33 cl, flip-top bottle from Finest Belgian Beers.

A healthy pop on opening, a good sign.

The body is an orange, hazy affair with an above average rocky white head with good lace. Retention slightly above average too.

Nose offers a very attractive light spice, and some alcoholic sweetness. The initial tastes do much the same, but the sweetness is greater in the mouth than the nose might suggest. Champagne feel on the larger gulps, but with a lower carbonation than that might suggest. More sweetness breaks over the tongue, and this holds any spice firmly in check. Finish offers a larger dry element than one might anticipate, and the spice pops in once more.

For all intents and purposes this drinks as a Tripel. Nobody would classify this as a winter brew in a blind tasting, but the crossover between Belgian Strong Pale and Tripel might be debated. The alcohol certainly builds right at the end, and the last few sips are little solvent-like. However, on balance it all works well and it never really gets out of hand.

I really, really, really like this. It’s balanced, has a good kick without any cloying elements to the 9%, and it holds a delicate and steady line between tastes, and style experience rather well.

A big, well-brewed, balanced (considering several aspects) beer, that has a drinkability off the charts. Excellent.