What beer ya drinkin'?

[slowoldman]

The good news is you discovered what you don't like. That's as important as discovering what you do like.

As an example, I am still trying to develop a taste for the sours... I have not given up yet as I really want to like them

Yes, very true, I guess you learn what not to order as well as what you look forward to....

I was Inside next to the food pick-up and back door to the patio. The giant dude in the yellow shirt. I'm sure you remember

Made one trip to the gentlemens room and was a little taken aback by the young lesbian that walked out (maybe she was making a statement?)......so I have to admit, didn't notice you.

Might be heading to Eureka tonight to enjoy another of the Bruery Batch 300 tripel. (Yes, I am plugging that beer, I thought it was that good)

 

[El Pistolero]

Sure we could

I'll give you a hint on where to find me these days:

River lion.

 

[usedtobefast]

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Was that special Imperial Stout (from the label) very different from their regular RIS? I had the more regular one not too long ago

 

[usedtobefast]

maybe more creamy. smooth. they know what they are doing

 

[Anonymous]

RaceRadio's gotta check this place out.

So, last night my wife and I along with some very good friends decide to go to a new pub we ave heard about... The Salted Pig (how can you go wrong, right?).

Our appetizer;

Bacon Fat Popcorn with Russian River's Pliny the Elder...

I followed that up with The Pig Burger. 75% Beef, 25% Bacon and a fried egg with Ommegang Adoration (if you can find it, try it)....

And for dessert we kicked back at our friends house with a round of 2009 Westvleteren 12's...

Not a bad evening

 

[slowoldman]

Not a bad evening

Yeah, I'd say not too bad. Where is the Salted Pig? Looks like a place I'd like to go...

Nevermind, looks like my old stomping grounds.......I grew up in Rubidoux.
(I have a feeling I may run into some old friends there)

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'd say not too bad. Where is the Salted Pig? Looks like a place I'd like to go...

Nevermind, looks like my old stomping grounds.......I grew up in Rubidoux.
(I have a feeling I may run into some old friends there)

Yep, downtown Riverside. It's a couple of blocks from the Mission Inn.

Pretty fun place.

 

[L'arriviste]

Back from a long weekend in Germany: Koeln (Cologne) and Trier.

Koeln was having its annual Armistice fest and the whole place was turned upside down by big time boozers.

I am quite a fan of Kolsch (a very light, sweet and fairly flat beer you can take a lot of before feeling the effects) and stopped by a couple of kolsch brewpubs while in Koeln. First time I ever went to Koeln a few years ago, I didn't realise that you were supposed to put your beermat on top of the glass when you'd had enough, so I went through six before I saw somebody else do it and put a stop to my own consumption. Luckily, it's light stuff and the glasses are small.

@craig - I don't know that one, Craig (it's German rather than Belgian) but you can't go far wrong with a robust, malty pilsener, so if it isn't too expensive, get in there and make sure to chill it properly first. Warm pilseners are hideous!

@usedtobefast - that Imperial Stout looks very tasty just from the photo. I'm a big stout fan and I'll pretty much drink any sort of black stuff except for the mass-produced Guinnessy brands. I hope to be passing through the US shortly, so I might just look that one up. Is it quite rare or what?

@krebs - Sint Bernardus 12: great choice for your frietavond! Still one of my all-time favourite beers and I love the way it creeps up on you when you're watching races. Best thick-headed afternoons ever!

@scott - you're too kind, Scott. My former Dutch teacher said that he did the 'abdij run' every spring, so maybe I'll try to phone one in next year too! When you live in Belgium, you get this strange affliction in which you think everything is a huge distance away - much further than it is - so a trip over to West Flanders is quite an effort!

 

[craig1985]

After a visit to the Back Abbey with Scott:

When trying to remember what happened:

No?

 

[Anonymous]

After a visit to the Back Abbey with Scott:

No?

Yes..............

 

[craig1985]

Bavarian Bier Café has finally opened on the Gold Coast, and this is the selection they have:

http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com/pure_bier/

Which of these would people on here recommend?

