Witkap Pater - The Original Tripel and More

The Slaghmuylder Brewery, in the town of Ninove, is a family owned brewery established in 1860. It is still owned by the original family, and is now run by 5th and 6th generation brewers and management. Slaghmuylder has the distinction of having brewed the first modern Tripel back in 1931. Hendrik Verlinden, brewer at the nearby Drie Linden brewery, who also did work for Westmalle and Slaghmuylder, brewed the first-of-its-kind beer and called it Witkap Pater (known today as Witkap Tripel). “Witkap” refers to the white hood worn by the monk on the label. The brewery produces beer in the Trappist styles, although it is not affiliated with any monastery. Witkap Pater is still considered one of the very best Tripels, something I would attest to, having sampled it many times in Belgium.

History

After starting up in 1860, Slaghmuylder brewed mostly lagers. When the brewery’s founder, Emmanuel Slaghmuylder, died in 1885, his son Ernest took over the business and began to modernize the brewery. In 1921, Ernest passed away and his wife Marie took over. By then, the original brewery had outgrown its facilities. Marie acquired new land and the current brewery was completed in 1926. It was run by Ernest’s three sons, Emile, Edmond and Edouard and focused largely on bottom-fermenting lagers, but also other top-fermenting beers. During WW II, the brewery switched over to top-fermenting ales to conserve energy. They would not brew lagers again until 1958. Witkap Pater was originally brewed for Brouwerij De Drei Linden, until Slaghmuylder brought back the brand and recipes in 1979.

Slaghmuylder Beers

The original lineup of Witkap Pater beers consisted of:

  • Witkap Pater Stimulo – a 6.0% ABV Single, is a bottle-conditioned golden beer made only with hops from the region. This gives Stimulo a unique floral flavor with fruity esters from the yeast. The texture is very creamy with a soft mouthfeel and a bitter finish. It is one of the more unique beers in all of Belgium.

  • Witkap Pater Dubbel – a 7.0% brown ale, brewed with all Belgian hops and a touch of caramel and chocolate.

  • Witkap Pater Tripel – the original Tripel ale is a 7.5% clear golden beer that is complex and delicate with a long finish. It is considered one of the world’s best beers.

  • In 1985, a new beer, Ambiorix was introduced. It is a 7.5% ABV reddish-brown ale brewed entirely with Belgian hops.

  • In 2004, Witkap Pater Special, a 5.5% amber, was added to the line. It is malty and somewhat bitter.

Slaghmuylder also makes a couple of nice lagers:

  • Slaghmuylder Slag is a 5.5% Pilsner-style lager made with all Belgian hops. It is soft on the palate with a bitter finish.

  • Kerstbier is a malty, hoppy, blonde Christmas lager that is 5.8% alcohol. It is unique and only distributed regionally during the holiday season.

While hard to find in the U.S., the Slaghmuylder and Witkap Pater beers are of exceptional quality and well worth seeking out.

Charlie GottenkienyComment