Again, this is a post from David and Win's visit in February. After leaving Deep Ellum we caught a cab to Washington Square and stopped by The Publick House to finish out the night. We were in pretty decent shape when we arrived, but we quickly remedied that.
800. Avec Les Bons Voeux
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Poured a hazy, golden amber. Topped by a thin head that faded to a film. The aroma is fruity with notes of banana, pepper and grain. Sweet, citrus fruitiness with a good bit of hops in the finish.
801. Panil Barriquée
Next we ordered a 750 mL bottle of Panil Barriquée, which I'd been saving a bottle of in the fridge for quite some time. At first the bartender didn't think that they had it, but she managed to find a bottle somewhere. We also ordered a glass of Rodenbach Grand Cru for side by side comparison
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Panil
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 5.0 | Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.5
This was bottle 0229 from batch #8. Brewed in 2007. The beer poured a hazy, reddish brown. Topped by a wispy beige head that faded to a thin ring. The aroma is very sour, with acidic, earthy and lightly medicinal notes. From the moment it hits the tongue, this beer is sour throughout. There are hints of cherry fruitiness, a slight medicinal character and an earthiness in the finish. This beer is light bodied, with low carbonation and a refreshing dry finish. I found this beer to be very drinkable, incredibly smooth, despite the sourness. It beats Rodenbach easily.
800. Avec Les Bons Voeux
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Poured a hazy, golden amber. Topped by a thin head that faded to a film. The aroma is fruity with notes of banana, pepper and grain. Sweet, citrus fruitiness with a good bit of hops in the finish.
801. Panil Barriquée
Next we ordered a 750 mL bottle of Panil Barriquée, which I'd been saving a bottle of in the fridge for quite some time. At first the bartender didn't think that they had it, but she managed to find a bottle somewhere. We also ordered a glass of Rodenbach Grand Cru for side by side comparison
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Panil
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 5.0 | Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.5
This was bottle 0229 from batch #8. Brewed in 2007. The beer poured a hazy, reddish brown. Topped by a wispy beige head that faded to a thin ring. The aroma is very sour, with acidic, earthy and lightly medicinal notes. From the moment it hits the tongue, this beer is sour throughout. There are hints of cherry fruitiness, a slight medicinal character and an earthiness in the finish. This beer is light bodied, with low carbonation and a refreshing dry finish. I found this beer to be very drinkable, incredibly smooth, despite the sourness. It beats Rodenbach easily.
Labels: Saison, The Publick House
To celebrate a successful (and very positive) thesis committee meeting Jadyn and I went to The Publick House on Wednesday. I tried the Fried Stoemp, fried mashed potatoes, this time. I'd been eying them the last few trips, but I always opted for some of their other Belgian styled dishes. They were excellent, soft and creamy inside and nicely seasoned. Jadyn had the veggie burger. After dinner we had a Gouda cheese board and a couple more beers each.
Round One
Thom: Allagash Hugh Malone
Jadyn: La Chouffe
Round Two
Thom: De Ranke XX Bitter
Jadyn: Westmalle Tripel
Round Three
Thom: Cantillon Kriek
Jadyn: Don De Dieu
698. Allagash Hugh Malone
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian IPA
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very nice, hazy reddish-copper. It's topped by a dense off-white head that fades to a film, leaving a little bit of patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Very fruity and malty. Light cherries, and perhaps a light note of honeydew melon. There's a peppery spiciness and a light resiny hoppiness. The hops are noticable, but overpowered by the Belgian yeast aromatics.
Taste (4.5): Lightly sweet fruitiness upfront, that's met by a spiciness contributed by the carbonation. There's a tart, cherry sourness that remains prominent. The finish is a mild, but persistent, aged, hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): High carbonation, medium-bodied, and smooth with an effervescent feel on the tongue.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty and flavorful, it falls on the sweet side, but never seems cloying.
Overall (4.2): This beer isn't the hoppiest Belgian IPA that I've had, nor is it particularly hoppy. The hops are noticeable, but are dominated by the fruity characteristics. Despite this, I'm giving the beer high marks because it's very enjoyable even though the name may be a misnomer.
