For a couple months now, FLBC of Missoula has been dropping hints about its newest seasonal beer, a Tripel. The wait for the new brew is almost over. On Thursday, June 9, 2011 from 4-8 p.m., FLBC of Missoula will launch the Tripel at a “Kill the Tripel – Support Adopt a Cat Month” event to raise money for the Humane Society of Western Montana.

According to the Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines, Belgian style Tripels are characteristically medium and clean in body, pale to light color, a very good balance of hops to malt, and a lightly sweet finish, though often with a complex, spicy character.  They tend to have a surprisingly light body compared to the amount of alcohol, which usually pushes into the 8 – 10%  a.b.v. range or more. Bitter Root Brewing’s recent Belgian Honey Trippel hit the mark on all fronts and we’re looking forward to trying FLBC’s version.

At FLBC of Missoula’s launch party, a glass of Tripel will run you $5.50 with $2.75 of each pint sold between 4 and 8 p.m. going to support the Humane Society of Western Montana in honor of Adopt a Cat Month. Wow. That has the making of a very large donation for a very worthy cause.  There will be no better time to try the Tripel, than FLBC’s “Kill the Tripel – Support Adopt a Cat Month” event.  Just don’t have so much of the Tripel that you get those two things reversed.

UPDATE: Apparently, FLBC of Missoula has changed the name of the event to “Drink a Keg – Save an Animal.”  Good move. While the name still won’t win any awards, it’s less susceptible to oddly humorous comments from beer bloggers.