The Sounds Inside My Mind

For 48 hours this weekend, I was able to drink some incredible beers as part of the Lion’s Pride first annual Belgian Beer Festival, as well as a couple of American Reds during a glorious Sunday afternoon session.  Reading page after page of my tasting notes may not appeal to everyone, but I can’t recount the events of the weekend without expressing how I felt about each beverage I sampled, so I ask you to stick with me.  I entered the Lion’s Pride feeling like a kid in a candy store.  I knew that everything available was going to be great, and had even seen the master list of all the beers to be oared over the week-long event, but still did not know what selections were to be made available on opening night.  I was also curious as to how the BBF’s glass club would operate (and if its benefits would encompass the entire festival or just the night I joined).  Before I could even ask, my friend Robin told me to just get the glass as it was exactly what someone like myself would want.  I trusted her and asked for my glass.  It is a beautiful goblet/snifter that could probably hold 12-14oz of fluid, but is designed for a 10oz pour, leaving room to swirl and smell you drink of choice.  One side of the glass has text mimicking the sign out front, stating The Lion’s Pride Brunswick, Maine.  The reverse has a carefully place Lion (also visible on the sign in front of the pub), whose extended tongue precisely marks the height of a 10oz pour.  The bottom of the goblet, where it meets the short stem, is flatter than other glasses, making the vessel sit comfortably in my hand.  It’s an excellent glass that will see use long after the festival is over.  Later on, I learned that this glass cost me $10, but provides a discount on every draft beer I order throughout the week, assuming I bring my glass back.  There are two levels of pricing; each pour will be either $7 or $10, and which price is clearly marked by each beer on the tap list.  My membership paid for itself the first night.

After getting my glass, the big question was what to order first.  Do I go for a BFM, a Cantillion, a triple or something else?  Something else is only way to describe what I ordered, an Italian/American collaboration Imperial Pilsner.  It was far cry from the styles associated with Belgian brewers, but it was very tasty.

Birra Del Borgo/Dogfish Head My Antonia
A / 4.3
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

It has a very pretty tarnished gold color. It is very clear, as a good pilsner should be. It had a large foam head that was pure white; it left behind lots of lacing as I drank it. Surprisingly, I couldn’t see any carbonation rising within the glass. It had a musty yeast aroma with some sour citrus mixed in as well. My impressions of the flavor were creamy, malty, and a bit fruity. There was a touch of crystal sugar I could taste, a nod to the imperial nature of this beer, but it was subtle. It had a medium body and a medium level of coating. It felt good, but was not remarkable. I found it to be very drinkable. I thought it would go well with a pork dish. I could see myself enjoying a few glasses of this over a great meal.

After this beer, I was ready for a real Belgian ale.  I decided to go with a beer I had never tried, from one of my favorite Belgian Brewers.

De Glazen Toren Cuvee Angelique
A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

This dubbel has a light brown/dark orange hue with a think skim of off-white bubbles. There is a bit of a coat that clings to the walls of the glass as I swirl the beer around. There is a bit of Belgian yeast in the aroma, but mostly I smell sweet and sour apples. I like it a lot. The flavor is crisp and slightly sour. I can taste green apples. I think I could also taste some caramel malts. It also had a slight nuttiness. The body was of medium intensity and there was a good amount of sharp carbonation that played on my tongue. It left a slight coat, but nothing too big. I found it to be pretty drinkable. There was a tartness to the aftertaste that may be a limiting factor as one approaches the end of a bottle. This would be an excellent beer to split with a friend, especially if you were both fans of the style.  It’s not my favorite dubbel or De Glazen Toren beer, but I am glad I ordered it.

I wanted to try another rare beer at this point, so I went with an entry in Brooklyn’s Brewmasters Series that I had not tried before.  I had been impressed with other beers in this series, so I had high hopes for this next pour.

Brooklyn Flemish Gold
B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 3.5

The Lion’s Pride had been sitting on this keg since the beer was first released, so it does have a few months of age on it. The beer has a glowing dirty yellow color. It reminds me of a slice of lemon meringue pie. The thick white foamy head helps complete the analogy. Patchy lace is left behind. The aroma is full of yeast. It’s crisp and dusty. It reminds of the beach, if that makes any sense; it doesn’t smell like the sea, but something in the nose makes me think of sitting in the sun, oceanside. The beer is slightly sweet up front. This turns to a biscuity taste that last throughout the swallow. There is a hint of sweet citrus thrown in for good measure. It has a light body and a bit of carbonation. Between the tiny bubbles and chill of the serving temperature, the beer has a great crispness. It’s a pretty drinkable beer, but I don’t think I’d order more than one.

