Heavenly Feijoa Tripel
Sampled:
March 19, 2013
New Belgium
has a pretty strong everyday tripel in its Explore lineup, but this Lips of
Faith entry presents a surprising, tart complexity. Brewed in collaboration
with Quebec’s Brasserie Dieu du Ciel, tripel has a pop unlike any other.
Having
never tasted feijoa, I only know the strange, tantalizing flavors emanating
from the tulip glass. The head never foams beyond a gentle lace above the
slightly bubbly amber-orange body.
The nose sports an unusual citrus punch
heavy on tropical fruit, some mild booziness and a herbal bouquet akin to
muscadet or Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Flavors alternate between passion fruit and
sharper citrus. I detect mango, a trace of guava then blood orange and tangerine
as Heavenly Feijoa finishes.
As with any beer touting hibiscus as an
ingredient, I cannot really taste it. But in the face of bright feijoa fruit,
that is a small matter. Dieu du Ciel has long experience with spices and fruits
in the brewing process. The fruit is pretty intense, and heavenly is an apt
descriptor for this unusual tripel. The unique citrus profile puts it notches
above New Belgium’s standard tripel and far beyond most domestic efforts.
Nogne Tiger Tripel
Sampled:
March 6, 2013
Norwegian in
origin, Tiger Tripel reminds me of the great Belgium Tripels, tipping its hat
toward Westmalle. Blonde in color, it presents an assertive blast of malt, a
blend of barley and wheat malt. Hops are nonexistent and the creamy yet punchy
orange bouquet flecked with notes of vanilla and black pepper quickly takes
over. Notes of coriander are strong, while herbal traces linger around the edges.
Tripel fans should embrace this Scandinavian take. Nogne has every right to
brag about its Grinstead water, and water could be a differentiator for Tiger
Tripel. It’s a pleasant tripel, hitting all the marks and pleasing on the
palate.
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