467-488. Return of the Belgian Beer Fest
Published by Unknown on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 6:38 PM.
David and I went to Beer Advocate's Return of the Belgian Beer Fest last night at the Cyclorama. This is the first BA fest that I've been to since they revamped the format. All pours are now two ounces, but tastings are unlimited rather than ticket based. While larger pours would have been nice, overall the changes are an improvement.
Food was provided by Sunset Grill and Tap. We had dinner before hand, but I saw grilled sausages with peppers and onions, moules frites, and pretzels. Waffle Haus was serving their always delicious waffles. We had two during the course of the evening.
We arrived at around 6 and stayed around as long as possible, getting beer from the booths that were still pouring. Quite a few people were dressed up in Halloween costumes, these were two of the most visible:
The cover to the fest guide was cool:
We talked to a few people. One woman was curious about my notes, we got a recommendation from a fest volunteer (Kastaar), and we got a great tip from another note taker about a single bottle of De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000 that was opened at 9 PM.
Rather than taking detailed notes on each beer I wrote a short paragraph about each. I've been pretty general in my notes, listing general characteristics more than specifics. There are several reasons for this including, speed of taking notes, lingering congestion from a cold, and the small sample sizes.
467. Dogfish Head Pangaea
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pangea is brewed with an ingredient from every continent. It pours a hazy golden with a foamy head. The aroma is malty and a little spicy. The flavor is mild and sweet with caramel notes. Smooth and light bodied with moderate carbonation. Pangea was pleasant enough, but nothing phenomenal.
468. Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Year: 2004
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap(?)
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Beer Advocate lists this as a Tripel, but when I asked what style it was teh guy said it was a Saison/Bière de Garde hybrid. Pours a hazy, pale golden. The aroma is sweet and fruity with a touch of mellow hops. The flavor is lightly fruity with a funky, hoppy finish. Light-bodied with high carbonation.
469. Allagash Curieux
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Curieux is Allagash's Bourbon aged tripel. It pours a hazy golden. With aromas of fruit and bourbon. The beer is lightly fruity with spicy bourbon and vanilla flavors. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
470. Brooklyn BLAST!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy golden with a strong aroma of citrusy hops. Fruity and citrusy upfront, but fades into a strong hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is oily with strong carbonation. Good stuff.
471. Bornem Dubbel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy brown with a thick beige head. The nose is heavy on caramel and dark fruits. The palate is sweet and malty with notes of raisins, pepper and a light bitterness. Very high carbonation.
472. Girardin Gueuze 1882 Black Label
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Girardin
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Gueuze, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy peach color, with a strong sour aroma and accompanying funkiness. The flavors are dominated by sourness, with notes of fruity cherries. Light-bodied, low carbonation with a dry finish. Very good.
473. Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light brown with a beige head. The nose is peppery with light fruity notes, maltiness and subtle hops. The flavors are sweet and fruity with evident honey, and a peppery finish. Light-bodied with low carbonation.
474. Matilda
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy golden with a fluffy, off-white head that leaves thick lace. The nose is fruity and citrusy with the charcteristic Brettanomyces aroma. Lightly fruity with a nice Brett finish. Light to medium-bodied, low carbonation. This was one of my favorites from the fest.
475. Demolition 1800 Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden with a foamy head. The aroma is fruity with a honey-like character. The flavors are fruity and malty with light pepper and bitterness. Medium-bodied, low carbonation.
476. La Gnomette Part II
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie d'Achouffe
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This is the Brooklyn Blast recipe brewed at Brasserie d' Achouffe with Belgian yeast. Pours a very cloudy straw color, leaving massive lace. The nose is dominated by characteristic Belgian yeast fruitiness, with underlying citric hops. Flavors of banana and tart fruit that fade into a muted hop bitterness. Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
477. Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Fonteinen
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy red with a thin wispy head. The aroma is sour cherries with a light funkiness. Sour cherries are evident upfront, but fade into a sour funky finish. Light-bodied with low carbonation.
478. Calabaza Blanca
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy pale golden. The aroma is fruity and peppery. Sour and tart fruitiness is evident upfront, this fades into a peppery spice wiyh a light bitterness in the finish. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
479. La Seigneuriale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol:7.50 %
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy light-brown/amber. The aroma is light and fruity with peppery alcohol. The flavor is light fruit, a sour tartness, graininess, peppery spice and a light lingering bitterness. Medium-bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
480. Luciérnaga
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber/golden. The aroma is tart and fruity with a hint of funky Brettanomyces. The flavors are tart and fruity with a finish that is lightly bitter hops and Brett funkiness. Light to medium-bodied with tingly carbonation.
481. Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Slaapmutske
Alcohol: 8.10%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
How can you not try a beer with "Nightcap" in the name? Pours a cloudy pale straw color. The aroma is fruity. The flavor is fruity and tart with pepper and alcoholic spice in the finish. Medium-bodied, low carbonation. David says "Pleasant, I'd like to be in a room with it."
482. Sixpoint Grand Crüe
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 12.40%
Serving: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light brown. The nose is dominated by caramel and dark fruit with light hops evident. The flavors are much the same, caramel and dark fruit with a light hop bitterness in the finish. Medium to full-bodied, low carbonation
483. Kastaar
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Block bvba
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, pale straw. The aroma is predominantly sour apple, as is the flavor with a nice crisp finish. Light-bodied with high carbonation.
484. Ned Flanders
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
David was skeptical based on the name, but this turned out to be a good choice. Pours a hazy-brown. The aroma is sweet with a light tartness. The flavors are predominantly sour cherries with a little bit of funkiness. Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
485. Merry Monks' Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.30%
Serving: ?
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden. The aroma is very strong bananas. Bananas dominate the flavors as well, however there is peppery and alcoholic spice in the finish. Medium-bodied with low to moderate carbonation.
486. Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Lindemans
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Gueuze, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy straw color. The aroma is light, but there is the sour lambic aroma with a bit of Brett. Sour and tart in the palate, definites notes of sour apples and possibly a bit of citrus. Light bodied, low carbonation with a dry finish.
487. Napoleon's Waterloo
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a light amber/golden. The aroma is tart with a bit of Brett funkiness and hoppiness. The flavors are the same, tart and fruity with characteristic Brett flavors. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
488. De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Year: 2000
Alcohol: 12.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Thanks to a fellow fest attendee for the great tip on this one. Pours a clear, light amber. The aromas are very vinuous, with strong caramel and alcoholic spice. Very port-like in the nose, very nice. Upfront the flavors are a blend of caramel, sweet fruitiness which are eclipsed by the alcoholic spiciness in the finish. Low carbonation, medium to full-bodied. Very very good stuff.
Other Beers:
I also had samples of Ommegeddon, Chimay Red, Harpoon 100 Barrel Saison and Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel. I'm sure I had some others that I'd had before, but my memory is failing me.
Top Five:
Of the new beers that I tried the top five in the order I tried them are: Girardin Gueuze 1882 Black Label, Matilda, Luciérnaga, Napoleon's Waterloo and De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000.
Food was provided by Sunset Grill and Tap. We had dinner before hand, but I saw grilled sausages with peppers and onions, moules frites, and pretzels. Waffle Haus was serving their always delicious waffles. We had two during the course of the evening.
We arrived at around 6 and stayed around as long as possible, getting beer from the booths that were still pouring. Quite a few people were dressed up in Halloween costumes, these were two of the most visible:
The cover to the fest guide was cool:
We talked to a few people. One woman was curious about my notes, we got a recommendation from a fest volunteer (Kastaar), and we got a great tip from another note taker about a single bottle of De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000 that was opened at 9 PM.
Rather than taking detailed notes on each beer I wrote a short paragraph about each. I've been pretty general in my notes, listing general characteristics more than specifics. There are several reasons for this including, speed of taking notes, lingering congestion from a cold, and the small sample sizes.
467. Dogfish Head Pangaea
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pangea is brewed with an ingredient from every continent. It pours a hazy golden with a foamy head. The aroma is malty and a little spicy. The flavor is mild and sweet with caramel notes. Smooth and light bodied with moderate carbonation. Pangea was pleasant enough, but nothing phenomenal.
468. Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Year: 2004
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap(?)
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Beer Advocate lists this as a Tripel, but when I asked what style it was teh guy said it was a Saison/Bière de Garde hybrid. Pours a hazy, pale golden. The aroma is sweet and fruity with a touch of mellow hops. The flavor is lightly fruity with a funky, hoppy finish. Light-bodied with high carbonation.
469. Allagash Curieux
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Curieux is Allagash's Bourbon aged tripel. It pours a hazy golden. With aromas of fruit and bourbon. The beer is lightly fruity with spicy bourbon and vanilla flavors. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
470. Brooklyn BLAST!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy golden with a strong aroma of citrusy hops. Fruity and citrusy upfront, but fades into a strong hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is oily with strong carbonation. Good stuff.
471. Bornem Dubbel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy brown with a thick beige head. The nose is heavy on caramel and dark fruits. The palate is sweet and malty with notes of raisins, pepper and a light bitterness. Very high carbonation.
472. Girardin Gueuze 1882 Black Label
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Girardin
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Gueuze, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy peach color, with a strong sour aroma and accompanying funkiness. The flavors are dominated by sourness, with notes of fruity cherries. Light-bodied, low carbonation with a dry finish. Very good.
473. Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light brown with a beige head. The nose is peppery with light fruity notes, maltiness and subtle hops. The flavors are sweet and fruity with evident honey, and a peppery finish. Light-bodied with low carbonation.
474. Matilda
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy golden with a fluffy, off-white head that leaves thick lace. The nose is fruity and citrusy with the charcteristic Brettanomyces aroma. Lightly fruity with a nice Brett finish. Light to medium-bodied, low carbonation. This was one of my favorites from the fest.
475. Demolition 1800 Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden with a foamy head. The aroma is fruity with a honey-like character. The flavors are fruity and malty with light pepper and bitterness. Medium-bodied, low carbonation.
476. La Gnomette Part II
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie d'Achouffe
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This is the Brooklyn Blast recipe brewed at Brasserie d' Achouffe with Belgian yeast. Pours a very cloudy straw color, leaving massive lace. The nose is dominated by characteristic Belgian yeast fruitiness, with underlying citric hops. Flavors of banana and tart fruit that fade into a muted hop bitterness. Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
477. Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Fonteinen
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy red with a thin wispy head. The aroma is sour cherries with a light funkiness. Sour cherries are evident upfront, but fade into a sour funky finish. Light-bodied with low carbonation.
478. Calabaza Blanca
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy pale golden. The aroma is fruity and peppery. Sour and tart fruitiness is evident upfront, this fades into a peppery spice wiyh a light bitterness in the finish. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
479. La Seigneuriale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol:7.50 %
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy light-brown/amber. The aroma is light and fruity with peppery alcohol. The flavor is light fruit, a sour tartness, graininess, peppery spice and a light lingering bitterness. Medium-bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
480. Luciérnaga
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber/golden. The aroma is tart and fruity with a hint of funky Brettanomyces. The flavors are tart and fruity with a finish that is lightly bitter hops and Brett funkiness. Light to medium-bodied with tingly carbonation.
481. Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Slaapmutske
Alcohol: 8.10%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
How can you not try a beer with "Nightcap" in the name? Pours a cloudy pale straw color. The aroma is fruity. The flavor is fruity and tart with pepper and alcoholic spice in the finish. Medium-bodied, low carbonation. David says "Pleasant, I'd like to be in a room with it."
482. Sixpoint Grand Crüe
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 12.40%
Serving: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light brown. The nose is dominated by caramel and dark fruit with light hops evident. The flavors are much the same, caramel and dark fruit with a light hop bitterness in the finish. Medium to full-bodied, low carbonation
483. Kastaar
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Block bvba
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, pale straw. The aroma is predominantly sour apple, as is the flavor with a nice crisp finish. Light-bodied with high carbonation.
484. Ned Flanders
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
David was skeptical based on the name, but this turned out to be a good choice. Pours a hazy-brown. The aroma is sweet with a light tartness. The flavors are predominantly sour cherries with a little bit of funkiness. Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
485. Merry Monks' Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.30%
Serving: ?
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden. The aroma is very strong bananas. Bananas dominate the flavors as well, however there is peppery and alcoholic spice in the finish. Medium-bodied with low to moderate carbonation.
486. Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Lindemans
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Gueuze, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy straw color. The aroma is light, but there is the sour lambic aroma with a bit of Brett. Sour and tart in the palate, definites notes of sour apples and possibly a bit of citrus. Light bodied, low carbonation with a dry finish.
487. Napoleon's Waterloo
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a light amber/golden. The aroma is tart with a bit of Brett funkiness and hoppiness. The flavors are the same, tart and fruity with characteristic Brett flavors. Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
488. De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Year: 2000
Alcohol: 12.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Thanks to a fellow fest attendee for the great tip on this one. Pours a clear, light amber. The aromas are very vinuous, with strong caramel and alcoholic spice. Very port-like in the nose, very nice. Upfront the flavors are a blend of caramel, sweet fruitiness which are eclipsed by the alcoholic spiciness in the finish. Low carbonation, medium to full-bodied. Very very good stuff.
Other Beers:
I also had samples of Ommegeddon, Chimay Red, Harpoon 100 Barrel Saison and Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel. I'm sure I had some others that I'd had before, but my memory is failing me.
Top Five:
Of the new beers that I tried the top five in the order I tried them are: Girardin Gueuze 1882 Black Label, Matilda, Luciérnaga, Napoleon's Waterloo and De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000.
Labels: American Double IPA, American Wild Ale, Beer Fests, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Dubbel, Flanders Red Ale, Gueuze, Lambic, Reviews, Sour Beer, Tripel, Witbier