I didn’t really know what I was ordering when I chose this beer.  I saw the word Flemish in the name and assumed that it would be tart or sour.  The beer was actually a farmhouse style ale, and it conformed to that style commendably, but it was not quite what I wanted.  Any disappointment I felt was quickly washed though.  Word began to circulate amongst the BA’s in attendance that although it wasn’t on the menu, you could inquire about a certain blend of Black Albert and Kate the Great.  In exchange for twelve American dollars, your friendly bartender would disappear into the back room and return with a small pour of a beautiful black liquid served in a wine glass.  This was my first “Oh Wow!” moment of the weekend.

Kabert
A / 4.45
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

This elusive beer is what is left over from a special mix made for last summer’s Belgian Beer Fest at Ebenezer’s.  It is made up of 2009 Portsmouth Kate the Great Imperial Stout and De Struise Black Albert, two stouts that rate very high in my book.  A small pour was all that was allowed, as there were only a few gallons available (if that).  It is unknown if this blend will ever be made again.  It appears black as night, with a thin tan head.  There is lots of coating and lace left behind as I swirl the beer around.  The complex nose was full of alcohol, coffee toffee and dark chocolate aromas.  My initial impressions of the taste had me picking out flavors of sweet malts, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and raspberries.  I could distinctly pick out the Kate and the Albert, which was quite surprising.  It had an amazing flavor.  I classify the body as being medium, but the heftiness of Kate shines through, making it feel fuller.  It leaves a stickiness on my lips, also reminiscent of the Kate that I tried earlier in the week.  There was hardly any carbonation, but it didn’t feel flat; It worked.  For a strong stout, this is so drinkable.  The only factor holding me back from enjoy glass after glass of this sublime beverage is the incredible rarity of it.  I hope other get to try it, for this beer is great.

I was so honored to be able to try this beer.  I never thought I’d get the opportunity to try something this rare and wonderful.  The Lion’s Pride never disappoints.  After this great strong, malty stout, I was nearing the end of my night.  I still needed to drive home, but I had one last round in me.  To offset all those malts, I wanted to leave with a bitter hop bomb.

‘t Smisje IPA+
A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Served on tap as part of the Lion’s Pride Belgian Beer Festival. The beer has an opaque peach color with a thin soapy white head. The Belgians know what a good strong IPA should look like, that’s for sure. The nose was full of floral hops and orange citrus, proving they also know what big IPAs should smell like. The taste begins with some floral hops up front, followed by some sweetness and a strong bitterness that goes strong until I swallow, and lingers on after that. The flavor also has a bit of peppery spice to it that adds a nice, strong Belgian touch to this style. It has a medium body and an average amount of carbonation. The sharp hop flavors feel good. I find the beer to be quite drinkable. Someone who isn’t into hoppy beers would probably not make it through one glass, but really, why would someone not into hops order this beer? If this one sounds good to you, seek it out.

So ended my first night at the BBF.  Saturday found me right back at the bar though.  I was there to celebrate my friend Robin’s birthday.  She and I were the first customers to arrive that morning, about 15 minutes after the bar unlocked its doors.  The lights were off and there was no one behind the bar.  Anna, the only staff member around, quickly came out from out back and took our orders.  Within minutes, more members of our party and separate group of beer lovers had entered the bar.  Within 30 minutes, the place bar area was nearing capacity.  I got the impression that this was far from normal for a Saturday morning at the Lion’s Pride.  Our bartender Leigh later told me that Jen, the owner, called her frantically to tell her the place was full of BA’s and that she needed to get in as soon as possible.  I love that BA’s have that kind of reputation.  We’re not mean or rowdy, we just want good beer; and when there is stuff as good as the Lion’s Pride was pouring, we will fill your bar before noon.

Cantillion Vigeronne
A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Since I didn’t have any sour beers on Friday, I wanted to begin with one of the greats.  Cantillon has never disappointed me in the past.  The beer has a cloudy, opaque peach appearance, like a glass of juice or nectar. There was no head, per se, but I could see some individual bubbles on top that kind of looked like specs floating in the beer.. It coats the sides of the glass slightly. It has an aroma that is both musty and sour. I can smell some peach as well. The taste has some sourness, but not too much. It is a bit cider-like. It tastes aged, kind of like an old oxidized beer, but not quite. There were some ripe fruit flavors as well. It has a light body. There was a good tingling sensation from the sourness. I also felt a slight puckering after I swallowed. It was very drinkable. I could easily go through an entire bottle.

Wild enjoying my Cantillon, I was already thinking about what to order next.  I noticed on the master list that the La Rulles Tripel was brewed with Orval yeast.  Orval is a pretty unique beer, so I was curious if this triple had some of the same slightly funky qualities.  My next round had been decided upon.

La Rullés Triple
A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. The beer is colored golden orange and appears opaque. There is a thin skim of large soap bubbles atop the beer. There are lots of tiny bubbles that cling to the sides as I swirl the beer about the glass. It has a funky citrus aroma. There are some great smells from the Orval yeast, but also has great qualities you find in triples. I like it a lot. The taste also has a crisp funk flavor. I can also taste a bit of fruit. For some reason it tastes woodsy. It conjures up images of pine twigs, although I wouldn’t say it tastes like pine. Maybe be it just reminds me of being in a forest. It has a medium body with a touch of creaminess. It finishes crisp. It has an average amount of carbonation for the style. This beer doesn’t feel like it wants to be drank quickly; but it isn’t really a sipper either. I believe it just asks to be enjoyed.

