Beer in the Time of Covid19
I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't begin this post without mentioning the elephant in the room: the rapidly spreading virus now known as Covid19. The Novel Corona Virus has been rebranded as Covid19. Corona Beer issued a cease and desist order to the world regarding the unregulated use of their trademarked name. I guess they were afraid people might confuse their beer with a deadly virus. It was either that or change their name:
I have found that beer can play an important role in maintaining diligence during this pandemic. For example, I think you will find that a fine New England Style IPA will pair well with Hydroxychloroquine. The citrusy hoppy flavor creates a fine sort of counter-melody, if you will, to the somewhat bitter bass notes of this life-saving pill.
Now when it comes to Lysol, there are a couple of approaches, though both call for a good strong ale. I would suggest Arrogant Bastard from Stone, however an Imperial Stout could be substituted. I hate to waste an entire pint of these fine beers, so my preferred method is the old "shot-and-a-beer" approach. A quick shot of Lysol followed by a pint of The Bastard. I'd rather do this than create a "Lysol cocktail" and ruin the beer. The same can be said for bleach.
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| Or you could just get a can of Lysol Pilsner if you prefer. |
As a bonus, I've been able to line the walls of my house with empty beer cans thus effectively blocking the 5G signal that Bill Gates and Big Pharma, as well as the Deep State (and maybe China as well) have attached the virus to.
I've found that judicious placement of the cans can create an infinite variety of patterns and designs.
DISCLAIMER: The preceding is what we in the business call "satire" or perhaps actual "sarcasm" for the sole purpose of what we in the business call "humor" or "entertainment purposes only." Please do not actually ingest bleach, Lysol or Hydroxychloroquine not prescribed by an actual doctor. Thank you.
BELGIANS
Before the world stood still, we at BOTB were able to squeeze in a Beer Club meeting. We decided to take a look at Belgian beers. Interestingly, there really is no single Belgian Beer style. Belgians have never been restricted by some pesky Reinheitsgebot purity law restricting what can go into a beer in order for it to be called "beer." That Bavarian law adapted in 1516 limited ingredients used in beer to water, barley and hops. Yeast was added later as it was an unknown, naturally occurring ingredient.
The Belgians did not adapt this law and subsequently became famous for introducing various spices, herbs and fruits into the brewing process. In that respect the Belgian brewing tradition could be said to be the template for the American craft beer revolution in that we are seeing here a kind of anything-goes approach to beer with brews that range from traditional to wildly experimental. I have linked a really thorough article HERE that does a terrific job of explaining the Belgian beer tradition and what a Belgian style beer is and isn't. It's definitely worth the read. Thanks for the heads-up Herb.
We sampled 8 Belgian-style ales - 5 from US craft brewers and 3 produced in Belgium. Since our "mission" if you will (and I really hate that word) is in large part the promotion of craft beer in the US, our sampling skewed toward American craft brewers, but the three ales we choose from Belgium are iconic and we wondered how the American ales would stand up to these terrific brews. One of the beers is from a small, local brewery - Talking Cursive Brewing - and illustrates the out-of-the-box thinking that can define the Belgian brewing tradition.
And no, we did not include Blue Moon or Shock Top.
We sampled 8 Belgian-style ales - 5 from US craft brewers and 3 produced in Belgium. Since our "mission" if you will (and I really hate that word) is in large part the promotion of craft beer in the US, our sampling skewed toward American craft brewers, but the three ales we choose from Belgium are iconic and we wondered how the American ales would stand up to these terrific brews. One of the beers is from a small, local brewery - Talking Cursive Brewing - and illustrates the out-of-the-box thinking that can define the Belgian brewing tradition.
And no, we did not include Blue Moon or Shock Top.
HOPPY TABLE BEER
ALLAGASH BREWING
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "While Hoppy Table Beer was inspired by the Belgian tradition of low-ABV, easily drinkable beers, it still occupies a hop-forward spot all its own. Brewed with our 2-row malt blend, Maris Otter malt and oats, the beer is then spiced with a subtle addition of coriander. We ferment it with our house yeast for classic Belgian citrus aromas. Hoppy Table Beer is hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Comet, and Azacca hops, then dry hopped with more Comet and Azacca. A mildly hoppy aroma full of grapefruit springs from this straw-colored, light-bodied ale. Flavors of pine and stone fruit balance the beer's clean, slightly bitter finish."
