Tripel created to celebrate the fact that this Facebook group 'Straffe Streekbieren' (which roughly translates as 'Remarkable Regional Beers') has recently reached 10,000 members; the genre of tripel was chosen by means of a poll held under these members, consolidating my personal appreciation that most of them are not the greatest beer connoisseurs, apart from notable exceptions of course, because tripel is still the most popular beer style in Belgium outside of standard pale lagers. This one was, however, made a bit 'different', in using New World hops (Cascade) and a kveik yeast strain. I got my lot through Hachiko, a training centre for service dogs in Merelbeke south of Ghent. Somewhat irregular, egg-white, dense and stable, medium thick head lacing in random patches over an initially near-clear 'old gold' coloured beer with vague ochre-ish tinge and active sparkling, misty with sediment. Aroma of old bread, straw, strong coriander seed, homemade apple juice of a few days old, hint of orange (the Cascade I assume - but not the in-your-face citrusiness I was hoping for, by far), fresh rosemary, sage even, banana peel, minerals, old nutmeg, stewed turnip and a whiff of (actual) iron showing up last. Estery onset, sweetish pear, some banana though not overdone, hint of apricot, lively carbonation with stinging, minerally effects, smooth and supple but full body; grainy and white-bready malt core, background effects of old potatoes and 'herbes de Provençe', with this metallic (iron) aspect piercing through. Finishes with a lot of dusty and soapy coriander seed mingled with ongoing breadiness, some fruitiness and a deep, medium long, earthy and herbal hop bitterness - but alas the bright orange effect of Cascade (at least with dry-hopping which is not applicable here) remains as good as absent. In all, this tastes like the umpteenth ordinary tripel and in spite of being technically well executed (apart from that metallic 'iron pipe' aspect perhaps, which I am sure some tasters will find annoying), even a rather amateur beer group like Straffe Streekbieren should and could have come up with something more memorable. The kveik is a nice twist, but as I have argued before, fails to convince me in Belgian style ales, in which it turns out hardly (or often not at all) 'fruitier' than when normal Belgian ale yeasts are used - the latter being very fruity in nature themselves. Trivial and forgettable, but I am sure many members of the group will find this 'straf' enough. I, being a passive member myself, expected something far better, to be honest...

33cl bottle from Prik&Tik Kampenhout. F: medium, tanned, average retention. C: black, opaque. A: chocolate, caramel, dried fruits, dark bread, bit toffee, mocha. T: medium to full malty base, light chocolate, dark bread, caramel, bit toffee, dried fruits, herbal touch, raisin, soft carbonation, nice balanced with velvet mouthfeel, enjoyed very well.

Fles thuis geprobeerd met LiekevV. Het is een goudgeel bier met een volle witte schuimkraag. Het aroma is moutig, gistachtig en zoet. De smaak is zoet, vanille achtig en kruidig.

kerstbierfestival essen 2016

@ Home - da GrandCru Firenze (thanks to Barza)