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!