Having enjoyed that triple, I wanted to try another, this time from a brewery whose other products I rather enjoy.

Kasteel Triple
A- / 4.05
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 3.5

The beer has a translucent golden yellow appearance. There is a thin ring of white soap bubbles on top of the beer. After swirling the beer around the glass, it deposits a good foamy film. As the amount of beer in my glass got lower, I noticed that looking straight down through the beer, it was clear; it was only transparent when viewed through the sides of the glass. It has a lemon citrus aroma, with a bit of musty yeast. The taste has some flavors of Belgian yeast, crisp lemon citrus, and both crystal and candy sugars. There is some hops present in the aftertaste. It has a medium body and plenty of carbonation that makes it feel a bit peppery. There is a little bit of mouthcoating, but not as much as the ABV lead me to expect. It’s a crisp beer, but the sweetness and strength would make me limit myself to one pour.

As I was finishing this glass of beer, I got an unexpected surprise.  Ryan reached into the cooler and pulled out a small cask.  He grabbed a mallet and spout and went off to tap an extremely rare cask of ‘t Smisje BBBourgondier.  It is one of only two or three casks produced.  The bottles of this beverage are hard enough to come by, but the casks are virtually nonexistent.  I was really looking forward to trying this beverage and quickly finished my triple so I could order a glass of it.

‘t Smisje BBBourgondier (cask’d)
A / 4.45
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes of a rare cask pour at the Lion’s Pride’s Belgian Beer Festival. This cask was just tapped moments before I was served a glass; it had been stored in a cooler, so it was at a lower temperature than most cask beers are poured. It has a beautiful creamy copper/brown color. There are two fingers worth of white foam. The head settled slowly to an even skim of white. Perfect lace was left behind. This is exactly how a cask beer should look. It has a subtle aroma; a little cidery, spicy and sweet. It’s a good balance of the strong smells you get from a quad and the faint smells from casked beer. The flavor has sweet malts up front, with some crystal sugar and a slight cider taste. There is alcohol and pepper in the finish. It’s very unique and tasty. It has a lighter medium body; surprising for a quad, but right in line with a lot of the cask beers I’ve tried. There isn’t much carbonation, but more than other casks, perhaps keeping the cask chilled helped with this. The beer leaves a great sweet coating on my tongue. There are plenty of alcohol vapors as well. It is slightly stickier than I like; I would rate it a 4.25 if I could. This is supremely drinkable, considering the strength, alcohol and spice. It’s such a unique beer, I can’t really say if it exceeds or conforms to the expectations of any style. It’s just great.

I couldn’t top that final beverage, so this is where I ended my second day of the festival.  Sunday brought the signature event, the Belgian Beer Dinner.  I’m not a food critic, so I can’t rightly critique what I ate.  All I know is that it was amazing.  The courses are described here, as are the beers paired with each course.  I was unable to review the new beers I tried during the meal, as there was a lot going on, but I made sure to jot down some notes on the final beverage of the night, which constituted the first Russian River brew to cross my lips.

Russian River Consecration
A+ / 4.55
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

It is a clear beer with a dark plum color. There isn’t much head, just a thin off-white ring of foam where the beer touches the glass. The nose is just amazing, with notes of port, sherry and a bit of wild, sour yeast. I can taste sour grapes, both white and red; each has a distinct flavor profile. There is a warm alcohol ester aftertaste. It tastes incredible. There is a medium body with a ton of carbonation. The alcohol vapors feel great. The carbonation and sour flavors leave a little tingle on my tongue after I swallow. As a single glass pour, the beer is very drinkable. If I ever found myself in possession of a full bottle, I’d want to split it with a friend.

That certainly is a lot of great beer I’ve been able to try over the past three days.  The rest of the week should be no different.  On Tuesday, the Lion’s Pride welcomes Rob Tod, Jason Perkins and the other folks at Allagash for a night full of rare beers and something entirely new.  It’s a can’t miss event, along the lines of the Gargamel and Vagabond releases.  Thursday, owner Chris Lively returns from Belgium with what I can only assume will be an amazing collection of nearly impossible to obtain beer.  Luckily, he’s very generous with his rare finds.

I attended my first Beer.EDU session at Brunswick’s Lion’s Pride last night.  It was a very fun experience.  I got to trade tasting notes and beer stories with another local beer blogger, Katy Too.  I got to hear about some crazy plans Chris Lively has brewing (beer-world-shattering, I-wish-I-could-share-with-you-but-he-swore-me-to-secrecy plans that should be made public over the next few months).  I got to trade Kate the Great Day strategies with the staff and my fellow patrons.  Most importantly, I got to try five incredible Belgian beers, as guided by Ryan’s tasting and general beer knowledge, all in preparation for the Lion’s Pride’s Belgian Beer Fest, which is now just over a week away!  I got a sneak peek at the promotional poster and an updated draft list; both have gotten me very excited for this event.

