Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak, from Van Steenberge, Ertvelde, East Flanders. Reddish brown with a slight bitter finish. Strong at 10.5. Described as being a good winter warmer with a long finish. My corked bottle seemed a little lacking on the bubbles but was still enjoyable.

Another beer from the same place is the golden, hoppier Piraat Ale, also available in a corked bottle. I didn't have the camera set up when I tasted this one.

Duchesse de Bourgogne

This beer is named after the Duke of Burgundy's daughter, Mary born in Bruges back in 1457.

Belgian Red Ale, dark reddish color, apple or fruit cider nose, slight pucker, sour tartness to it. 6.2% ABV Brewed by the Verhaege family with a brewing history dating back to the 1500's.

Shiner: Spezial Leicht

At the local HEB and saw a few new Shiner labels, one of a re-do of the Heffeweizen with a bold new orange label, plus the new Light, or Leicht or whatever. To tell you the truth, I buy Shiner to drink a local beer with flavor, this tasted just like your regular light beer). It would probably be cheaper to go with any light beer out there. Not a fan.

Corsendonk Belgian Pale Ale

Corsendonk, Brewed at Du Bocq in Pernode Belgium. The Corsendonk Priory dates from 1659, it was shut down in 1789 by Austrian Emperor Joseph II, again in 1789 during the French Revolution the properties were seized and auctioned off. From the 19th century forward Monks no longer make the beer but it's logos and taste reflect an abbey style.

Fermented twice, once with top fermentation and the second time in the bottle. It is matured for three weeks before being sent out. A six month aging period is recommended for a better result.

Orkney SkullSplitter Ale

Orkney Brewery
Quoyloo Sandwick
UK Scotland

Orkney is a small group of islands off Scotland. Home of Thorfin Hausakluif (Skullsplitter), the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney 1,000 AD.

Dark reddish copper color, thick tan head. Heavy malt taste with a slight bitter finish. Picked this up on my last trip to Louisiana.

Bootlegger Brown Ale

Independence Brewing Company
Austin, Tx.

Just down the road.

Nutty roasted malt nose, roasted malt flavors throughout. Dark maple syrup in color, thin tan head.

South Congress and the State Capital featured on the label. They have some other beers to choose from with some other local icons on the label.

Gingerman in Austin

I am taking one of my just recently turned legal drinking age employees to the Gingerman this wednesday. Need to make sure he understands what good beer tastes like.

Feel free to come join us from some darts and pints, especially if you are buying a round or three!

Wedneasday, Jan 9th, sometime after 7.

Happy New Beer and Year

Farewell 2007, Clean slate in 2008.

This time of year we should reflect on the past year and make plans for the new one. I decided to reflect on the beers I put away for long term storage and wait with anticipation to open them in the future.

Chimay Grand Reserve (2007) I like to put away at least two bottles, then open one on new years the following)
Fuller Limited Edition
Shiner 98 Bavarian Amber
Bourbon Casks Winter Ale
Velvet
Westmalle Tripel
Sisyphus 2007 Barley Wine
Ayinger Celebrator Doppel Bock
Corsendonk
Ommegang Rare VOS

And of course to all of the beers I drank this past year, farewell, I will miss you.

A Blend of Belgian Ales

In addition to tasting a few ales, we will be creating our first attempt at a salad dressing made from a Framboise Beer. Start with a saute of onion and garlic, deglaze with the Framboise beer, salt,sugar, rice and white vinegar. Mixed green salad, purple onion, feta cheese and walnuts. Good salad, needs more beer in dressing for a stronger raspberry flavor.

Tasting notes: Of course raspberry from nose to close. Cloudy cranberry hue, great after dinner drink.




Duchese De Bourgogne, A Belgian Red Ale.
6%ABV. Deep reddish or Merlot colors. Apple or fruit cider on the nose. Tart apple flavors are the first notes with a pucker or tart finish.

This ale was named after Mary of Burgundy, born 1457 in Brussels, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold. France and Belgium were one country at that time. Barbara, Marie and Chantal enjoyed this ale.





St. Bernardus Pior 8
Dubbel Ale
Caramel orange in color, sweet malt taste and smooth finish.
Bottle label: "Bringing Heavenly Nectar to Earth"


Koningshoeven Quadrupel Ale (No Photos)
Ale from the Holland Abbey founded 1884. Yeast strain used is unique to this Abbey.