COLOR: Cloudy straw
POUR: Guinness Class head with long lasting white lacing, well carbonated
AROMA: Clean linen
BODY: Medium
TASTE: Grapefruit, lemon, pepper, coriander with a hoppy, bitter bite at the end
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This!
COMMENTS: "Well carbonated, that's for sure; Pleasant; Tasty; Kind of a Pilsner-y taste there; Coriander is there, but subtle so it doesn't overpower; Yeah, it plays well with the other flavors; I like the bitter hoppiness that shows up at the end; Very drinkable beer."
WITBIER
HOEGAARDEN
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "The original Belgian Wheat Beer. Almost 600 years ago in the
Belgian village of Hoegaarden, a band of monks experimented by adding oddball botanicals from halfway around the world to their traditional wheat beer. Our recipe, inspired by their creation, is a beer with a refreshing flavor and captivating aroma, unlike any in the world. Let the refreshing citrus and earthy coriander alleviate the stresses of modern living and whisk you to another place entirely. You might call it divine inspiration...we call it Hoegaarden."
COLOR: wheat
POUR: Near Guinness class head, white with plenty of lacing
AROMA: Spicy, coriander, yeast-y
BODY: Medium
TASTE: Coriander, orange peel with a nice spiciness, maybe a hint of lemon
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I could drink it
COMMENTS: "Nothing over-the-top; On a nice hot day, a good lawn-mowing beer; Clean and refreshing; I wouldn't run out and buy it, but it's not a bad change up from my usual fare; Good amount of carbonation."
DUBBEL KUBAL
TALKING CURSIVE
THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Talking Cursive Brewing, Syracuse, NY; STYLE: Belgian Dubbel; ABV: 7%; IBUs: 22; HOPS: Challenger, Santiam, Mt. Hood, Amarillo; MALT: Pilsner, Munich 8, White Wheat, Abbey, Aromatic, Special B, Chocolate.
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Among the things that excited us about our location was the Cafe Kubal next door. We love the vibe, the coffee, and the people. Plus, a collaboration was kind of a no-brainer, right? Cafe Kubal's Midnight Oil Roast has wonderful notes of sweet roasted chestnuts, dates, figs, and thyme that mingle beautifully with the traditional dark fruit and malt flavors of our Belgian Dubbel."
COLOR: Mahogany
POUR: Slight head with a little lacing
AROMA: Sweet, caramel, coffee
BODY: Bit beyond Medium
TASTE: Coffee, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, fig
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This
COMMENTS: "Fletcher's Castoria; Caramelly, toffee sweet; Pretty color; I like it - against my better judgement; Got a nice coffee taste there with maybe a bit of cocoa?; It's got some hops to it, though the malty, coffee comes through the most; It does kind of blend a number of tastes together nicely, really."
RAGING BITCH
FLYING DOG BREWING
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Two inflammatory words...one wild drink/ Nectar imprisoned in a bottle. An anything-but-delicate blend of sharp hoppiness and fruity aroma, this beer is a life-changing backyard knife-fight for your palate. Once you've had a Raging Bitch everything else pales in comparison. Fermented with a volcano-like Belgian yeast strain called 'El Diablo,' Raging Bitch earned its polarizing name from the aggressively active nature of the yeast - unleashed, untamed, unbridled...and in heat."
COLOR: Amber
POUR: Moderate head
AROMA: Floral, malty, bit of clove
BODY: Medium
TASTE: Malt, caramel, banana, clove, pine
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!
COMMENTS: "This is good!; I like it, my favorite so far; Belgian IPA - you know what? It works; Perfect intercourse between hops and wheat; Haven't had this in a while - got to get back to it; Pleasantly hoppy - full flavor; That combination of big hop flavor with the classic Belgian yeast is really a great marriage."
