Brasserie Dubuisson - Scaldis Prestige de Charmes 2018

Brasserie Dubuisson's renowned Scaldis Prestige de Charmes starts with the brewery’s Scaldis Blond, which then gets aged for six months in oak barrels that had previously stored white Meursault Burgundy wine. The net result is an incredibly detailed Belgian-tripel vibe melded with floral and fruity impacts of Chardonnay. Just under 200 bottles of the 2018 Prestige de Charmes were sold in the U.S. last year.

Prestige de Charmes pours a hazy, golden-orange color, capped by expansive off-white foam that fills the glass. It definitely presents as a tripel that’s spent plenty of time in oak. Long-lasting foam and excellent lacing left behind. Generous aromatics of honey, white pepper, candied oranges, and toasty vanilla lead here. And the influence from the white Burgundy barrels is exceptional, with notes of Chardonnay grapes, subtle oak, and deep floral notes.

Prestige de Charmes is especially smooth, filled out, and just packed with exceptional bits of honeyed sweetness, peppery yeast character, and incredible Burgundy barrel influence. The alcohol is nicely tucked away. Well-rounded, full-bodied mouthfeel with tiny bubbles keeps this feeling light. Endless fruit: ripe pear, white grape, secondary hints of banana and cherry… Coupled with the herbaceous and floral character of the Burgundy barrels, you’ve got a gorgeous barrel-aged tripel with some pretty bonkers pedigree. A beautiful rarity from Belgium—this one blew us away.

Suitable for some additional aging time, but drinking great now. For pairings: the creamy tripel + Chardonnay vibe has us looking toward buttery seafood or herb-roasted chicken.