I was served five 6 ounce pours.  I tried to take review worthy notes of each pour, but there was a lot of information coming at me quickly, so these reviews may not be as in-depth as I am used to writing.  Luckily for me, all five beers are worthy of revisiting, so I may get to  flesh out these reviews at some point.

Urthel Saisonnière

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. I was served a 6oz pour in a small wine glass. The kegged version of this beer has been filtered, but the bottles are unfiltered. It possesses a light straw color with a head of white soapy foam. Some pretty lacework was left behind as I enjoyed my pour. It has a strong yeast aroma with a hint of citrus; typical of the style, but of a high quality. The flavor is slightly biscuit-like, but has some sweetness to it as well. There is a slight tartness in the finish that is rather interesting. I could taste some peppery spices as well, but they were subtle. The body is a bit heavier than I expected, based upon the transparent appearance. That’s not to say it’s a heavy beer–I still classify it as light bodied–but it is not as light as I thought it would be. It has a perfect level of mouthcoating. I find it to be quite drinkable. I don’t see myself sticking with this one particular beer for multiple rounds, but I will enjoy this glass very much.

Bink Blond

B+ / 3.95
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes based upon a 6oz pour served in a small wine glass. The beer sits in its glass like a yellow cloud with a thin cap of white bubbles. There is a slight yeast aroma to it, plus a hint of grass. I can’t smell much here, but that could be my fault, not the beer’s. It has a sweet and smooth flavor. I can pick out candy sugar as the source of the sweetness. The finish is dry with a slight peppery bite. The body of the beer is rather light, and I can feel plenty of carbonation tickling my tongue. There is very little in the way of a mouthcoat. I find ti to be very drinkable. The slight aftertaste may get old after a while, but I doubt it.

De Ranke Guldenberg

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes, as based upon a 6oz bottle pour. The beer has a cloudy, dirty straw color, making it rather opaque. There is a thick head of white foam. There is a musty, slightly floral aroma; it’s a good balance of yeast and hops. The taste is crisp and dry. I can taste white grapes and a hint of alcohol. There is a musty and bitter finish that echoes the aromas picked up as a swallowed. It has a light body and an appropriate amount of carbonation for a tripel. There is a very slight coat left after each swallow. Swishing the beer around in my mouth produces a bit more of a coating, but nothing significant. It is a very drinkable tripel. This exagerated taster pour goes down very easily, and I could certainly continue and finish off the entire bottle. This is a beer worth seeking out.

Caracole Nostradamus

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. I was served a 6oz pour from a chilled, freshly opened bottle. The beer has a dark copper color. t is translucent and has a thin tan head that dissipated quickly. After a few minutes there was hardly any head left. There is a robust caramel aroma. I am also picking up on some slight pine tones as well. The beer has a sweet flavor, but nothing overwhelming or indicative of the higher ABV. I found this up front malt quality to be very good, but was incredibly impressed with the finish. There is a slightly sour taste in the finish and after taste. It is reminiscent of a Flemish Brown. I found it to be totally unexpected and very tasty. For a strong dark ale, there is a rather light body to this beer. It also has a lot of carbonation, but not enough to distract from the flavor. There are some welcome estery alcohol vapors in my mouth after I swallow. As I seem to find many Belgian beers, this one is very drinkable. I can see the sour aspects being a limiting factor for some drinkers, but personally, I could go for multiple rounds.

t’ Smisje Great Reserva

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. The notes are based upon a 6oz pour from one of a trio of bottles shared among the patrons of the Lion’s Pride last night. The Great Reserva is a version of the Catherine the Great aged for six months on cognac barrels. It has a dark brown color and a single finger of light brown foam. It is translucent, with a very dark center, but I can see some light sneaking in around the edges. It is most important to note that this does not look at all like I expected a big barrel-aged stout to look. Smisje can make a world class stout that doesn’t look anything like it’s American counterparts. There is a slightly funky, sweet smell. I didn’t pick up on as much of the cognac as I thought I would. The flavor has some sweet toffee malts. I can taste some of the cognac, but again, it’s not excessive. The amout of alcohol is very good and doesn’t overwhelm or distract. It has a medium body (again, not like most big stouts I’m familiar with) and medium carbonation. There is plenty of alcohol and carbonation in each swallow to tickle my tongue. It doesn’t have much mouthcoating; it is more of a cloud of estery vapors that I can feel after I swallow. I certainly wouldn’t call this a session beer, but for a high ABV Belgian stout aged in cognac barrels, it is remarkably drinkable. If you are lucky enough to see a bottle of this beer, buy it!

