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!