Fans of Troubadour’s Magma – of which there are many – will know that once a year, the guys play around with their flagship beer. From changing hops, to changing malts and introducing different yeasts to the base beer, it is always interesting to see what they have come up with each year.
2015 saw the Tripel-Spiked Brett version, which was by far my personal favourite. Last year saw the addition of Maris Otter premium malt into the recipe, and this was a delicious beer as well. (There is still a couple of cartons hanging around, we will make them available in the ‘Extra Beers’ section).
I must admit I was slightly disappointed to learn that 2017’s variant was simply changing the quantities of malt and hops in the recipe. It seemed a little low-key for something that is anticipated all year.
But I’m please to say I very much enjoyed the beer nonetheless. It really is now an IPA, with much less of a Belgian yeast aspect to me. A smaller malt body (hence the reduction in ABV), but still a little caramalt body to carry those hops.
And the hops are the showpiece now, still with the piney and fruity aromas of passionfruit and apricot, with an earthy hop bitterness and dry finish. It’s a very enjoyable beer; wonder what they’ll do in 2018?!
A second version of this beer, with a dominant display from the Morpheus yeast supported by Cascade and Chinook hops
A Belgian IPA with Challenger, Smaragd and Citra hops, finished with a Belgian saison yeast
Hop bitterness, with dry spicing and just a hint of wild earthy funk
A bigger, hoppier version of the Noblesse Belgian Pale Ale
A Belgian classic - Duvel - with a current hop-driven twist
The classical Belgian Strong Blond Ale, jazzed up with an extra hop that changes each year
The 2015 special edition Duvel Tripel Hop features the Equinox hop
The 2016 version of Duvel's Tripel Hop, featuring an experimental hop from the Yakima Valley
This is now the permanent feature in the Duvel range, with the Citra version being voted the favourite of all the Duvel Tripel Hop varieties
The 'other' Duvel Tripel Hop in the range shows of Cashmere hops
The favourite of the Duvel Tripel Hop series is the Citra hop version
Five old-world hops are used in this fresh grassy Belgian IPA
The original Belgian IPA, from one of the three breweries in the 'Brewers Town' of Watou.
A seasonal batch of Hopus brewed in Spring, which is dry-hopped with Citra
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
Best described as an extremely hoppy Belgian tripel style
A Belgian IPA with a strong citrus character and nice earthy bitterness
A Belgian IPA using Mapuche hops grown exclusively for Leffe on the plains of Patagonia
Another riff of the Troubadour Magma, this one is a more sessionable, last of the summer sun type of beer
The 2016 variation of Troubadour's flagship beer Magma features Maris Otter premium malt
The 2019 variant of Troubadour's Magma is a beer that has been made more sessional, with the addition of El Dorado and Nelson Sauvin hops
A perfectly balanced Belgian IPA, deceptively drinkable for the 9.5% ABV.
Not really fitting in to a style category - inviting sweet malt backbone with a good dose of hop bitterness.
Ella hops from Australia provide a tropical fruit character to this crisp and refreshing Belgian IPA
A Belgian style IPA, taking a step back to an older style IPA recipe
The second incarnation of this beer, featuring Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial hops
by
An Anglo-Belgian style IPA, with a big malt body and balanced hop character
A clean, crisp and sessional IPA from the team at Troubadour
Dedicated to the hero of Antwerp, a dry-hopped spicy blond ale
Fruity aroma and hoppy, spicy flavour make this an extremely drinkable beer.
Four malts, roasted barley and two hops create a beautiful Imperial Stout - with a Belgian twist.
The body of a Belgian triple style beer, hopped like an American Imperial IPA - the best of two brewing cultures in one beer.
Another riff of the Troubadour Magma, this one is a more sessionable, last of the summer sun type of beer
The 2015 variant of their flagship Magma, with the addition of Brettanomyces yeast at all three fermentation phases
The 2016 variation of Troubadour's flagship beer Magma features Maris Otter premium malt
The 2019 variant of Troubadour's Magma is a beer that has been made more sessional, with the addition of El Dorado and Nelson Sauvin hops
The 2022 Magma variant is finished with a wine yeast
A rich, smooth and complex dark ale - a perfectly balanced mild stout with a Belgian body.
Amber ale with a spicy and malty character, crisp and light with a dry, slightly bitter finish.
A Belgian west coast Imperial Black IPA, made using 100% Belgian hops
A beautiful imperial black IPA that uses all-Belgian west coast hops
