After our first tripel had been aging in secondary for 3 weeks (with a week in primary before that) we bottled it today. This will now have to bottle condition for at least 1 month and preferably longer (as long as I can keep my hands off it). We tried some of the green beer that was left in the bottling bucket and it was pretty tasty, but the alcohol was definitely upfront. Right now though, it was a tad too sweet from the added orange blossom honey, but that will dissipate over time as the bottles carbonate. The longer the bottles will sit, the more the alcoholic taste (this beer is 10% ABV) will mellow out. I'm truly looking forward to November when we can taste this!
A couple nights ago, we tried a bottle of Éphémère Apple from Unibroue (5.5% ABV). Grany Smith dominates, with perhaps a light yeast flavor. To be honest, if I didn't know this was a beer I would have described it as a cider, but there's some hoppiness to it. The pillow-like head dissipates quite quickly, leaving behind a speckled, lacy layer.
The one thing that bothered me about this beer was part of the description: Ale brewed with apple juice, coriander, orange peel and with natural flavor added. Natural flavor? Why exactly Unibroue? That feels too much like adding caramel coloring to certain beers. Don't. Just don't.
The one thing that bothered me about this beer was part of the description: Ale brewed with apple juice, coriander, orange peel and with natural flavor added. Natural flavor? Why exactly Unibroue? That feels too much like adding caramel coloring to certain beers. Don't. Just don't.