Beer: Maudite
Brewery: Unibroue
Style: Belgian style red strong ale
Suggested Glassware: Chalice or Goblet
This is the Belgian style ale that started my love for beer. This red strong ale first caught my attention not from the taste but the packaging. All Unibroue ales have some of the best artwork I have seen on any beverage label and this is one of the most interesting. The label depicts the legend of the Flying Canoe, the story tells of eight woodsmen who made a deal with the devil to fly them back to their village to enjoy a festival. During the flight one man loses his nerve and invokes the name of God crashing the canoe and causing the men to never be heard from again. Continue Reading »
Chris LaPierre, the head brewer at Iron Hills, has brought over 15 of the finest craft brewers together for the annual Belgian style tasting event at their West Chester, PN location. Not only will attendees have the opportunity to try some of the best Belgian style ales coming from American brewers, but the brewers themselves will be in attendance. This is an opportunity for those new to this style to question the brewers about what makes Belgian style ales so popular with brewers and consumers alike, and for the old-schoolers to drink in the flavors they love so much. For more information visit the Iron Hill Brewery website.
It’s not just your favorite Doc Brown quote from Back to the Future; it is the all to common problem of ordering a great beer in a frigid glass. I can’t fathom why a bar would offer good beer and not train the staff on how to properly serve it.
In case you didn’t know, the colder a beverage is, the more muted the flavors are, that is why Jagermeister is served ice cold. That said, pouring a great beer into an ice-cold glass only masks the flavors the brewer worked so hard to create. Continue Reading »
Go to the store and pick up Chimay Ale, it is a must try. Here in Southern California, you can find them at Ralph’s grocery store, which leads me to believe you can find them at any respectable supermarket. I happened to buy the Chimay Ale White, which is their triple fermented ale. Chimay is one of the largest importers of Belgian Ales, but don’t expect great complexity; only a nice approachable Belgium triple. Make sure you use the correct chalice while drinking this as it does affect the nose, and that affects the taste. This is an oversized example so that you don’t strain your eyes. If you don’t have a chalice, then a red wine glass would be the best substitute.
While you taste think: spice, clove and fruit.
