6.28.2007
Maudite
Tonight I tasted Maudite, a Belgian Strong Dark from Canada. It was pretty good, a bit better I think than the Chimay I had last night, but nothing that really gets me going. I'm not sure how much it costs, it wasn't labelled, but I'm guessing about $2-$3 a bottle. For that, is it worth it, I don't know... I can get Duvel at about the same price, and I love the Strong Golden Ales. I have a photo I may post later...
6.27.2007
Chimay Red
I also tasted Chimay Red tonight. I have a picture downstairs on the digital camera, which I may upload later. But overall Chimay Red was pretty boring. It was dark, but not too sweet, which was nice. It gave my wife heartburn right away, even with only one sip. She also said it smelled and tasted like apple cider, which I didn't really pick up on. What's that, Diacetyl or something? Anyway, it was OK, but for $4 a bottle, nothing really special. I am really looking forward to the Cinq Cents (Chimay White).
Wine Tasting
Last night, after brewing beer, I actually went to a wine tasting. Just to see what it was like.
It was interesting - everyone there seemed to know each other, like they were a pack of wine tasters who went to every tasting (they are held weekly at Riverwalk, a local bar/restaurant, plus there are a few wineries in the area).
As for the wine itself - one was actually a lambic that tasted just like Kriek Boon, which tastes just like a wine cooler. The bottle of this wine even said (in French) that it was spontaneously fermented. Hmmm. Except it was $18 for a 750 ml of 7.5% ABV. Kriek Boon was probably $5.00 for 330 ml, but I don't know the alcohol content. But the wine bottle was cooler than the beer bottle.
The other wines were OK I guess, there was one white, and three reds. The reds were all harsh - smoky, peppery, nasty. And I guess they were supposed to be, because most of the other people liked them. I liked the white the best - it wasn't too harsh, but it was a little boring.
I think for now I'll stick with beer, thanks.
It was interesting - everyone there seemed to know each other, like they were a pack of wine tasters who went to every tasting (they are held weekly at Riverwalk, a local bar/restaurant, plus there are a few wineries in the area).
As for the wine itself - one was actually a lambic that tasted just like Kriek Boon, which tastes just like a wine cooler. The bottle of this wine even said (in French) that it was spontaneously fermented. Hmmm. Except it was $18 for a 750 ml of 7.5% ABV. Kriek Boon was probably $5.00 for 330 ml, but I don't know the alcohol content. But the wine bottle was cooler than the beer bottle.
The other wines were OK I guess, there was one white, and three reds. The reds were all harsh - smoky, peppery, nasty. And I guess they were supposed to be, because most of the other people liked them. I liked the white the best - it wasn't too harsh, but it was a little boring.
I think for now I'll stick with beer, thanks.
6.26.2007
Brew Day
Today I am brewing Rev.2 of Stonington Memorial Summer Ale. SMSA was the first all grain beer I ever made, and it has been a crowd pleaser. So I decided to tackle it again, making some adjustments based on my experience. Right now it is mashing in.
I am of course tasting the yeast starter beer. This tastes pretty plain, but it does have a tangy finish to it, just like a wheat beer would. It is WY1010 American Wheat. I think it will also be fun to drink one of the original SMSA beers later, since every time I brew, I wish I could drink the finished beer right away. This will be pretty close to that!
I am of course tasting the yeast starter beer. This tastes pretty plain, but it does have a tangy finish to it, just like a wheat beer would. It is WY1010 American Wheat. I think it will also be fun to drink one of the original SMSA beers later, since every time I brew, I wish I could drink the finished beer right away. This will be pretty close to that!
6.25.2007
Funny Story
I did do a tasting tonight, of Westmalle Dubble. It was boring. But a funny thing did happen.
