The brewing ethos of this family brewery owes as much to German tradition as it does to Belgium. All family members have trained and brewed in Germany at times, which explains the ‘pure’ attitude toward ingredients used. They shun the Belgian tradition of using candy sugar in beers, like tripels.
The beer pours a lovely pale orange colour with a thick, delicate foam. Aromas are typically Belgian yeast, with some citrus and malt.
An inviting sweetness greets the palette, giving way to citrus fruit notes with gentle hop bitterness and spicy yeast notes. The beer dries out really well as it progresses, more so than your average tripel. It has a smooth, enveloping character with a subtle dry lingering bitterness.
About the brewery: De Ryck is another of our old family breweries of Belgium. The brewery started way back in 1886, under the name ‘De Gouden Arend’ (The Golden Eagle). Shut down during the war as the kettles are taken, the brewery reopened in 1920 under the name of the original founder – Gustaaf De Ryck. Now nearly 130 years later, the fourth generation of the family still controls the brewery.