Country AND Western

Beer #661 Adriaen Brouwer / Brouwerij Roman, Oudenaarde, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: Another Adriaen, plus an Ename Cuvee (with a very nice picture of Flash right before he passed away) and another Ename Cuvee

You would think by now, this blog would write itself.  Nope.

Tonight's beer is one that I opened a few weeks back, mostly because I was sick of seeing it sitting on my beer shelf on the garage.  This strong dark ale from Brouwerij Roman poured with a dark mahogany color and an off white head.  The aroma is malty and bready, and there are flavors of caramel malt, plum and other dark fruits, and some warm spiciness.  Not a bad beer by any stretch, and one I'd have again, perhaps more so in the winter months.

Beer

This beer is named for Adriaen Brouwer, a famous Flemish painter born in the town of Oudenaarde. Beercycling made a quick stop in Oudenaarde to walk around the town square, a brief break on the way to Brouwerij Liefmans.  Nice place.

Thing to Think About Today:
So last night I watched the final episode of Breaking Bad, one of the two greatest shows in the history of television.  Is it better than The Wire?  Maybe not, just because I loved the way David Chase told the story of inner city Baltimore, touching on education, drug corners, local government, corruption, and blue collar workers.  He was a magician at making you realize the bad guys weren't all that bad, and the good guys weren't always that good.  Interestingly, Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad pulled a similar trick, making you empathize for characters with huge moral flaws.  However, I will say confidently the last Breaking Bad episode (and truth be told, the entire last season) better than the last season and last episode of The Wire? By all means yes, and that's all I'll say about that, as I don't want to spoil anything.

So I leave you tonight with a country song, the one playing in last night's episode after Walter White found an old Marty Robbins tape in the glove compartment of his Volvo.  In a show where there were no throw away lines or scenes or images, this was a great way to start the last episode.... if you know the story the song El Paso tells.

I have been accused by many of not liking country music, and that's just not true.  I love old country music; Johnny Cash and Roger Miller are among the top played songs on my iPod.  Sadly, it's the new stuff that I just can't possibly relate to or appreciate.  However, a song about a guy who would rather risk everything to be with his loved one - in fact, would rather be shot dead - even if that meant just one kiss before he expired?  That's real country & western music, friends.  That's what it's all about.  The rhinestone suit is just a bonus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkdp0FPXnxU

"Maybe tomorrow a bullet will find me / Tonight nothing's worse than the pain in my heart"

Day 656: Brouwerij Roman

When I bought this bottle of beer in March 2012, I had no idea that in about a year's time I would actually find myself in the little town of Oudnaarde in Belgium, where this beer is brewed. You really never know what life will bring you!

This is the Adriaen Brouwer from Brouwerij Roman. It poured a dark brown, sort of mahogany color with a loose tan head. It has a sweet and malty aroma. The flavor was surprisingly sweet...lots of dark fruit reminiscent of plums and maybe figs. Some caramel. And it was very bubbly in the glass. Not sure if that was due to its age or not.

Beer stats
Style: Belgian golden ale
ABV: 8.5%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Roman
His and hers reviews of Ename Cuvee

Tuesday: Shirts, Steak, Strong Dark Ale

Beer #101 Ename Cuvee / Brouwerij Roman, Oudenaarde, Belgium

Getting my hustle on tonight, which includes shopping for window pane plaid button down dress shirts (because that's pretty much all I wear) and hitting a steak house for dinner (shout out to my team for hooking me up at Christmas this year!).

That means you get the facts tonight.  And the fact is your beer for today is Ename Cuvee, a Belgian strong dark ale from Brouwerij Roman, which was on draft at Teresa's Next Door.  It pours a cloudy sort of amber, and has a faint malt aroma on the nose.  The taste has notes of bread and malt sweetness, with floral notes around the edges.  Not the greatest strong dark ale ever; I was expecting much more complexity and flavor from this one.  This being said, we have a bottle of another variety (Adriaen Brouwer) from this brouwerij, which we'll drink and see if it's any better.  Brouwerij of course means "brewery" to those not fluent in Dutch, like I am.  Marci also sampled this beer, check that out HERE.

Interesting fact: this brewery lives in the same hometown as Brouwerij Liefmans, which was beer #99.  Shout out to all my Oudenaarde peoples!

I had a picture of this beer, which comes in a Ename labeled glass at Teresa's, but my camera didn't save the picture.  Which seems odd.  So instead you get a picture of Flash enjoying nature in the yard.  He's not doing well this week, so hopefully some sunny weather will lift his spirits.

Chillin', chillin', mindin' my business...

Thing to Think About Today:
I have nothing to relate to the number of this post, the beer or brewery, or my evening destinations.  So, here's the song that was playing on the iPod when I drove home - Franz Ferdinand with some great summer weather and windows down driving music.  Turn it up.  Go ahead, you've earned it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaurgcMVTOs 

It's always better on holiday
So much better on holiday
That's why we only work when...
We need the money!

Beer 79: Ename Cuvee

I feel like I've been hit by a bus so this is going to be short and sweet.  I had the Ename Cuvee on draught at Teresa's Next Door in Wayne, Pennsylvania.  It's a Belgian strong dark ale - a style that I've been tasting quite a bit lately. 

Unfortunately this one left me kind of meh about it.  It was served in a chalice with a medium white fluffy head.  It didn't have a discernible scent, which I thought odd.  It drank on the thin, watery side and there was just nothing remarkable about it. I enjoyed it as I drank it, but there wasn't a single flavor that jumped out.  Odd.

My next move is a bowl of soup, a gallon of orange juice and a bartering session with karma to ensure I don't wake up full on sick tomorrow.

Cheers.