 330ml of a 10% ABV beer.

There's quite an alcohol aroma up-front. It's a lovely chestnut golden with loud carbonation that gives up a decent head,

The aroma, as I can discern it changes to sour almost a vinegar.  There's a maltly sweetness that you expect but it's not prominent or pushy.

I'm a bit underwhelmed by the sour note in this, and by loudness of the alcohol. Not something that you expect to get, and frankly a bit difficult to enjoy. The strength of this beer does not make up for the shortcomings that are in it.

As a consequence the pdubyah-o-meter only slides to a 5, making this an also ran beer in the big scheme of things, which doesn't make me happy at all. But then I come to this expecting fireworks and that's not what I'm getting.

I'm having the sister beer the Maredsous 8 Brune next, I hope that puts more a smile on my dial