Tips (EN) | Truyen-westmalle.be

Lovingly stored, poured and drunk as it should be done.

The Trappist beers from Westmalle are complex, living beers that continue to ferment inside the bottle. To get the most out of their rich aroma during tasting, we recommend pouring the Dubbel, Tripel and Extra beers in the traditional way. The best way to do that is by following these few tips:

Storage

The beer is best stored in a dark place at a constant temperature of 8 to 14 ° Celsius. Allow a bottle to rest for at least a week before pouring. That way, the yeast will sink to the bottom and your glass of beer will be both beautiful and clear.

Use the correct glass

Always pour a Trappist beer into a Westmalle goblet. That will bring the complex character of the beer fully to the fore and you can savour the richness of the head. You should also make sure that the glass is grease-free, so that the foam does not immediately disappear.

Pouring

Hold the glass at an angle and start pouring the beer slowly along the inside wall of the glass. Continue pouring in a single movement, gradually moving the glass until the bowl is in a horizontal position, so that you finish pouring the middle of the glass. That is how to obtain a perfect head. Leave around one centimetre of beer in the bottle. That is the yeast base. It is rich in vitamin B and has a blood-cleansing effect. It is best to drink this part separately. Make sure you also watch the video from Trappist Westmalle about how to pour out a beer.

The art of beer-tasting. Leo, a connoisseur at Truyen, provides some good advice in three steps.

Unlike wine, beer is actually swallowed during tasting. The reason for this is that if you didn’t swallow it, you would be missing out on part of the bitterness. Tasting basically consists of three steps:

Looking

Once the beer has been poured correctly into the correct type of glass, take the time to look at it. Is it clear, misty or cloudy? What colour is it and what does the head look like?

Smelling

Lightly swirling the beer in the glass will release its aromas more effectively. Does the beer have a citrus aroma? Or does it have a sweet smell similar to coffee or chocolate?

Tasting

Sample the beer by taking some into your mouth. Allow the beer to pass through your mouth for a moment, then swallow it. As the beer will be warmed up slightly in your mouth, more flavour elements may be released. How bitter is the beer and what type of hop aroma can you taste? The mouthfeel of the beer is also important. Can you feel the tingling caused by the carbonation? And can you detect the heat of the alcohol or the dryness of the beer? Another aspect of a beer is its body. Does the beer taste thick or watery?

And then the most important part – enjoy the beer and the occasion!