Tripelicious Trio
- By Marsha Bryant
And pints that instantly glow,
On the counter, in pyramids of crowns…
—Émile Verhaeren, trans. Jacob Siefring
Tripelicious is how I describe
These Belgian-style beers I imbibe.
As I sip golden glow,
I will rhyme and bestow
Approbations with Tripel Ale vibes.
1
St. Vrain is a river and beer.
Lightly fruity, the latter will cheer—
fully tickle the tip
Of your tongue as you sip.
It’s refreshingly Belgian all year.
2
O La Fin du Monde ale is a classic.1
This slow sipper Tripel is basic
And bottle-fermented
(The yeasts are quite splendid),
The crisp and dry finish: fantastic.
3.
The Gluten Free Tripel from Green’s
Is differently tasty. The grains
Include sorghum and buckwheat.
Faint grape notes complete
A beer that is far from routine.
Tasting Notes
St. Vrain Tripel Ale. Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CO. 9.3% ABV.
Pours translucent gold with a fizzy and bright white head. The flavor is minimally spiced with a mild fruity and malty sweetness. A light mouthfeel for a Tripel, but definitely not a quaffer. Let this refreshing ale play out on your mid-tongue throughout the year.
La Fin du Monde Tripel. Unibroue, Quebec, Canada. 9% ABV.
This ale’s Belgian spices and yeast make themselves known in the aroma, making way for a crisp apple and honeyed taste that plays on your fore tongue. Some of its flavor profile reminds me of a dry mead, but the classic hoppy finish reins in the sweetness. Pours with a light golden glow and a fine-bubbled, ecru head.
Green’s Gluten Free Tripel Ale. De Proef Brewery, Belgium. 8.5% ABV.
Pours a near-clear gold with a lightly sweet aroma and bubbly, white head. Eschewing barley for gluten-freedom, this ale features prominent notes of sorghum and buckwheat that bring an earthy sweetness. More subtle is the grapey note when your sip hits the mid-tongue.
1 Writing for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian in 2014, Emily Brightman likened this Tripel to “15th Century on your taste buds.” (2.13.24)
MARSHA BRYANT writes about literature, culture, and craft beer. Her recent essays appear in The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sylvia Plath, the online journal Humanities, and the textbook Impact of Materials on Society. Marsha teaches at the University of Florida. Her Untappd handle is LimerickLady.
