Bah Humbug

Tonight:
Bah Humbug
Wychwood Brewing Co
Winter Warmer
5.0% ABV

It is Christmas day, the final day of my Beer Advent(ure). This, the Bah Humbug, is an excellent selection on which to finish. I had high expectations for this beer, given the fact that I've yet to encounter a Wychwood brew I didn't like. The Bah Humbug does not disappoint. With a smooth flavor and hints of caramel, it provides more flavor than its 5.0% ABV would suggest. The part of me that loves Doppelbocks is the part of me that likes this beer. It's certainly worth giving it a try of its own accord. But if you also like Doppelbocks but are looking to mix things up a bit, give this drink a try. It is the 28th beer of this experiment, and it was an excellent choice for the final bow.

Since this is the last beer in my Advent(ure), I feel I should also take a moment to reflect on the journey. It's been fun. I really enjoyed drinking all of these beers (even the ones I didn't like very much) and taking a few moments to write at least a paragraph about how I feel about each. Not every blogpost was a masterpiece, but being in it for the long-haul, I didn't push myself too hard if I didn't have anything more interesting to say. In retrospect, I stand by that decision. If I were to do this again, I might think ahead a bit about the structure of the posts rather than winging it on a day-to-day basis.

I was surprised by two things. First, setting aside time to drink one beer at home each day was more challenging than I anticipated. If I was going out with friends, I had to decide whether to drink the beer before going out or after. In some cases, before wasn't an option due to other scheduling constraints. On more than one occasion, I got home rather late but still pushed myself to open that night's beer and write a post. On some of those nights, I didn't even finish the beer (sacrilege, I know). Drinking beer should never be an obligation. If I do this again, I'll need to plan ahead better -- and maybe be okay with missing a day here and there.

The second surprise was that, part-way through, I started to get a little burned out on Belgian beer. I love Belgian beer. I really love Belgian beer. But there was a stretch there where I'd had too many Trappist and Belgian styles in a row, and they all started to blend together. It was hard to really appreciate one when it was not radically different from one I'd had a couple nights previously. I started the Advent(ure) with a fair amount of Belgian beer in the line-up for two reasons: 1) I love Belgian Beer and 2) it's easier to buy single bottles of European beer than it is of American beer. This taught me that it's worth spending the extra effort finding a bottle shop that offers more kinds of beer in single bottles, and that while I love Belgian Beer, I love diversity of beer even more. Next time around, if I still struggle to find single bottles of US beer, I may lean more heavily on German and English beers.

Despite those two surprises, I'm still very happy to have given this a try. It's been a fun ride, and not one I plan to abandon altogether. Stay tuned for what comes next.

The Beers of Advent:

1. Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
2. Westmalle Dubbel
3. Golden Draak
4. Piraat
5. Leffe Blonde
6. Primator Double Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. Rochefort 8
9. Bah Humbug
10. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
11. Rochefort 6
12. Chimay Premiere (Red)
13. Big Butte Porter
14. Lost Abbey Agave Maria
15. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
16. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
17. Trois Pistoles
18. Krusovice Imperial
19. Hobgoblin
20. Orval
21. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
22. La Fin Du Monde
23. Belzebuth
24. Santa's Little Helper
25. 1349
26. J.W. Lees
27. London Velvet
28. Lost Abbey Track #8

Santa's Little Helper

Tonight:
Santa's Little Helper 
Port Brewing Co
Russian Imperial Stout
10.5% ABV

It's Christmas Eve. In about 7 hours, Advent will be over and it will be Christmas. Tonight, I am drinking by 27th beer for Advent(ures) in Beer. Tomorrow, I"ll have one more, and then it will be time for a new journey. 

Tonight's beer is Port Brewing Co's Santa's Little Helper. This beer has many good qualities, but it might be a bit too much for me. It's a barrel-aged porter, and like some of the other beers of this same style, the sweetness and the strength is a bit overwhelming. A small pour of this beer at a beer festival would no doubt be delightful. But drinking a full 12 oz bottle is perhaps a bit much.

I used to love barrel-aged beers. Perhaps my own tastes have changed over time.

