The Session #24: Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel

This edition of The Session is sponsored by David at Musings Over a Pint.

Announcing Session #24 – A Tripel for a Two

Beer is best when it’s shared, and a strong beer is just right for sharing. Belgian Tripels are big beers with a flavor profile that is enjoyed by both experienced and new beer fans. Be it an intimate evening, or watching a ball game on TV, a Tripel is made for sipping and sharing. For Session #24 the theme is “A Tripel for Two.” What Tripel would you pick to share with that good friend, family member, or lover?

If you have a beer or beer-related blog, it’s easy to participate in The Session. Pick a Belgian-style Tripel to review. Tell us why it’s your pick to share with that special someone. Be sure to include a review of the beer so that others might be inspired to choose that beer for a special moment. Bonus points if the person with whom you are sharing the beer includes their review as well.

We have long suggested that “the best beer in the world is one shared with a friend.” Since I was making the long trek up to Ron’s for his birthday a couple weeks ago, I brought along half of a four-pack of Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel, with instructions to Ron to save them for this Session. The other two I left at home.

Recently,  we used that old-fashioned technology, the telephone, to talk about beer, family, and life, but also to discuss the beer we were both sampling. Both our wives were out for the evening and, although we keep in touch via e-mail and other technologies, it was good to have an old-fashioned vocal conversation. Ron’s my oldest friend, after all.

As for “why this tripel”, that’s pretty pedestrian. I was getting ready to take that 400-mile trip to Ron’s in upstate New York, Flying Dog is brewed local to me, and I don’t think that Ron can get it there in the Great White North. If we were going to simultaneously long-distance sample the same beer we’d have to go with something we could both get, and therefore common and written up by lots of other people, or we’d have to source the beer from the same place. Add to that: I like Flying Dog’s offerings and neither of us had ever had it. It’s also not a style I have much.

It’s lighter in color than I expected. Distinctly yellow with a chill haze. Head didn’t stick around long. Very fruity aroma; almost like a lemon Starburst but not as cloyingly sweet. Medium body with a cleaner finish than I find in most Belgian styles. I like it.

I’m also going to count this as Beer-a-Day #37.

We enjoyed our long-distance beer tasting so much that we may do it more often. I can’t guarantee that it’ll always end up as a Hop Talk article, but sharing a beer with a good friend, across a table or a telephone line, can only be a good thing.

(You can also read Ron’s review of Kerberos Tripel)