Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": New Holland Black Tulip Ale

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 19, 2009 9:20PM

It just seemed fitting that we make a New Holland beer this week's selection, given all the time we spent writing about the brewery this week. We're going back to the sure thing that is their High Gravity series. Both Night Tripper and Pilgrim's Dole are previous "BotW" selections. Joining those high gravity selections today is Black Tulip. This is a sweet-malted Trippel-style ale brewed with Belgian ale yeast and beet sugar. Beet sugar is a common ingredient for brewmaster John Haggerty and it gives the yeast a little something to snack on during fermentation, creating more alcohol and giving the beer a denser consistency.

On the palate Black Tulip is redolent of caramel and banana, while the nose is laden with esters. Black Tulip would make a wonderful bridge beer for folks looking to work their way towards Pilgrim's Dole, another New Holland beer with characteristics of caramel. Black Tulip also makes a nice alternative for drinkers who think Goose Island Matilda is too sweet. A 22-ounce bomber bottle of Black Tulip retails for $7.99 at Sam's.