Tomorrow: Wychwood Brewing Bah Humbug

The Beers So Far:

1. Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
2. Westmalle Dubbel
3. Golden Draak
4. Piraat
5. Leffe Blonde
6. Primator Double Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. Rochefort 8
9. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
10. Rochefort 6
11. Chimay Premiere (Red)
12. Big Butte Porter
13. Lost Abbey Agave Maria
14. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
15. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
16. Trois Pistoles
17. Krusovice Imperial
18. Hobgoblin
19. Orval
20. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
21. La Fin Du Monde
22. Belzebuth
23. Santa's Little Helper
24. 1349
25. J.W. Lees
26. London Velvet
27. Lost Abbey Track #8

Agave Maria

Tonight:
Lost Abbey Agave Maria
American Strong Ale
13.5% ABV

Ohhhh. This beer is . . . interesting. Not exactly what I was expecting. The Agave Maria surprised me because it's sour. Not as 'punch you in the mouth' sour as a Belgian Lambic, but still sour. I read the back label to see if it would give me any hints. The back label of a Lost Abbey beer is a fascinating read, but it won't typcially give you much by way of what to expect from the beer. The Agave Maria is an exception because, below the usual narrative, the following three words are written in all caps:

CONTAINS WILD YEAST

Well, that explains it. I wouldn't pair this with pickled things. But it would probably go well with a good cheese & charcuterie plate. The tangy sourness would be a good contrast on the palate. Beyond the sourness, it's a dark, sweet beer.

This beer surprised me, but I like it. Even if you're not a fan of sours, it might be worth a try. It's got some balance. And it has noticeable flavors beyond the sourness. 

It's hard to figure out where to put this beer on the list below, b/c it's so unlike the other beers on the list. I'm going to put it just below the Big Butte Porter, as it strikes me as a good style beer in the same way the Big Butte Porter is a good Porter. I realize that puts it above some other excellent beers. You're welcome to disagree with me if you're so inclined.

Tomorrow: Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper

The Beers So Far:

1. Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
2. Westmalle Dubbel
3. Golden Draak
4. Piraat
5. Leffe Blonde
6. Primator Double Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. Rochefort 8
9. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
10. Rochefort 6
11. Chimay Premiere (Red)
12. Big Butte Porter
13. Lost Abbey Agave Maria
14. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
15. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
16. Trois Pistoles
17. Krusovice Imperial
18. Hobgoblin
19. Orval
20. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
21. La Fin Du Monde
22. Belzebuth
23. 1349
24. J.W. Lees
25. London Velvet
26. Lost Abbey Track #8

Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel

Tonight:
Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
7.1% ABV

Kloster Andechs is a Benedictine Monastery in a beautiful hillside setting southwest of Munich. I had the pleasure of making a day trip to Andechs several years ago when I was vacationing in Germany. At that time, their beer was not widely distributed in the US. It gives me great pleasure to now be able to pick up this beer at my local BevMo or order it at my neighborhood German German restaurant.

The Trappists have the market on monastic brewing -- with additional Trappist breweries springing up outside of Belgium in recent years. However, give the Benedictines their due. They brew an excellent beer. It probably helps that this is one my favorite styles -- a doppelbock. I've previously professed my love for doppelbocks. This beer just might be my favorite doppelbock out there.

In short, if you've never had this beer, go to your nearest liquor store or bottleshop and pick yourself up a bottle. If it's not sold in your area, I'm afraid you'll have no choice but to go to Germany and visit a monastery. The beer is worth it. The view isn't half bad either.

Tomorrow: Lost Abbey Agave Maria

The Beers So Far:

1. Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
2. Westmalle Dubbel
3. Golden Draak
4. Piraat
5. Leffe Blonde
6. Primator Double Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. Rochefort 8
9. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
10. Rochefort 6
11. Chimay Premiere (Red)
12. Big Butte Porter
13. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
14. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
15. Trois Pistoles
16. Krusovice Imperial
17. Hobgoblin
18. Orval
19. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
20. La Fin Du Monde
21. Belzebuth
22. 1349
23. J.W. Lees
24. London Velvet
25. Lost Abbey Track #8

Inferno Ale

Tonight:
Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
Belgian Strong Pale Ale
8.5% ABV

Yum.

I'll be honest, after my less-than-stellar experience with the Track #8, I was not super enthusiastic when I saw that I would be drinking another Lost Abbey selection tonight. However, this beer, the Inferno Ale, restores my faith in Lost Abbey. It's got a bit of a hoppy zing -- as most Belgian Pale Ales do -- but it's not the kind of hoppiness I normally eschew. In other words, it's balanced. I noshed on some pickled veggies with this beer, and the acidity of the pickled veggies pairs well with the bitter edge on this beer. 

