The End...Sort Of.

Day #721 Westvleteren 12 / Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren, Westvleteren, Belgium
Previously from this brewery:  The blonde and the 8

First, before the review allow me to announce that there are changes coming to your favorite beer blog.  No, not that one.  This one here.  Going forward, you are likely to not see a post every day, as you have for the past 721 days.  The writing staff have agreed that after nearly two years, we've lost some steam and maybe some passion, and schedules are currently making it difficult to drink, review, and write on an every day basis.  This by no means spells the end of this blog.  Quite the opposite.  There will still be reviews and commentary, but on a more manageable pace that fits in with our lifestyles.

So, to close out this phase of the blog, I'm going to pull out my last review that I had stashed from Belgium; quite possibly the rarest of the white whale beers, the Westvleteren 12.  Regardless of what source you consult (like this one, or this one, or this one), Westy 12 is likely to be the #1 ranked beer in the world, and if not, then somewhere near the top of the list.  That lofty - and let's face it - cult status stems from the fact that it is delicious (more on that soon), but also because they don't distribute their beer anywhere other than a cafe across the street from the abbey.  So, unless you have some well connected friends or a plane ticket to Belgium or the abbey has a serious financial need, you aren't having one of these.  And that makes it special. A running joke I have with some beer friends is that if you want your beer to become famous in the increasingly crowded world of craft beers, make a good beer.... and then don't sell it to anyone.  Might be some truth in that.

This may actually be the Westy 8... but go with it

So, the review.  In the glass, this quad pours a dark brown color, with a thick and lingering off white head. The aroma is an intoxicating mix of dark fruits, sweet malt, and Belgian yeast.  You could inhale this beer all day.  But even better than that would be actually drinking the beer, and when you do there are wonderful flavors of apple, raisin, and malt, with some caramel and spice in there as well.  Rich and complex, this beer definitely got even better as it warmed up a bit.  I'm probably not doing this beer justice, but trust me when I say that this is indeed an amazing, world class beer.

But is it the best ever?  I guess it all depends on your definition and what styles you prefer.  I've had more complex beers, I've had more flavorful beers, I've had more unusual beers.  All that being said, this is a very delicious beer, and the inability to get this beer easily definitely ratchets up the value.  However, I'll leave it up to you to decide if this is the best beer on earth when you drink one yourself.

As we leave this phase of the blog and move into the next phase, allow me to pause and again say thank you to you, the readers, who stopped by frequently, liked posts on Facebook, and every now and then would mention in person that you took our advice on a beer.  That means a lot.  And of course, thank you to Marci, my co-author, who had the crazy idea to launch this blog in the first place.  Been quite an adventure, and thank you for that.

Thing to Think About Today:

<This space intentionally left blank>

Ice Cream? ICE CREAM.

Beer #623 Westvleteren 8 / Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren, Westvleteren, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: The blond, the blond, the Westy 8

Sunny and warm Saturday on deck, so I guess that means I'm spending part of it in front of a computer screen.  I should at least take my laptop outside and work on my tan, I suppose.

Next up from Sint Sixtus is the Westvleteren 8, a dubbel beer that pours a dark mahogany color.  In fact, it's basically the same color as the Westvleteren 12, so we had to continually make sure we knew which was which so photos and notes could be organized.  A small price to pay to be able to sample three of the world's best beers, to be sure.  Served in a gorgeous chalice, there are aromas of malt and stone fruit, and when you take a sip you find a wonderful balance of caramel, stone fruit, brown sugar, and chocolate. There's a good bit of sweetness, but nothing overpowering.  Very complex, yet I could easily drink this beer all day.  I wish I could drink this beer all day, in fact.  This abbey beer was delicious from the start, but improved as it warmed a bit.  Want to know how good this beer was?  Some members of our group thought this beer might have been better than the legendary Westy 12.....

The 12, the blond, the 8

Tiny bit of history: the abbey has been in existence since 1831, although there have been other religious orders in the area dating back to the year 806.  You know, as in the 9th century?  And just in case beer isn't exactly your thing, there's also a killer ice cream made with the Westy 8 available at In De Vrede, the cafe next door to the monastery.  Here's your beer ice cream review:  it was freaking delicious!

heavenly (small pun intended)

Thing to Think About Today:
Keeping with the saintly theme related to Sint Sixtus, Louis Armstrong takes us home with When the Saints Go Marching In. Enjoy.... see you all again soon.

