Tripel

{{Short description|Type of high-alcohol blonde beer}} {{About|the beer|the Winkel Tripel map projection|Winkel tripel projection|other uses|Triple (disambiguation){{!}}Triple}}

thumb|right|Westmalle Tripel

'''Tripel''' is a term used by brewers mainly in the Low Countries, some other European countries, and the U.S. to describe a strong pale ale, loosely in the style of ''Westmalle Tripel''.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.beerhunter.com/styles/tripel.html |title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Beer Styles: Tripel |publisher=www.beerhunter.com |access-date=2009-07-11 }} </ref> The origin of the term is unknown, though the main theory is that it indicates strength in some way.<ref name="Linden"/> It was used in 1956 by the Trappist brewery, Westmalle, to rename the strongest beer in their range, though both the term Tripel and the style of beer associated with the name (strong pale ale), were in existence before 1956.<ref name="Linden"/> The style of Westmalle's ''Tripel'' and the name was widely copied by the breweries of Belgium,<ref>''The Great Beers of Belgium'', Michael Jackson, MMC, 1997, page 226</ref> and in 1987 another Trappist brewery, the Koningshoeven in the Netherlands, expanded their range with a beer called ''La Trappe Tripel'', though they also produced a stronger beer they termed ''La Trappe Quadrupel''.<ref>''The Taste of Beer'', Roger Protz, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998, page 140.</ref> The term spread to the U.S. and other countries, and is applied by a range of secular brewers to a strong pale ale in the style of ''Westmalle Tripel''.<ref>''Belgian Ale'', Pierre Rajotte, Brewers publications, 1992, pages 31-34</ref>

==History== The term Tripel comes from the Low Countries (now Netherlands and Belgium); though the origin of the term is unknown. The two main theories are that it indicates strength, either by a series of marks, such as crosses, on a cask - X for the weakest strength, XX for medium strength, and XXX for the strongest beer, or by reference to the original gravity of a beer which roughly corresponds to 3% abv, 6% abv or 9% abv.<ref name="Linden"/> According to brewing historian Michael Jackson, the first golden strong pale ale associated with the term was brewed by Hendrik Verlinden of the Drie Linden (Three Lindens) brewery in the early 1930s, when ale brewers were looking to compete with the pale lagers from Plzeň.<ref name="Linden"/><ref>''Brew Like a Monk: Trappist, Abbey, and Strong Belgian Ales'', Stan Hieronymus, Brewers Publications, 2005. {{ISBN|093738187X}}</ref> Verlinden had an association with the Trappist brewery, Westmalle, assisting them with brewing,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trappistbeer.net/westmalle/trappist2_frame2_3EN.htm |title=Westmalle |publisher=www.trappistbeer.net |access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183354/http://www.trappistbeer.net/westmalle/trappist2_frame2_3EN.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and becoming the only secular brewer allowed to carry the Trappist Beer designation.<ref>[http://www.plumpjackwines.com/plumpjackwines/gfx/pdf/beer_notes/oct05_beer_notes.pdf ''Witkap Pater Abbey Tripel''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715093557/http://www.plumpjackwines.com/plumpjackwines/gfx/pdf/beer_notes/oct05_beer_notes.pdf |date=2011-07-15 }}, Beer of the Month Club, October 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2009.</ref> In 1933, Westmalle released a beer under the name ''Superbier''; this was the year after Verlinden produced a golden strong pale ale for his own brewery, the ''Witkap Pater'' (now known as ''Witkap Tripel'', produced by the Slaghmuylder Brewery).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witkap.be/witkap_eng/History.html |title=Brewery Slaghmuylder |publisher=www.witkap.be |access-date=2009-10-17 |archive-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311195911/http://www.witkap.be/witkap_eng/History.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was a strong blonde ale and was very likely based on a blonde beer the monks had been brewing sporadically since 1931. In 1956 they renamed it ''Tripel'', and the popularity of that brand ensured the name is still strongly associated with the Westmalle brewery,<ref>''Heavenly Beer'', Roger Protz, Carroll &Brown, 2002, page 125</ref> though both the term Tripel and the style of beer associated with the name (strong pale ale), were in existence before 1956.<ref name="Linden"> {{cite web |url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000791.html |title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Down on your knees to bless monks' top ale |publisher=www.beerhunter.com |access-date=2009-07-11 }} </ref> In 1956, the recipe was modified by the head brewer of Westmalle, Brother Thomas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001464.html|title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Visiting the brand-new Trappist brewery |publisher=www.beerhunter.com|access-date=2009-07-11|author=Michael Jackson}}</ref> by the addition of more hops, and it then took on the name Tripel. It has remained essentially unchanged since. Tim Webb in his ''Good Beer Guide to Belgium'' says that some of the pre-1956 beers called Tripel were dark, in contrast to modern beers using the term.<ref>Tim Webb: ''Good Beer Guide to Belgium'', 6th edition, p82</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/tripel.aspx Westmalle Tripel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803171031/http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/tripel.aspx |date=2009-08-03 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tripel}} Category:Beer in Belgium Category:Trappist beer Category:Dutch words and phrases