THERE are six breweries in Belgium whose products are entitled to be labelled as Bieres Trappistes.

All are located within Benedictine abbeys, the beers brewed by the monks in reverential silence.

The largest of these breweries is situated in the Abbey of Our Beloved Lady of the Sacred Heart at Westmalle, near Antwerp.

Westmalle was the first abbey to revive brewing in 1836 after the French Revolution put an end to the activity, stripping the abbeys of their wealth in the 1780s. Two beers are brewed. The dark Dubbel featured in this column a few years ago. This week we encounter the pale Tripel, regarded by many as a world classic.

Hazy gold in colour, there is not much in the way of a head, but a thin covering of bubbles. The aroma is delicate and subtle, lightly floral with vanilla and sherbet notes. Some apple and pear appear as the beer warms up a little, along with a little spice and a waft of spirity alcohol.

The flavour is wonderful, initially sweet with juicy malt, pear, caramel and banana up front, and hints of apricot, tangerine and cream following along. The aftertaste becomes much drier as hops and spices (pepper, coriander and clove) make their presence felt. A warm glow of alcohol appears towards the finish, which is dry with a lasting hop bitterness.

A memorable beer indeed! Why has it taken me the best part of eight years to review it?