You call me a robust (and drunk) man. Note at the end of my post I stated that the Grand Reserve was "setting in..." I had small glasses because I wanted to taste and experience all three - and I wanted my taste buds still firing for the finale.

What I wanted to say was that I could taste the actual flavors of the blue. It's almost like it wasn't beer...that's hard to describe (and I LOVE the taste of beer, so I don't mean to be insulting).

Now researching more Trappiste and Abbey styles...so much to learn, so little time, so many miles to run to not get truly robust....

Now researching more Trappiste and Abbey styles...so much to learn, so little time
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and so little money....... but it's about quality not quantity..... that's what i keep telling meself

Insano:

I was just messin with ya! I'm sure you are an upright and respectable gentleman with impeccable taste!

quote:

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and so little money...

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That's my particular quandry...

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

I polished off a 750 mL Westmalle Tripel last night. It was pret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty good -- to say the least. If I may be so bold, I think it actually gave Chimay some decent competition.

I also bought a couple six packs of Sierra Nevada on a whim. One is their Porter, the other their Pale Ale. I was looking for their Celebration Ale, per the advise of the Beer Czar, however it was sold out (at least that's what I think the empty row was supposed to have!).

I tried one Porter last night, and enjoyed the it. Extremely smooth rich flavor. This one will have to be purchased again for sure. But, this was after I had finished off the Westmalle, so my decision making ability might have called just about everything good, as I was very merry and full of joy.

I tried one Porter last night, and enjoyed the it. Extremely smooth rich flavor.
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i love a good porter!! i knocked down a couple of young's chocolate stouts last night..... i love that brew...... so smooth!

My Imperial Smoked Porter is being kegged this weekend. Huzzah!

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

Kegging complete. Keg is sitting on CO2 now. Beer shall be ready in a couple weeks. Beauty!

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

You need to move to Houston

It just so happens that the house right next door opened up last month.... the breadwinner lost his job, and they packed up and went back up to Ohio.

*hint, hint*

Dr M and TLS called me on Friday evening but reached my wife instead; they both began cursing insults and laughing before they realized they were talking to her and not me.

I think they had reached their limit of Chamey and Celis.

Ok, so I've been doing my share for spreading the good word....

If you guys recall, for Thanksgiving I took two bottles of the Blue label up to Austin for sharing with my in-laws. Whereas my FIL had experience Chimay once before, it had been years and at a pub. Needless to say we thoroughly enjoyed the brew...

Fast forward to the Christmas holiday season and what do I find? A large specs bag in my entry way (my in-laws are currently staying with us) with 2 bottles of Chimay Grand Reserve, and 2 bottles of Maredsous 8. My father in law has been taking these as gifts to the different Christmas parties they have been attending. So he's been spreading the word...

quote:

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they both began cursing insults and laughing before they realized they were talking to her and not me.

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As corrected on the other thread, The Dr. Said nothing, friend. I recognized a female voice. TLS jumped in before he realized who it was.

You insult me, sir.

I do not behave like a . . . like a . . . STRANGER!

Although I did laugh at TLS's gaff!




Spell edit*

[This message has been edited by Dr. Mephisto (edited 12/21/2009 10:30a).]

Cyprian, I still needs a jobby-job.

04texag, that's what I call beer-vangelism!

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

Cyprian, I still needs a jobby-job.
******************

fellas, lets all get together and open up a brewery here in h-town. i'm sure we could give st.arnolds a run for their money!

Can the yeast in a beer bottle be harvested and cultivated?

ShootBoyDang, yes, yes it can. However, it needs to be from a bottle-conditioned beer, which is what Trappist and Abbey ales are.

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

Blah, jobs?

Obama will take care you.

I tried New Belgium's Abbey brew. I liked it, it had an interesting bite to it when first sipping it. Not a bitter bite, but some bite none-the-less. It might have been the high alcohol %.

I want to thank R&P for motivating me to go to specs and buy a bottle of Grand Cru. Truly an eye opening experience in the world of beer. Just an amazing, amazing beer.

I still need to check out some Celis as well...

quote:

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I want to thank R&P for motivating me to go to specs and buy a bottle of Grand Cru. Truly an eye opening experience in the world of beer. Just an amazing, amazing beer.

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Great, a new convert. To me, this is the best beer to slide past my tongue. It is amazing.

quote:

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Blah, jobs?

Obama will take care you.

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Sweet. I'll petition Hutchison and Cornyn for a re-lo package too.

___________________________________________________________________________________
From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.

Went to Specs yesterday to get some wine for the trip to Dallas. Was looking for a bottle of Celis Grand Cru (I've yet to try it, but it's been on my list) when I noticed a young man getting help from the Specs guy. In his basket was a bottle of St. Bernardus Abt 12 amongst other fine beers. After he was done being "helped" I talked with him for a second. He was putting together a gift basket for a friend who is a beer "conn."

I asked him if he knew about Chimay...and helped him to re-think his selections and he added a bottle of Grand Reserve to his mix.

I was bummed afterwards to learn that the store did not have any Celis, so I got the Maredsous 10 that's also been on my list.

All in all, another good trip, as I was able to get in my Beervangelism for the week...

^
|
|
" . . . and so another soul has been saved!"

I picked up some of this today on my way to work (not for work):

[imp]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dHRAkmmIeC4/Sv8fholPM8I/AAAAAAAAAx4/BJnVElrNI8I/s320/Oct+2009+292.jpg[/imp]

the girl didn't come with my 6 pack.

quote:

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The Avec Les Bons Voeux (With the good wishes) from Brasserie DuPont in Tourpes, Belgium is actually brewed for the New Year or holidays as a seasonal beer. The Saison Ale pours out quite golden-orange in color with some sediment and cloud, fine Champagne-like bubbles and a dense, tightly knot white head that hangs around for a while. On the nose aromas of spice and tropical fruit (pineapple, papaya and maybe some mango). In the mouth flavors of spice, yeast and fruit and a breadiness. Sweet and tart. Good carbonation. Moderate lacing. Medium bodied. Creamy yet fairly crisp mouthfeel. Good spice on the dry finish. I enjoyed this but it seems heavier than a Saison Ale should be which is probably why it is released for winter consumption.

750ml bottle, 9.50% ABV

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The Catholic Church used to have a much more serious view on the brewing of beer for Christmas.

In Norway, the Church punished those who did not brew beer for Christmas and also if it wasn't strong enough. Failure to brew beer three years in a row resulted in forfeiture of property to the Church.

Though it is worth noting that Christmas never really took hold in the Scandinavian countries and they still call it Jul, which is from the pre-Christian Jol.

Had a bunch of family over yesterday evening, here were the results:


Rub me down

Rub me down some more

After about 10 hours in

Pic of butt #1

Pic of butt #2 -- both took ~12 hours to finish


In the pic below, note the glass full of Leffe Blonde. I believe I converted quite a few of them to good Belgian beer.

Pulled apart, ready to go



To review, mixing in some fine beer in with one's BBQ was a smash hit. There was much rejoicing and fellowship on the tasty food, and more importantly, minds were opened towards beer in the process.

[This message has been edited by Cyprian (edited 12/24/2009 9:00a).]

[This message has been edited by Cyprian (edited 12/24/2009 9:01a).]

Deo gratias!

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From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world.

The church is near, but the road is icy; the tavern is far, and I will walk carefully.