Tripel Karmeliet
Tripel Karmeliet is a Belgian tripel from Bosteels Brewery, brewed with barley, wheat and oats. The beer is rich and creamy, with banana, orange and vanilla. Here you can read what makes Karmeliet special, which bottles are available and how to pour it.
A tripel with three grains
Tripel Karmeliet comes from Bosteels Brewery in Buggenhout, a brewery in East Flanders that also makes Pauwel Kwak. The name refers to the Carmelites. According to the brewery, the recipe is based on a 1679 recipe from the Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde. People search for it as karmeliet or karmeliet tripel: they are referring to the same beer.
What sets Karmeliet apart from many other tripels is the grain. It contains not only barley, but also wheat and oats. This gives the beer a creamy, full mouthfeel and a dense head. The beer undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. The flavor is rich and spicy, but also fresh and fruity, with banana, orange and a soft hint of vanilla. Despite its 8.4% ABV, it is an approachable tripel. For those who want little alcohol, there is Tripel Karmeliet 0.4.
In brief
From small bottle to large bottle
Gall & Gall sells four Tripel Karmeliet products: the 33 cl bottle, a 75 cl bottle, a crate with twelve 25 cl bottles and the low-alcohol 0.4.
Tripel Karmeliet 33 cl
Rich and spicy, made from several grains. Fresh, fruity and spicy, with banana, orange and vanilla.
Tripel Karmeliet 75 cl
The same Karmeliet in a large bottle. Great for sharing at the table.
Tripel Karmeliet 12 x 25 cl
Bottle-conditioned, with banana, orange and vanilla. A 25 cl bottle fills a glass nicely.
Tripel Karmeliet 0.4
A delicate and balanced low-alcohol specialty beer with notes of vanilla, banana and citrus.
Why a tripel is so light in color yet so strong: read about it on our tripel page.
Creamy, fruity and spicy
Fruit & vanilla
You smell banana, orange and a soft hint of vanilla, with spicy yeast in the background.
Mouthfeel
Creamy and full-bodied
Spicy and dry
The finish is spicy and fairly dry, so the 8.4% alcohol does not feel heavy.
Flavor profile of Tripel Karmeliet (8.4%). The 0.4 version is lighter, with the same notes of vanilla, banana and citrus.
How to pour Tripel Karmeliet
A tripel should not be drunk ice-cold. Leave room for the head; it is part of the experience.
In a stemmed tulip
Hold the glass at an angle and let the beer run down the side. Stand the glass upright when it is two-thirds full and pour into the middle to create a two-finger head.
More about pouring beer →With or without yeast
Karmeliet undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. If you leave the sediment behind, the beer stays clear. If you pour it in, it becomes cloudier and spicier.
More about Tripel →8 to 12 degrees
Take the bottle out of the fridge half an hour before serving. At that temperature, banana, orange and vanilla come through best.
Beer tasting at home →Tripel Karmeliet at the table
Karmeliet is fresh and spicy enough for fish and full-bodied enough for an oven dish.
Fish dishes
With salmon, cod in a creamy sauce or mussels. The fruit and spices pair well with fish.
Oven dishes
With a chicken casserole, chicory with ham and cheese, or a fish stew from the oven.
Aged cheese
With aged cheese, Comté or Belgian abbey cheese. The creamy mouthfeel pairs well with the cheese.
Orange and vanilla
With crème brûlée or an orange tart. The vanilla and citrus notes come back in the beer.
The right glass for Tripel Karmeliet
A 38 to 40 cl tulip or goblet on a stem. The shape keeps the aromas of fruit and vanilla above the beer, while the stem keeps your hand away from the beer. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Tripel Karmeliet
Is your question not listed? Read more about tripel or get in touch.
Everything about tripel →What is Karmeliet Tripel?
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Why is it called Karmeliet?
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Buy Tripel Karmeliet
Want the bottle delivered right away? Order Tripel Karmeliet online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of October 9, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.