Tomorrow:  Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel

The Beers So Far:

1. Westmalle Dubbel
2. Golden Draak
3. Piraat
4. Leffe Blonde
5. Primator Double Bock
6. Delirium Tremens
7. Rochefort 8
8. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
9. Rochefort 6
10. Chimay Premiere (Red)
11. Big Butte Porter
12. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
13. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
14. Trois Pistoles
15. Krusovice Imperial
16. Hobgoblin
17. Orval
18. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
19. La Fin Du Monde
20. Belzebuth
21. 1349
22. J.W. Lees
23. London Velvet
24. Lost Abbey Track #8

Kristall Weissbier

Tonight: 
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
Kristalweizen
5.4% ABV

We return, this evening, to the Weihenstephaner family. This time, we're discussing the Kristall Weissbier.

But before we get started, let's be honest. Just about everything Weihenstephaner brews is delicious. The Kristall Weissbier is no exception. It's a bit lower ABV than the Korbinan. It's also a bit bready, but that's to be expected for the style. If you find Belgian Trippels to be tastey, but a bit too much for you, the various German Weissbiers, including a Krsistall, might be up your alley. Lake many of the other (relatively) low-ABV beers on our list, the Kristall could be consumed on its own or paired with dinner. My gut tells me that, among other things, this beer would go well with something salty.

Tomorrow: Lost Abbey Inferno Ale

The Beers So Far:

1. Westmalle Dubbel
2. Golden Draak
3. Piraat
4. Leffe Blonde
5. Primator Double Bock
6. Delirium Tremens
7. Rochefort 8
8. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
9. Rochefort 6
10. Chimay Premiere (Red)
11. Big Butte Porter
12. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
13. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
14. Trois Pistoles
15. Krusovice Imperial
16. Hobgoblin
17. Orval
18. La Fin Du Monde
19. Belzebuth
20. 1349
21. J.W. Lees
22. London Velvet
23. Lost Abbey Track #8

Westmalle Dubbel

Tonight:
Westmalle Dubbel
Brouwerij Westmalle
Belgian Trappist
7.0% ABV

Westmalle is another of my beloved Belgian Trappist breweries. If you're thinking 'Ugh! I've had so many Belgian Dubbels! Do I really need to try another one?' The answer is: yes, you do. At the very least, you need to try this Dubbel, even if you give up on the others. I'll be the first to admit that, at a certain point, one dubbel can start to taste like another. The Westmalle Dubbel, however, has a flavor that stands out. In short, it tastes kind of grapey. More distinguished palettes will probably say things about 'dark fruit.' I'm not sure what makes dark fruit so much fancier than grapes in the beer world -- I'm not sure if we're afraid of comparing ourselves to wine or to Welch's grape juice. Either way, I think it's a fear we should get over. This beer is delicious, and there's no shame in saying there's a bit of grape in there.

That also means it's a touch on the sweet side. Not mouth-puckeringly sweet, but certainly not a beer you could dismiss as a high-ABV session beer. You definitely need to give this beer its due when drinking it. Though I could imagine plenty of fine dinner courses it would pair with as well. I'm going to go ahead and put this beer in the #1 spot. I'm not saying I want to drink it every night (that might be too much of a good thing). But given that I've been getting a bit of ennui about Belgian beer, I think it says something special about this beer that it jumps out of the bottle to me.

Tomorrow: Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier

The Beers So Far:

1. Westmalle Dubbel
2. Golden Draak
3. Piraat
4. Leffe Blonde
5. Primator Double Bock
6. Delirium Tremens
7. Rochefort 8
8. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
9. Rochefort 6
10. Chimay Premiere (Red)
11. Big Butte Porter
12. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
13. Trois Pistoles
14. Krusovice Imperial
15. Hobgoblin
16. Orval
17. La Fin Du Monde
18. Belzebuth
19. 1349
20. J.W. Lees
21. London Velvet
22. Lost Abbey Track #8

Primator Double Bock

Tonight:
Primator Double Bock
Pivovar Nachod
Doppelbock
10.5%

The Primator is a Czech Doppelbock (as opposed to a German Doppelbock). It is delicious. This beer is thin on the mouthfeel, but the flavor more than makes up for it. It's a dark beer, with flavors of dark fruits and chocolate. After a few sips, it's a smidge chalky -- not in a way that tastes bad, but in a way that takes a lot of moisture from your mouth despite the fruitiness of the beer. 