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

Religion In a Glass

Beer #621 Westvleteren Blond / Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren, Westvleteren, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: Blond and Westvleteren 8

And so we come to one of the reasons I thought going on the Beercycling trip would be a lot of fun - getting to Westvleteren to sample some of the rarest - and widely regarded as best - beers in the world: the abbey beers of Sint-Sixtus.

Time to wandelroute!

Marci has done a far better job than I could on explaining Trappist beers, so I'll just link to her comments and move along.  Visitors aren't actually allowed in the Abbey where the beers are made, but we were able to make a stop and pay our respects in a grotto on the grounds with a religious shrine.  As it was said while we were there (and I'm paraphrasing), "a holy spot before we have a holy beer."

Very cool, peaceful spot to contemplate things

Despite not being able to hang out with the monks, the cafe next door had all three varieties of the beer brewed on tap, as well as whatever they want to sell you.  Seriously, some days they have beer for sale, some days gift packs, some days cheese, some days they sell out and go all Belgian Soup Nazi and it's NO BEER FOR YOU. Although I doubt they yell when they say this.  To get a full case, you need to call a special number and pray someone answers; they don't, apparently.  If by some small miracle you get them to answer they tell you what day you can come pick up your case, and then do everything short of take a DNA sample to make sure you don't try to buy another case and resell it.  Our group hit the jackpot, as they had an abundance of six pack gift boxes, which came with two glasses.  SCORE!

Did we buy some Westy?  Why, yes.  Yes, we did.

I'm fascinated by these monks.  They only make as much as they need to pay the bills and support the religious order.  If they have a special need, as they did when they needed a new roof in 2012, they release a small bit of beer in America and other places, and watch as beer geeks line up for days to pay exorbitant prices for the rare chance to sample this beer.

Ah, this beer... we ordered and shared all three drafts during our lunch at the cafe.  The Blond pours a hazy gold color, and you get prominent notes of grain, biscuit, and grass, and there's definitely more bitterness than a typical blond.  There's some light citrus in there as well, and drinks very smooth. There's not much malt sweetness, but enough to balance out some of the flavors.  Just a wonderful beer.  While the Westy bruins take all of the credit, this blond holds up to any beer out there.

Thing to Think About Today:
The monks at Sint Sixtus as about as close as I come to believing in religion.  So, let's celebrate with The Shins and a live version of the lovely Saint Simon.   Good night, my friends.

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

"Nothing really holds a candle to / The solemn warmth you feel inside of you"

Day 612: Westvleteren 8

One of the things I found very interesting about dining in Belgium is that bread and butter weren't handed out freely like in the United States. In fact, most places would charge you for it if you requested it. On the other hand, frites (never call them French fries in Belgium!) were inexpensive and everywhere. I'm fairly certain I had frites with every lunch and dinner that wasn't a picnic.

And after pedaling through farmland for ten days, much of which was dedicated to potato farming, I'm certain I'll be able to identify potato crops for the rest of my life.

Potatoes as far as the eye can see!

I'm also fairly certain this guy is going to give me nightmares for a good long time.

Monsieur Frite! What have you been smoking?

 Enough about potatoes, let's talk beer and close out my reviews from Sint Sixtus. I had three beers at In De Vrede (the cafe nearby Sint Sixtus Abbey)--the blond, 8 and 12. The blond was reviewed in my last post and I'm saving reviewing the 12 until I can put together a tasting dinner. If you're really nice, I might invite you!

The Westvleteren 8 pours a medium tone, hazy brown color with a light tan head. It has a light mouthfeel. For some reason I expected it to have a lot of body. The smell is rich with chocolate, plum and malt. The flavor is full of caramel and chocolate with dark bread notes. I'm sure it goes without saying since this is a Westvleteren beer, but it was excellent!

Beer stats
Style: Dubbel
ABV: 8%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from Sint Sixtus
My thoughts on the blond

Day 610: Westvleteren Blond

Being an admitted beer geek, one of the highlights of the Beercycling trip was the opportunity to get my grubby little hands on some beer from Westvleteren--the only one of the eight Trappist brewers that doesn't ship to the United States.

In case you were wodering, the Trappist order originated in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. Various Cistercian congregations existed for many years, and by 1664 the Abbot of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. He introduced strict new rules in the abbey and the Strict Observance was born. Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed. However, a fundamental tenet, that monasteries should be self-supporting, is still maintained by these groups.