My son Boden is about a year and a half old. My oldest (3.5 years) was asleep and I wanted to check on my beers downstairs (I transferred Big Slick and Doree Forte to secondary today). I asked Boden, "Want to go check on my beers?" And he immediately pointed downstairs and said, "beer" (in his just beginning to talk voice, where most words sound the same, but this was definitely "beer" - he has said it before in context, and it was in context here too). So that was pretty funny.
Then we get down there, I strap him into his old high chair, and pick up the yeast starter for tomorrow's Stonington Memorial Summer Ale 2. He makes a motion indicating that he wants me to shake it around. Apparently he has seen me rouse yeast so much that he expects me to do it every time. Now there was some yeast on the side walls of the jug, so I did want to shake it up a bit just to get that down into the liquid of the starter, but I was shocked that I had taken him down there while I roused yeast so many times that he expects it now.
As a side note, I am not convinced that rousing does anything at all other than provide an exciting burst of bubbling activity as CO2 comes out of solution.
Then as I checked on Doree Forte (which was dosed with corn sugar at transfer, so it should bubble up again), he told me to shake that one up, too. So I did. Then I checked on GSX-R1.104 (which had a thick layer of stuff on top when I went to measure gravity (1.030~10%ABV) and maybe transfer today), and he told me to shake that one up. I am getting a bit crazy, but I actually asked him, "Do you really think that helps it?" And he gave an assertive nod. Mr. Future Brewer right there!
Of course he also nodded when I asked him if he saw dragons in the basement, so it is hard to tell...
My son Boden is about a year and a half old. My oldest (3.5 years) was asleep and I wanted to check on my beers downstairs (I transferred Big Slick and Doree Forte to secondary today). I asked Boden, "Want to go check on my beers?" And he immediately pointed downstairs and said, "beer" (in his just beginning to talk voice, where most words sound the same, but this was definitely "beer" - he has said it before in context, and it was in context here too). So that was pretty funny.
Then we get down there, I strap him into his old high chair, and pick up the yeast starter for tomorrow's Stonington Memorial Summer Ale 2. He makes a motion indicating that he wants me to shake it around. Apparently he has seen me rouse yeast so much that he expects me to do it every time. Now there was some yeast on the side walls of the jug, so I did want to shake it up a bit just to get that down into the liquid of the starter, but I was shocked that I had taken him down there while I roused yeast so many times that he expects it now.
As a side note, I am not convinced that rousing does anything at all other than provide an exciting burst of bubbling activity as CO2 comes out of solution.
Then as I checked on Doree Forte (which was dosed with corn sugar at transfer, so it should bubble up again), he told me to shake that one up, too. So I did. Then I checked on GSX-R1.104 (which had a thick layer of stuff on top when I went to measure gravity (1.030~10%ABV) and maybe transfer today), and he told me to shake that one up. I am getting a bit crazy, but I actually asked him, "Do you really think that helps it?" And he gave an assertive nod. Mr. Future Brewer right there!
Of course he also nodded when I asked him if he saw dragons in the basement, so it is hard to tell...
6.24.2007
Chimay Blue
So tonight, I tasted the Chimay Blue. This 33cl bottle cost me $3.99 at the Cask'n'Keg. It packs a 9%ABV punch, and is, of course, bottle conditioned.Sorry - no guest tasters or smellers tonight.
As you can see from the photo, this is a dark red/brown color, with a big head that settles quickly to a medium head (pictured).
This beer had a simple smell. It just smelled malty sweet and watery. I was surprised, and expected more complex aromas. It did have a big fuzzy mouthfeel and plenty of carbonation, despite the not-so-big head. Alcohol was immediately apparent and warming in the chest. Aaahhhhhhh... feels good. This beer was not too sweet, considering its dark color, which was good. As it warmed up, more roasted malt flavor and complexity did emerge, but I was halfway through a 9%ABV beer, so my analasys skills were muted somewhat. The hops were, again, moderate. Sure they were there, and I could taste them. It was somewhere between Wheat Beer and IPA (as if that helps at all). As it warmed up, it also developed more of a molasses, even almost chocolate smell to it.
