Weekend? Over.

Day #512 Petrus Aged Red / Brouwerij Bavik, Harebeke-Bavikhove, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: Another Aged Red, a Winterbier, some Aged Pale, and more Aged Pale

And so ends another weekend!  This one was filled with long stretches of relaxation mixed with furious bouts of activity.  Had some friends show up last night for a surprise birthday party, and met up with friends again this evening for some beers.  In between, I accomplished the following:
1. Cut the grass (really, that means mowed the weeds)
2. Took a nap
3. Not much else

Hey, sometimes you don't really get much done during a weekend.  It happens.  However, nothing stops the beer review train, and tonight is a glass of Brouwerij Bavik's Petrus Aged Red from a recent TJ's visit.  In the glass you see a clear, dark cherry color.  Sort of like dark cherry Kool-Aid, if that flavor exists.  The aroma is sweet, like a cherry cola, and the taste is a mix of lots of awesome flavors, even if I don't know what they are.  Seriously.  You get a bunch of cherry flavor, some sweetness, and a dry finish.  There's a sort of medicinal quality to it, like cough syrup.  You can convince me there's a Dr. Pepper vibe going on in there as well.  I don't know what to make of this beer for the most part, but I know I like it.  If you like Oud Bruins or just want to try something unique, this is a great beer to try.

This looks rather purple, doesn't it?

Thing to Think About Today:
This is the spot where I would have tied in the name of the beer with some music and played you Red, Red Wine by UB40, but I already used that one earlier in this blog adventure.  Damn it.  So, instead, I give you a song that has nothing to do with anything, other than the fact I like it and it brings a smile to my face.  Relax and ease out of the weekend with some Yo La Tengo and Autumn Sweater, my friends.  Enjoy your evening while you're at it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K5ym7f5P4w

"We could slip away / Wouldn't that be better?"

Day 510: Another New Petrus?!?

Today was one of those days when people just really impressed me. If you share a little information--open yourself up just a little bit--you'll be amazed at how helpful others can be. That's the lesson of the day.

And in other news, I have found more and more often that I refer to myself as a shark--quickly adding, I have to keep moving or it's over.

Happy Friday, kids!

Today's beer is the Petrus Aged Red. I almost ordered two other beers ahead of this one, but thankfully Mr. Blog Named Brew had my back and pointed out that there was an oud bruin to be had when we celebrated his birthday earlier this week. He's a good egg, that one!

It poured a really pretty deep mahogany color with a wispy tan head. There's lots of macerated cherries in both the smell and taste. I also noted a bit of chocolate fudge in the nose. It teetered on the edge of syrupy but never got to the point of being cloying. The flavor, in addition to having lots of cherry notes, highlighted strawberry and a medicinal thing that honestly reminded me of Robitussin. Strange but true. It's wildly different than other Petrus offerings I've had...you know all two of them! But as they say--variety is the spice of life!

Beer stats
Style: Flanders oud bruin
ABV: 8.5%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Brouwerij Bavik
My review of Winterbier
His and hers reviews of Aged Pale

Day 485: When is a Petrus Not a Petrus?

When it's a winterbier, of course!

In my mind, Petrus equates to Petrus Aged Pale. Kind of the same way that to many folks on the East Coast, Yuengling means lager--despite Yuengling offering many solid alternatives to the lager.

So imagine the loop my  tastebuds were thrown for when I tried the Petrus Winterbier! This is decidedly not the Petrus I know, but it is a Petrus that I grew to love.

It poured a lovely mahogany color with a loose tan head. It's full of rich pie spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. It reminds me a bit of whiskey. There's honey and malt in there too. It drinks with a lot of body and has a dry finish.

Beer stats
Style: Belgian dark ale
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Brouwerij Bavik
Mr. Blog Named Brew gives thanks for Petrus Aged Pale
I want to drink the Aged Pale winter, summer, spring and fall

Thanks!

