Expert: Spencer W Thomas - 8/8/2007

Question
I have enjoyed great beers such as La chouffe, la fin de monde, leffe, Victory's Golden Monkey (isnt bad). My questions is, what do these beers have in common, and are there any other beers close to La Chouffe at a lower price? Any suggestions on beers to try?

Answer
They are all strong, blond-colored beers in a Belgian-inspired style.  That is, they are light in color and body, with low hop character, and high in alcohol (usually 8-10%).  They have a fruity-spicy character that is contributed by the special strains of yeast with which they are fermented.

They are brewed from light malt, with some sugar added to increase alcohol without making the beer heavy, and relatively low levels of hops, producing just enough hop bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt.  They are fermented using a yeast that is tolerant of high alcohol levels, and that produces a relatively high level of "fruity" and "spicy" aromas and flavors.

To find similar beers, you might look for the words "tripel", or "triple", or "Belgian-style blond ale" or, on a beer imported from Belgium, simply looking for the word "blond" will often get you close to this style.  

You've already mentioned a couple of classics, La Chouffe and Fin du Monde.  For lower price, you'll want to look for beers brewed in the US or Canada.  For example, Fin du Monde is brewed in Quebec, and is definitely cheaper than La Chouffe. (Checking prices at Sam's Wines and Spirits in Chicago, I find La Chouffe at 4.99/bottle and Fin du Monde at 9.99/4pack or about 1/2 the price.) These beers are not usually cheap, because they take more ingredients and more time to make than, say, a pale ale.

Many US craft breweries make a version of a "tripel".  Some of them are good, some are not. Since most small breweries have fairly local distribution, it's hard for me (living in Michigan) to make specific recommendations for you and expect you to be able to find them (wherever you live). Check your local beer store and see what you find.  If you can buy individual bottles, that's quite helpful in the search.  You can also check reviews of specific beers at beerme.com and similar sites.