I've neglected my beer blog of late, so what better way to storm back online than with a 9% Belgian Tripel from my local Durham Brewery.
This is a bottle conditioned beer so I made sure to pour it carefully and managed to get a lovely clear pint, leaving the little bit of sediment in the bottle. It's a traditional 'beery' coloured ale, being deep golden/light amber with a thin but very very tight off-white head. The head is so tight that it looks like you've poured a layer of milk on top of your beer - very impressive.
There is quite a complex aroma - at first it just smells of malt and hops but it seems to develop into a smell of fruity peaches with a slightly floral edge as it lies in the glass. So let's dive in and see what it tastes like.
It tastes exactly as I would expect from an abbey ale with the distinctive sweetness of fermented fruits but with a surprisingly bitter aftertaste. You can't disguise the high ABV as the strong alcohol content is very apparent in the taste but it doesn't overpower the other flavours, as I've found with some other strong ales. An added hint of caramel makes it feel initially very smooth until the zingy orange citrus aftertaste tingles your tongue.
A lovely beer for a treat and one Ale Be Seeing Again but I wouldn't have too many or I'd be dancing on the tables...with an empty purse at £4.49 per bottle!
Brewed by Durham Brewery, Durham
9% ABV
Pint rating:
A very cold Bede's Chalice would do me justice after a long eventful day! thanks for sharing and hope you will not neglect posting more on beer. Cheers!
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