Overall, I'd recommend this beer. It's delicious. It's a bit sweet, but otherwise, it's a fantastic beer. It has some of the qualities I would normally expect in a bourbon barrel aged stout -- the strong flavor and fruitiness. The Primator has a richness of flavor that might rival a beer like the Mephistopheles Stout. It's certainly not a session beer. But I strongly recommend it. 

Tomorrow:Westmalle Dubbel

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Primator Double Bock
5. Delirium Tremens
6. Rochefort 8
7. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
8. Rochefort 6
9. Chimay Premiere (Red)
10. Big Butte Porter
11. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
12. Trois Pistoles
13. Krusovice Imperial
14. Hobgoblin
15. Orval
16. La Fin Du Monde
17. Belzebuth
18. 1349
19. J.W. Lees
20. London Velvet
21. Lost Abbey Track #8

Delirium Tremens

Tonight:
Delirium Tremens
Brouwerij Huyghe
Belgian Strong Pale Ale
8.5% ABV

Mmmm. Delirium Tremens. I like this beer in the same way I like being wrapped in a big, soft, warm blanket on a cold day. Similar to my feelings about Leffe, I like the Delirium Nocturnum a bit better. But that doesn't make the Tremens any less excellent. It''s a bit sweet. It pours with a pillowing white head. And it's very, very smooth.

Tomorrow: Primator Double Bock

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Delirium Tremens
5. Rochefort 8
6. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
7. Rochefort 6
8. Chimay Premiere (Red)
9. Big Butte Porter
10. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
11. Trois Pistoles
12. Krusovice Imperial
13. Hobgoblin
14. Orval
15. La Fin Du Monde
16. Belzebuth
17. 1349
18. J.W. Lees
19. London Velvet
20. Lost Abbey Track #8

Hobgoblin

Tonight:
Hobgoblin
Dark English Ale
Wychwood Brewery
5.2% ABV

Apparently there's a regional difference between Hobgoblins, so if you drink this beer in the U.K., it might be a bit different (for the record, I'm drinking it in the U.S.).

Wychwood is an English brewery, and, despite my allegiance to Belgian beers, I do have an affinity for the Wychwood beers, especially the Hobgoblin. Some sites classify this beer as an ESB (Extra Special Bitter). If you're new to the style, don't be scared off by the 'Bitter' in ESB. ESBs area actually an easy-drinking English Ale. Though dark in color and fully-flavored, they are are not heavy and have a thinner mouthfeel.

The Hobgoblin has a low enough ABV to be a session beer -- the average person could drink a couple of them during a football game and without losing track of themselves. But it's a more flavorful beer than your average football beer. In fact, if you completely ignore it while you're drinking it, it just might protest.

Tomorrow: Delerium Tremens

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Rochefort 8
5. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
6. Rochefort 6
7. Chimay Premiere (Red)
8. Big Butte Porter
9. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
10. Trois Pistoles
11. Krusovice Imperial
12. Hobgoblin
13. Orval
14. La Fin Du Monde
15. Belzebuth
16. 1349
17. J.W. Lees
18. London Velvet
19. Lost Abbey Track #8

Orval

Tonight:
Orval Trappist Ale
Brasserie d'Orval, Belgium
6.2% ABV

Orval is a tasty beer, but it is, in my opinion, the least impressive of the Trappist beers. This may be due to the style. The Orval is a Belgian Pale Ale, which gives it a bit of a zing of bitterness through the middle that is absent in the other Belgian styles more frequently brewed by the other Trappist breweries. 

If, like me, you're not a fan of hoppy beers, this would be an excellent beer to pair with food where an IPA is normally called for. It's not nearly as hoppy as an IPA, but that bitterness I referenced earlier could make it a good pairing for spicier food.

Also: if you're a fan of Belgian beer as I am, at some point your life, you should try all the Trappist beers (including the illusive Westvleteren). So go to your local bottle shop, get yourself a selection of Trappist beers, invite a few friends over, and have a good, old-fashioned Trappist beer tasting.

