Belgian IPA's

Recently, Texas has had an influx of fun, interesting new beers. One emerging style that has hit our state is Belgian IPA's. The style has actually been accepted as a whole new style by BeerAdvocate and certainly has been accepted with open arms by beer lovers world wide.


I had the opportunity to try Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel.

Tasting notes:
Pours an effervescent golden hue with a pillowy cream white head that mountains up to the top of the snifter. As the head recedes it leaves thin tiny bubbles, thickly laced in spotty patterns across the walls of the glass. Smell is intense! Ripe pear, green apple, orange juice, banana, white pepper, and clove. Taste isn't quite as intense as the nose, however it is very balanced and very unique in a good way! Begins with sweet caramel banana bread and transitions into a citrus orange zest with a tongue tingle-ing, peppery finish. The alcohol slowly warms the back of the throat but is never overbearing. Everything seems to balance out with no overbearing flavors. No doubt there is a lot going on in this glass, however the champaign like mouthfeel certainly helps meld it all together and allows the flavors to dance across the taste buds.


Yesterday I picked up a bottle of Urthel HopIt, another Belgian IPA and plan on comparing the two beers to see how this style shapes up. Look for a homebrew update this weekend.

-Rick