Round One
Thom: Allagash Hugh Malone
Jadyn: La Chouffe
Round Two
Thom: De Ranke XX Bitter
Jadyn: Westmalle Tripel
Round Three
Thom: Cantillon Kriek
Jadyn: Don De Dieu
698. Allagash Hugh Malone
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian IPA
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very nice, hazy reddish-copper. It's topped by a dense off-white head that fades to a film, leaving a little bit of patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Very fruity and malty. Light cherries, and perhaps a light note of honeydew melon. There's a peppery spiciness and a light resiny hoppiness. The hops are noticable, but overpowered by the Belgian yeast aromatics.
Taste (4.5): Lightly sweet fruitiness upfront, that's met by a spiciness contributed by the carbonation. There's a tart, cherry sourness that remains prominent. The finish is a mild, but persistent, aged, hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): High carbonation, medium-bodied, and smooth with an effervescent feel on the tongue.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty and flavorful, it falls on the sweet side, but never seems cloying.
Overall (4.2): This beer isn't the hoppiest Belgian IPA that I've had, nor is it particularly hoppy. The hops are noticeable, but are dominated by the fruity characteristics. Despite this, I'm giving the beer high marks because it's very enjoyable even though the name may be a misnomer.
Labels: Belgian IPA, The Publick House
Tonight it was time for another trip to The Publick House, which I would patronize far more often if it wasn't such a trip.
387. 12th Anniversary Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
I had this beer with our appetizer of Publick House Fries and McChouffe Garlic Mayo and Wostyntje Mustard. It also lasted through my entree, which was Veal McChouffe. The fries were excellent as were both dipping sauces. The veal was topped with a mushroom and beer sauce and was served with asparagus and a potato croquette. The food was excellent as always.
I picked this beer because of the back-story involving the name. What's the deal behind the name?
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.90%
Serving: Draft, 10 oz.
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear dark brown with hints of amber. A creamy beige head thins to a persistent layer leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Sweet malt aromas as well as aromas of strong resiny hops.
Taste (4.5): Sweet caramel malt flavors dominate at the front of the palate, followed by a light spiciness in the center with a resiny hop bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Smooth, medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Smooth and well balanced, making this dangerously drinkable at 9.9% abv.
Overall (4.2): Very nice sweetness and mild spiciness that are balanced well by a significant bitterness. Delicious.
388. Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic
I had a 12 oz. bottle of the Cantillon Kriek after dinner. It was served in a small Cantillon glass with an interesting shape.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a hazy deep red with a fleeting pink head. Small bubbles feed a faint ring.
Smell (4.5): Sour cherries and an acidic sourness. The characteristic Cantillon funk is evident and becomes more prominent upon swirling. I poured the remaining beer with yeast into my glass when I had finished and the aroma became much funkier.
Taste (4.5): Puckeringly sour. Sweet cherry flavors briefly appear above the sourness. The finish is sour with funky almost savory flavors. Decanting the yeast moderated the sourness somewhat.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Light-bodied wih a light oiliness. There is tingly carbonation evident, though it isn't strong it's much more noticable when compared to other Cantillon offerings.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty, though made for sipping.
Overall (4.5): Another excellent lambic from Cantillon.
387. 12th Anniversary Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
I had this beer with our appetizer of Publick House Fries and McChouffe Garlic Mayo and Wostyntje Mustard. It also lasted through my entree, which was Veal McChouffe. The fries were excellent as were both dipping sauces. The veal was topped with a mushroom and beer sauce and was served with asparagus and a potato croquette. The food was excellent as always.
I picked this beer because of the back-story involving the name. What's the deal behind the name?
Beer Stats:The label doesn't quite say it all -- it omits details of a two-month undercover investigation into smoking pot at weekly tasting parties and how said gatherings violated a city of Petaluma use permit --- but it says enough to convey Magee's resulting defiance and disgust.
But investigators, Magee said, were sure they were going to uncover "major dealing going on here." They later told him "no one was willing to sell it to them, but everyone was willing to give it to them for free," he said.
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.90%
Serving: Draft, 10 oz.
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear dark brown with hints of amber. A creamy beige head thins to a persistent layer leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Sweet malt aromas as well as aromas of strong resiny hops.
Taste (4.5): Sweet caramel malt flavors dominate at the front of the palate, followed by a light spiciness in the center with a resiny hop bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Smooth, medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Smooth and well balanced, making this dangerously drinkable at 9.9% abv.
