DUTCH COURAGE
This imported drop is not just a pretty face — at 8.5 per cent it also packs a pretty serious punch
YOU know what they say about first impressions — and Dutch brewer Hertog Jan’s Tripel ale definitely looks impressive.
The ceramic bottle with a genuine cork stopper held down by wire (sparkling wine style) is good enough to keep even when it’s empty.
Tripel is an old term referring to the amount of ingredients used and the heaviness of the beer.
The Dutch brewer has delivered a truly interesting brew, particularly in flavour and body. It has a hazy gold appearance with a frothy but thin white head.
The nose offers up malts initially featuring toffee sweetness giving way to hints of spice. It is very smooth, slightly creamy and sweet in the initial mouthful with a decent amount of body. After a while you will detect a subtle spice and just enough bitterness to balance out the fruitiness.
It’s not too gassy, but being a tripel, there are a couple of things you should know.
While it doesn’t make you feel bloated and you could enjoy more than one 500ml bottle, there’s a catch — at 8.5 per cent, it’s guaranteed to make you feel “contented” after a glass or two. This is a beer to enjoy slowly at the end of the day or at night — it’s not what I would call a thirst quencher or something to rip into at the end of the working week.
I suggest sitting down with a friend, pulling out a couple of “THIS IS A BEER TO ENJOY SLOWLY AT THE END OF THE DAY OR AT NIGHT ...” glasses and allowing this drop to breathe for a bit before you savour it. Being slightly sweet, you could enjoy it with a pastry or another treat.
Personally, I think it’s best appreciated when the weather is lousy and you need something to warm you up or calm you down.