Monastery brewhouses, from different religious orders, have existed across Europe since the Middle Ages. From the very beginning, beer was brewed in French Cistercian monasteries following the Strict Observance. The Trappists, like many other religious people, originally brewed beer to feed the community, in a perspective of self-sufficiency. Nowadays, Trappist breweries also brew beer to fund their works and for good causes. Many of the Trappist monasteries and breweries were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars. Among the monastic breweries, the Trappists were certainly the most active brewers. In the last 300 years, there were at least nine Trappist breweries in France, six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, one in Germany, one in Austria, one in Bosnia and possibly other countries. Today, eight Trappist breweries are active; six in Belgium, one in the Netherlands, and one in Austria. 

Trappist beers must meet strict production criteria:

• The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision;
• The brewery must be of secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life;
• The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture. The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need;
• Trappist breweries are constantly monitored to assure the irreproachable quality of their beers.

Westvleteren is brewed by the monks at Sint Sixtus Abbey. For awhile, the monks outsourced their recipe to Saint Bernardus and some people say that the Saint Bernardus 12 and the Westvleteren 12 are pretty much the same beer. I'm going to reserve judgement until I can do a side by side comparison.

Our trip first took us to a lovely grotto adjacent to the abbey. It seemed appropriate to visit a holy place before enjoying a holy beer.

We then rode over to the front of the abbey but I didn't get any photos. After that it was another two minutes around the corner to In de Vrede, a cafe and visitor centre, the only place to purchase Westvleteren beer other than the abbey. The gift shop is not guaranteed to have anything from the abbey for sale, but the day we visit we hit the jackpot. They were selling six packs of Westvleteren 12 that came with two tasting glasses. I am very happy to report that all six bottles and both glasses made it home safely. No small feat considering that they were tucked in our bikes' saddlebags for the next several days and had to survive being checked in our luggage!

Once our group raided the gift shop, we sat down to a well-earned lunch and shared quite a few bottles of the blond, 8 and 12.

If you're wondering, from left to right: 8, blond and 12.

The blond poured a hazy, deep gold color with a bright white head. It has a zesty, bready aroma with hints of white grapes. I also wrote in my notes, "What is that? Apple?" Do what you want with that comment. The flavor was also a little bready, grassy. I noted very light fruit and some honey as well. There's a perfect balance to this beer. There's a reason why the beers of Westvleteren are often ranked among the best in the world. They are damn tasty.

Beer stats:
Style: Blond
ABV: 5.%
IBUs: Uknown
Rating: Excellent

Previously reviewed from Sint Sixtus Abbey
First out the limo!

Preach!

Beer #346 Westmalle Trappist Tripel / Brouwerij Westmalle, Malle, Belgium
Beers to go: 20

Now down to the last 20 beers on this phase of the craft beer journey, and feeling good!  Had a amazingly productive afternoon, so let's go ahead and blog while we're in a good mood.  To answer a question I've received: yes, I'll be recapping the top 25 beers/breweries of the year once we get to the finish line, and I'll be handing out a few other awards as well.  Keep reading to see if your favorites are here!  Have a favorite post so far this year?  Let me know and win a prize (note: I have no idea what a prize would be)!

Today's beer is a Trappist beer, the Westmalle Tripel from Brouwerij Westmalle in Beligum.  This beer has a honey color, with a wispy white head.  It's fairly well carbonated, and your nose picks up aromas of apple, grass, and spice.  When you take a sip, you find this beer is earthy and dry, with notes of spices, yeast, and flowers, and a definite grape flavor.  This beer packs at healthy punch at 9.5% ABV, although it hides the booze well.  Not my favorite of the Trappist beers by any stretch, but a rather decent option in the world of Belgian tripels.

Go west, young man.

Westmalle Abbey was founded in 1794, and belongs to a religious order that dates back to the eleventh century.  That's old, people.  OLD.

Thing to Think About Today:
So this beer (like all Trappist beers) is brewed by monks who dedicate their life to prayer and work, and in the process make their own cheese, bread, and beer.  If we're drinking beer made by men of the cloth, then let's have Dusty Springfield close things out with the always awesome Son of a Preacher Man.  Note: if my church brewed beer when I was a kid growing up, I might still attend church.  Just saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4339EbVn8

Beer 246: Trappist Rochefort and Sexy Time

My husband is hot.  I'm sitting here watching him drive, arm all slack over the gear shift, in control, taking care of me.  Can someone turn on some Peter Bjorn and John because I got nothing to worry about.