Overall (4.2): Very nice sweetness and mild spiciness that are balanced well by a significant bitterness. Delicious.
388. Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic
I had a 12 oz. bottle of the Cantillon Kriek after dinner. It was served in a small Cantillon glass with an interesting shape.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a hazy deep red with a fleeting pink head. Small bubbles feed a faint ring.
Smell (4.5): Sour cherries and an acidic sourness. The characteristic Cantillon funk is evident and becomes more prominent upon swirling. I poured the remaining beer with yeast into my glass when I had finished and the aroma became much funkier.
Taste (4.5): Puckeringly sour. Sweet cherry flavors briefly appear above the sourness. The finish is sour with funky almost savory flavors. Decanting the yeast moderated the sourness somewhat.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Light-bodied wih a light oiliness. There is tingly carbonation evident, though it isn't strong it's much more noticable when compared to other Cantillon offerings.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty, though made for sipping.
Overall (4.5): Another excellent lambic from Cantillon.
Labels: American Double IPA, Beer and Food, Brasserie Cantillon, Fruit Lambic, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lambic, Reviews, Sour Beer, The Publick House
Ali's Second Publick House Posting (Official Team Member)
Published by Unknown on Thursday, February 09, 2006 at 12:00 AM.
As Thom explained already at length, we went to teh Publick House tonight. Since my main purpose here is as cheese-master/gourmand, I must mention my delicious meal, a Publick House burger with Cheddar cheese with Dogfish Head Indian Brown BBQ Sauce and home cut fries.
Tonight was my first semi-learned tasting experience, as Thom and I discussed beer styles last night while discussing our potential beer samplings at Extreme Beer Fest (this Saturday). I decided ahead of time to try a Belgian Quadrupel (low on the hops) and a Porter or Stout.
Beer 1: St. Bernardus ABT 12, Quadrupel
Appearance: Served in an oversized wine glass, when the beer was brought to our table it had a thick beige head that had good retention but eventually reduced to about a quarter of an inch. The brew was an opaque dark brown.
Smell: Sweet, malty, and spicy, very much like other Belgian beers I've smelled.
Taste: Tingly up front with a very sweet center, maybe a biscuity finish?
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with light carbonation. I've written in my notes "munchy." I think I mean chewy.
Drinkablity: Very tasty, but high alcohol content means it's not a session beer.
Overall: I really like the malty flavor of this but it still has that crazy taste that's specific to Belgian beers that I'm not a fan of.
Dave on this beer: "This is the best beer I've ever tasted."
Beer 2: Rogue Mocha Porter, American Porter
Appearance: Beer was served in a Newcastle pint glass. It was totally opaque and a deep dark brown. The head was thin.
Smell: As expected, this beer smelled heavy and smoky.
Taste: Much more carbonated than what I've been drinking lately, it was tingly on the tongue at first, then intense espresso and subtle bittersweet chocolate flavors busted out. Pretty bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light-bodied, but heavy in my tummy, especially after that huge burger!!
Drinkability: After that high ABV Bernardus and the burger, I was down for the count and needed Thom to help me finish, but not for lack of enjoyment. It does have a very strong, complex taste, so I probably wouldn't have more than one.
Overall: I tend to like more chocolatey than coffee-tasting porters, but this one wasn't bad.
Stay tuned for the X-treme Beer Fest
Tonight was my first semi-learned tasting experience, as Thom and I discussed beer styles last night while discussing our potential beer samplings at Extreme Beer Fest (this Saturday). I decided ahead of time to try a Belgian Quadrupel (low on the hops) and a Porter or Stout.
Beer 1: St. Bernardus ABT 12, Quadrupel
Appearance: Served in an oversized wine glass, when the beer was brought to our table it had a thick beige head that had good retention but eventually reduced to about a quarter of an inch. The brew was an opaque dark brown.
Smell: Sweet, malty, and spicy, very much like other Belgian beers I've smelled.
Taste: Tingly up front with a very sweet center, maybe a biscuity finish?
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with light carbonation. I've written in my notes "munchy." I think I mean chewy.
Drinkablity: Very tasty, but high alcohol content means it's not a session beer.
Overall: I really like the malty flavor of this but it still has that crazy taste that's specific to Belgian beers that I'm not a fan of.
