The best part of what I do is trying new beer and sharing the experience with you. Even better, trying a beer I’ve been holding for a long time, trying it for the first time, and sharing the experience. Tonight, that new experience will be a 2007 Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor. This beer is only brewed once a year in Mechelen Belgium and every year it is slightly different.
OK, OK, I know I’m not supposed to drink this for another 800 years, but I bought 2 bottles, so it’s ok! Right on the label Stone says it is designed to be drunk after 2012, so where probably talking about a really hoppy malty beer. Stone describes this as a “Belgian style Imperial Porter”, yeah it’s a mouth full. This is the 8th beer in Stones Epic Vertical series. I bet in 2012 there are going to be some pretty killer vertical tastings of all 11 stone beers, but that is a couple years down the road.
Over the last year, there have been a couple Breweries I tend to gravitate to because they impress me with their beers. Great Divide Brewing Co is one of those breweries. I have reviewed the Yeti Imperial Stout, The Hercules DIPA, and Fresh Hop Pale Ale which were all must try beers and received good scores. Time to see how the Hades Belgian Style Golden Ale lives up.
Leffe Brune is a Belgian Dark Ale, which to me says it doesn’t fit into any other of the Belgian styles. I had this on Draft at the Cloverleaf Tavern the same night as Ommegang Rouge.
New Jersey has so few breweries, that I like to try new brews when I see them. The River Horse Brewery is in south western NJ in Lambertville, having been there a couple of times a few years ago and enjoying the winter freeze ale, I was looking forward to another River Horse.
The thing about Belgian Style Ales is they are not Belgian Ales. There are only a handful of Belgian Ales. So, every time I open a Belgian Style Ale I wonder is if really going to be like a Belgian Ale or an Interpretation of one.
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