I'm drunk. It's been the story of my weekend. I exert effort, I get drunk.  This beer is the 10 from Brasserie de Rochefort, a Trappist Monastery. It's a little nutty. The taste is all rich sugar and lots of alcohol.  It has a strong malt backbone. Very rich.

Cheers!

Decadent and Depraved

Beer #147 Trappist Achel Extra / Brouwerij der Sint-Benadictusabdij de Achelse, Achel, Belgium

A nice Saturday afternoon with nothing on the schedule seems too good to be true.  We're going to run some errands, do some beer shopping, and then head to Bluefin for sushi - tonight's our 11th wedding anniversary!  Last year, we threw a very nice party to celebrate a decade of marriage.  Today, it took us until 1:30pm before one of us mentioned "happy anniversary" to the other.  Eh, we've been busy lately.  In lieu of gifts, we're combining forces to get a new camera.  We're due for something more serious than the current point & click that gets thrown in the pocket when we head to a tailgate.  If anyone out there has suggestions for an easy to use yet high quality camera, please let us know!

With the weekend comes beer, and today's beer is another Trappist, specifically the Extra from Brouwerij der Sint-Benedictusabdij de Achelse.  Say that one three times fast.  This beer shows off a mahogany color in the glass, with a thin but persistent head.  It gives off aromas of sweet malt and stone fruit, and the taste is light, but filled with candi sugar, malt, stone fruits, and caramel.  Maybe not my favorite Trappist, but I'd still drink this one every day of the week if I could.

Sorry - drank, then got the phone out.  Oops.

Current leader in the blog clubhouse for the longest name, this brewery traces its roots back to 1648, when monks built an chapel, and then an abbey.  Beer production dates back to 1852, and was halted in 1917 thanks to World War I.  Brewing didn't resume until 1998, and monks from Westmalle and Rochefort assisted in the efforts.  Good teamwork, monks!  Despite the long name, it is the smallest of the Trappist brewers.

Thing to Think About Today:
It's obviously a big day due to our anniversary alone, but when you throw in Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, it's quite the event.  I missed the actual race today due to us being at dinner, but in the spirit of one of the greatest traditions in sport, let's let Hunter S. Thompson bring it home today.  Thompson is one of my all-time favorite writers, as his frenetic pace and part journalism/part personal experience way of putting himself in the middle of his story allowed him to create beautiful prose.  His article The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is writing - not just journalism - at it's absolute finest.  Thompson was a native of Louisville, and provides a most unusual take on the event, as only he could.

Without further adieu, please do yourself a favor and read:
The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved (with original illustrations)

Hunter S. Thompson, obviously.

Beer 147: Trappist Achel

There seven Trappist breweries in the world.  I’ve managed to drink four prior to today:  Chimay, Westmalle, Orval and La Trappe.  Today I’m knocking #5 off the list with a Trappist Achel Extra.

#6 should be pretty easy --  Rochefort.  Gary managed to drink this one and we’re not quite sure how I missed it.  #7 will be more challenging as one can only purchase it at Brouwerij Westvleteren in Belgium.  But it's only really challenging in the sense that I have to wait until next year‘s beer-cation when we hit the road - air? - and head to Belgium for a bicycle trip through the Flanders region…cycling from brewery to brewery and adventure to adventure.

And now onto the Trappist Achel Extra.  It poured a walnut brown liquid with a thin light tan head.  The smell was sweet -- honey and figs.  The taste was complex.  Burnt sugar, a slightly grape-heavy wine flavor. A very strong presence of alcohol --  not surprising for a Belgian strong dark ale coming in at 9.5% ABV.  It is also very malt dominant.  Despite all that flavor happening, it drank surprisingly light.  Achel is brewed at the Brouwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse.  (Spellcheck just blew up!)

Cheers!

Contemplating a Clip On Tie.....

Beer #136 Grande Réserve / Bières de Chimay, Baileux, Belgium

For the life of me today, I can not remember how to tie a bow tie.  I don't do it often, but will be doing it this week for a black tie event.  And all of the stupid videos and helpful diagrams on the internet are not helping one bit.  I'm close, just not all the way there.  I'll keep at it, but it's not going as fast as it should.  This is cutting into my beer drinking time...

