William's Belgian Triple

Review by Jess on 5/12/2010

Pros: simply put..wow..very good kit. Easy to make and a great beer.

Cons: none

BELGIAN TRIPLE

Review by David Baker on 5/8/2010

Pros: My wife bought me the Williams Belgian Triple kit as an anniversary gift. She had overheard me talking to some friends about my passion for home-made beer and I had have waxed lyrically about Belgian beers and their historic and prestigious place in the beers of the world. I had only ever tasted one bottle of Belgian beer despite having been a beer lover and a brewery employee a long time ago but I had read widely and always entertained the idea of one day having my own make to enjoy. I approached “brew day” with a little trepidation. Would my limited experience of making my own be up to the challenge? Would I be biting off more than I could chew? Somehow in my mind was the belief that such a beer would be complicated to make and perhaps demand more skills than I possessed but that proved to be a totally incorrect assumption. Indeed I made the beer using exactly the same procedure I have been using for the various other beers I have made. There was nothing complicated about the making. I followed the simple and straightforward instructions that came with the kit; achieved the OG that was mentioned; (in fact I got a higher reading than that because I used the hydrometer before I made the wort up to the 5 gallons!) put the beer into the little closet that I use for brewing; and left it alone for the first 7 days. I racked it to a secondary fermenter (couldn’t resist tasting the muddy concoction – it was lovely) and left it for another 3 weeks. At that time I had two other beers in the fridge so was in no hurry to start consuming the Belgian but gradually with a sip here and a sip there I started to appreciate the joyous beverage I had made. It was not like any other beer I had ever tasted. With my very limited experience of Belgian beers there is no way I can comment about how it relates within its style other than to say that it is exceptional. Clearly it is very alcoholic. Consumption of my normal lunch-time glassful would leave me quite heady for the afternoon so this is not a beer to quaff. It is a beer to relax and enjoy especially when there is no pressing engagement afterwards. There was a depth of flavor I had never tasted before in a beer. The malt content was substantial but in no way was it obviously malty. And it was definitely not bitter or hoppy. It was very smooth. I claim no beer-judging expertise but I guess it was beautifully balanced but strong in character. Yes, it has real character. To say there was a hint of sweetness might give the wrong impression but it most definitely was not sweet. The yeast had done its job well in creating the alcohol and using “almost” all the malt and sugar. My (smaller) glass each day evokes the aromas, the taste, the sense of a strong wine. There is the slightest hint of fruitiness, the kind sometimes sensed in a wine rather than a beer but the alcohol content is clearly greater. So I guess my brew fits somewhere between a smooth, rich flavored beer and a strong wine. And another of the good things about this brew is that because I drink less of it each day my five gallons will last a lot longer. This is one of the best gifts I have ever received.

Great brew!

Review by Kevin on 5/8/2010

Pros: Great brew! Easy and smells great so far.

Cons: Requires a secondary for fermentation.

One of the best beers I've brewed

Review by Rae N. on 5/7/2010

Pros: This kit is easy to follow and is to date one of my best beers. It always get compliments and I have had several other homebrewers ask me for the recipe and I refer them to this kit!

Cons: None really, just make sure you can accommodate a 4 gallon boil and have a secondary fermenter. Both were new to me as a beginning brewer.

Great Kit !

Review by Kevin on 3/10/2010

Pros: This is a GREAT kit. This is the second time i've brewed this kit. Great quality of products, great flavor and great %...I squeezed out 9.1%.

Cons: The wait to really let it condition for an even better taste.