The Bar Towel

Westmalle Tripel

Fantastic Stuff, one of my favourite versions of this , my favourite style.The crisp spice to it just perfectly balances the sweet malt undertones. Great full body could trick the brain into thinking your drinking a cold cream soup.

Bobsy,

Tartness is the one taste I'm not really fond of and the lemon was really puckering... but I did actually appreciate the brew. There was some real underlying lambic quality. Since the bugs have already had their way with it, there probably isn't much left to spoil (unless they've added sugar afterwards).

Coincidentally, I just had the Magnotta Alt & Strong that you gave me. Good stuff. I can't really see myself going through a case of the strong like I once did, but the alt was quite interesting. It didn't have the breadyness of a German, but the hopping was nice.

Completely unrelated random talk... I just watched last nights Terminator (it's the only show I really watch now).

Spoiler warning...

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What a great story line, but I'm going to miss 'Derek'. I actually developed a lot of respect for Brian Austin Green's acting ability, and I actually look forward to what he'll do next. I'm sure it'll be better than the NEW 90210 (or the old one for that matter), assuming it's still going.

Just tapped a keg of homebrewed Creme Brulee Java stout, its pretty interesting!

Eggenberg Doppelbock Dunkel & Amsterdam Strong Spring Bock.

The Egg is certainly sweeter, boozier & fruitier, with slightly more breadiness. The aroma is almost all alcohol & fruit. The body is very smooth & almost creamy, but a little light for its strength. I wasn't fond of it a couple years ago, but it has improved a little.

Back-to-back, the hop flavour in the Amsterdam becomes readily apparent (peppery, grassy & slightly herbal), as well as the chocolately malt & balanced bitterness.

I'm curious if they use the same Hurlimann yeast?

I may be biased, but I think the Amsterdam is the clear winner here.

My wife swears they taste the same, but I wonder if she just doesn't want to say which one she likes best (blinded).

Reflecting on the German doppels I've had, in terms of flavour I'd rank my top 10 as Korbinian, Domhof, Celebrator, Maximator, Andechs, Triumphator, Union, Optimator, Weltenburger & Salvator.

I'd put the Amsterdam (and my homebrew) on par with the Optimator & Weltenburger. Although it certainly has more bitterness, the flavour is sort of between the two.

I'm really going to have to get to the Starkbierfest in Munich again...

Derek wrote:Eggenberg Doppelbock Dunkel & Amsterdam Strong Spring Bock.

The Egg is certainly sweeter, boozier & fruitier, with slightly more breadiness. The aroma is almost all alcohol & fruit. The body is very smooth & almost creamy, but a little light for its strength. I wasn't fond of it a couple years ago, but it has improved a little.

Back-to-back, the hop flavour in the Amsterdam becomes readily apparent (peppery, grassy & slightly herbal), as well as the chocolately malt & balanced bitterness.

I'm curious if they use the same Hurlimann yeast?

I may be biased, but I think the Amsterdam is the clear winner here.

My wife swears they taste the same, but I wonder if she just doesn't want to say which one she likes best (blinded).

Reflecting on the German doppels I've had, in terms of flavour I'd rank my top 10 as Korbinian, Domhof, Celebrator, Maximator, Andechs, Triumphator, Union, Optimator, Weltenburger & Salvator.

I'd put the Amsterdam (and my homebrew) on par with the Optimator & Weltenburger. Although it certainly has more bitterness, the flavour is sort of between the two.

I'm really going to have to get to the Starkbierfest in Munich again...

You know, I'm getting kind of sick and tired of hearing about your Dopplebock and how great it is, because I'll probably never get to try it and I absolutely adore Dopplebocks .

But on a less whiney note, I'm enjoying a Trois Pistoles at the moment, and later I'll have something out of the Trafalgar X-Mas giftpack that inexplicably showed up at my LCBO. I'm looking forward to all 3 in an ironic sort of way...

I'm having a North Coast stock ale 2006 the 13.25% version.

Doggie Claws....good stuff.........than a can of Keith's White!!!!!!!!!!

JesseM wrote:But on a less whiney note, I'm enjoying a Trois Pistoles at the moment, and later I'll have something out of the Trafalgar X-Mas giftpack that inexplicably showed up at my LCBO. I'm looking forward to all 3 in an ironic sort of way...

But surely the Trois Pistoles is more winey, especially with all those strong vinous characteristics? It reminds me of a fino sherry (does best Michael Jackson impression). Trafalgar? I don't know what your thinking, that 11 bucks coulda bought you three Orvals.

I am also drinking a Trois Pistoles. A fine way to end a very long day.

Cheers!

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale 2005 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Trafalgar cedar cream ale I got for my birthday. Good to see they haven't got their infections figured out yet, I so love the taste of off beer.

Brick Bock.

tupalev wrote:Bottle of Grand River's IPA. I bought 2 cases of this sucker and I have been a little bit muted in my reaction to it so far. It is a fine beer, do not get me wrong, but the there was just something about the malt/hop combination (that is as technical as I get) added to the mineral-like water that just did not do it for me. Well, a month or so in my cellar has lead to a revelation as tonight, after staring out at a bleak frozen landscape filled with snow (i.e my yard and driveway) it is the best beer in the world. No seriously, it is tasting really good right now, like all of a sudden the flavours have just clicked for me. I think it is pretty neat when a beer (in a short time) changes like that, or more likely, my mood/perception changes like that. Now I am looking forward to that last case I have...

I like it 'cause it's different. I think their hard (carbonate) water really brings out the bitterness, but I don't think it has the sulfur you'd find in say Burton-on-Trent (which really brings out the hop flavour). So it may not actually need as much bitterness, but it could use some dry hopping for the hop head.

My wife was having a Mexican Pizza & I pulled out this years Jubilation. The Jalapeno flavour has come forward (perhaps the other spicing has faded?) and it really is great stuff. Not in your face like a Rogue, but a really nice flavour. I should've saved it for cinco de mayo! Seriously though, I could really see drinking this in the summer with some smoky BBQ.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. I would give up my leg for a case of this. Does anyone know if there is an agent that can get this in Ontario?

Corne du Diable. Yum.