In other news, I’ll find myself back at the Lion’s Pride again tonight, for Gank the Goblet night featuring Maine Beer Company’s Spring Peeper Ale.  I think I may also have to order myself a glass of the Kasteel Cuvée Du Chateau, this Belgian brewery’s take on the English barleywine.  This is one of the rare draft selections advertised as part of the Belgian Beer Fest, but since it’s available now, I want to get a glass.  Also worthy of your attention are two beer events taking place in Portland tonight.  Novare will be hosting folks from Unibroue and pouring some rare selections (check out the list, posted at Beer Bloggers) and the Great Lost Bear will have special pricing on Brooklyn Beers, including the Manhattan Project, one of my favorite new beers.

At some point in the past month, Novare Res created a new challenge for those of us who bested the list of 200 beers to try.  Now, in addition to having a personalized, engraved chalice (as well as the envy of beer needs far and wide), each member of the Uprising gets access to a special new car.  This VIP club, as it is known, features a list with 100 blank spaces, to be filled in by bottles and occasional draft pours of some of the rarest and finest beers Novare has on offer.  In fact, there is a special bottle list that only VIP club members have access to.  There is no prize for complete the card, but really, isn’t the additional beer education reward enough?  Also, there is no cost to join!  Once you’ve finished the Uprising challenge, all you do is have to ask to join the VIP club.  Right now, the VIP club is only being advertised via word-of-mouth but I figured I should give it a bit of an endorsement with a blog post (I hope there aren’t Fight Club style rules about it).

I joined the club this past Sunday, after learning about it from my fellow beer advocate Matt.  I didn’t copy down the entire list of exclusive bottles, but I know it contained all three of the De Proef collaboration beers (with Tomme Arthur, Jason Perkins and John Mallett), the Froach 20th Anniversary beer, Black Albert and Mikkeller Cascade Single Hop IPA.  In the future, more bottles will be added, and as the stock dwindles, some bottles will be removed from the list.  There is also the possibility of special draft selections being part of the VIP club, but it appears the focus of the club is for Eric to share some special bottles with a group of loyal customers who mainly drink the draft list. [if you had a 20 oz chalice, wouldn't you stick to drafts as well?]  I’m excited to get back and try some more special bottles; I’ve been on the lookout for the Froach 20th Anniversary beer since I first heard of it a few months back.  I don’t know the policy of splitting big bottles from the list with non-VIP members, but if you see me at Novare and want to test the rules, just let me know.

I had already had a few rounds (there was a beer and chocolate pairing going on at the time of my visit), so I decided to inaugurate my card with a 12 oz seelction, the aforementioned Mikkeller Cascade.  Also that day, I reviewed a few other choice beverages, including what my be my favorite Cantillon selection, the St. Lamvinus.

Mikkeller Cascade Single Hop IPA

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Poured from a chilled bottle into my Uprising chalice at Novare Res. It has an opaque, dark orange appearance. There is a thin white head. There is no visible carbonation, but it is a dark beer, so any rising bubbles may be hidden from view. The aroma is surprising. I can smell sweet malts and some fruity hops. They work very well together. It has a crisp, dry bitter flavor. It’s very hoppy! It starts out bitter, then bitter flavors return anew in the finish. Not surprisingly, there is a bitter aftertaste as well. It actually tastes slightly creamy at first. It has a world class level of flavor. It has a lighter medium body. It’s hard to tell if the tickle I feel on my tongue is due to the carbonation or the bitter hops. It feels good either way. I find it to be very drinkable for a bitter beer. I wouldn’t want an entire 4/6 pack, but I could easily finish this bottle. With just these 12 ounces, I won’t get tired of the bitter hops.

Wintercoat Mols Øl

B+ / 3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Hand pumped from a cask at Novare Res. The beer is a deep purple color with a soapy tan head. I am watching the head dissolve in front of me. There is some rising carbonation. It has a great cask beer look. I am not picking up much in the way of an aroma, just some slight woodsy notes. I can detect flavors of rye, plum, whiskey and a bite of alcohol. There may be some juniper in the mix as well. It’s a very complex beer. It has a medium body and not a very significant mouth coat. As for carbonation…let’s say if a beer with a lot of carbonation was like a huge mountain range, the Mols Øl is like some rolling hills; it’s not a flat beer, but it isn’t that difficult stomach [I'm not sure that analogy makes much sense now, but when I wrote it in my notebook I thought it was a good comparison]. This beer is not exactly what I was expecting from a Danish casked beer. The spices and complexity makes it hard to drink fast–I want to give each sip a lot of attention–yes it is still pretty drinkable.

