Aurora Borealis 2 - Bridge Rd Brewers/Nøgne Ø - Norway ABV (9.1%)

A limited release Belgian style Triple, brewed in Norway and then shipped to Australia in Cognac barrels. This beer has an unmistakeable Cognac aroma but that lovely soft Belgian ale mouth feel and taste. There is a slight lingering of  sweetened Cognac on the palate. It also looks fantastic in the glass with cloudy amber colour, good carbonation and a pillowy head.

Another excellent collaborative effort from Bridge Road and Nøgne Ø.

Straffe Hendrik - Belgium (ABV 9%)

A magnificent Belgian Triple, brewed to a traditional recipe by a family owned and operated brewery in Bruges. If you ever visit Bruges, make the effort to take the brewery tour and taste their magnificent "Bruges Zot" blond  and "Straffe Hendrik" tripel

‘De Halve Maan’ (or half moon) brewery in Bruges is a highly regarded traditional family run brewery that prides itself on the continued use of traditional  "Bruges" recipes and brewing techniques. This version was first brewed in 1981 following a demand from the mayor for the brewing of a strong blond beer to celebrate the inauguration of the statue of Sint-Arnoldus (the saint of all beer-brewers). The beer, brewed to a traditional Bruges recipe, proved hugely popular so continues to be brewed today. "Straffe Hendrik" translates as "strong Hendrik" and at 9% ABV this is no misnomer.

This beer pours  dark orange/amber with a fabulous chunky white head. It has that archetypal Belgian yeasty aroma and flavour with a slightly bitter initial taste and a surprisingly almost sweet malty finish. This is a very, very good Belgian Tripel!

St. Feuillien Triple - Belgium (ABV 8.5%)

What a lovely Belgian Triple, with that awesome Belgian yeasty character and smooth maltiness. This beer is bottle conditioned giving it a cloudy appearance and beautiful yeastiness. Pours a hazy golden amber with a pleasing typically Belgian chunky head.

A beautifully balanced beer the hops, malt and yeast flavours working together completely masking the 8.5% ABV.

A very tasty satisfying typically Belgian beer, I loved it!

Murray's Grand Cru - Australia (ABV 8.8%)

Murray's have brewed this very tasty Belgian Triple in their Port Stephen brewery. It does taste remarkably like an authentic Belgian triple I think largely because of the Belgian yeast used to brew it. It is a fairly strong 8.8% ABV (not that you can taste the alcohol).

Nice Pale golden amber colour with a medium head and medium lacing in the glass. I should have poured this one into a tulip glass.

A beautifully balanced ale with a malty mid palate, spicy hop flavouring and an almost perfectly balanced bitter finish. A very flavoursome pleasing ale beautifully craft brewed.