Tonight's beer is the blue label from Chimay, one of the most well known and readily available Trappist beers.  The blue label signifies their Grand Reserve, a strong dark ale.  It pours a dark mahogany color with a a persistent off-white head in the glass.  Your nose picks up aromas of plums and sweet malt, and the taste has a very clean, dry, rich malt flavor.  You get notes of stone fruits, yeast, caramel, and spice.  Very complex and delicious, this amazing brew checks in at 9% ABV.

If you find yourself in a bar with Chimay and aren't sure which variety to order, don't fret.  They're all delicious.  Brewed by the Cisterian Monks of Chimay since 1862, this beer is on the cusp of the Top 25.  Find it, drink it.

Thing to Think About Today:
If I'm thinking about rocking the tuxedo, then let's all stop and think about the man who does it best.  Bond.  James Bond.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F208Zc4pXbk

Gonna Drink Now.....

Beer #123 Trappist Ale / Brasserie d'Orval, Orval, Belgium

Sometimes I have an awful day and share my joy with the people of the internet.  Today was too much of a beating to even bother typing out the details.  Straight to the booze, shall we?

Tonight I'm crossing another Trappist beer off the list, this one from Orval (hint: hit the Trappist tag on the right to check the rest).  This one pours a dark amber, with a thick, persistent head.  You pick up notes of malt, yeast, and light citrus on the nose.  The taste is a heady mix of plum, malt and mild hops.  Really, the most unique aspect of this beer is a subtle tartness, which was rather unexpected from a Belgian pale ale, but very much welcome. A nice dry finish on this one, and a very manageable 6.9% ABV.   Huge thumbs up here. Will definitely be bringing this beer back to the house again in the future.

Marci has previously crossed Orval off the list, her review can be found here.

Thing to Think About Today:
Today marks the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs - I admit that I'm a casual hockey fan during the regular season, but something about playoff hockey is definitely exciting.  And not just that my doppelganger in life is former Philadelphia Flyer Keith Jones, although that helps.  Seriously, google him, find me.  So, let's do two things here: Celebrate some civic pride for the hometown hockey squad (they'll need it), and play some music to get me fired up enough to leave the house for work tomorrow.  Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, meet Bill Conti's Gonna Fly Now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hzDyCugSOQ

Beer 89: Orval Trappist Ale or Proof Crackberries are Addicting

Today marked the first day of Pennsylvania’s anti-texting while driving law.  The law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from sending, reading or writing a text-based communication while his/her vehicle is in motion.  No more texting, instant messaging, email, tweeting or browsing the Internet.  But feel free to use your GPS or take and make calls.

I freely admit that I text while driving, but only when in dead stopped traffic jams or at red lights.  I’m not proud but that damn red, blinking light on my phone is like the siren’s call across an ocean.  Must. Look. At. Phone.  The GPS on the other hand.  In the past month, I’ve veered off the road and almost rear-ended someone.  But that’s cool, Commonwealth.  I managed to stop in time.  No harm.  No foul.  Just took a few years off my life.

In my humble opinion, this law has no teeth.  From what I read at lunch, it’s going to be hard to prove once tickets are issued and it seems like it’s pretty subjective to enforce.  And from the looks of it on my drive home, no one gives a shit and they are all texting away anyway.

I, on the other hand, left my phone in my purse and tried to be a good citizen.  And I was, but not without quite a few spastic lunges at the passenger seat before I realized I was reaching for that phone.

***

There is no correlation between that rambling thought and tonight’s beer -- an Orval Trappist Ale.  It poured a coppery-brown in my glass with a full, off-white head.  It smells of candy and plums with malt.  The carbonation is just right.  That fruit comes through in the taste and you get a hoppy kick toward the end.  I found the alcohol to be surprisingly present.  Surprisingly because this is listed at 6.9% ABV and I tend toward big beers.

In case you’re interested, Gary drops some Trappist knowledge in this post.  And on that note, I’m out.  Cheers.

IT'S A TRAPPE!

Beer #85 Rochefort 10 / Brasserie de Rochefort, Rochefort, Belgium

Busy day today - picked up my dad and went to State College to see the last home PSU basketball game of the season.  Free tickets helped.  While the Lions dropped a close game, the program has a bright future with Coach Chambers calling the shots.  Within two years, this team will contend for a Big Ten title.  Mark it down.

However, despite some great father and son bonding time, the day ended on a sad note.  Sad, because Marci made herself a frozen chicken pot pie.  Without me.

