Beer 33: Spoetzl Wild Hare

Just chugging along on this quest for 365 beers in 365 days.

Here’s a quick hitter … the Spoetzl Brewery’s Wild Hare.  A good beer … but not stellar.  I guess I broke my trend of world class beers … oh well.  This really is a good Pale Ale.

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I find it funny that they call it “Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale.”  It’s made by the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas.  However, since nobody really pays attention to Spoetzl and they all know Shiner Bock, they needed to market it appropriately … hence “Shiner Wild Hare.”  Oh well.  Again–a good Pale Ale.  Thanks “Shiner.”  haha.

Beer Mentor

Beer 32: Cathedral Abbey Ale

Another one of the new craft beer breweries to open in St Louis is Cathedral Square Brewery.  They are so new they don’t really have a place of their own, but they are making beers and they are available so I had one– the Abbey Ale.

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As you can see, I had this on tap at PW Pizza (Yes, featured in Beermentor’s Neighborhood).  I found it to be a nice Belgian-style ale (you definitely tell it uses the Trappist Yeast from the flavor).  I would definitely buy this to have in the fridge.  I need to give a few more of their beers a chance–hopefully they will get a place soon so I can stop in and try special stuff too.

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

 

Beer 31: Firestone Walker Double Jack!

Well, I knew it would happen.  I was definitely not well today and drinking beer was far from my mind.  But I soldiered through!  haha.  I pulled out a really nice one to help with my head cold … Firestone Walker Double Jack!

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This brewery is doing great things winning 3 golds and 1 silver medal at the GABF (as well as winning mid-size brewery of the year) in 2013.  They have a very good reputation of producing world-class IPAs and this Double IPA is no exception.  The aroma kicks you in the pants and the flavor is fantastic.  The flavor is truly west-coast … definitely worthy to help me in my sickness!

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

 

Beer 30/Day 30 – Another Hommel Bier!

 

 

 

 

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I thought it only appropriate to close out the first 30 days of this 365 day challenge the way I started it!  With a Hommel Bier.  My first was a Perennial Hommel Ale.  Today’s beer is the original one: Poperinge Hommel Bier.  I love this beer and I love the city.  I thought the right thing to do was to enjoy it with a traditional Belgian dish … so I added the Mussels.

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This city is the center of hop growing in Belgium.  Eurohop is here (owned by Eric Lagache) — worth a stop for sure!  I’ve been here twice and it smells wonderful every time.  Mr. Lagache is very nice.  

Westvleteren is 15 minutes from the city center.  If you are on a beer trip to Belgium you should add this place as one of your stops.  Highly recommend Hotel de la Paix.  Right in the city center and owned by a wonderful couple.  This hotel is where I had my first Hommel.  The word Hommel means “Hops” in the local dialect and it is a decidedly hoppy beer.  The flavor is wonderful and this bottle-conditioned will always offer up a surprise.  

Where did I enjoy this beer and meal?  Why at Tripel Brasserie of course!

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

 

Beer 29/Day 29: Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale

Going for the third day in a row with a world-class beer: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.  I had this one lounging around in the refrigerator.  Thank goodness!  The Centennial hops in this beer really stand out both in the Aroma and in the Flavor.  It is well-balanced with a nice malt undertone.  I would classify this as a cross between both East Coast and West Coast IPAs.

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I really fell in love with Bell’s beers while I was living in Washington, DC.  I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Bell at the Devil’s Den while attending Philly’s Craft Beer Week.  A super nice guy with the knack for brewing lots of beer without losing a robust beer flavor.  My hat’s off to him!  Keep it up Larry!

Beer Mentor!

Beermentor’s Neighborhood: 4Hands Brewing (Beer 28/Day 28)

Welcome Back to Beer Mentor’s Neighborhood!  We are visiting a brewery 1.4 miles from my place but in another world because of the beers they are making!  This place is awesome. 4Hands Brewing.

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I usually like to mix it up when I visit but today I stuck with the Resurrection IPA (28th beer in 28 days … keeping the train going!).  This beer is fantastic!  Maybe it is the Mosaic hops they are using … I don’t know.  But the Aroma and Flavor in this IPA is really satisfying.  I thought the flavor was Simcoe at first … but I guess Mosaic is derived from Simcoe and Nugget.  What a great kiddo.  haha.  Quick note: I’d go get some if you haven’t yet … it may be coming off the menu for a while.

They have a tasting option too and it is well presented.  Here’s a couple of pics of the Resurrection and the tasting flight.

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This is really a nice place.

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They have food available as well–however, it is a separate service so you will pay for the food separate from your beer.  

They have a great variety of beers and they have an extensive barrel-aging effort.  I didn’t try it this time but they have a beer called “Smoked Pigasus” — a smoked rye porter.  Can’t wait to try that one!

