Category Archives: Master Beerman

Someone who has completed the journey … but wait … the journey is never really over … you just keep adding levels, like a master Kung Fu fighter … 5th degree Master Beerman.

Beer 49: Yin AND Yang (Not Together)

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Shared today’s beer with my friend Mike.  He’s probably more of a beer geek than me if you can picture that!  We reached deep into my beer fridge (well … the one on the right … haha) and pulled out an Evil Twin set of beers:  the Yin and the Yang.

The Yin is an Imperial Stout.  The Yang is a Double IPA.

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Both of these beers are very good.  Apparently, they are intended to be mixed like a black and tan.  You can buy the mixed version at the store.  We, on the other hand, decided to drink them separately.  Yummy.  They were quite good.  I drank the stout first and then the IPA.  Definitely worth picking up at your local specialty beer outlet!

Beer Mentor

 

Beer 46: 5 Lizard (Latin-style Witbier)

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I went over to some beer geek friend’s house today (yes, you Tom and Greg!).  lol.  We were drinking what was left in their keg, but they also brought out the two bottles shown in this picture:

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These are latin-style beers brewed by 5 Rabbit Cerveceria.  I thought they were very good.  My beer for tonight is the 5 Lizard … a witbier brewed with Passion Fruit.  I will continue to look for these Illinois beers … and am glad I’ve got new beer geek friends to share with!

Enjoy! Beer Mentor

Beermentor’s Neighborhood: Tripel Brasserie (Beer 41)

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My favorite restaurant/bar in St Louis is Tripel Brasserie.  To understand why, I need to tell a short story.  I will keep it simple:  Before I moved to St Louis in June I thought I was moving to Belgium.  My mind was wrapped around all those Belgian beers (supplemented with some good German ones).   When I found out that, no I’m not going to Belgium, I’m going to St Louis it was quite the letdown.  However, once I got here and saw the thriving Craft Brew scene I was immediately cheered up!  I went to the Heritage Beer Festival in June and it was even better!  As I was making my way back to my apartment from the fest I stumbled across this restaurant (Tripel) that wasn’t open yet … but they invited me in and I was hooked ever since.  Great Belgian/French food paired with Belgian beer (and local Belgian-style beers) matched with great folks?  Who can pass that up?  I make it a point of hanging out there at least once a week (usually Tuesday) … many times I’m there a couple of times.  Here are a few pictures to show how great the place is:

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 Oh look, Jim is coming out to meet me!

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 A little welcome mat …

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Plenty of beers on tap (local and Belgian)! And plenty in the bottle … they have a very nice selection.

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 Matt and Darla hanging behind the bar.

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A great space to have dinner — awesome decor.

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Terry getting ready to put together the day’s special cocktail!

Oh, I guess I should go ahead and list my 41st beer in my quest:  The Petrus Aged Red.  On Tap.  They keep their beers moving in here … this is a new one on tap.  Another nice thing about Tripel — they have the right glass for each beer.  Definitely a plus.  Oh, did I mention it is less than a mile from my place?  An easy “walk” home … 

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Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

 

Beer 40: Schneider-Weisse Tap 7!

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Beer 40 is a German Hefeweizen: The Original.  I have a great fondness for this Brewery (Schneider-Weisse) having visited both the Brewery in Kelheim and the Weisse Brauhaus in Munich (site of the original Brewery).

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I’m a big fan! Why is it called Tap 7? If you go to the Weisses Brauhaus, it is Tap #7.  Go give it a try!  Beer Mentor

Specialty Beer Swap @ 4 Hands Brewery (Beer 38)

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Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 4 Hands Brewery hosts a “Specialty Beer Swap” by local homebrewers or beer “aficianados.”  I went to my first one tonight — although lightly attended due to other beer activities going on in the city, I was able to sample several different beers.  Beer 38 for me was one I’ve wanted to sample: The Velvet Merkin.  Whoa.  This is an outstanding beer.   Firestone Walker out did themselves with this Oatmeal Stout.  Although it is 8.5% ABV, it is so smooth.  Many bourbon-barrel aged beers are sometimes overpowered by the residual bourbon in the barrel–not this one!  There was the hint in the background, but you could definitely tell this was all beer!  If you can get your hands on a Merkin, I recommend it! <smile>

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The fantastic thing about this evening is that this was not the only beer I was able to sample.  Next up (none of these are in any particular order) was a Russian River Beer: Temptation.  Wow!  Two world-class beers in a row.  This one is listed as an American Wild Ale.  Here’s the description: “A blonde ale fermented with a special strain of yeast, then aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout twelve months of aging. During this aging process, a secondary fermentation occurs using a yeast strain disliked by most brewers and winemakers called Brettanomyces.” [from BeerAdvocate]

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Next up? Short’s Brewery Soft Parade.  This one was a little sweet for my taste … very similar to a Lambic/Kriek but I’m not sure they call it a Lambic.  The bottle says “High Gravity brewed with a bunch of different fruit.”  Still a very good beer.

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Fourth taster?  Port Brewing‘s Santa’s Little Helper.  An Imperial Stout aged in Oak Barrels … wow again!  This beer was fantastic.  So nice and tasty, the aroma was great with a very good finish.  Find it, buy it.  haha.

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The last beer was one I provided.  Premiant Hopburst by Brouwerij de Molen.  It is bottle 104 out of 366.  This bottle was 4 years old.  This is a single-hopped IPA made exclusively with Premiant hops (a Czech variety).  I liked this beer, but a couple of the guys there didn’t.  Maybe they weren’t used to an aged IPA?  I thought it was really good.

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Overall a great beer tasting evening at 4 Hands.  I look forward to the next one!

Beer Mentor

Beer 31: Firestone Walker Double Jack!

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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

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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)

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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

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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