Beer Apostles

I had the pleasure of visiting Philadelphia, PA for a few days this past week, and amongst the visits to the U.S. Mint, the Liberty Bell, and Ben Franklin’s gravesite, I was able to visit one of Philly’s very own brewpubs. Now, as Philadelphia is historically a place where many Dutch and German settlers first landed in the New World, I had high expectations for the quality of beer the city would provide. After a quick Google search on my mobile phone, I came across a place called Triumph Brewing Company. The reviews said they had great beer, great food, and great service. That was really all I needed, and so without much delay, I made my way over to Chestnut Street just outside of downtown Philly. The street was actually lined with a number of bars, restaurants, pubs, and even a pool hall and hookah bar.

I opened the large front door to Triumph, whose sign atop the entrance was not a flashy neon mind trip, but just a very subtle marking of their location. Stepping into the dimly lit brewpub, I could see above me a second floor with kettles and holding tanks for all of their beer. The bar, off to the right, had tabletops for groups, as well as seating at the bar for the solo or duo drinker(s). To the left, a regular dining room with tables and booths was also available. After sitting down, I was greeted by an extremely friendly and knowledgeable waiter (who’s name regrettably escapes me) who suggested I try their beer sampler, which consisted on eight 4oz. glasses, one for each of the beers they brewed in-house. I’d like to describe each of those eight beers to you all, including the description for each that they give on their own menus. We’ll start at the lightest, and move forward from there.

Helles Lager: This golden lager (“helles” means pale) is a little maltier and less bitter than pilsner. If you are partial to premium-imported lager, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try. – I must admit, this description is not far off. While I did not find this lager to be very malty at all, it definitely sat much less bitter than a pilsner. The aroma was faint, the taste light, and the finish clean. For those of you who are fans of the Great American Lager, or if you’re a frat boy looking to up the anti, I suggest the Helles Lager.

Kinder Pils: Eine kleine pils for those desiring a beer lower in alcohol. Brewed with the same malts and hops as its bigger brother, this beer can be enjoyed all night long – a milder session pils. - As far as pilsners go, I found the Kinder to be just shy of what one might expect in a pils. Certainly lower in alcohol, I thought the Kinder Pils was also lower in hops and malt than you would find in a standard pils. “Milder” was certainly an accurate description.

Amber Ale: Brewed in a Pacific-Northwest style. Its sweet malty taste is balanced with a generous helping of Cascade hops. - When I first was introduced to the Holy Word of the Brew, I couldn’t get enough of Amber Ales. The Triumph Amber Ale fits the bill superbly, as the combination of malty taste and slight hoppy aroma makes for a wonderful experience all around. I find that cascade hops certainly have a discernable aroma to them, apart from other similar hops flowers, and I could definitely smell it here. I could drink this Amber Ale all night long.

Maibock: In late winter and spring German brewers release strong and slightly sweet lager beers called bocks. Most of these are dark but Maibock (pronounced my-bock) is a blond version, symbolizing the transition from the dark days of winter to the warmth and light of May. - Now, for those of you who have read our previous posts, you know that I actually won the first ever Beer Apostles Brew Off with a Maibock. And while mine certainly tasted of the sweet malty goodness you would expect from any decently brewed Maibock, Triumph’s, I thought, was slightly milder. You could certainly smell the hops, taste the malts, and bask in the glory of late-May German brew-mastery.

Gothic Ale: A millennium ago, before the use of hops in beer became commonplace, European brewers used a secret mixture of herbs called gruit to add bitterness and aromatic flavors to beer. Take a step back in time and quaff a flagon of ale as it might have been in the Age of Chivalry. - Ahh, the sweet taste of history. Triumph’s Gothic Ale was by far my favorite brew in their line up. After bringing the top of the glass to my nose, I could immediately smell the difference between this beer and any other beer I have had before (and that’s A LOT of beers). The smell was grassy and herb-like. Which makes sense, considering they use a mixture of four herbs in place of hops. The taste was full and flavorful, with the malts being balanced perfectly by the herbs, and while the smell was grassy, it hardly tasted like drinking one of those “herbal smoothies” you find at the health food joint on the corner. This tasted like real, classic, true-to-the-bone beer, and I highly recommend this one to anyone even remotely close to the Philadelphia area.

Oatmeal Stout: A velvety smooth stout combining seven different malts plus oatmeal for truly substantial body and texture. – I am ashamed to say that I’m generally not a fan of the Stout beer style. However, ever aiming to allow the Holy Brew to broaden my horizons, I gave the Oatmeal Stout a try. With a creamy beige head, this was definitely a stout I could have had a whole glass of. Not too sharp, this one didn’t slug me across the face like some stouts have in the past. The oatmeal was definitely noticeable, and only added to the incredible mouthfeel this brew produced. If you’re a fan of the stout, or looking for a great beer to ease you into the style, this is the beer for you.

IPX: It’s our old favorite, Bengal Gold IPA, only amplified by a factor of X. More malt, more hops, more strength. - Wow. Ouch. And a little bit of phew. The IPX slapped me across the face, punched me in the gut, and kicked me while I was down. I’m not sure what that “X factor” is, but it definitely sets this IPA apart from many of the others I have tried. If you like hobby, bitter beers, do yourself a favor a pour a glass of the IPX.

Nuit de Folie (Night of Madness): A bold, rich Belgian style quadruple ale that weighs in at 11% ABV, “night of madness” is sure to remedy the malaise of winter. It’s our own answer to absinthe in the form of a full bodied brew featuring flavors of raisins and black currant, with a faint clove aroma. – As a Beer Apostle, I truly enjoy beers that push the envelope. This is one of those beers. While the high alcohol content is certainly noticeable in the taste, what really made this brew enjoyable was the taste of black currant and slightly discernable raisins. The clove aroma was there, as described, and the brew finished clean, without being heavy like other high gravity beers can be. After a glass or two of Nuit de Folie, a night of madness (or extreme bliss) is what you can certainly expect.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Triumph Brewing Company. Next time I am in Philadelphia, it is certainly on the top of my list of places I plan on visiting again. Sadly, they do not bottle any of their brews, so it will be a while until I can taste their Gothic Ale or Maibock again.

– Jordan