Tripel Karmeliet
 Bottle of Tripel Karmeliet | |
| Manufacturer | Brouwerij Bosteels |
|---|---|
| Alcohol by volume | 8.4% |
| Style | Tripel |
Tripel Karmeliet (Dutch for "Triple Carmelite") is a golden Belgian beer with high alcohol by volume (8.4%), brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels in Buggenhout, Belgium. It was first brewed in 1996 and uses three cereals: wheat, oats and barley.
This beer is still brewed according to an authentic beer recipe from 1679 derived from the old Carmelite convent in Dendermonde.[1]
As a consequence of its success and the sharp increase in demand, a number of pubs in 2012 had too little beer delivered, and therefore this beer has started to being brewed also in Ertvelde by Brouwerij Van Steenberge (an additional 6000 hectolitres). A sharp increase in demand also occurred in 2009, after winning the World Beer Awards, when the production was increased by 30%.[2]
The bottle is available in 33cl and 75cl formats.
Aroma and taste
Tripel Karmeliet has a complex gold to bronze color, with a creamy head. This is partly due to the cereals but also to the limited use of Styrian hops, the abundant herbs and fruity aroma (banana and vanilla) of the used yeast. This beer has not only the lightness and freshness of wheat, but also the creaminess of oats, and it also has a spicy, lemony dryness almost reminiscent of quinine.[1]
Glass and serving
The glass was designed by Antoine Boosteels, one of the managers of the brewery, and is decorated with four Fleur-de-lis. The recommended serving temperature for the Tripel Karmeliet is around 6–9 °C (43–48 °F).
When pouring from the bottle, the foam collar should go from the tip of the lilies to the edge of the glass. The last 5mm of beer contain the bottom yeast and can be either left in the bottle or poured into the glass.[1]
Awards
- World Beer Awards 2008 – "World Best Ale", "World Best Pale Ale", "World Best Abbey Ale (Pale)"'[3][4]
- World Beer Cup 2002 – Silver in the category Best Belgian-Style Tripel
- World Beer Cup 1998 – Gold in the category Best Belgian-Style Tripel
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tripel Karmeliet. |
External links
- (Dutch) Recipes that go with Karmeliet Tripel.
- (English) Tripel Karmeliet – World Beer Awards