Beers from Louisiana

More notes and photos coming soon.
Heiner Brau Marzen











Abita Restoration Ale











Abita Jockamo IPA











Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager

Louisiana: Thanksgiving Day, Gourmands vs Burgundians

Today is Thanksgiving I am in Louisiana with my wife and her family to enjoy the holidays. I have brought along a selection of seasonal and Belgium beers to sample and make notes. The tasting selection is:

Tripel Karmeliet
Delerium Tremens
St Arnolds Christmas Ale
Widmer Snow Plow Milk Stout
Breckenridge Christmas Ale.



Triple Karmeliet 8.1% ABV Belgian Ale
Thick long lasting head with a tight bubble pack, lots of lace on glass. Fruit aromas with a slight fruit aftertaste. Golden honey in color, malt on back of the throat.

Delerium Tremens 8.5%ABV Belgian Ale
Light honey color, less malt taste. Three fingered thick head, tight bubble pack.

St. Arnold's Christmas Ale.
Thin Head, orange copper in color. Bananas on nose? Smooth with nice
mouth feel.









Widmer Snow Plow Milk Stout
Heavy roasted malt on nose, with roasted malt taste, dark chocolate in color. Very thin head, heavy roasted coffee flavor throughout.

Spoetzl Brewery: (97) Bohemian Black Lager

Spoetzl Brewery
603 Brewery
Shiner, TX 77984

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager

Shiner decided to re-release it 97 beer as one of its regular lines of beers. Pours jet black, thin head that dissipates fairly quick. Dark roasted malt taste, nice and smooth mouth feel with a clean finish. Label and taste is different from when it was released as the 97 year anniversary beer.

Available in Austin: Yes

Beers for Halloween: Scarecrow, Hobgblin, Dead Guy Ales

To celebrate Halloween I decided to try a few "in the spirit of" named beers.

Scarecrow Ale.
Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, England.
USDA Organic

Caramel color with a slight haze.
Malty nose.
Slight malt taste, some hoppy bitterness.
Medium body, small bitter/dry finish.

Not my favorite ale but enjoyable overall.
Available in Austin: Yes


Hobgoblin Ale . 5.5 ABV Ale

Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, England.

Ruby brown color, off white bubbly head.
Coffee and toffee nose.
Roasted malt with a slight nutty taste, thin mouth feel.
Available in Austin: Yes




Rogue Brewery
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, Oregon.

This Ale was created in the 90's to commemorate the Mayan Day of the Dead for Casa U Betcha Mexican Restaurant in Portland. The dead guy design turned out to be so popular, that is was re-incorporated into a bottled Maibock a few years later. The label even glows in the dark!!

I picked this up in a 64 oz growler to take to a Halloween gathering, when I opened the bottle is had decent carbonation but poured with little or no head. The bottle size might have had something to do with it. Overall it was a very enjoyable beer, I will pick up a smaller size next time for better notes and a re taste!
Available in Austin: Yes

I couldn't get my hands on the following beers but they seemed fitting for the event.

The Moorehouse's Brewery in Burnley, Lanconshire, England offer s few spooky styles with a Black Cat Ale, PendleWitches Brew and a Blond Witch. The Pendle Witches were put on trail in the 1600, during the rule of King James the 1st. King James produced a book 'Daemonology' to help local magistrates identify witches, that he believed were part of a plot to remove him from power. On august 20th 1612, seven Pendle Witches were hanged at Lancaster Prison.
Available in Austin: Unknown


Middle Ages Brewing Company
120 Wilkinson St.
Syracuse, New York 13204.

Offers various styles with some great mid evil names. Wizard winter Ale is 6.8 ABV Ale with a chestnut color. Another noted title is the Druid Fluid, a barley wine made with 6 different malts. 9.5 ABV
The company started producing in September, a 12th Anniversary Porter available in growler fills or tasting at the brewery.

Available in Austin: Unknown

Czech Republic Revisited: Velvet

Velvet Beer
Královský Pivovar Krušovice a.s. (The Royal Brewery of Krušovice ) Krušovice, Czech Republic. 5.1% ABV

Pours a nice amber with a Guinness type cascade effect. Thick long lasting head. Very smooth almost creamy mouthfeel with some sweet undertones. One of my favorite beers! This batch was hand delivered by my folks after a recent visit to the Czech Republic. The first time I discovered the beer was at a pub in Mikoluv, Czech Republic in 2003.

Available in Austin: Not commercially exported out of Czech Republic.
Beer Consumed During Writing: Velvet of course, had to sacrifice one for the photo.

Pauwel Kwak, Belgian Ale

Pauwel Kwak

Brewery Bosteels
Kerkstraat 96
9255 Buggenhout
Belgium
T:32-52-33.23.23

Chantal and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary tonight, we decided to toast the occasion with a bottle of Kwak while we rode in style to dinner in a stretch Lincoln. Very enjoyable beer, maybe it was the occasion that added to the enjoyment, but this one is on my list.