Now, many of you might think me missing this meal is a good thing, as frozen chicken pot pie can't possibly the best option for dinner.  I'll admit that it isn't.  However, we're believers in the Marie Callender's chicken pot pie, available in fine grocery freezer cases everywhere.  While I haven't had one of these in years, back in the early days right after college, this was a staple in our household.  Gradually, the pot pie was phased out of the rotation, as we realized (a) we could afford much better meals and (2) damn these are unhealthy to eat on a regular basis.  So kudos, Marci, for kicking it old school today.  I'm more than a little bit jealous.

Enough about frozen foods, what about a brewery frozen in time?  Tonight I'm drinking a Rochefort 10, from Brasserie de Rochefort.  In case you didn't see last week's post on La Trappe, this is another one of the sacred seven Trappist breweries.  Rochefort is located inside the Abbey de Notre-Dame Saint-Rémy, a monastery that has roots back to 1230, but has only been brewing beer since 1595.  ONLY.  And like Marci's dinner tonight, the monks definitely kick it old school, as they keep a simple lifestyle, adhere to strict diets, and only brew enough beer to cover the costs of the abbey and support charitable causes.

The beer itself is divine (monks brewing beer pun for you there!).  It pours a dark, brownish black with a tan head.  There's a malty, chocolate aroma, and the taste brings malt, caramel, and a toasted bitter chocolate.  There's a subtle sweetness there as well.  If you see Rochefort, order one.  It's that simple, but I will say buyer beware: while this beer is delicious, it's a potent 11.3% ABV.  Rochefort does make two other  beers with more manageable alcohol content, so you have some options there.

Monks of old started brewing beer for sustenance; the beer was literally nutrient rich bread in a glass.  If I could drink beer like this every day, I might give up solid food as well.  Even the oh-so delicious frozen pot pie.

Thing to Think About Today:
Let's get something in the open.  Every time I see a Trappist beer, I think of Star Wars.  Why is that you ask?  I bring your attention to Rebel Alliance leader Admiral Akbar, who once famously warned his troops against... well, just watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4

IT'S A TRAP!  As Star Wars is arguably the most popular film of all time, I suppose it makes sense that Akbar and his warning are still a relevant part of pop culture. In fact, so relevant Ole Miss considered adopting Akbar as their.... mascot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ljrGXktR4

So that's why I think of Star Wars every time the topic of Trappist beers comes up.  I guess I'll leave you with this as your official thing to think about today: ALWAYS be on the lookout for traps.  Particularly beers brewed by monks!

This Beer? MANEATER.

Beer #80 La Trappe Quadrupel / Brouwerij De Koningshoeven, Tilburg, The Netherlands

I swear, my dear American craft breweries, that one day we'll drink a bunch of your product. I promise this. However, if it's Tuesday, then it's another offering from Europe. This time, it's the quad from De Koningshoeven, better known as La Trappe, a brewery in Holland. This amber beer brings aromas of malt and some light citrus. The taste immediately brings a sweet taste of malt and yeast, with banana and caramel present. Bottle conditioned with roots dating back to 1884, this trappist ale weighs in at 10% ABV and definitely packs a punch.

But you ask: what's a trappist ale?

I'm glad you asked that question.  Trappist ales come from monks who brew beer to sustain their monastery and support charitable causes.  There are seven officially certified Trappist breweries, and they're serious about the designation.  De Koningshoeven had their Trappist status taken away previously, and only returned back once they proved the monks were brewing the beer, not some hired hands.

To beer geeks, the Trappist label is a big deal, although there are rumors of an eighth monastery trying to gain the status.  Part of the reason why it's a big deal is because these beers are among the best Belgium (and the Netherlands!) have to offer.  To receive this designation, you need to put in some work.  From trappist.be:

 “Trappist” has to satisfy a number of strict criteria proper to this logo before it may bear this name: 

1. The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision.
2. The brewery must be of secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life.
3. The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture.  The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.  Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.
4. Trappist breweries are constantly monitored to assure the irreproachable quality of their beers.

These monks brew beer and help those in need?  I like it.

Thing to Think About Today:

Let's see.... A beer from Holland. Must mean its time for you to think about.... Hall and Oates. Get it? Holland Oates?  Yeah, that was pretty weak.  Anyway.

Anyone can suggest you listen to 80's pop sensation Hall and Oates, so I'll take it one step further and suggest you listen to a duo that decided to produce an entire album of Hall and Oates covers. Yes friends, its time for you to unwind, relax, kick back, and think about The Bird and The Bee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms_xpqF7hjY