Ground Breaker Brewing Lee’s Tripel

Ground Breaker Brewing Lee’s Tripel

Gluten Free Belgian Tripel

A few weeks ago, you may have caught a beer review for the first release of Ground Breaker Brewing’s Brewer’s Delight series, the gluten free Cherry Sour. Well…Ground Breaker just dropped two more batches of Brewer’s Delight, and we’ll be tasting one of them tonight. This is a small-batch rapid release series, and the two new additions include a gluten free Belgian Tripel and gluten free S’more Stout. (Yes, you read that correctly.)

As always, these beers are 100% gluten free and brewed in a dedicated facility. I’m going out of order and tasting Batch #3 first which is the Lee’s Tripel. You’ll have to stay tuned for #2 S’more Stout, as I just couldn’t bring myself to open it just before dinner.

The Lee’s Tripel was brewed in collaboration with Lee Hedgmon of SheBrew. SheBrew is a Portland-based organization that unifies the Human Rights Campaign with the Oregon Brew Crew. Here’s more about the Portland-based event they produce:

“SheBrew is a remarkable event that focuses on womxn in the craft beer, cider and mead world kicking off Women’s History Month in March with a brewers competition held nationwide and a festival in Portland, Oregon. The SheBrew Festival is not only a celebration of female brewers, cider & mead makers, both amateur and professional, it is an event for all genders and ages honoring equality and supports all womxn and the LGBTQ community with proceeds to go to the Human Rights Campaign and the Oregon Brew Crew.

https://www.shebrew.beer/

The Brewer’s Delight Lee’s Tripel was released in March 2022 in 16 ounce green cans whose labels follow the same design as the Cherry Sour’s cans. This gluten free Tripel has an ABV of 7% and is brewed on Eckert rice malt, sorghum, Grouse millet malt, flaked quinoa, and Grouse buckwheat malt.

Here is a video of how the Lee’s Tripel poured. Below that, you’ll find my full review of this special release from Ground Breaker Brewing.

The Taste Test

Lee’s Tripel

This Belgian Tripel pours with a full amber color and a nice head. My first pour didn’t contain the full can, and therefore came out incredibly clear. Once I squeezed the last couple of ounces into the glass though, the clarity went down.

Lee’s Tripel has an aroma that is floral and spicy, but more malty than hoppy. My first sip reveals a malt forward beer with a medium body and a fruity taste profile. The malt is earthy and not overly sweet. This Tripel tastes very balanced and clean.

The malts blend gracefully with the tropical hop notes, and that’s the first thing I notice when I taste. Then the malt carries the beer through the palate with a peppery, warm spice quality that makes this a perfect beer for a cold, windy, spring-posing-as-winter kind of day. This gluten free Tripel stays bright and balanced through the entire tasting, and finishes with the perfect amount of sweet and spice.

Belgian ales aren’t generally my passion, but this feels like the perfect choice for my palate today. I love the warming quality and the way it manages to stay bright through so much earthiness. I don’t get to taste Tripels super often, so this is a refreshing break away from the usual PNW suspects. I recommend snagging one if you come across it (whether in person or online).

Remember to stay tuned for the #2 release from Ground Breaker’s Brewer’s Delight series. The S’more Stout is brewed with Campfire Marshmallows (which are dairy, eggs, gluten, and soy free!) and I can’t wait to taste it. In the meantime, if you missed the first drop of this rapid-release series, you can read up and watch the beer pour for the Brewer’s Delight Cherry Sour here.

Until next time…cheers!

P.S. Like what I do for the gluten free beer community? Consider buying me a beer for my efforts! ;)