What does a gnome produced beer taste like???

Since I don't know what a gnome tastes like, I can't tell if the beer tastes like a gnome either!

I found La Choufee much blander than most Belgium Golden beers. It was fermented in the bottle, but what was added to it was hard to discover. Although this beer was at 8%, it didn't turn me on at all. I had to have a Golden Monkey just to leave my pool game on a happy note!

Achel Trappist blonde is marvelous!

Achel Trappist ale is a wonderful 8% Triple blond beer.

Once again Jim steered me in the right direction! It's terrific to have knowledgable folks introducing me to these new experiences!

There are only a few houses for the authentic Belgium beers but many imitators and microbrewed houses making similar tastes and using copied brewing techniques.

Keep tasting those historic houses as this is the source of all the new development in a current widespread and exciting mini-industry!

I'm discovering that the Northeast has many good sources for clean waters, and original tastes.

Oh yeah, and the pool game is slowly but steadily improving!

Visit to Allagash Brewery is a blast!

The Allagash Tour included tastes of White, Dubbel, Tripel, and Four! After moving up in proof, flavor, diversity, tastes, and quantities, who cared that the stainless steel vats were impersonal?!?

About 20 people shared the tour with me and gaped at the massive vats. The oak barrels were fragrant with wood and brought to mind dark forests and German castles.

I brought home the $19 bottle of 11% Confluence - I'm expecting to have a great time drinking that - I might need company to take advantage of it!

Maine Allagash in the Belgian style a wonderful brew!

I've discovered that Maine is 7th heaven to the beer lover, with Downeast claiming at least a dozen micro brewers.

Allagash makes at least 6 types of beer in the Belgian Style and does a terrific job. I tried the new Allagash Blonde. At 8.2% and about $6.50 a glass, it's a wonderful beer, comparing well to the Belgian blondes.

The beer has a smooth taste with flavor of spices, honey, vanilla, and a critrus hop. This will make me try the other Allagash beers. The next one I'm going for is the Tripel so I can compare it to the Tripel Belgian's I've been tasting!

The company has tours of the brewery also that sound like a great way to spend a pleasant day in Maine.

Maredsous Tripel is a real attention getter!

Maredsous Tripel at 10% proof knocks on anyone's door for attention. Brewed in Belgium at the Abbey de Maredsous, refermented in the bottle, it deals out plenty of carbonation and complex tastes. How come I'm most pleased with the beers over 8% ? Is that a wider smile on my face???

The luscious head tastes chewy at the start, but doesn't last. This beer offers plenty to appreciate, and is a wonderful choice!

With lots of taste for the price, and a kick to appreciate, it's one of the best beers I've tasted in the high proof list!

I actually had a pool game or two that were a little more competitive than usual! Meaning that I didn't do too badly, and was pleased with my small successes. It sure would be great if I can improve my game a little more!

How about MONKEYing around??

The Golden Monkey, 9.5%, is brewed in Dowingtown, PA but no slouch in comparison to the best Belgium golden ales brewed by the Tappist Abbeys!

It is a highly potent, delicious, and exotic beer, with elusive spices that add to the body, and tantalize with just beyond reach taste.

This is a wonderful beer that will be a repeat choice on anyone's list. I will certainly return to this beer many times.

The pool game went well, with more successes than failures. Let's hope this can be repeated!

The most charming man of the evening is composing his own 60's style music for an upcoming movie! An artist and a gentleman! Another happy visitor to the Hudson Valley life!

Who knew beer tasting would involve meeting such nice people!

Tonight's Troubadour Blonde brought out a rich gold beer with a nice head with particles floating through it. Lots of carbonation which you might expect from a Belgium styled beer refermented in the bottle. The head didn't last but the bubbles did, and the taste was rich and full. 6.5% and lovely.

The second beer, PranQster, from California, brewed in the style of the Belgiums, didn't cut it for me. Now that my standards have been raised to expect lots of punch, the beers less robust leave me feeling disappointed!

Very nice group of folks with gorgeous Harley's made the socializing very enjoyable! As usual Xman and his friends make the environment more interesting than your ordinary beer bar - kicked it up a notch!

Pool competition was light, so practice was in order. Still needing help with those rail shots. Will I ever learn how to drop those in??!!??

Here are a couple of interesting links to other beer blogs. A local restaurant is offering a NYS Beer Dinner on July 22 from 5-9 pm $39 (Terrapin, Rhinebeck, NY). http://newyorkbeer.blogspot.com/

This one has a great sound spot on it - a bit different - cartoons too! http://hbd.org/mbas/beer.html Check it out!