Review: East Brother Festbier and Belgian Tripel
As cold weather approaches, we take a fresh look at two new winter-friendly seasonals from our pals in Richmond, California, East Brother.
East Brother Festbier – This decidedly German style brew takes a Marzen lager and pumps it up with Oktoberfestive notes, giving it a nice layer of spice atop its sweet malt base. Chewy and hearty, it’s got a densely bready body that hints at nutmeg, coriander, and almonds. Seductive, creamy, and long on the finish — and perfect for winter weather and whatever fest you have in mind. 5.8% abv. B+ / $11 per four-pack of 16 oz cans
East Brother Belgian-Style Tripel – This is a traditional Belgian Tripel, made with Clipper oats, and Belgian candi sugar, Abbey ale yeast and a hops profile of English Kent Goldings and Styrian Aurora. The beer is less sweet than I’d expected, with an earthy heartiness and smoldering bitterness that is commonly found in virtually all of East Brother’s beers. It’s got a big, malty body, but I don’t find the same level of power that I find in some of the classic Belgian tripels — however that does give this beer a bit more legroom, including a significant bitter bite on the lasting finish. 8.6% abv. B / $14 per four-pack of 16 oz cans
East Brother Festbier
$11
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