Cantillion Saint Lamvinus

A+ / 4.55
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Reviewed from my notes. Review based upon two 4 ounce pours I had, each served in a tiny wine glass at Novare Res’ Valentines Day beer and chocolate pairing. The beer has an opaque plum/cranberry hue. There is no head or visible carbonation. It is a beautiful looking beer. It has a great fruity, funky aroma. It is slightly champagne-like. A mildly sweet fruit flavor is the first thing I taste. Tartness kicks in as I swallow and lingers briefly. I am definitely tasting wine-like flavors (red grapes, mostly), but all in a great funk wrapper. It’s delicious. It has a crisp, dry light body. The tingly funk feeling is a great substitute for the carbonation bubbles you can usually feel in beers. There is a slight mouth coat. For a sour beer, this is amazingly drinkable. It really isn’t all that sour. I wish I had a bigger pour! It is definitely a sipper, but extremely enjoyable. Personally, I can’t see myself ever getting tired of this beer. It is near perfect.

Sebago Frye’s Leap IPA

B+ / 3.8
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my tasting notes. Served at the Old Port Sebago location in a logo glass. The beer has a translucent, tarnished orange color. There is a thin head made of white soap bubbles. I can see lots of carbonation rising within. It’s aroma is earthy and has scents of grassy hops. It is not an overpowering smell. The beer tastes like a mouthful of hops. There is sweetness, citrus and lots of bitterness. The bitter flavor stay on long after I’ve swallowed. It’s body is lighter and feels slightly watery. It does have a good mouthcoating–a fine layer of sweet and bitter flavors/feelings. The carbonation compliments the bitter flavors. I find this to be a pretty drinkable beer, especially for a bitter IPA. The bitterness may prove to be too strong after a while, but this single pint drinks very well. A solid, reliable, local IPA that is worth revisiting.

Bonus review from a Monday afternoon tasting: Nøgne-ø/Jolly Pumpkin/Stone Special Holiday Ale

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Poured from a cellar temperature bottle into a Gouden Carolus chalice. It has a dark ruby/brown color, almost like a glass of cola. There is a modest tan foam head that settled down to a skim of foam. No light can penetrate through the sides of the glass, but near the top of the beer some light filters through and I can see bubbles rising to the top. The aroma can be classified and spiced malt. I am picking up nutmeg, sweet candy and a bit of juniper. It’s very interesting. It has a big roasted malt flavor. You can taste the rye a bit of the nuttiness from the chestnuts. It also has a touch of warm alcohol that lingers on, along with some forest-like flavors (probably the juniper I picked up in the nose) and finishes up with a slight coffee bitterness. I was surprised at how thick this beer was when I first tasted it. I rolls around your mouth and doesn’t want to leave once you’ve swallowed. It has the kind of body that demands respect and attention. It is hearty enough to earn the name winter warmer. Despite the big body and flavors, I find the beer to be quite drinkable. At no point do the spices overwhelm, nor does the ABV. This is an ideal beverage for a long winters night. Highly recommended!

Nothing says “Olympics” like the worlds largest dinosaur statue.  See this and other photos of the torch relay at Boston.com.

Tröegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale

B- / 3.35
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 4

Poured from a cellar temperature bottle into a pint glass. There is no freshness date on the bottle, but I’ve had it for a number of months, so it may be past its prime. The beer is a very dark brown; not as dark as dark chocolate, but close to that. There was a modest head of tan bubbles that quickly settled to something that’s less than a skim of foam, just a few small bubbles and a little foam lacing, but I can see bare spots as well. Swirling the beer around gives a minimal amount of lacing. There’s a little sweet malt in the nose; maybe some raisin; and some warm, toasted grain. All of the aromas are very slight though. The beer has some sweet malt flavor up from to compliment the aroma. This gives way to a nutty, biting flavor. At first I thought it was an off taste; but after taking a few more sips, I like it. The flavor is a bit watery for my tastes, and I’m the first to say that I’m not a big fan of brown ales, but I like this one. This beer has a light body, but it is also complex. The watery flavor makes it feel light at first, but the robust, nuttiness in the finish gives the beer some punch as you swallow. Very little mouthcoating, just a hint of sweetness can be found if you go looking for it. This beer drinks very easy. I can’t think of any real objections, other than it’s not a challenging beer. The Rugged Trail will never command your full attention, but would be great to drink whilst engaged in other activities.

In other news: 500th post! Woo!

Nissa and I took advantage of locals night at the Lion’s Pride yesterday.  The special pricing includes $12 for a large plate of shrimp scampi or generous cut of prime rib.  I guess it’s called locals night because not many tourists are still in Brunswick on Mondays.  We drove up from South Portland for the meal, and I certainly found it to be worthwhile.  It’s amazing to me that more people aren’t taking advantage of this offer.  I know we are all experiencing tough economic times, but if you are able to afford a meal out, this should be near the top of your list.  The steak I ordered was very tasty.  It had been way too long since I ordered a piece of prime rib.  I wouldn’t say that the cut I had last night is better than the sirloin tips that are always on the menu, but I am still very happy with my choice.  As soon as Nissa and I decided to have dinner here, I was picturing what find beer I would order to accompany my meal.  For me, it was a no-brainer: a glass of Pannepot Old Fisherman’s Ale.  This s one of my favorite beers.  It’s high cost and rarity makes it a special occasion beer for me, and this nice dinner seemed like a good opportunity to order one.  here’s my impression of this terrific brew.

