Zot!

Day #593 Brugse Zot / Brouwerij de Halve Maan, Brugse, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: Straffe Hendrick Tripel and more Straffe Hendrick Tripel

Today's a hustle day, so not much commentary on Belgium, but today's beer is a the lovely Brugse Zot, a blonde ale from de Halve Maan, a brewery in the also lovely town of Brugse - also spelled Brugge. This multiple spelling depends on whether you're applying the Flemish or French spelling, as all things in Belgium are spelled in both languages.  Confusing?  At times.

While this picture is from a bar near the Friday Market, a square in the center of town, our group did tour the brewery, although we didn't get a VIP tour.  The "gen pop" tour was interesting, even if you could tell the jokes from the guide get recycled more than an empty beer bottle.  We did get to go on the roof and catch this view, which was pretty awesome:

Nice view

Anyway, on to the beer.  In the glass, you see a dark gold color with a light aroma of citrus, floral hops and grain. This beer is brewed with four kinds of malt, and it shows with a nice balance of flavors and some decent sweetness.  Very good summertime beer, which checks in at a manageable 6% ABV.  If you see this one, you should try this one!

Smile for the camera, Zot

According to our tour guide, Zot is a phrase for joker or idiot, or someone who lives within the walls of Brugge (or Brugse).  Now you know.

Thing to Think About Today:
Is Vampire Weekend awesome?  Yes.  Do you love song of the summer Blurred Lines?  Yes.  Do you want Vampire Weekend covering Blurred Lines?  OF COURSE YOU DO!  Yes, you can click on the embedded video below, but to see video of this performance, click here for some awesomeness.

College Week is Here!

Beer #260 Straffe Hendrick Brugse Tripel 9° / Huisbrouwerij de Halve Maan, Brugge, Belgium

I'm multi-tasking tonight, as I'm in the midst of writing a post and participating in a fantasy football draft.  Fantasy football is a great way to stay engaged with games I'd otherwise not pay attention to, but really it's an opportunity for a group of fraternity brothers make fun of each other.  Non-stop.  This being said, I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.  Appropriate, I'm spending the evening (virtually speaking) with college friends, as students were returning back to campus all over the country this weekend.  The fall semester is upon us, people.  This time of year always makes me nostalgic, and I'm eagerly looking forward to getting back on campus this Saturday.

Tonight's draft is being washed down some Straffe Hendrick, from de Halve Maan.  It pours with an amber color and fluffy white head, and gives off aromas of fruit and yeast, with some sweetness.  When you take a sip, you're greeted with apples, sweet malt, caramel, and honey.  Really nice Belgian beer, and I think this brewery is one we might visit on our bicycle tour of Belgium next summer.

Don't draft a kicker too soon!

This brewery dates back to 1856.  It feels like my fantasy football draft started around the same time.

Thing to Think About Today:
All this week, I'll be running down the top seven movies about college.  I'm not going to lie - many of these formed the expectations for how college life would be during my formative years.  Okay, so real life didn't always live up to these expectations... but sometimes it did, and it was glorious.

We'll start off the week with Back to School, starring the legendary Rodney Dangerfield.  Dangerfield plays Thornton Mellon, a rough around the edges businessman who never went to college, but decides to enroll when his son has questions about whether to attend college or not.  Dangerfield immediately becomes Big Man on Campus, throwing huge parties and even joining the diving team long enough to drop his patented 'Triple Lindy' on the fans.  But what happens when he actually has to.... learn?  Regardless of whether you've seen this one before or if it's new to you, please make it a point to check this one out soon.

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

Beer 252: de Halve Maan Tripel

My good friend Kelli won the weekend at 8:20 a.m. for the funniest comment:

So if you get dressed for a wedding at dawn, then stop for gas and breakfast, everyone thinks you're on a walk of shame.

Now while I continue to chuckle at her misadventures, I'll leave you with today's beer review.


The Straffe Hendrick tripel from de Halve Maan in the heart of Bruges, Belgium. Also a place that I'll be visiting in less than ten months!

The tripel poured a light chestnut color and had a hazy, dense look. It also had a bright white, thin head. It smells of plums and fruity sugar. The taste is well balanced. You notice the warmth from the ABV right away. (9%) The flavor is Belgian yeast, candi sugar, biscuits and some fruit. It also has a prickly level of carbonation.

I'd call this a good tripel but definitely not the best one I've ever had. Cheers!