New Belgium/ Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Lips of Faith Heavenly Feijoa Tripel, Ale Brewed with Feijoa and Hibiscus. 9% Alc. by Vol. (Is that a mouthful or what?)
I have no idea what feijoa is. At all. I barely know what hibiscus is. So, let's drink the beer and find out, okay?
It's a clear, dark amber/copper color, slim ring of foam atop.
Aroma is fresh, fruity and flowery. Who'da thunk it? Peach, apple, pear, herbal and malty. Light and lovely.
On the tongue, more fruit, more flowers, meeting the high alcohol. A harsh sweetness hits hard, masking the malt. Maybe there's a tripel lurking below, but these other flavors clash too much, making something completely new, and not altogether nice. I'm still wrestling with it, while looking at the label artwork, and how it imagines that all bicyclists go to heaven when the rapture comes, their vehicles borne away on angelic wings, while the motorists are stalled and suffer a hellish fate.
Now, here comes the gobbledygook" "Oh, my God, it's not only a reaction for drinking one of die de ciel's beers, but a figurative transaction of the Montreal brewer's name. Just ask our brewmaster, he's in heaven when drinking this collaborative tripel, inspired by Dieu de Ciel's love of hibiscus and Belgians love of the obscure, hence our addition of tart feijoa fruit, Cheers!"
Okay, I'm getting that tart jolt, that cherry-, or rapsberry-like twang on the palate. It's an interesting mix, and potentially an enjoyable one, but it's working on me…yet. I'll give it some time….It's well-balanced, for sure. It mixes well in the mouth, the fruit and the flower sit well together, but they overshadow whatever tripel is below, and I've just never found tripel to be a style that should be trifled with and trussed up and fructified.
Okay, it's finally working, and find that it's actually pretty fun and enjoyable. It's getting sourer and sourer, nice bitterness rising up. I'm liking this more and more. I'm crossing over. It's good, refreshingly sour and fruity, and utterly delicious.
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