CINQ CENTS
CHIMAY
THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Chimay Brewery, Scourmont Abbey in Chimay, Hainaut, Belgium; ABV: 8%
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "The Chimay Cinq Cents, with its golden hue, offers a rare balance of mellowness and bitterness. It is a subtle combination of fresh hops and yeast. Chimay Cinq Cents is an authentic Trappist beer. That means that it is brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monastic community, which is involved in the entire process of making and selling the ale. The bulk of the revenue that this activity generates is used to finance social services and cover the community's needs."
COLOR: Buckwheat honey
POUR: Near Guinness class
AROMA: Grassy, hay, floral
BODY: Medium
TASTE: A little sour to open, then horehound, molasses, toffee
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!
COMMENTS: "Fills the mouth!; I know horehound, and this ain't it ... hey, wait, I got some there at the end. Okay, never mind; Really complex beer; Puts a smile on my face; Got that typical banana taste when you think of Belgian, but subtle; Little bit of pine, some citrus; Really nice beer."
ST BERNARDUS TRIPEL
ABBEY ALE
THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: St. Bernardus, Watou, Belgium; STYLE: Tripel / Top Fermentation; ABV: 8%; IBUs: 25
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "ST. Bernardus Tripel is a traditional abbey beer that follows the classic tripel style. In the Watou region a tripel is often referred to as a 'Bernadetje'. A fine tribute that pays homage to Bernadette, the youngest daughter of Evariste Deconinck, the man to whom the monks of Abbaye Sainte Marie du Mont des Caats sold their Belgian property in 1934."
COLOR: Cloudy Blond
POUR: Near Guinness class lively, grainy head
AROMA: Spicy, banana, floral
BODY: Medium
TASTE: Clove, coriander, spicy, orange peel, banana, malt
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!
COMMENTS: "I like this a touch better than the Chimay; I like the Cinq Cents a little bit better, myself; These Belgians are okay - who knew? Well carbonated; It's another really full flavor, complex beer; Yeah, you get that interesting mix of clove, malt, citrus, banana, bread, caramel - not to mention the Belgian yeast taste and a bit of alcohol."
UNHOLY
COPPERTAIL BREWING CO.
THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa, FL; STYLE: Trippel; ABV: 9.2%; HOPS: American West Coast Hops
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Blasphemy in a glass. Unholy. Our take on a traditional Belgian style Trippel, but with American hops. Big, bold and dangerously drinkable...This Trippel is traditionally brewed with a hoppy twist."
COLOR: Golden
POUR: Decent Head
BODY: Medium
TASTE: Dank, hoppy, spicy, pine, grapefruit, citrus
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough
COMMENTS: "Like a Belgian IPA really; Good stuff; Perfect coupling of water and hops; Resin, spicy, dank, and, yes, complex; The alcohol doesn't hit you in the face, just kind of sits there nicely underneath; More IPA than classic Belgian, I guess. Which is okay by me."
TRIPEL BELGIAN GOLDEN ALE
ALLAGASH BREWING
WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "This golden ale carries notes of passion fruit and honey in the aroma. a suggestion of biscuit is found in the beer's varied palate. Brewed with our 2-Row barley blend, hopped with Nugget and Hallertau, then fermented on our house yeast, Tripel offers up a complex, yet dry finish."
COLOR: Golden
POUR: Decent Head
AROMA: Sweet, banana, Belgian yeast, and a touch of anise
BODY: Medium, very smooth beer
TASTE: Spicy, with hints of clove, lemon, bread, banana and some hop bitterness
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Between I Could Drink This and Can't Get Enough!
COMMENTS: "Nice mix of sweet and spice; A bit cloying for me; Another big one where you don't really taste the alcohol; Really smooth and surprisingly drinkable for such a big beer; I feel like this is another one where no single taste dominates and everything sort of works together; I would definitely seek this out."
THE RESULTS
We kind of ended in a 2-2 tie if you will - 2 American craft beers and 2 Belgians each earned a resounding "Can't Get Enough!" St. Bernardus Abbey Ale and Chimay Cinq Cents were our two favorite Belgians from Belgium, while Coppertail's Unholy and Flying Dog's Raging Bitch took pride of place with the US craft brews. No surprise that they were both essentially Belgian IPAs. However all the beers were very tasty could very well find a spot in my fridge.
Stay safe -
Slante,
The BOTB Guys
Stay safe -
Slante,
The BOTB Guys
