Are you a Belgian homeless man, seeking a fusion of your country’s classic trippel-style beer with malt liquor? Good news, Didier! You can find it right here in America, in Colorado to be precise. But I must forewarn you that this fusion, manifest in New Belgium’s Trippel Belgian Style Ale, is not what one would call “quaffable”. That’s not to say it’s not good, but I’d be impressed if you reached for a second bottle in one session.

The Trippel caught my eye because of the roosters. They stare at you, cruel and unblinking, across the label on each bottle and on the cardboard six pack. They look to be fine, strapping roosters, and serve as a reference to the Walloon flag. Walloons are French-speaking Belgians living in the south and east of the country, who speak their own dialect of French and are well-known for their brewing prowess. Right on queue I could taste familiar Belgian yeast strains, and a bit of banana, as I took my first few sips of this dark golden ale.

The roosters’ expressions got harsher and more menacing as I neared the middle of the bottle… it took on a mocking tone as if daring me to finish… By the time I did, I felt straight. Up. Drunk. At 8.5%, one should expect to feel tipsy,w but it was a slog to get through the whole bottle.

Though I love a good trippel, and am fond of Belgian-style beer generally, the malt was too strong in New Belgium’s effort. It betrayed the alcohol content too readily. The combination of banana and some deeper, spicier flavors, like cinnamon and coriander, were quite well-paired, so I don’t understand why malt needed to make such a prominent appearance! While I would recommend this to die-hard Belgian-style trippel or New Belgium fans, I will not buy this beer again. There are too many Chimays and Orvals and Duvels out there to drink, and the Belgian masters really do it best!