Beer #348 Petrus Aged Pale Ale / Brouwerij Bavik, Harebeke-Bavikhove, Belgium
Beers to go: 18

Winding down a glorious Thanksgiving Day, and hopefully your day was as good as mine.  I will tell anyone who listens that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and nothing else is even close.  There's no pressure of shopping or gift giving, just relaxing time spent with family, delicious food, and some football.  I'm a simple man at heart, and this holiday has everything I need.  In the spirit of the day, I do feel I should stop and make mention of things I'm thankful for:
1. A great family; big thanks to my brother-in-law and sister for hosting everyone today and doing a huge portion of the cooking.  Somehow, me showing up with a pie and some wine while you guys cranked out a fantastic turkey and mountains of sides doesn't seem fair.  Your hospitality is a huge part of why Thanksgiving is such an awesome holiday.  So thank you.
2. A wonderful wife who shares hobbies with me.  Particularly crazy adventures involving craft beer.
3. A great group of friends.  My only wish is that I saw them more often, as it's always an adventure when we manage to get together and hang out.  So get a babysitter, and call me.  I'm free.
4. Bill O'Brien.  It may be odd to be thankful for a guy I haven't yet met, but his leadership of the Penn State football team has been really fun to watch this year.  I look forward to seeing what he does in the years to come to help restore the good name of PSU.
5. You, the reader of this blog.  In a universe filled with things to distract us and occupy our time, I appreciate you stopping by to read my rambling thoughts on life and beer.  Maybe you don't read every day (you should, but whatever), but the fact you spend some time here makes me feel good.  Thanks!

Let's wrap up this awesome holiday with a beer: specifically, a Petrus Aged Pale from Brouwerij Bavik in Belgium.  This Oud bruin shows off a beautiful clear gold hue with a thin white head.  As you get close to the glass, you find an intoxicating, tart, sour apple aroma.  When you take a sip, there are notes of oak, tart vinegar, apple, and some faint sweet notes.  Absolutely, positively a beer that must be tried by people who appreciate a complex beer.  Petrus is an all time favorite of mine, and earns a coveted spot in my Top 25 beers for the year.  Hooray!

Sweet chalice for a killer beer

Brouwerij Bavik has been operating since 1894, and Google translates this gem from their website:

Today the fourth generation of this brewer sex through this website take a look behind the scenes of Bavik Brewery.

Wait, what?  Um, you all see the sentence about brewer sex through this website, right?  I'm not sure if I'm horrified or proud that this has been happening for four generations.  Ah, those crazy Belgians!

Thing to Think About Today:
I could just drop in some Adam Sandler here singing The Thanksgiving Song, but you come here to be fascinated and think differently.  Therefore, in memory of the delightful turkey I devoured today, let's spend a second being thankful for poultry.  Songs about poultry, you ask?  Well, that means The Trashmen singing the always unusual Surfing Bird.  Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6qlGhONoXg

Beer 76: Petrus Aged Pale

Tonight's beer is Petrus Aged Pale, a Flanders Oud Bruin from Brouwerij Bavik in Belgium.  This is an exceptional beer.  So exceptional that I knew it was going in my top 25 the moment we started this blog. 

The photo is courtesy of my Blackberry -- a la it is craptastic.  Sorry.  Petrus pours a super bubbly golden color.  It has a small white head that disappears quickly.  The smell is indicative of the sourness that is to come with a hint of funk and barnyard.  The taste is upfront -- tart and sour. It rounds out to a searingly dry finish.  Flavors include lemon, green apple.  I don't notice any strong hop or malt flavor -- the sourness overpowers them in a very good way. 

This is a beer that I wish to sip for hours from a never-ending supply.  I've drank it during the summer and thought it is perfect.  I've had it during the fall and considered it appropriate.  I had it in February in the dead of winter and loved it.  I wish I had another one right now.

***

As I typed the title for this post, I realized that we've surpassed the 75 day mark.  We are 20% of the way through this challenge.  Wow.  Another realization is that with the extra beers I've accidentally reviewed, I'll have had 370 beers during the 366 day challenge.  I imagine at the rate I'm going accidentally drinking the same brewery twice, I'm going to hit 400 easily.

On that note, I bid you cheers for a happy weekend!