Overall, this was pretty good. I would definitely drink it again, but it is a bit pricey. Maybe I should make it! My only regret is that I don't have a proper Chimay glass.
La Fin Du Monde
I had the pleasure of La Fin Du Monde last night. So much pleasure, I didn't get to blog it last night. This bottle was from Cask'n'Keg here in Mystic, which has lots of great beers available. This bottle was "best before 2/8/10". Funny thing is it was a twist off cap... It was of course bottle conditioned.
La Fin Du Monde ("the end of the world" for the severely language challenged) is made by Unibroue in Canada. But it is oh so Belgian. Triple fermented beauty in a glass.
It pours cloudy deep gold, with lots of big bubbles forming a luscious head. It has a strong Belgian fruity smell that invites you to tip it back and drink up. The flavor is very fruity and spicy, as a Belgian ought to be. I'm not sure - this might be a Trippel? Check http://www.beeradvocate.com/ to see what they say. This beer has what I'd call a meduim body - not too sweet, but not too dry. It produces an alcohol warmth in the stomach. I guess it must have had hops, but I don't have any notes on it. It was probably moderately hopped - I am sure it was well balanced and appropriately hopped for its color, body, and alcohol
I have a special treat today. I got guest smellers and a guest taster. Iris, my three-and-a-half year old smelled it. Normally, beer smells "yuck" to her. But she claimed this one smelled "kind of good, kind of bad, kind of gigantic, kind of medium, kind of enormous". Not sure quite what that means, but it isn't "yuck". I think she was making a joke... Aimée, my wife smelled and tasted it. She gave it a smokey purfume smell. I think that means Belgian. Then she said it tasted like Birch Beer, with a grimace on her face. I don't think she liked it. But then again, she was drinking an Italian Pinot Grigio at the time, so I could see how the two might not mesh that well
I, however, did like La Fin Du Monde. If this is what the end of the world is like, then bring it on! This beer was just what I wanted right when I had it. I love a light color, and not-too-malty-sweet taste. I like strong alcohol feel in the gut. I like a foamy head. And I like that classic Belgian smell and taste. In fact I want a Fin Du Monde right now. But I only bought one. I'll have to make it!
La Fin Du Monde ("the end of the world" for the severely language challenged) is made by Unibroue in Canada. But it is oh so Belgian. Triple fermented beauty in a glass.
It pours cloudy deep gold, with lots of big bubbles forming a luscious head. It has a strong Belgian fruity smell that invites you to tip it back and drink up. The flavor is very fruity and spicy, as a Belgian ought to be. I'm not sure - this might be a Trippel? Check http://www.beeradvocate.com/ to see what they say. This beer has what I'd call a meduim body - not too sweet, but not too dry. It produces an alcohol warmth in the stomach. I guess it must have had hops, but I don't have any notes on it. It was probably moderately hopped - I am sure it was well balanced and appropriately hopped for its color, body, and alcohol
I have a special treat today. I got guest smellers and a guest taster. Iris, my three-and-a-half year old smelled it. Normally, beer smells "yuck" to her. But she claimed this one smelled "kind of good, kind of bad, kind of gigantic, kind of medium, kind of enormous". Not sure quite what that means, but it isn't "yuck". I think she was making a joke... Aimée, my wife smelled and tasted it. She gave it a smokey purfume smell. I think that means Belgian. Then she said it tasted like Birch Beer, with a grimace on her face. I don't think she liked it. But then again, she was drinking an Italian Pinot Grigio at the time, so I could see how the two might not mesh that well
I, however, did like La Fin Du Monde. If this is what the end of the world is like, then bring it on! This beer was just what I wanted right when I had it. I love a light color, and not-too-malty-sweet taste. I like strong alcohol feel in the gut. I like a foamy head. And I like that classic Belgian smell and taste. In fact I want a Fin Du Monde right now. But I only bought one. I'll have to make it!
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