I've been to Germany once, but that was only to Frankfurt after an 8 hour bus ride from Prague and I only had €45 to my name, and I had to pay for a night's accommodation, my train ticket to the main airport, and dinner for the night, so you can see I didn't have much to spend

 

[L'arriviste]

Bavarian Bier Café has finally opened on the Gold Coast, and this is the selection they have:

http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com/pure_bier/

Which of these would people on here recommend?

I've been to Germany once, but that was only to Frankfurt after an 8 hour bus ride from Prague and I only had €45 to my name, and I had to pay for a night's accommodation, my train ticket to the main airport, and dinner for the night, so you can see I didn't have much to spend

The main thing is that you were there, however briefly, and that (hopefully) you learned something new by being there.

As I said above, you really can't go far wrong with German pilseners provided that you're not expecting much texture. These tend to be blunt - but very refreshing - instruments: best served cold and gassy. Best thing for you is that they also travel reliably: if the pumps and lines are clean and the temperature's right, they'll taste pretty decent wherever you find them.

Not keen on the dunkels - too sweet and flat for me to the extent that, within the general Bavarian context they seem rather like odd ones out - but from this selection I can say that the Hofbrau is very solid and well-known. I remember enjoying several one chilly spring afternoon in a Munich biergarten a few years ago.

The only one I would actually frown at is the Lowenbrau, which was the first ever beer of my student career and which I have since never rated.

 

[Tank Engine]

We've got a Polish friend staying for a couple of days and bought a few bottles of Brooklyn. Belgian style beers brewed in the US. No. 1 is a light, fruity number, but certainly has a kick (9%). No. 2 is dark and malty (also strong). A pint of that stuff i znowu mowie biegle po polsku

 

[slowoldman]

Visited an old friend at the Abbey last night......

Boy I missed this.

 

[l.Harm]

I had a Westmalle tripel some days a go, in that glass here above me (coincedence I guess ). Pretty high percentage but I liked it. Now I've bought the 'dubbel' (double), which percentage is lower.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I had a Westmalle tripel some days a go, in that glass here above me (coincedence I guess ). Pretty high percentage but I liked it. Now I've bought the 'dubbel' (double), which percentage is lower.

Westmalle Tripel is my fav better than the dubbel imo

 

[craig1985]

Stop it, you guys are going to force me to move to Holland or Belgium.

 

[L'arriviste]

I'm on my pre-Christmas diet now, but my last brew of the autumn was one of the very best I've tried in a long time. I've been storing it a year (hence the slightly dusty bottle). Here it is/was:

De Struise Black Albert 13% ABV

Black treacle, charcoal, and dark, dark muscovado. Seven shades of awesomeness!

Craig, book that flight, man!

 

[craig1985]

L'arriviste I need to get a job first to book my flights

 

[L'arriviste]

L'arriviste I need to get a job first to book my flights

If in doubt, criminality.

 

[Anonymous]

Stop it, you guys are going to force me to move to Holland or Belgium.

My family and friends ask why I keep going back to Belgium.

If you don't like the best beer in the world, great food, beautiful sights, friendly people and some of the best cycling to be found anywhere then you should go somewhere else.

Some version of the above is how I usually answer that question.

 

[Havetts]

If you don't like the best beer in the world, great food, beautiful sights, friendly people and some of the best cycling to be found anywhere then you should go somewhere else.

And that is why everyone, really everyone should love Belgium. Dutch people can learn something about the friendliness shown by Belgian people.

 

[l.Harm]

It's a shame most Dutch people look at Belgium in a negative way. Or speak about them like they're stupid.

 

[L'arriviste]

Well, I've lived here long enough now to see the good and the bad sides. The good still outweighs the bad.

On that good side, I forgot to mention De Struise's Cuvee Delphine, a variation on Black Albert which I discussed above. It's the same stout style and the same crushing alcohol content, but it was aged in real Kentucky bourbon casks. Drier taste than Albert but the bourbon touch is really unusual!