Devil’s Backbone Belgian-Style Tripel - Real Ale Brewing Review
Just a short jaunt from my house, up Highway 281, is Blanco, Texas, a small town with lots of charm and one hell of an iconic craft brewery. Real Ale is a Texas original with some amazing offerings from lagers to blondes to IPAs of all varieties.
But this week we’re looking at another one of their year-round brews with some deep roots in Belgium. Devil’s Backbone Tripel is named after a winding stretch of Hill Country road (and if you’ve been in the Hill Country you know how windy they can get). But beyond its name, this Belgian-style beer touts a light color with a backbone of its own at 8.1% ABV and 35 IBUs.
Light, traditional, and strong? Giddy-up! Let’s see how it rides in our first impressions.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--It looks just like a plump golden peach in our tulip glass and promises to be light on the tongue with tiny, tingling bubbles rolling through the clear nectar.
On the Nose--Spicy and clean with Belgian character. It has a crisp cider note from the clove aroma which makes it very inviting.
On the Palate--This Tripel starts light and smooth and gives way to the Belgian spiciness, presenting a bubblegum-like flavor. The malt sweetness rushes forward with the crisp dryness of Pilsner and/or Munich malt to follow. The gentle sweetness of this beer blends nicely with the spicy hop and yeast character, making the high ABV not as noticeable as it is in other strong Belgian beers.
Verdict:
This approachable beer is fun to drink and a great way to dip a toe into the Tripel pool, because we know they only get heavier from here. It is also quite inexpensive compared to others… if you live in Texas. But if you don’t live in Texas, make your way to Blanco to give Real Ale a try. It will be worth the trip. You might even see us there.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew