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!

Delirium Tremens lives up to its name - almost!

Another Belgium style beer with potency - 8.5%! Along with its partner beer, Delirium Nocturnum, these beer deliver plenty of bubbles and an intoxicating taste. The family brewery goes back to 1654, so the label claims.

It's wonderful to taste this family of beers that defliver full taste, and lots of carbonation to make an evening most enjoyable!

The company for conversation has been fabulous for the last two tastings, and Xman keeps bringing out the new options to try!

Too busy to play pool the last two beers but totally enjoyable time was had by all!

Westmalle at 9.5% is a bomb!

Never before I started this tasting experience did I realize that beers are as potent as this! Two of the "high test" beers give me a nice buzz. Now I know why so many of the fellows like these imported beers - much more kick for your money!

I'm wallowing in the Belgium Trappist Ales. This one was a tripel - meaning times the liquids go through the process to pick up more and more of the flavor and proteins that give these beers their flaver - and apparently, kick up the alcohol content. The head is bubbly and tasty but doesn't last long - very nice!

Makes you think those monks weren't missing much after all!

My pool game tonight was filled with missed rail shots - I need so much more work on them - so frustrating to come to the edge and not fall in. I try blowing on them, but that doesn't work. When the guys are watching, those make me feel the most inexperienced. Help me, Ronda!

Are all Trappist beers muddy?? Chimay Blue is an adventure! Tell me if you've drunk it!

June 30, 2010

Xman suggested that I might be ready for a "real" beer from the Trappist Monks called Chimay Blue Dark Ale. He poured me a glass, and asked me what I thought. I sipped and like the deep taste with herbal tones. Then I looked at it - swirling, muddy brown with silt like texture! Whooo - now what have we here! The label called it unpasteurized and unfiltered, made with the same recipe since 1862 in the Trappist Abbey in Belgium from an age old technique. Looked old too! It was suggested that it be served chilled in a wide mouth glass. Yes, and you might want to hold it up to the light to see what is swimming in it!

After all is said and done, it was very good, in a textured way. When you see it, you might feel like pounding your chest (watch it, girls!) for even trying something that awesome and authentic!

Well, they told me this beer tasting might lead me to adventures - here I am! Okay, guys (all you he-men!), now I want to hear from you all out there who have really tasted this beer too!

Now I'm LINKED to the World!

Here is a list of beers on tap. Adventures galore! Belly up and try some new beer! Happy hour is here again!

Albany Pump Station
Evan's Kick Ass Brown $4.75
Evan's Pale Ale $4.75
Stella Artois - lots of people drink, also women, $5.00
Corsendonk (got to be German) $6.50 brown?
Chimay Triple $7.50
Lindeman's Raspberry Lambic $8.00
Hoerguaren Guardian white ale on tap Tasted Too Sweet
Smuttynose Porter $5.00
Long Trail Coffee Stout $6.00
Paulaner Hefe-Weizen - $5.00

For pool practice, we need an expert like the BLACK WIDOW to appear! There are some SERIOUS pool shooters here!

9% is more my style!

My first beer was the Midas Touch - because I like the name! No hops, but barley, old fashion beer taste. Very acceptable and would be very nice with a meal.

However, I remarked that I thought my second one would be one with a little more punch. Xman said, "yeah, those higher octane beers seem more your style"! I hope that means that I have a little more style! I'll work all these compliments as best I can! I had a Dom de Dieu again - repeat beer - and I enjoyed it all over again as a wonderful brew! The punch worked - must be something about the fermentation?? I really must learn a bit more about beer making. Since the microbrews have become more popular, there are a lot of folks around making their own flavors. This beer, Dom de Dieu, has saffron in it! Who would think?!

My pool games were better than the last time, but I still need to work on those shots where the ball is on the rail very near the pocket. I seem to keep hitting the opposite rail side which bounces the ball away from the hole. I am being advised to hit the rail behind the ball rather than the ball directly, to push the ball gently into the hole. Why does it seem easier for the guys to pick these things up than women - or is it because I'm such an impatient person??

The 2 boys at the bar were into discussing their fraternity parties and the things they did. Had to admit that the goings-ons sound stupider the older you get! However, they were remembering them fondly, so I guess my female point of view was less appreciative!

Xman brings out 8 new ones! Lordy!

Just when I thought I could remember the last 8, Xman selected the next set of beers for me to try!

He knows I'm blogging now so maybe he wants to boggle my mind!

Maredsous - neat label, dark Belgium

Chimay Ale - high octane also Belgium (love these beers you can get high on!)

Lighter Beers - same batch

Organic Strawberry Sam'l Smith - I'm not into fruity beer

Midas Touch also a nice labelgrapes not hops, barley, honey, white muscat groups and saffron(!)

Boont Amber Ale - American Classic - this is the one I tried. $4.75 glass not too high octane 7% or around unremarkable but good with anything. Nice taste I liked it, simple, clean, fine!

Melbourn Br(others) Apricot - check the spelling on Melbournspontaneous (-- ) Lambic stype like Linderman's Raspberry Lambic

Boddington Pub Ale, 1 pint can, lots to drink. Watery beer, lots of hops made in Manchester, England

German Smoked Beer, dark, Aecht Schlenferia Rauchbier, Urbock makercalled a Rauchbier. Bralierei Heller Hamberg Germany. 1 pint .09 fl oz

My pool game is slowly improving. Thank heavens for slow times at the bar, and help from my friends! I'm just getting a little better on pocket shots. No way am I getting any of the bank shots - hardly ever. Now Dorothy will beat me unmercifully in the fall!

June 23, 2010

Don de Dieu, Unibrou, 9% - Woo! Nobody at the bar so good night to work on my pool game.$6.25, 9% robust, rich taste

Stayed for a second brewski. This one was Leffe from Abbey of Jeffe, Belgium. Lighter, less %, cheaper $4.25. Very pleasant bouquet, and taste! I think I need to compile a list of beers I'd drink again and this is one of them. Love the Chimay also, along with the Blanche de Chambly!

Fun evening for me - played 1 game with a friend Cman, and another game with Xman. Xman recommended I put my eyes closer to the angle I'm shooting. He showed me the place on the rail to shoot for when the ball is up against the rail and needs to go along the rail into a pocket; that is, to hit the rail just to the side of the ball, on the opposite side as the pocket, to push it along. It worked just fine when I could get the ball exactly where I wanted it. And therein lies the rub, as they say!

Don't want green apples in my beer!

June 17, 2010
Ephemare - FER MARE' - green apple taste but a beery taste not wine. Too appley for my taste - want more beery taste!

My friends came too - to socialize and play pool - thinking that they missed something because I was having such a wonderful time!

I was going to try a Saison Dupont Vieille Provision - but Xman says it is fruity and not very hearty and I probably won't like that as much as the next one (below) I had.

The second beer was a Piraat pronounced Pirate! 10.5% and had a great taste and what a punch!

Had a terrific time but it didn't help my pool game much! Still, good friends, wonderful 60's music, fantastic bartender, and a fantastic time!

Boy, this is fun! Wish my pool game would improve as much as my beer tasting!

Who knew what this place attracts?

June 10, 2010

Blanche de Chambly - nearer a white wine taste, not so full, I had 2 or 3 - less impact than prior 2. Ladies beer? I could drink these often. Not too smashed from 3.

Lovely evening! Had a grand time talking to a famous potter and his two guests. One was a fellow potter and ceramics maker from Japan, accompanied by a M\museum owner selling Japanese antiques out of his gallery in the East 70's in Manhatten. We had a great time tasting all kinds of beer. Xman, the bartender, had spent a year in China translating English, and knew a little Japanese which he tried out on his guests.

After they left, another acquaintance told me about his March trip to Tuscany after I told him I was planning an October trip. He was a student of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA in Hyde Park)! His details of what he cooked and ate on his trip proved he was not an amateur - which he had led me to believe with his descriptions of cooking everything he made on his gas grill (including macaroni and cheese that he previously took home to warm up!) Was he pulling my leg or what??!!

My pool game is pathetic! Can these boys help me??

June 3, 2010

Duval, pronounded DU VAL' golden belgium, maybe $7.50 per glass

Nice shaped glass, tulip shaped, bubbles come off the D on the bottom inside of the glass! Another golden Belgium - complex, lots of body - also 8.5% - had 2 - no pain!

I never knew when I started this adventure that the wine I've been drinking had so little kick!

Played one game of pool, missing the ball a lot, need lots of coaching!

May 27, 2010

Chimay - pronounced CHEM' MEE, maybe $7.50 glass

Luscious, complex taste - 8.5% - got a nice high on 2 glasses - nice selection of men drinking it!

May 23, 2010 - JMAN talks me into trying beer instead of wine - Be adventurous!
I'm a wino so this is an adventure. Nothing ventured, nothing gained