Better Drinking

I picked this up at Green's, having wanted to try a biere de garde (French Ale) from the old country. My first of this style was New Belgium's Biere de Mars, which I particularly liked but is only available seasonally, and not in Georgia. The style itself is fairly unique being from France, much better known for it's wine than it's beer. But the French beer culture is certainly alive, especially in the northeast corner on the border of Belgium, that veritable land of beer for the disciplined and developed palate. And a special thanks to BH for helping me enjoy this treat.

Came in a 750ml green bottle, with a relatively simple black label, corked not capped. The beer's appearance was a brilliant light amber, very clear, complimented by a nice white head that did not stick around long but did leave a nice lacing in the glass.

The nose was an interesting mix of sweet, subtle malts, and a light fruitiness. It was reminiscent of champagne, but much more subdued.

Mouthfeel was crisp and carbonated, light and refreshing. Made for warmer weather.

The taste was most interesting. An earthy, malt sweetness up front, mixed with a very complex mix of citrus flavors and mild hoppiness, finishing dry. There is also a slightly alcohol taste coming through, almost medicinal, but pleasant. The aftertaste was extremely unique; upon swallowing there is brief rush of carbonation and then the mouth and throat feels completely empty, like the beer has evaporated. I usually like the lingering taste of beer after each sip, so the Jenlain surprised me in that there was none. It was not unpleasant, but definitely different.

At $4 bottle, it's a good investment and a lot cheaper than champagne or wine. Overall, a very good beer recommended for summer evenings. We drank it without food compliment, but it might be good with fish or chicken dishes. Here's to better drinking!!

Labels: beer reviews

I've a habit of picking some fairly interesting and unique beers for review here, and what follows is no exception. Perhaps a brief of note explanation is in order. My wife Michelle is not a huge beer fan but over the several years it has taken me to grow into a confirmed beer geek, she has tried much of what I bring home (or make), and has developed a palate for some of the more rare beers available. In particular she likes the sour stuff; a nice Berliner Kindl is her favorite. But it is mixed blessing; we can enjoy a beer together, which is good, but cost and availability of these things makes it difficult to stock up. Drinking Budweiser would be cheaper, but not nearly as fun or tasty.

Beer Advocate has this to say about the style:

A Flanders Red, are commonly referred to as the "red" beers of West Flanders. Belgian Red Beers are typically light-bodied brews with reddish-brown colors. They are infamous for their distinct sharp, fruity, sour and tart flavors which are created by special yeast strains. Very complex beers, they are produced under the age old tradition of long-term cask aging in oak, and the blending of young and old beers.

So anyway...on to the review.

Monk's pours a hazy brown, swirling with a yeasty haze. A nice white head forms but quickly dissipates into lacing, though it did not stick around for the entire session.

The nose is a funky sourness, with some vague fruitiness. There is something else going on in the background, very subtle, but I couldn't tell what it was.

Mouthfeel is thin, but nicely carbonated. You can feel the bubbles quietly stirring if you pause before swallowing.

The taste…whoa buddy. Sour and lactic, initially puckering, but mellowing into a nice tartness. Some cherry and what could be granny smith apples is also coming through. Warming up, the flavor becomes more pronounced and less severe on the palate. A dull hop flavor is fighting with a subtle malt flavor, but the sour wins. No hint of bitterness, nor of spice.

Overall, a crisp refreshing beer, probably worthy of warm weather enjoyment. Michelle ended up drinking at least 1/3 of the glass, so add this one to her list!!

Labels: beer reviews

Before starting my beer review, an extra special thanks to LJ for buying me this bottle of beer. Friends are good, but friends who buy friends beer are better. Unless they buy them Bud Lite. Then friends should be keel-hauled by their friends. But still, a gift beer is still a good thing in general. And also a special thanks to BMM for helping me drink this bottle. I know it's hard work sharing good beer, but someone has to do it.

This 750ml bottle of Gouden Carolus is brewed every year on the 24th of February, the birthdate of Charles the Fifth, who in turn drank this beer before fox hunts because it inspired rider and steed with enthusiasm, creating the best possible atmosphere in which to kill small, wily animals. Given the prestigious origin of said beverage, we can safety say that the current anathema against drinking and driving did not originate with Charles, nor would he likely be pleased by the government warning on the bottle about not mixing alcohol and fox-hunts. Needless to say, a great big dark bottle (vintage 2004) looking intimidating, was ready to be uncorked and enjoyed.

The appearance was an amber-red liquid, almost like a Georgia creek after a good rain, but with a slowly forming white head, tinges of red mixed in. This poured quite thickly without a lot of "splash", like some great rich treat finally ready for what it was made for.

The smell was very malty, sweet with tinges of spice. Something like oak or wood came to me as well, though it was not well defined. No discernible hops.

Medium-to-full mouthfeel; nicely balanced carbonation with an almost syrupy thickness. But not too much, not too little.

Taste was very nice. Big malt upfront, earthy, more of that wood aroma shows up here too. A nice sweetness permeates the whole thing from first taste to swallow with no bitterness at all. The malt was mostly like dark-meat fruits, like raisins and plums, though those flavors did not immediately come to mind in terms of actual flavor. Just a kind of subtle fruitiness that was definitely not "light". Also, none of the roasted malt flavor you might expect in a stout or porter. This was the big malt you find in other Belgian strong ales, sweet, thick, and powerful. The 10% ABV is nicely hidden and complements the whole experience.

All in all, an excellent beer worthy of all kinds of special occasions. I recommend getting a few bottles and laying them down until some worthy event calls for a worthy beer. Enjoy.

Labels: beer reviews

Last year, someone on the original Sharpening Iron forum posted a somewhat strange story (link here) about a Russian truck carrying beer that sunk into a river. In honor of that adventure, I whipped up the following poem. A blast from the past, enjoy!!

While crossing the frozen river Irtysh
The weather was warmer than driver had wished
And sunk a big truck, laden with beer
Oh, the anguish and sorrow, mingled with fear

Driver and partner made it out just in time
Shaken, but cold, scared, but alive
But, alas! the beer, sank down the cold edge
Of a frozen, impenetrable, liquefied fridge

But the boys of the Army, Russian by name
Showed up for a rescue, ready for fame
16 brave lads, divers and crew
And a old faithful tank, a T-72

The bottles and kegs they saved in a flash
But the poor truck was lost, a write-off of cash
The Rosar Brewery took their beer back
And will sell at a discount, demand with no lack

So next time you're toasting, remember the few
Who braved the cold river to save a malt brew
The brave Russian boys of a rescue-type crew
And their old faithful, Soviet T-72

The article posted here is not about beer per se, but brings up the issues of freedom, accountability, responsibility, and what we would call in plain Southern, common sense.

The "nanny-state" mentioned here is the same thing that Rushdoony called the "messianic state"; we must resist it, especially in our thinking.