The XXX Tripel Recipe (by demand)

By popular demand, the Tripel recipe is below.  This was my 30th homebrewed beer.  It was only fitting to make it a Belgian Tripel, named and indicated historically with the XXX label on the barrel.  After only 3 months in the bottle, it is one of my favorites.  I'm very pleased with the way it turned out.

Recipe for a 4 gallon batch.

8 lb Pilsner Malt

1 lb Maris Otter Malt

1.25 oz Tettnang for 60 minutes (4.7%, 28.63 IBU)

.5 oz Saaz for 30 minutes (3.2%, 1.56 IBU)

Wyeast 1214 Belgian Ale yeast

This resulted in 1.061 OG on brewday.

Add 1 lb Belgian Candy sugar (15 L) on day 3

Add 1 lb Turbinado raw cane sugar on day 5.  Boil for 10 minutes, then cool.

Turbinado sugar.  It will get very dark while boiling

Cumulative OG = 1.081

FG 1.010

ABV - 8.6%

How does it fit with the BJCP Guidelines for a Tripel?

OG: 1.075 - 1.085 (this recipe 1.081)

FG: 1.008 - 1.014 (this recipe 1.010)

IBU: 20 - 40 (this recipe 30.19)

SRM: 4.5 - 7.0 (this recipe is in the 6 zone)

ABV: 7.5 - 9.5 (this recipe 8.6)

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Beers, Part 2

The 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival starts on September 27th and runs through November 11th this year.  We are reviewing the menu and classifying the beer featured this year.

A few days ago we reviewed what we've called the Obligatory Country of Origin Beers, 8 in total.  Today we'll look at the beers from some of the traditional beer and brewing countries.  We will cover 4 Destination and 14 beers.


Classic International Style Beers

Brewers Collection:  German Style beers are the recurring theme here.

• Schofferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen - This beer was featured last year as well.
• Altenmunster Oktoberfest - A regular in the Germany Pavilion, this is a solid choice.
• Radeberger Pilsner - Another Germany Pavilion regular and on the list last year.
• Warsteiner Premium Verum - Warsteiner is new to the list with two beers.  The Verum is a German Pilsner.
• Warsteiner Premium Dunkel - The Warsteiner site doesn't list this beer (only two listed) so I'm not over confident in this listing.
• BraufactuM Palor - BraufactuM, in Frankfurt, Germany is a new brewery to the list. Rate Beer gives this "American Pale Ale" a score of 50 (of 100).  5.2% ABV.  Here it is for those who are interested.
• BraufactuM Roog Smoked Wheat Beer - A Rauchbier, this one interests me.  Rate Beer gives the Roog a 69 .  6.6% ABV.  If you read German, the write up on this beer will mean more to you than it did me.
• BraufactuM Darkon - A Schwartzbier, German style dark beer, this rates at 78, with a 5.4% ABV.  Like the others, here is the Rate Beer review.

From the above list, the Germany Destination will also feature the Oktoberfest and Darkon.

2012 Belgium Menu Kiosk

Belgium: The Belgian beers are most interesting and something to get excited about, until you realize the examples here are all owned by Big Beer, and are the mainstream selections of Belgian Style beers.

• Hoegaarden
• Stella Artois
• Leffe Blonde
• Leffe Brune 

The Leffe Brune is the newcomer to the list and a solid brown ale (Brune).  It will be my choice from this Destination.  Second will be the Blonde.

Scotland:  Scotland is a new Destination for 2013, featuring a traditional style Scottish Ale, Innis & Gunn Original, from Edinburgh, Scotland.  At 6.6% ABV, Beer Advocate (yes, switching sites) rates this at at 85.  This will pair well with the food selection at this Destination as well.

The following menu details come from the Disney Parks Blogs posting.  In fact all the menu items listed herein come from the same posting.

• Seared Scottish Salmon with Cauliflower Puree, Watercress and Malt Vinaigrette
• Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties-Griddled Vegetable Cake with Rutabaga and Mashed Potatoes
• Scottish Banoffee Tart with Bananas, Scottish Whisky Toffee, Walkers Shortbread Crumbles and Sweet Cream

Of the list above, I think I'll go for the dessert with the Innis & Gunn Original.


Ireland: See if you can guess the beer from Ireland.  Yep, it's Guinness Stout.  Get it here or year round at the Rose and Crown Pub in Epcot.

People in line at the Ireland Destination, 2012

There you have it... the 14 beers which we've categorized as the Classic International Styles.  I've excluded the Destinations of Hawaii (American, not International) and the American Adventure (American also), which both feature some craft beers.  American Craft beer is nothing to be embarrassed by.  In fact, it is quite the opposite!  The long history and tradition may not be as old as those of the countries listed with the lists above, but quality, flavor, and creativity which has evolved in the American Craft Beer movement is quite exciting and has been a unique addition to this Festival.

In Part 3 we'll cover the American Craft Beers which will be featured in the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

How important is the presentation?

Contrast the two scenarios.

1. You sit down in a beer bar, review the menu, find a nice Tripel to select, order, and a few minutes later the beer comes out in a Dogfish glass (or Magners, or Sam Adams, you name it), with bubbles clinging to the side, and little to no head.
2. You sit down in a beer bar, review the menu, find a nice Tripel to select, order, and a few minutes later the beer comes out in a glass with the name and logo of the beer you ordered.  A glass made specifically for that beer.  The golden hew is evident and the perfect amount of head rests on the surface of the beer.

The Belgians have long believed that a beer should be served in it's own glass, with the logo on the side.  Of course, different styles will require different shaped glasses and the proper glass will fit with the nature of the particular beer.  This detail not only completes the presentation, but the glass shape contributes as well to the overall drinking experience.  Without going into too much detail here, certain shapes will highlight on certain elements of the beer, particularly as it pertains to aroma.

So much is this detail important to the Belgians, that patrons have been forced to wait until the proper glass is available.  If all the glasses for your particular beer are being used, you are out of luck until the glass is returned and cleaned.  Crazy?  Or not?

Do the details matter?  When paying $6, $7 or $8 for a beer, you better bet they do.  Paying for quality beer is much more than just the beer alone.  You are purchasing for an experience.  A good beer offers several things which aught not to be overlooked. 

Notice the color, the head (and head color), the aroma (nose) of the beer.  How does is smell?  Hop aroma, malty, like flowers or springtime?  How is the carbonation?  Effervescent, or lightly carbonated?  After all, different styles will require different amounts of carbonation.  And flavor?  Malty, hoppy, balanced (or not), alcohol heat?  And the finish...  Does it linger in your mouth?  Does the finish prompt you to repeat the entire process?  With good beers, these sensations need to be present and appreciated to gain the full experience.

If you want to slam down a few, order the cheep flavorless fuzzy beers.  But if you want to enjoy your beer.  Slow down, drink it, taking in all the sensations included with a fine brew, paying attention to the details.

Cheers!