Dave on this beer: "This is the best beer I've ever tasted."
Beer 2: Rogue Mocha Porter, American Porter
Appearance: Beer was served in a Newcastle pint glass. It was totally opaque and a deep dark brown. The head was thin.
Smell: As expected, this beer smelled heavy and smoky.
Taste: Much more carbonated than what I've been drinking lately, it was tingly on the tongue at first, then intense espresso and subtle bittersweet chocolate flavors busted out. Pretty bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light-bodied, but heavy in my tummy, especially after that huge burger!!
Drinkability: After that high ABV Bernardus and the burger, I was down for the count and needed Thom to help me finish, but not for lack of enjoyment. It does have a very strong, complex taste, so I probably wouldn't have more than one.
Overall: I tend to like more chocolatey than coffee-tasting porters, but this one wasn't bad.
Stay tuned for the X-treme Beer Fest
Labels: American Porter, Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Quadrupel, Rogue Ales Brewery, The Publick House
We weren't able to have dinner at The Publick House the last time we went. So we invited Dave and Heather to go there for dinner tonight. Though I'm hardly a beer expert, I certainly felt like one making recommendations for Dave and Heather. Heather had Lindemans Framboise, and Dave had St Bernardus Abt 12 and Allagash Tripel. The Draught Menu had changed significantly since our last visit, which I've heard they rotate frequently.
327. Nostradamus
I couldn't pass up a "Limited Time" offering, so I got this to start off with. This came in an 11.2 oz. brown bottle with a snail-gnome hybrid character riding a book, and was served in a Caracole snifter. Nostradamus is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.
Appearance: Pours a dark brown, with a thick light-brown creamy head that thins to a quarter-inch layer, but reemerges upon swirling.
Smell: Fruity aromas of raisins and cherries are strong, with softer spicy notes.
Taste: This beer is spicy and sweet upfront, with toffee flavors in the center. The finish is tart and fruity, with an alcoholic warmth. Light bitterness is evident in the aftertaste. As the beer warms the fruit flavors become stronger, as do spices and bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a smooth creamy finish.
Drinkability: Very pleasant, it has nice flavors, and is a little strong, but not too overpowering.
Overall: I liked this beer better than McChouffe, which seemed to have a predominantly spicy flavor profile. The flavors reminded me more of Ommegang. I had this with the Arrogant Bastard Meatloaf. I think the sweetness and fruitiness of the beer went well with the sweet and slightly bitter sauce.
328. Vuuve White
I always notice this beer when I go into Downtown Wine & Spirits, but the layer of dust on the bottles makes me worry that they're past their prime. I thought a Witbier would be refreshing after the heavy meatloaf. This came in a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. The dots in the U's make them look like boobs. It was served in a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy golden, with a half-inch white head that quickly diminished to a thin layer.
Smell (4.0): The aroma is predominantly peppery with citrus notes. If I knew what coriander smelled like I would probably detect that as well. I get an earthy aroma with agitation.
Taste (4.5): Floral but not hoppy flavors are evident upfront. Citrus and spicy notes emerge in the center. The finish is sweet and tart with a slight zesty bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (5.0): This was light and refreshing, which was nice after the heavy meal. The beer also cleansed the palate well. It remains very drinkable even after it warms.
Overall (TC: 4.275, BA: 4.25): Nice, light and refreshing.
327. Nostradamus
I couldn't pass up a "Limited Time" offering, so I got this to start off with. This came in an 11.2 oz. brown bottle with a snail-gnome hybrid character riding a book, and was served in a Caracole snifter. Nostradamus is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.
Appearance: Pours a dark brown, with a thick light-brown creamy head that thins to a quarter-inch layer, but reemerges upon swirling.
Smell: Fruity aromas of raisins and cherries are strong, with softer spicy notes.
Taste: This beer is spicy and sweet upfront, with toffee flavors in the center. The finish is tart and fruity, with an alcoholic warmth. Light bitterness is evident in the aftertaste. As the beer warms the fruit flavors become stronger, as do spices and bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a smooth creamy finish.
Drinkability: Very pleasant, it has nice flavors, and is a little strong, but not too overpowering.