Tomorrow: Hobgoblin

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Rochefort 8
5. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
6. Rochefort 6
7. Chimay Premiere (Red)
8. Big Butte Porter
9. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
10. Trois Pistoles
11. Krusovice Imperial
12. Orval
13. La Fin Du Monde
14. Belzebuth
15. 1349
16. J.W. Lees
17. London Velvet
18. Lost Abbey Track #8

Belzebuth

Tonight:
Belzebuth
Brasserie Grain d' Orge, France
Blonde Ale
8.5% ABV

The front of the Belzebuth bottle declares 'biere blonde refermentee en bouteille,' which seems to be French for 'bottle conditioned.' The Belzebuth is tasty, but I kind of drank it without noticing it. That's not the end of the world, but you might expect just a wee bit more out of an 8.5% ABV beer. Then again, it's leagues better than that terrible Lost Abbey Track #8 I had the other night.

That's sort of the problem with my 'Beers So Far' ranking. The gap between 1 & 2 is not the same width as the gap between 13 & 14. C'est la vie.

As for the Belzebuth: it's a perfectly lovely beer. But if choosing between this beer and the Fin Du Monde, go with the cheaper of the two.

Tomorrow: Orval Trappist Ale

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Rochefort 8
5. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
6. Rochefort 6
7. Chimay Premiere (Red)
8. Big Butte Porter
9. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
10. Trois Pistoles
11. Krusovice Imperial
12. La Fin Du Monde
13. Belzebuth
14. 1349
15. J.W. Lees
16. London Velvet
17. Lost Abbey Track #8

Golden Draak

Tonight:
Golden Draak
Belgian Strong Dark Ale
10.5%

After last night's somewhat disappointing outing, tonight we have the delicious Golden Draak. Beer Advocate calls it a Dark Tripel. How does a Dark Tripel compare to a Dubbel or a Quad? I'll let you figure that out for yourself. What I will tell you is that Golden Draak is a damn good beer. Maybe it's the euphoria from being so much better than the Track #8, but I'm going to rate it above the Piraat.

Tomorrow: Belzebuth

The Beers So Far:

1. Golden Draak
2. Piraat
3. Leffe Blonde
4. Rochefort 8
5. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
6. Rochefort 6
7. Chimay Premiere (Red)
8. Big Butte Porter
9. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
10. Trois Pistoles
11. Krusovice Imperial
12. La Fin Du Monde
13. 1349
14. J.W. Lees
15. London Velvet
16. Lost Abbey Track #8

Lost Abbey Track #8

Tonight:
Lost Abbey Track #8
Number of the Beast
Aged in American Oak Bourbon Barrels
13.7% ABV

This beer seems to include every flavor possible -- but the raisin flavor is certainly forward and powerful. Reviews on other sites indicate that there are a lot of fans of this beer. But for me, it's a bit too much flavor without any balance. I feel a bit like I'm eating cheap candy rather than expensive beer.

I guess if I had it my way, I don't need cinnamon and raisins and vanilla and chili peppers in my beer. I just want a good, true-to-style beer. The Lost Abbey site compares this beer to an oatmeal raisin cookie. That might be the problem. Give me chocolate chip or snickerdoodle or sugar cookie any day. But I"m just not a fan of the oatmeal raisin.

Tomorrow: Golden Draak

The Beers So Far:

1. Piraat
2. Leffe Blonde
3. Rochefort 8
4. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
5. Rochefort 6
6. Chimay Premiere (Red)
7. Big Butte Porter
8. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
9. Trois Pistoles
10. Krusovice Imperial
11. La Fin Du Monde
12. 1349
13. J.W. Lees
14. London Velvet
15. Lost Abbey Track #8

Chimay Cinq Cents

Tonight:
Chimay Cinq Cents
aka Chimay White
8% ABV

The Premiere, which I reviewed on Sunday, is pretty commonly referred to as 'the Red.' When I've heard people refer to the Cinq Cents as 'the White,' they usually do so with a screwed-up face that says 'I know I should remember the real name, but I can only remember the color of the bottle.' 

With the Cinq Cents, our dear friends at Scourmont Abbey have delivered a Belgian Tripel. Perhaps I've been drinking too much Belgian beer recently, because this beer should tick all the boxes for me. Belgian. Trappist. Tripel. But tonight, I feel it's a beer that lacks verve. It's tastey, don't get me wrong. It's everything I would expect in a Tripel -- but nothing more. There are two possibilities. The first is that this beer is good but unimaginative. The second is that I have beer ennui and can't appreciate this beer for what it is. I guess I'll let you decide how to grade the Cinq Cents for yourself.

