Day 632: Perennial and Half Acre Make a Beer Baby

I'm just going to borrow what's already been written about this collaboration between Perennial Brewing and Half Acre Brewing from the Beer Street Journal (obviously correcting for typos because typos! Seriously?): One of St. Louis, Missouri’s newest breweries Perennial is collaborating with Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago). The beer is dubbed Plan B and is the first collaboration by Perennial. Plan B is a sour mash Belgian dark ale brewed with black currants. Currants are perennial berries with a sweet taste.

I found my Plan B at TJ's--my go to beer bar. It poured a deep, dark brown color ale with a tan head. It smells like wet wood and light smoke. The flavor is mild with just a hint of sour. The currants were very understated and I'm not sure I would have noticed them if I didn't already know they were in there.

Beer stats
Style: Belgian dark ale
ABV: 8%
IBUs: Unknown
Rating: Good

Previously reviewed from Half Acre
My review of Daisy Cutter with a warning on the dangers of string cheese
Mr. Blog's review of Daisy Cutter and some excellent breakfast recommendations in Chicago (mine has a far greater entertainment value!)

Previously reviewed from Perennial
First one!

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

Today Isn't Much Better

Beer #112 #133 / Bøgedal Bryghus, Vejle, Denmark

Do you know what today needed? Some time away from the house spent with friends so I could stop being sad. Courtesy of a few good friends, we got exactly that with a trip to Victory Brewing Company for a late lunch and some sensational afternoon beers. Thank guys, much appreciated. I've already reviewed Victory but had a new brew today; their Alla Spina Novello, brewed in partnership with Mark Vetri's Alla Spina restaurant. This delicious beer is an immensely drinkable Belgian blonde. If you're at Alla Spina or Victory, please try this beer.

Today's official brewery for review is one that came on draft at Farmer's Cabinet - the Bodegal #133.  This beer poured a dark chocolate with a tan head, and had a chocolate aroma.  The flavor had notes of creamy chocolate and cherry, with a tart sourness.  Not my typical beer, but quite good.  Marci previously reviewed this brewery here in this post, and shared some great info on the brewery.  Check it out.  Only complaint - it was poured in a 7oz glass.  What's up with that, Farmer's Cabinet?

Thing to Think About Today:
Lost in the shuffle of yesterday was the fact I drank a beer from Kansas.  You may never find yourself in Kansas, and even if you do find yourself in Kansas, you may never find yourself in Topeka.  However, should you find yourself in Topeka, I encourage you to stop by Skinny's for a beer or six.  Went there with some colleagues, and we were mildly surprised to find it to be more of a speakeasy - people openly gambling on their card games (with legal tender), and 32oz cups of beer for something like $2.  No, it's not craft beer heaven, but you can find some craft beers there.  More importantly, you get to be in a real bar that is more worried about their customers having a good time than creating some pretentious experience.  Thank me later.

Beer 97: Bøgedal No. 133

Yesterday on the drive home, Gary reminded me that we missed Flash's birthday.  So this one's for you, Flash.  Happy 15 years and 4 days!! You are an evil, evil genius and continue to astound me with your cunning and flair for destruction.



No. 2 and No. 3 praying for levitating steak



Steak prep





We celebrated with sirloin tip steak -- or at least the Army of Dachshunds had steak.  The people had poached eggs over green beans dressed with Parmesan and olive oil.

 



The Old Man being nonchalant



Mmm...tasty!









Photographing Flash chowing down was difficult!



In celebration of such a unique dog, I'm drinking a unique beer.  Bøgedal No. 133 out of Denmark. 

From the Bøgedal website:  Bøgedal is an atypical brewery in that it is Scandinavia’s only all gravity brewery.  The beer runs from cask to cask by means of pulleys and flows from level to level without the use of pumps.  The wort is cooked over an open fire. Because of the delicate methods in use, Bøgedal can produce a nearly clear beer without filtration, thereby retaining many of the important flavours and aromas.  The brews are never identical, even when the same recipe is followed.  Low technology without temperature control allows the beer to live its own life and develop naturally.  Bøgedal brews the so-called "goodbeer", going back to the preindustrial age.  This is a strong, very rich beer with many of the natural sugars still intact.

No. 133 is a Belgian dark ale.  It poured a deep, dark chocolate brown with a thick tan head.  It left significant lacing.  It smelled a bit sour with dark fruit aromas.  The flavor starts off reminding me of milk chocolate covered cherries and turns to a tongue squeezing tartness.  Overall it is excellent.  And guess where I had this one on draught?  The Farmer's Cabinet, of course!

Cheers!