Taste Testing Belgium’s Most Sought-After Trappist Ale

Taste Testing Belgium’s Most Sought-After Trappist Ale – and Its Easily Available Alternatives The world-famous Westvleteren 12 is delicious, no doubt about it. But is it really that much better than the competition? In craft beer circles, it’s practically legendary: an intensely boozy, powerfully flavorful, and incredibly rare Belgian quad called Westvleteren 12 (aka Westy 12). It’s one of a few different beers made by reclusive Trappist monks at the St. Sixtus monastery in rural Belgium, true to the region’s centuries-old brewing tradition. To buy it these days, you’ve got to call the brewery over and over for hours through a line that’s practically always busy. If you’re lucky enough to get connected, you make an...

Intense Belgian Ales

Intense Belgian Ales Belgium’s strong ales have a heavy alcohol presence, sweetly malt-heavy flavors, and a richness that’s perfect for drinking on frigid, windy nights. They’re loosely grouped according to strength: dubbels are usually 6-7% ABV, tripels are usually 7-9%, and quads stretch into the double digits. The higher you go, the darker and more intense the flavors become. Oh, and what about singles, you ask? Confusingly, they don’t really exist, at least as it relates to beer store shelves. Dubbels tend to be purplish brown in color and deeply sweet, thanks to the use of caramelized beet sugar in the brewing process. That lends a rasin- and plum-like flavor, while the Belgian yeast adds a touch of spice. Tripels diverge slightly by...