Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet - Gift Pack

Tripel Karmeliet Gift Pack brings together four 33cl bottles of this classic Belgian tripel with a branded tulip glass, making it a straightforward way to try, or to give, one of Belgium's best known abbey-style beers. Tripel Karmeliet is brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels in Buggenhout, East Flanders, and has an ABV of 8.4%. The gift box format is popular with retailers precisely because it lets a drinker taste the beer as the brewery intends, poured into its own glass, rather than straight from the bottle.

Brouwerij Bosteels has been in the hands of the same family since 1791, now run by the seventh generation. The brewery is best known internationally for Pauwel Kwak and DeuS Brut des Flandres as well as Tripel Karmeliet, and it was Antoine Bosteels, of the seventh generation, who developed Tripel Karmeliet in 1996 by reviving a recipe said to date back to 1679 and a Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde. Whether or not every detail of that origin story is provable, the beer itself has gone on to pick up recognition in its own right, including a World Beer Cup gold medal in 1998 and a World's Best Ale title at the World Beer Awards in 2008.

What sets Tripel Karmeliet apart from many other tripels is its use of three grains, wheat, oats and barley, alongside the malted barley more usually seen on its own in the style. This gives the beer a notably smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel alongside the classic tripel strength and complexity. Expect a golden colour with a persistent white head, and an aroma of banana, pear and citrus peel with a light spiciness from the yeast. On the palate it is rounded and gently sweet, with clove, coriander and a touch of vanilla, before finishing dry with a mild, lemony bitterness. At 8.4% ABV it is a strong beer, refermented in the bottle in the traditional Belgian manner, so a little sediment is normal and part of the character.

Serve Tripel Karmeliet at around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in a tulip glass, such as the one included in this gift pack, which is shaped to concentrate the aroma and support the head. It is a versatile food beer: the fruit and spice notes work well alongside roast chicken or pork, spiced dishes, and firm, washed-rind or blue cheeses, while its dry finish keeps richer food from feeling heavy. It also stands up well on its own as a beer for slow drinking rather than quenching thirst.

As a gift, the Tripel Karmeliet pack suits anyone with an interest in Belgian beer or abbey-style tripels specifically, whether as an introduction to the style or a treat for someone who already knows Bosteels' other beers. With four bottles and a glass included, it is ready to serve straight from the box, and reflects over two centuries of brewing by one family in Buggenhout.