Tomorrow: Lost Abbey Track #8

The Beers So Far:

1. Piraat
2. Leffe Blonde
3. Rochefort 8
4. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
5. Rochefort 6
6. Chimay Premiere (Red)
7. Big Butte Porter
8. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
9. Trois Pistoles
10. Krusovice Imperial
11. La Fin Du Monde
12. 1349
13. J.W. Lees
14. London Velvet

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

Tonight: 
Weihenstephaner Korbinian
Doppelbock
7.4%

Fun fact: Weihenstephaner is one of those German words that has way more letters in it than it needs. It also looks like it has more syllables than are pronounced. I've seen more than one person struggle to order a Weihenstephaner beer at a bar b/c they couldn't find a pronunciation close enough that the bartender could understand what beer they were trying to order. If this happens to you, try pointing or ordering relative to something else on tap or on the beer list. 'I'll have whatever is next to the Sam Adams Oktoberfest' might be your best bet.

But, on to my review of tonight's selection, the Korbinian. This is a good German Doppelbock that you'll find available in the winter months (making it a great Advent beer!). It's dark in color. It smells beery. And it has a rich, smooth (one might even say creamy) flavor. While I have a great love for all beers Belgian (especially beer brewed by Belgian monks), my love for German doppelbocks and dunkels nearly rivals my affection for Belgian beer. 

Tomorrow: Chimay Cinq Cents

The Beers So Far:

1. Piraat
2. Leffe Blonde
3. Rochefort 8
4. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
5. Rochefort 6
6. Chimay Premiere (Red)
7. Big Butte Porter
8. Trois Pistoles
9. Krusovice Imperial
10. La Fin Du Monde
11. 1349
12. J.W. Lees
13. London Velvet

Rochefort 8

Tonight:
Rochefort 8
9.2% ABV

The Rochefort 8 is the big brother of last Friday's selection, the Rochefort 6. If the 6 is a Dubbel and the 10 is listed as a Quad, you'd expect the 8 to be a Tripel. But the 8 is darker both in color and flavor than your standard Tripel. I'm going to rate the 8 a bit above the the 6 because I like its richer, more caramely flavor.

Be careful with this beer. It might feel like you're curling up with a good book next to a roaring fire -- it packs a punch at 9.2% ABV. In other words, it might be tasting, but enjoy it in moderation.

Tomorrow: Weihenstephaner Korbinian

The Beers So Far:

1. Piraat
2. Leffe Blonde
3. Rochefort 8
4. Rochefort 6
5. Chimay Premiere (Red)
6. Big Butte Porter
7. Trois Pistoles
8. Krusovice Imperial
9. La Fin Du Monde
10. 1349
11. J.W. Lees
12. London Velvet

Piraat

Tonight: Piraat Ale
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
10.5% ABV

Drinking a Piraat is like standing in the sunshine on a chilly day. It's listed as a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, but if you're used to US beers, don't fixate on the 'Pale Ale' label. That is to say, this beer isn't going to punch you in the face with hops. I've read at least one review of the beer that describes is as 'hoppy,' but I honestly don't taste it. Piraat is a flavorful Belgian beer. It's a little maltier than the Belgian beers I've reviewed to date. But overall, it's a well-balanced beverage.

I haven't really put much thought into how I would rate the Piraat relative to other beers until tonight. But you know what? I'm going to go ahead and rank it #1. Yes, it beats out both the Leffe Blonde and my beloved Trappist beers. We have a lot of beers to taste, so I'm sure the Piraat will fall from #1 at some point. And if the Leffe Brune were on our list, it would certaintly give the Piraat a run for its money. But for tonight, at least, the Piraat is king of the Avent beers.

Tomorrow: Rochefort 8

The Beers So Far:

1. Piraat
2. Leffe Blonde
3. Rochefort 6
4. Chimay Premiere (Red)
5. Big Butte Porter
6. Trois Pistoles
7. Krusovice Imperial
8. La Fin Du Monde
9. 1349
10. J.W. Lees
11. London Velvet

Krusovice Imperial

Tonight: 
Krusovice Imperial
Czech Pilsner
5% ABV

Don't be put off by the ranking on the list below. The Kusovice Imperial is a very good beer. Pilsners sometimes get a bad rap in the US, given that the most popular Pilsners in the US barely deserve the name -- beers like Miller Lite or Coors.