First brewed in 1791, a Belgian Ale (Dubbel)with an 8% ABV and typically served in a "yard glass" or in my case a Trappist glass. Very full body with a nice amber or cherry wood color, slightly sweet malt flavor, no bitter aftertaste like other Belgian ales. Malty and hoppy aroma with a white head. Ideal serving temp: 5 - 6c (41-43f).

The most noted aspect of this beer is the glass it is traditionally served in, prominently displayed on the label. This glass has a rounded bottom and requires the support of a wooden holder. The design of this glass stems from the days of the stagecoach. When a coach stopped at an inn, the horseman were required to stay with the horses. I have read two theories on this next part: one is beer "mugs" could not be held by thick gloved horseman, the enterprising brewer Pauwel Kwak created this special glass for them to hold with thick gloves. The second theory is the special shaped glass was created for it's ease to fit in a horse stirrup. Regardless it provided a much needed beer for thirsty travelers.

Available in Austin: Yes

The Bosteels Brewery also offers a Tripel Karmeliet and Deus.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company: Oktoberfest

Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2522 Fairway Park Drive
Houston, TX 77092
713.686.9494

Style: Marzen/October Fest
6.0% ABV

Rich caramel color, fluffy head. Tastes of sweet malt with hints of caramel with hops in the end. Nice mouth feel.

Available in Austin: Yes

Left Handed Brewing Pale Ale

Left Hand Brewing Company
1265 Boston Ave
Longmont, CO 80501
303 772 0258

Jackman's American Pale Ale

Color: Golden
Medium Body
ABV 5.2%
Malt: Premium Pale 2-row and Crystal
Centennial Cascade Hops

Easy rider style label. Nice malty flavor, with balanced hop finish.

Available in Austin: Yes

Sam Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner

Samuel Adams

Hallertau Imperial Pilsner

8.8% Alc.

“An Intense Hop Experience”

Noble Hallertau Mittlefrueh Hops

Glass: Pilsner

Light honey color

Mild hop aroma in the nose with a strong but balanced hop flavor, light body. Smooth finish with a nice hoppy aftertaste.

Available in Austin: Yes

Independence Brewing Company

Independence Brewing Company
512 707-0099
3913 Todd Lane #607, Austin, TX 78744

Some friends came to visit us for the Austin City Limits Music Festival from San Francisco. During there visit, they wanted a slice of Texas cuisine, what better way than a large BBQ feast and cold beers from a local brewery. We chose the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, aside from great food, you can bring your own cooler of beer!

Independence Pale Ale

PALE ALE STATS:
Style: American Pale Ale
Alcohol by volume: 5.5%
Beginning gravity: 13.5º Plato
Ending gravity: 3.0° Plato
Bitterness units: 39
Yeast: Ale yeast
Bittering hops: Horizon
Finishing hops: Cascade, Saaz
Malts: Two-Row Pale, 20° Caramel

Nice aroma and clean, hoppy finish. The woman firing the cannon is Angelina Eberly, who saved Austin with single cannon shot.

Freestyle Wheat Beer


Style: American Wheat Beer
Alcohol by volume: 4.7%
Beginning gravity: 11.0° Plato
Ending gravity: 2.0° Plato
Bitterness units: 15
Yeast: Ale yeast
Bittering hops: Cascade
Malts: Two-Row Pale, and
American White Wheat.

Great refreshing beer after a long day at ACL, it was even better enjoying it while we were at ACL! Light, clean and crisp, no bitterness. The diving boards at Barton Springs represented on the label, my dog like to swim there!

Bootlegger Brown Ale

Style: Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume: 6.0%
Beginning gravity: 14.5° Plato
Ending gravity: 3.0° Plato
Bitterness units: 14
Yeast: Top-fermenting ale yeast
Bittering hops: Cascade
Malts: Two-Row Pale, Chocolate

Great Beer to finish the meal with, nice and smooth finish. Nice shot of the Capital in Austin, he is probably cruising down S Congress trying to avoid hitting any first Thursday folks.

Independence Brewing also makes an Austin Amber Ale, Jasper Old Ale and a limited Oklahoma Suks Brand. I am going to try and get my hands on a few of those.

Breckenridge Brewery: Small Batch 471 ESB

Breckenridge Brewery
600 South Main Street
Breckenridge, CO 80424
Phone: 970-453-1550

Extra Special Bitter: Limited Edition
9.2% ABV
Reddish Copper in color, thick head with a hoppy nutty nose. Hops are the first in line for flavors, then the bitterness kicks in. Bitter aftertaste with a slight tinge of the alcohol.

Available in Austin: Yes