New Belgium Tripel 6Pk

New Belgium Tripel 6Pk is a Belgian-style tripel ale from New Belgium Brewing Company, sold in a 6-pack of 12 oz bottles at 8.5% ABV. Winner of a 2021 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal for best Belgian-Style Tripel and scored 93 points by Craft Beer & Brewing, this is one of the most decorated and widely available American-brewed tripels on the market.
Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA  |  Style: Belgian-Style Tripel  |  Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company
Production & Heritage
New Belgium Brewing has produced this tripel since 1992, making it one of the earliest American craft interpretations of the classic Belgian abbey style. The grain bill relies on Pilsner and Munich malts, hopped exclusively with Noble varieties — Saaz and Hallertau Mittelfrüh — and fermented with a traditional Belgian yeast strain that drives the beer’s signature fruity ester profile. The beer undergoes bottle fermentation, a process that builds natural carbonation and adds subtle complexity over time. In 2015, the brewery reformulated the recipe with a new yeast variety and a more complex malt profile, further refining the balance between sweet malt character and dry, spicy finish.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Ripe banana and soft lemon esters greet the nose first, followed by sweet bread and a gentle waft of coriander. Underneath, spicy Noble hops add a floral, herbal dimension that keeps the aromatics lively.
Taste: The entry is bright with sweet citrus and nutty malt, giving way to a mid-palate of banana, clove phenolics, and warm bread crust. As the 8.5% ABV asserts itself, a pleasant boozy warmth builds alongside a clean, spicy hop bitterness that checks the sweetness.
Finish: The finish is pleasantly dry and moderately long, with lingering clove spice, mild Noble hop bitterness, and a warm alcoholic bite. Residual banana and lemon esters fade slowly, inviting the next sip.
How to Drink New Belgium Tripel
Serve in a tulip glass or Belgian goblet at around 45–50°F to let the complex yeast-driven aromatics open fully; pouring too cold will mute the banana and spice character. A Tripel Karmeliet-style serve — the beer on its own with a gentle swirl before each sip — highlights the bottle-conditioned carbonation. Try it in a Bee’s Knees riff (blending a splash of the tripel with honey and lemon for a beer-cocktail hybrid) to amplify the citrus esters. A Belgian Shandy made with fresh lemonade tames the ABV for warm-weather drinking. It also works well in a Michelada variation, where the malt sweetness and spicy yeast character stand up to lime and hot sauce.
Best For
Introducing a craft beer drinker to Belgian-style ales for the first time
Pairing with a holiday dinner spread, especially Thanksgiving or Easter
Building a Belgian-style tasting flight alongside dubbels and quads
Stocking a home beer fridge with a reliable, high-ABV session option
Frequently Asked Questions
What does New Belgium Tripel taste like? It leads with sweet citrus and banana esters from Belgian yeast fermentation, layered over nutty Pilsner and Munich malt sweetness, then finishes dry with clove spice and a warm 8.5% ABV bite.
How does New Belgium Tripel compare to Allagash Tripel? Both are well-regarded American-brewed Belgian-style tripels, but New Belgium Tripel leans more toward banana and clove phenolics with a drier finish, while Allagash Tripel tends to emphasize citrus peel and a slightly softer, rounder malt body. New Belgium’s version is also more widely distributed, often found in grocery and convenience stores nationwide.
Is New Belgium Tripel good for beginners? It is widely regarded as a gateway Belgian-style ale — one of the first tripels many American craft beer drinkers encounter — though the 8.5% ABV warrants a slower pace than a standard lager.
Where is New Belgium Tripel made? New Belgium Tripel is brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company, originally founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1991. The brewery is one of the largest craft producers in the United States.
What foods pair well with New Belgium Tripel? Roasted chicken or turkey benefits from the beer’s dry, spicy finish cutting through rich skin and gravy. Aged Gouda or Gruyère mirrors the nutty malt character. Mussels steamed in white wine echo the Belgian tradition of pairing abbey ales with shellfish. Lemon tarts and crème brûlée complement the citrus esters and clove spice. Thai green curry finds balance with the malt sweetness and effervescent carbonation.
What sizes does New Belgium Tripel come in? New Belgium Tripel is commonly available in a 6-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the standard retail format.
Is New Belgium Tripel worth the price? It positions as an accessible, mid-range craft Belgian-style tripel — delivering a GABF Gold Medal-winning beer at a price point well below many imported Belgian abbey ales, making it strong value for the category.
Why New Belgium Tripel?
Brewed continuously since 1992 and refined with a recipe update in 2015, New Belgium Tripel carries more history than nearly any other American-brewed tripel. The 2021 GABF Gold Medal and a 93-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing confirm that the current version is performing at the top of its category. Bottle fermentation with traditional Belgian yeast, a clean Noble hop bill, and a malt backbone of Pilsner and Munich malts give it the complexity of a Belgian import at domestic pricing. Few beers in this style match its combination of pedigree, availability, and critical recognition.