Which brewery originally developed the Tripel beer style?

The Tripel beer style is closely associated with Trappist Westmalle, which is recognized for developing this pale, strong ale style in the 1930s. Westmalle Tripel is known for its bright golden color, fruity esters, and notable hop bitterness balanced by a malty backbone, characteristic of the style. The brewery's rendition of Tripel served as a foundation that would influence many subsequent interpretations of the style across various breweries.

While several other breweries like Chimay, Duvel Moortgat, and Orval have created their own versions of strong ales, none can claim the same pioneering status for the Tripel beer style as Trappist Westmalle. For instance, Duvel Moortgat is better known for producing Duvel, a Belgian Golden Ale that, although strong and trying similar flavor profiles, does not belong specifically to the Tripel classification.