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They have great events going on here and all over the city.  These folks are very involved in the Craft Beer industry and support local homebrewers.  Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday they have a bottle-swap event … worth checking out.  A few more photos for those who enjoy a nice brewery! Oh, I should tell you — you can buy growlers or take home some bottles too.  

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Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Beer Mentor

Beer 27/Day 27 – Rochefort 10

Well, I said I was going to drink only fantastic beers for the next two weeks–this is an awesome start!  Many beer-aficionados say that Rochefort 10 is one of the best beers in the world.  Ranks in the top 20 on beeradvocate and in the top 10 on ratebeer.  Of course, these websites are heavily skewed by Americans.  So the rankings on these sites are like calling the American Major League Baseball Championship the “World Series.”  Regardless, this Rochefort 10 is an amazing Quadrupel (Belgian Strong Ale).

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Of course I am of the opinion that, if you can get them, it is appropriate to drink a beer out of the glass designed for that beer.  I bought this glass at Achel Brewery (they had an amazing beer glass selection too!)

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Actually I bought this case of Rochefort at Achel too–I was living in Germany at the time.  I drank all of that beer.  Fortunately, not 5 minutes from my house is Randalls.  Awesome store.  Their beer selection is amazing.

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Currently I have some nice homebrew in this case ready for consumption!

I visited this brewery in 2009 and I have to say it wasn’t very inviting.  It is kind of outside of a small town and there’s no real signs to guide you to any “visitor’s center.”

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Both Achel, Westmalle, and Westvleteren are similar, except they each have focused visitor locations.  The beer store at Achel is amazing.

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The Cafes at both Westvleteren and Westmalle are exceptional.  The two most inviting Trappist breweries are Chimay and Orval.  Many times there is a Monk answering questions at Chimay and you can enter some of the grounds.  Orval has a nice tourist setup and  you can also schedule tours of the brewery.  Well worth a visit.

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

Beer 26/Day 26 – Bavik Pilsner!

 

 

Well I ended up at my favorite wateringhole for the 3rd time this week on Friday!  Haha.  That place is going to bleed me dry.  Oh well … I will have a Beermentor’s Neighborhood entry on this place soon.  This is a quick hitter blog though … I had the Bavik Pilsner as my 26th beer.  Not really my favorite Belgian beer but it is easy to drink.  I sometimes drink one of these to cleanse my palate before going for the more flavorful Belgians.  Seems to work.

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Oh well … they can’t all be fantastic beers.  Wait a second?  Why not?  My goal for my next 2 weeks is to have one fantastic beer after another!  Stay tuned.

Beer Mentor

 

Happy Halloween — let’s have a beer!

My brother surprised me with a visit today … so we got dressed up and celebrated at my local wateringhole.  We were quite the pair (and definitely scary for Halloween)!

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I don’t think I make that great of a blond.  Definitely need a brunette wig next time!  If you can’t tell, I’m an “aging rock star.”  haha.  Even in the midst of all the fun I made sure and enjoyed my 25th beer (on day 25).  Today’s brew?

Gulden Draak.  It was Gulden and it was good.  This Belgian Quadruple really is wonderful–the wine yeast used in secondary fermentation helps it have that unique flavor.  I haven’t visited Brouwerij Van Steenberge but it is on my list.  The next time I’m in Belgium I will be stopping in!

Enjoy! Beer Mentor

Beermentor’s Neighborhood: Urban Chestnut Brewery!

On Wednesday I was supposed to begin my Mandolin Class at the Folk School in St Louis.  Unfortunately the class didn’t make — I didn’t find out until I went for the class.  Needless to say, I was not very happy!  However, I was cheered up immediately when I realized Urban Chestnut was right there near the school–and only 2.5 miles from my place!

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A short 10-minute drive lands me right in the middle of “an unconventional-minded yet tradition-oriented brewer of craft beer.”  They like to call their unique brewing philosophy Beer Divergency—a ‘new world meets old world’ brewing approach wherein UCBC contributes to the ‘revolution’ of craft beer with artisanal creations of modern American beers, and pays ‘reverence’ to the heritage of beer with classically-crafted offerings of timeless European beer styles.” (from the Urban Chestnut Webpage).

I have to agree with them wholeheartedly — their efforts are really impressive.  I had their sampler of four beers: 1) Hopfen, 2) Urban Blacktop, 3) STLIPA, and 4) (not Wolpertinger … they were out) Stammtisch.

As beer 24 on day 24, STLIPA is a double (or Imperial) IPA.  Really nice beer, but as with most of their beers, don’t expect it to adhere to any style — they make their beers the way they want to and I’m all for that.  I do like the mix of strange concoctions and classic beers — I will be frequenting this place a little more often!

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Oh, here are a couple of more pictures of the brewery.  They’ve got a very nice beer garden — inviting, large — you can definitely celebrate a big party at this place!

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See you in my Neighborhood soon!

(Oh, and check out their little growlers … pretty neat)

Beer Mentor