Overall: I liked this beer better than McChouffe, which seemed to have a predominantly spicy flavor profile. The flavors reminded me more of Ommegang. I had this with the Arrogant Bastard Meatloaf. I think the sweetness and fruitiness of the beer went well with the sweet and slightly bitter sauce.
328. Vuuve White
I always notice this beer when I go into Downtown Wine & Spirits, but the layer of dust on the bottles makes me worry that they're past their prime. I thought a Witbier would be refreshing after the heavy meatloaf. This came in a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. The dots in the U's make them look like boobs. It was served in a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy golden, with a half-inch white head that quickly diminished to a thin layer.
Smell (4.0): The aroma is predominantly peppery with citrus notes. If I knew what coriander smelled like I would probably detect that as well. I get an earthy aroma with agitation.
Taste (4.5): Floral but not hoppy flavors are evident upfront. Citrus and spicy notes emerge in the center. The finish is sweet and tart with a slight zesty bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (5.0): This was light and refreshing, which was nice after the heavy meal. The beer also cleansed the palate well. It remains very drinkable even after it warms.
Overall (TC: 4.275, BA: 4.25): Nice, light and refreshing.
Labels: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Brasserie Caracole, Brouwerij De Regenboog, Reviews, The Publick House, Witbier
Ali and I made a trip out to Brookline to visit The Publick House in order to buy tickets to the Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest. I checked up on their beer selection, and counted 155 different beers (the slight overlap between draught and bottles lowers this number). Of these I've only had 61. The selection is really amazing. Check the menu to see for yourself. As Ali mentioned in her entry we were going to get dinner there, but seating was limited due to a private party. All tasting notes come from what I've written down in my tasting notebook. I'm looking forward to going back to the Publick House for more beer, and for their food, which looked delicious.
This was in the Men's room:
313. Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend
I began with Three Philosophers because I'm a fan of Ommegang beers, and because I wanted to try it without investing in a 750 mL bottle. It was served on tap in a Three Philosophers wine glass. Three Philosophers is a blended Belgian Style Quadrupel, it consists of a strong dark ale blended with Lindemans Kriek (Cherry) Lambic.
Appearance: This beer is dark with a deep red color. When it got to me there was only a thin ring of carbonation around the glass.
Smell: The smell was very subtle. Most of what I caught was light fruitiness, mostly cherries and raisins.
Taste: The carbonation dominates the front of the palate. There was a dryness in the center along with roasted malts that reminded me of a stout or porter. The finish was tart with warming alcohol and spicy notes. The fruitiness of the cherries remains throughout.
Mouthfeel: The beer first seems thin, but then seems to expand into a medium body.
Drinkability: Despite the carbonation this is a smooth beer. It was easy to drink in that respect, but the high alcohol content, along with the strong flavors make it hard to drink a lot of.
Overall: This is another fine offering from Ommegang. It's a nice beer to have a glass of, but it's not as drinkable as Ommegang or Hennepin.
314. Affligem Blond
I decided to stick with Belgian or Belgian Style Ales for the night so I decided to go with Affligem Blond. This was served on tap in an Affligem chalice. It is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, as is La Fin du Monde a favorite of mine.
Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a thick white head that dissipates down to a thin film.
Smell: The aroma is very strong, fruity with strong clove notes.
Taste: There's a sweetness at the beginning of the palate. Bitterness and spicy notes, especially clove, emerge in the center. The finish is dry with an alcoholic warmth. It has the particular flavor that all beers of this style have that I like, and Ali doesn't.
Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer, though it almost seems to evaporate off the tongue.
Drinkability: This is a nice beer to drink, but again the alcohol and strong flavors make this a tough one to drink a lot of.
Overall: I'm a fan of the style, and this beer has all of the characteristics of Belgian Strong Pale Ales that I like, but it falls short of some of the others that I've had.
315. Vichtenaar
I wanted to stick with the Belgian theme, but move on to something different. Ali had already started her tasting of this beer so I decided to follow suit. The bottle features two lions on either side of a coat of arms. It was served in an oversized wine glass. This is a Flanders Red Ale.
Appearance: This beer pours a clear brown with red hues. A thick head builds and then quickly dissipates.
Smell: The smell reminds me of a wine that an old roommate brought home from Europe, very nutty and buttery.
Taste: Sweet at the outset with definite cherry flavors. Sourness becomes evident in the center, and the beer finishes dry and sour.