Pannepot Old Fisherman’s Ale

A+ / 4.65
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 5

Reviewed from my tasting notes. Served in a snifter at the Lion’s Pride. The beer is colored a very dark shade of brown; it is too dark too see anything through it except for a faint glow caused by a bright light. There was a small head of tiny tan bubbles It quickly settled to skim of foam. There was a little bit of lacing left by the settling, but a great amount of lacing occurred as I began to drink the beer. The Old Fisherman’s Ale smells nothing like an old fisherman. It is mainly sweet, with plenty of spices. I think I can detect aromas of clove and date, but identifying smells is one of my weak points, so I can’t do this aroma justice. I find it be very pleasant and a perfect compliment to the amazing flavor this beer possesses. I taste plums and dates. It is a bit sweet, but not as sweet as other Quads and high alcohol brews. In fact, there is just a hint of alcohol, mostly in the finish. You can feel and taste it evaporating after you swallow. For a spiced beer, this is taste perfection. The body is of medium consistency, while the level of carbonation is on the lighter side. There is some mouth coating, but it is very slight. It is not syrupy or sticky; as I described above, it feels like it is just a thin layer of alcohol the pleasantly disappears. This is especially impressive, considering the strength and style of this beer. This quality mouthfeel lends itself to making Pannepot incredibly drinkable. The spices never get overwhelming. If you order a glass of this, or pop open a bottle, you could sip it slowly for a long time, or just as easily, you could order round after round. The alcohol never impedes the drinkablity (the Old Fisherman’s Ale is dangerous that way). I would drink this beer all the time, if it wasn’t so rare (and expensive). It’s an exceptional product that I can easily call my favorite Quad.

The Lion’s Pride always has a bunch of posters up advertising upcoming events and specials, so I was surprised when I saw an announcement on their blog that was not advertised in the restaurant.  The week spanning March 5 through the 13th is the date of the Lion’s Pride First Annual Belgian Beer fest.  Beer nerds far and wide know the reputation of the Belgian Beer festival held annually at Ebenezer’s (the Lion’s Pride’s sister location), so to have a similar event this close to home is something to be very excited about.  Chris, the host of these events, is always very generous with the rare beers he offers to those lucky folks who make the pilgrimage to the event, and this one looks to be no different.  The blog has a number of beers listed, but the event listing at Beer Advocate actually has a bit more information, so I’ll copy that list for you to look over:

On Draught:
A whole bunch of Allagash Goodies will be on draught
and:
De Dolle Mad Bitch Oct.2009
DeDolle Stille Nacht 2007
Tsmije Plus
Tsmije Tripel
Tsmije Kerst
Tsmije Catherine The Great
Tsmije Wostyjte
Tsmije BBB (CASK)
Oude Beersel Framboise
Oude Beersel Unblended Lambic
Pannepot 2007
Tsjeeses 2008
Benevolence
De Glazen Toren Jan De Litche
De Glazen Toren Saison De Epmere
De Glazen Toren Canister
Cuvee De Angelique
Konnenings Hoeven Quad
Chimay Tripel
Cantillon Gueuze
Cantillon Cuvee De Champions 02-03
Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek 2006
Cantillon Vigeronne
Kabert
La Trappe Brother Isdor
Abbey ST Bon Chien 2006
Abbey ST Bon Chien 2007
Abbey St Bn Chien 2008
BFM Le Muele
BFM Toriple
Brooklyn Flemish Gold
Saxo
Nostradamus
St. Bernardus
Abt12
And a few other rather interesting things being poured as well

It’s easy to be excited about everything on that list.  Considering that something as amazing as Koningshoeven Quad is the low point (as in, easiest to acquire outside of this event) , I don’t know how a beer fan could not be incredibly excited about this event.  I find it too hard to even list the stand-outs—they are all stand-outs.  But on March 5 I’ll have to decide what to drink first, so based upon what information I have now, I think I would have to order a Kabert.  Don’t go looking for a beer Advocate listing for Kabert, you won’t find it, this beer is too rare.  It’s a special blend of Portsmouth’s Kate the Great and De Struisse’s Black Albert.  Is it possible for two of the greatest beers on Earth to be made even better?  I’ll let you know on March 5th.

Here’s my review for Saranc’s Caramel Porter.  I liked it more than most BA reviewers.

