Back in those days, before wine was discovered and it was beer vs. "girly drinks", on any given weekend friends would get together, and like good Buffalonians, they would work their way through a case or two of one brewski or another. I'm pretty sure that "Quantity over quality" was the modus operandi back then. Meanwhile, even though I really didn't like the stuff, to save face I made an attempt to fortify a manly image (beer puts hair on your chest, you see). And while I did my best to make it look like I was enjoying the beer in hand, I was in fact doing my best to tolerate as many as I could before inevitably having to throw in the towel and move on to something else. I'm pretty sure I was usually only able to get through two, on average. I even tried to convince myself that if I was persistent, I would eventually grow to like beer, just like everyone else.
Years went by and eventually I moved to Tokyo, Japan. One fine, cold, late winter's evening, while wandering around, aimlessly exploring my new neighborhood, I found a welcoming-looking little liquor store with a big glass front and an interior that glowed pleasantly with warm lighting and all natural woodwork (not common in Tokyo). So I ventured in. The owner turned out to be extremely friendly and through a mix of his broken English and my even-worse-Japanese, we began talking about Japanese sake and beer. It turned out that his true love was Belgian beer. He introduced me to his nice little collection of international beers. He stocked a handful of beers from Belgium, a few popular and well-known beers from elsewhere in Europe, and a couple of America's better mainstream brews. We talked for awhile and before I knew it, in adventurous spirit I found myself trading ¥800 JPY (roughly $8US) for a single bottle of Trappistes Rochefort 10, (Belgium). To make a long story short, that little trade turned out to be one of the best ventures that I've ever made. Rochefort 10 instantly became my favorite beer, and forever altered my understanding of what beer is, and perhaps more importantly, what beer can be. I am now constantly on the hunt for amazing beers, beers that change perceptions and broaden horizons.
Rochefort 10 is my Home Run Brew. What's yours?
Although I've never tried the Rochefort 10, you've motivated me to grab the Tripel Karmeliet's that have been aging in my basement for the last 8 years! My Home Run dark brew is Chimay Grande Reserve Blue, and for a golden farmhouse ale I enjoy Saison Dupont Vieille Provision. BTW: Your black leather chair against a backdrop of Belgian limestone walls and Old-World Dutch paintings looks very inviting - wish I could share a brew with you right now! Till then, I'm happy to follow you on your journey.
ReplyDeleteDonna in Potomac:
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time and posting a comment!
I like your Home Run dark brew. Chimay Grande Reserve Blue is a GREAT beer. I love the deep color and the mix of dark berries and spices. Is it clove spice that I detected? A good friend of mine keeps a stock in his wine fridge!
How exciting that you're going to open an aged Tripel Karmeliet! 8 YEARS! That is something to be documented! I've never tried Tripel Karmeliet, but after researching about it on beeradvocate.com, I'm eager to see if I can find it. If I do, I'll be sure to write about it. Please feel free to write about your experience here.
I've also never tried the Saison Dupont that you mentioned. Thanks again for giving me something to look forward to! Here in Tokyo, where good beers can be hard to find, scattered far and wide, the hunt is almost as fun as the catch.
Really quickly, on the theme of aged beers, earlier this year, I came across a bottle of Dogfish Head Brewery's "Raison d"Extra", 2007. I honestly had no idea what I had in my hands until I got home and looked it up online. It was my first ever aged beer. Not at all what I was expecting, but a fantastic experience. It was smooth, with very slight carbonation, very rich and sweet...it was definitely to be sipped for dessert, and better shared than drunk alone. I'm not a smoker but I imagine a gentleman in a smoking jacket, an expensive cigar in one hand, a sipper in the other, standing in front of a roaring fireplace on a cold winter's night, with music playing in the background that warms the atmosphere while the beer warms the body on its way down. At any rate, in summary, Raison d'Extra was delicious but almost more like a port than a beer. Not to be missed, but you have to be careful with expectations.
Looking forward to hearing from you again!
Thanks for adding the note on aged beers. During my trip to the basement for a Tripel Karmeliet, I came across a bottle of Sam Adams Triple Bock, another aged brew. There were only 3 release dates, 1994, 95, and 97, so I expect some good flavors by the time it gets opened. It's best served at room temperature in a brandy snifter, so I'll save that one for my hubby who LOVES vintage ports. Cheers!
ReplyDelete