Westmalle Tripel

The 1934 recipe still holds up—this is the tripel I measure every other one against, and the yeast character alone sets it apart from the imitators. Pours a hazy gold with a rocky head that lingers, exactly what you want from a classic.

You can tell it’s a genuine Trappist brew from the first pour — that thick, creamy head and the way the carbonation dances on the tongue. The 9.5% alcohol is hidden so well behind the spice and fruit that I almost forgot I was drinking something that strong. This is the benchmark every other tripel

The bottle conditioning gives it such a lively, creamy head that lingers right down to the last sip. It's been my go-to for years precisely because the balance is spot on—no other tripel has ever made me slow down like this one does.