Mouthfeel: This beer is light-bodied, with mild carbonation. It almost reminds me of a wine, aside from the carbonation.
Drinkability: Again, a pleasant but strong flavor would prevent you from drinking a huge amount of this.
Overall: This is a nice Sour Ale. The pronounced cherry flavors, and the mouthfeel remind me of a Kriek Lambic.
Cheese
Ali and I had a cheese board with Morbier, a french cheese. I really liked this cheese. It was soft, had a mild flavor and was slightly sweet. Read Ali's post for more cheese details.
This was in the Men's room:
313. Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend
I began with Three Philosophers because I'm a fan of Ommegang beers, and because I wanted to try it without investing in a 750 mL bottle. It was served on tap in a Three Philosophers wine glass. Three Philosophers is a blended Belgian Style Quadrupel, it consists of a strong dark ale blended with Lindemans Kriek (Cherry) Lambic.
Appearance: This beer is dark with a deep red color. When it got to me there was only a thin ring of carbonation around the glass.
Smell: The smell was very subtle. Most of what I caught was light fruitiness, mostly cherries and raisins.
Taste: The carbonation dominates the front of the palate. There was a dryness in the center along with roasted malts that reminded me of a stout or porter. The finish was tart with warming alcohol and spicy notes. The fruitiness of the cherries remains throughout.
Mouthfeel: The beer first seems thin, but then seems to expand into a medium body.
Drinkability: Despite the carbonation this is a smooth beer. It was easy to drink in that respect, but the high alcohol content, along with the strong flavors make it hard to drink a lot of.
Overall: This is another fine offering from Ommegang. It's a nice beer to have a glass of, but it's not as drinkable as Ommegang or Hennepin.
314. Affligem Blond
I decided to stick with Belgian or Belgian Style Ales for the night so I decided to go with Affligem Blond. This was served on tap in an Affligem chalice. It is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, as is La Fin du Monde a favorite of mine.
Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a thick white head that dissipates down to a thin film.
Smell: The aroma is very strong, fruity with strong clove notes.
Taste: There's a sweetness at the beginning of the palate. Bitterness and spicy notes, especially clove, emerge in the center. The finish is dry with an alcoholic warmth. It has the particular flavor that all beers of this style have that I like, and Ali doesn't.
Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer, though it almost seems to evaporate off the tongue.
Drinkability: This is a nice beer to drink, but again the alcohol and strong flavors make this a tough one to drink a lot of.
Overall: I'm a fan of the style, and this beer has all of the characteristics of Belgian Strong Pale Ales that I like, but it falls short of some of the others that I've had.
315. Vichtenaar
I wanted to stick with the Belgian theme, but move on to something different. Ali had already started her tasting of this beer so I decided to follow suit. The bottle features two lions on either side of a coat of arms. It was served in an oversized wine glass. This is a Flanders Red Ale.
Appearance: This beer pours a clear brown with red hues. A thick head builds and then quickly dissipates.
Smell: The smell reminds me of a wine that an old roommate brought home from Europe, very nutty and buttery.
Taste: Sweet at the outset with definite cherry flavors. Sourness becomes evident in the center, and the beer finishes dry and sour.
Mouthfeel: This beer is light-bodied, with mild carbonation. It almost reminds me of a wine, aside from the carbonation.
Drinkability: Again, a pleasant but strong flavor would prevent you from drinking a huge amount of this.
Overall: This is a nice Sour Ale. The pronounced cherry flavors, and the mouthfeel remind me of a Kriek Lambic.
Cheese
Ali and I had a cheese board with Morbier, a french cheese. I really liked this cheese. It was soft, had a mild flavor and was slightly sweet. Read Ali's post for more cheese details.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Brewery Ommegang, Brouwerij Affligem, Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Cheese, Flanders Red Ale, Quadrupel, Reviews, Sour Beer, The Publick House
Tonight Thomas and I tried to go to The Publick House for dinner. It was too busy (private party) so we had dinner elsewhere, and then returned for our beer tasting. Thom's entry will be posted tomorrow.
Golden Monkey Tripel
I began with the Golden Monkey Tripel because of its name. It is a Belgian style Tripel. The beer was served in an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: Poured with a thin head that disappeared quickly and left no lace. It was a hazy brassy/golden color.