If you're a craft beer lover like I am, you might be tempted to compare the beer to something like the Leffe Blond or Chimay Red. Against those beers, the Kursovice Imperial is always going to feel like weak sauce unless you're a deep affinity for Pilsners. Ales naturally have more complex flavor profiles. Lagers, on the other hand, tend to have a cleaner flavor profile. However, that does not mean they should be flavorless (like the aforementioned mass-produced 'American Lagers'). Krusovice is a good pilsner. If you have someone who's only experience with beer is mass-produced blarg, the Krusovice may be a good introduction to the world of not-crappy beer. 

Krusovice could serve as a 'watching football' beer, or it could be something you pair with a meal. Think of this beer like a nice pair of blue jeans. You can wear it with a t-shirt and keep it casual, or you can dress it up with a shirt and tie. 

Tomorrow: Piraat

The Beers So Far:

1. Leffe Blonde
2. Rochefort 6
3. Chimay Premiere (Red)
4. Big Butte Porter
5. Trois Pistoles
6. Krusovice Imperial
7. La Fin Du Monde
8. 1349
9. J.W. Lees
10. London Velvet

Chimay Premiere

Tonight:
Chimay Premiere
aka Chimay Red
7% ABV

The Chimay Premiere is a another Belgian Dubbel, brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium. If you're new to the Trappist beers, Chimay is a good place to start. Like Leffe, I find the Chimay beers both delicious and approachable. Plus, there's something about knowing the beer your drinking was brewed in an Abbey and that the proceeds from sales support the monastery and social assistance (per Chimay's website). This last bit is a requirement in order to be able to use the Trappist label. Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation of Trappist breweries, if you'd like to learn more about them.

Tomorrow: Krusovice Imperial

The Beers So Far:

1. Leffe Blonde
2. Rochefort 6
3. Chimay Premiere (Red)
4. Big Butte Porter
5. Trois Pistoles
6. La Fin Du Monde
7. 1349
8. J.W. Lees
9. London Velvet

Trois Pistoles

Tonight:
Trois Pistoles
Unibroue (Quebec)
9% ABV

Earlier this evening, I was out with a friend at a local German beer garden. I had the pleasure of drinking a liter of the Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel. Before I talk about the Trois Pistoles, I have to admit that the Andechs Dunkel is quite possibly my favorite beer or all time. It's smooth, creamy, and flavorful. Each swallow is just like a little bit of heaven. 

But tonight's beer is not the Dunkel; it is the Trois Pistoles. In case anyone actually needs the translation, Trois Pistoles is French for "Three Pistols." The Trois Pistoles is darker than it's Fin Du Monde cousin. It's a dark beer, that wants you to love it. While flavorful, is is not overpowering. In other words: be warned. This is a serious beer that could be mistaken for a session beer by an unsuspecting beer drinker. But this beer deserves better than to be dismissed so easily. 

The Trois Pistoles has a very slightly leathery taste and smell. The leather flavor doesn't punch you in the mouth, so if you weren't paying attention, you might miss it. But it's there, daring you to notice the essence of this beer.

Tomorrow: Chimay Premiere

The Beers So Far:

1. Leffe Blonde
2. Rochefort 6
3. Big Butte Porter
4. Trois Pistoles
5. La Fin Du Monde
6. 1349
7. J.W. Lees
8. London Velvet

Rochefort 6

Tonight:
Trappistes Rochefort 6
7.5% ABV

Tonight is our first foray into a Belgian Trappist beer. As you will no doubt soon discover, the Trappist beers are, in general, my favorite beers. Beer Advocate lists the 6 as a Dubbel style. It's a bit lighter colored than your average Dubbel, but it's every bit as much delicious. Personally, I think the Rochefort 6 is a great beer to unwind with at the end of the day -- provided, of course, that you either limit yourself to one or switch to something with a lower ABV if you want to have a second.

At some point between now and Christmas, I'll also be reviewing the 8 & 10, which are the 6's bigger siblings.

Tomorrow: Trois Pistoles

The Beers So Far:

1. Leffe Blonde
2. Rochefort 6
3. Big Butte Porter
4. La Fin Du Monde
5. 1349
6. J.W. Lees
7. London Velvet