Catalogue no. BBG097
Glasses
Exhibit information
Beer style Tripel A strong, pale Belgian ale traditionally associated with Trappist and abbey brewing, combining substantial strength with a relatively light appearance.
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Explainers Glass style Goblet A stemmed glass with a broad bowl, traditionally associated with stronger Belgian beers, particularly Trappist and abbey ales.
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Explainers
Capacity 33cl / half pint
Manufactured 2018 Curator’s Notes I bought this glass for 50 cents at a brocante, alongside the older Brugse Tripel glass (BBG096). The slight change of name matters: Brugse means “of Bruges”, while Brugge is the Dutch name of the city itself. Brugse Tripel became Brugge Tripel as the beer's identity evolved after its days with Brouwerij De Gouden Boom in Bruges.
The glass represents a comprehensive redesign. A tall, angular bowl sits above an extraordinary architectural stem, with the Belfry of Bruges embossed into its diamond-shaped centre. Even the foot is unusual: an off-set square form appears to have been constructed around a clearly visible circular foot, producing something that looks almost like an ingenious solution to an awkward design brief. The dual measurements (33cl and half pint) are unusual combinations.
The branding returns repeatedly to the city's architecture, accompanied by the words “A Wealth of Spices”, a reference to the beer's use of a traditional gruut herb and spice mixture. There is a pleasing irony in the two glasses. The older Brugse Tripel was actually brewed in Bruges but wears its origins relatively lightly. Its Brugge Tripel successor makes far more of the city's identity, even though production had moved elsewhere.