Smell: There was a super sweet aroma with a sort of sweet corn smell.
Taste: There is a tingle on the tip of the tongue that lasts through the end. There was a sweet almost caramel center and a sweet bready finish with some alcohol warming. There wasn't too much carbonation.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This was light and smooth and I could definitely drink a lot of it.
Overall: I liked this beer, it was tasty.
Vichtenaar
My second beer was recommended by the bartender after we were informed that they were out of Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale. It was called Vichtenaar and it, like the former, is a Flemish Red Ale. It was served in a white wine glass. The bottle's label showed a coat of arms with lions.
Appearance: This beer was red in the light but brown in the dark, and was clear. This beer had a thick, bubbly head that quickly dissapated to a thin film.
Smell: Yeasty, with nutty and buttery notes, almost like a red wine. It kind of smelled like a tree branch.
Taste: Very sweet in the beginning, like a lambic. Sweet and fruity through the middle and a sour finish, with metallic undertones. Mild carbonation.
Mouthfeel: This was also smooth, but heavier than the Belgian Tripel.
Drinkability: I could drink one or two bottles, but no more - it has a strong flavor.
Overall: I really liked the sweet/sour of this beer, very interesting for the palate.
Cheese
We enjoyed a cheese with this beer; Morbier from France. This was a mild flavored, but stinky, cow's milk cheese. There was an ash layer in the middle of the cheese to separate the early from the late milking. The cheese was white, soft and creamy with a hard, edible rind. It had a "farm" flavor and went well with the Vichtenaar. The spicy mustard from La Chouffe complemented the cheese very well. We liked the cheese best when eaten on top of sourdough bread coated with the spicy mustard. We both liked the flavor of the mustard seeds popping in our mouths. The cheese was also served with yummy sweet pickles.
A song came out of tonight called "Public Urination" sung to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic
Chorus: Public, Public Urination
Ali: Causes me much consternation
Thom: It's my favorite occupation
Chorus: Public Urination
Golden Monkey Tripel
I began with the Golden Monkey Tripel because of its name. It is a Belgian style Tripel. The beer was served in an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: Poured with a thin head that disappeared quickly and left no lace. It was a hazy brassy/golden color.
Smell: There was a super sweet aroma with a sort of sweet corn smell.
Taste: There is a tingle on the tip of the tongue that lasts through the end. There was a sweet almost caramel center and a sweet bready finish with some alcohol warming. There wasn't too much carbonation.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This was light and smooth and I could definitely drink a lot of it.
Overall: I liked this beer, it was tasty.
Vichtenaar
My second beer was recommended by the bartender after we were informed that they were out of Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale. It was called Vichtenaar and it, like the former, is a Flemish Red Ale. It was served in a white wine glass. The bottle's label showed a coat of arms with lions.
Appearance: This beer was red in the light but brown in the dark, and was clear. This beer had a thick, bubbly head that quickly dissapated to a thin film.
Smell: Yeasty, with nutty and buttery notes, almost like a red wine. It kind of smelled like a tree branch.
Taste: Very sweet in the beginning, like a lambic. Sweet and fruity through the middle and a sour finish, with metallic undertones. Mild carbonation.
Mouthfeel: This was also smooth, but heavier than the Belgian Tripel.
Drinkability: I could drink one or two bottles, but no more - it has a strong flavor.
Overall: I really liked the sweet/sour of this beer, very interesting for the palate.
Cheese
We enjoyed a cheese with this beer; Morbier from France. This was a mild flavored, but stinky, cow's milk cheese. There was an ash layer in the middle of the cheese to separate the early from the late milking. The cheese was white, soft and creamy with a hard, edible rind. It had a "farm" flavor and went well with the Vichtenaar. The spicy mustard from La Chouffe complemented the cheese very well. We liked the cheese best when eaten on top of sourdough bread coated with the spicy mustard. We both liked the flavor of the mustard seeds popping in our mouths. The cheese was also served with yummy sweet pickles.
A song came out of tonight called "Public Urination" sung to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic
Chorus: Public, Public Urination
Ali: Causes me much consternation
Thom: It's my favorite occupation
Chorus: Public Urination
Labels: Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Cheese, Flanders Red Ale, Reviews, Sour Beer, The Publick House, Tripel, Victory Brewing Company