Saranac Caramel Porter

B / 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

Poured from a chilly bottle into a pint glass. The beer has a dark brown color with some hints of ruby in it. There is a thick head of light brown bubbles. There is a little bit of lacing, but not much. It’s too dark of a beer to see if there is any carbonation rising within. The aroma is a good mixture of roasted malts and caramel sweetness. The beer has a very strong caramel flavor, it overpowers almost everything else. It’s not like a caramel malt, but more like the center of a piece of candy. It’s a bit surprising, but enjoyable. The caramel hits you as soon as the beer touches your tongue and lasts until you swallow. Near the finish is a bit of toasted malt sweetness that is distinctly separate from the caramel flavor. All of the sweetness contributes to a tangible film that coats your mouth. There is a lot of carbonation that you can feel on your tongue. Having one of these beers is enjoyable; it would pair especially well with some chocolates. More than one may be a bit difficult; the high levels of sweetness and the thick mouthcoating would grow tiresome.

My first Pitch the Pint night at the Lion’s Pride was an excellent experience.  The place was virtually empty, which surprised Nissa and I, but it meant that we could kick back and have an hours long conversation about beer with Leigh and Ryan (our gracious hosts for the evening) and close down the bar.  We left with a few glasses, which was very generous, and got to tour the behind the scenes areas (VIP access!).  It was a really special night, and other great memory I’ll associate this excellent beer bar.

I reviewed three beers over the course of the evening. They aren’t very wordy, but I only wanted to jot down quick tasting notes so I could get back to the conversation.

d’Achouffe Le Chouffe

A / 4.35
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Poured from a bottle into a Le Chouffe goblet. It’s a golden orange beer with a thin white head. It’s translucent and has lots of carbonation bubbles visible within. It has a very nice earthy yeast aroma; there may be a hint of fruit in it as well. It has a great grassy, wheat like taste. There is a hint of alcohol in the finish. It’s spiced to perfection. It has a heavier body than I expected, and a plenty of carbonation. It’s a bit strong, but very good to drink. An excellent beer.

d’Achouffe N’Ice Chouffe

B+ / 3.8
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Served in a La Chouffe goblet. It has a medium brown color, opaque, with a thin skim of grey bubbles. I couldn’t detect much aroma, but it was served pretty cold. It has a slightly sweet flavor, with some caramel notes. There is a lot of carbonation and a medium body. Overall, a pretty interesting beer that was fun to drink, but I don’t think I’d order too many. I’m glad I got it on tap instead of in a bottle.

De Glazen Toren Jan de Lichte

A / 4.4
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes. Served in a tulip glass. The beer is colored somewhere between gold and orange. It has a nice, thick white foam head. There isn’t much carbonation visible in the glass. There is a slight earthy yeast aroma. You can taste orange and coriander as well as some candy sugar sweetness in the finish. It is an interesting mix of flavors, complex like a glass of champagne. It has a less-than-medium body and a near perfect mouth coating (just enough to leave you wanting another sip). This beer is highly drinkable. I could stick with this all night. Everything by De Glazen Toren is so good!

There was some great stuff on tap last night that we didn’t get to try.  Good thing we’ll be back in Brunswick on Saturday!

If you’re like me and are constantly seeking out the interesting beers available in Portland, you’ve probably heard about what happened at the Great Lost Bear over the past two Thursdays.  On January 7, the Bear advertised that they would have the Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaboration small beer Limb & Life, followed by a keg of Life & Limb on the 14th.  What happened was that the wrong keg was tapped, so that Life & Limb was poured on the 7th and Limb & Life on the 14th.  I was one of the few people who suspected that there was something amiss on the 7th, as what I ordered certainly didn’t taste like a small beer (although it was better than the first glass of Life & Limb I had, in December at Novare’s Beer Geek Christmas).  Unfortuantely for me, I was unable to attend the event on the 14th to get to try the Limb & Life, so my search for that elusive beer must continue. Don’t feel too bad for me though, I missed it because I was flying home from a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas.  I found a nice surprise in my in box when I returned.  In the weekly Bear’s Growl (the Great Lost Bear’s newsletter) explaining the mix-up, I was featured as one of the folks who brought the mistake to light.  I also got quite a nice compliment thrown in for good measure.  Thanks GLB!

I won’t be making it to the Bear for tonight’s Harpoon showcase (although I’d love to have a Celtic ale, I missed out on it last year), as I want to attend the Pitch the Pint (aka Grab the Goblet) event at the Lion’s Pride.  If you’d like to subscribe to the Bear’s Growl, sign up here.

Luigi relaxing in his favorite chair/water dish.

Two years ago today, Nissa and I took a drive to H.A.R.T. in Cumberland and came home with a new friend.  Luigi was a stray found on the streets of Lewiston who had been living at the shelter since September.  When we met him, one of the volunteers opened up the binder with all of the cats listed in it, and Luigi walked over and sat on it.  We decided that this outgoing young man was the guy for us!  The vet estimated his age to be between 1 and 2 years, as his actual birthday is unknown.  So today, we celebrate his 3-4 year birthday.  As a special treat, he’ll get some extra food for dinner, and probably a saucer or two of skim milk.  Adopting shelter cats has been one of the most rewarding things we have done; I highly recommend that anyone with a little extra love to give consider adopting a cat.