The Halo Bar @ The Pageant (Beer 39)

I went to see All That Remains in concert on Thursday night.  They were fronting for Sevendust and Asking Alexandria, but I really went to see ATR.  It was awesome.

IMG_2071IMG_2079  Here I am with the lead guitarist. lol.

Speaking of awesome — The Halo Bar @ The Pageant is just that.  Check out the sweet music-themed layout here.  The pageant is a great music venue … the Halo Bar complements it.

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Since I have the 4 Hands theme going this week, I just kept it rolling with the Single Speed Session Ale.    This is a good beer … easy drinking ale and fits that purpose.

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Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

 

Specialty Beer Swap @ 4 Hands Brewery (Beer 38)

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 37: 4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout

Curreently, 4 Hands brewing is my favorite brewery in St Louis (followed closely by FOBAB multi-medalist Perennial).  4 Hands’ beers are consistently outstanding.  My only caveat is you have to really like hops, but who doesn’t?  Today’s beer is not hoppy, the Chocolate Milk Stout.

beer37 - 4hands Milk Stout

Some Chocolate Milk Stouts will have a harsh or burnt characteristics because of the blend of cocoa and chocolate malts–not this one!  4 Hands really built a smooth milk stout that is easy drinking.  Great chocolate nose and the finish is smooth.  If you have the opportunity to try some of their beers, I highly recommend it.  If you are taking in a show at The Old Rock House or a Cardinals ballgame (when in season), recommend a stop in before or after the game.

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

Beer 36: Stillwater Artisanal Sensory Series v.1 Lower Dens

 

 

Today was Veteran’s Day — I’m proud of my dad, both brothers, and my son for serving!  We covered the Marines, Army, and Air Force.   No Navy folks for us … probably because we come from Texas.  haha.

I was out playing disc golf today at a really nice course here in St Louis … great weather and day. Don’t ask me why I had my shirt tucked in … lol.

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Anyway, what was waiting for me after my round?  A Stillwater Artisanal Ale … another of his Sensory Series: v.1 Lower Dens.  You can read about this collaboration effort with the musicians at this link.

I really like all of Stillwater’s beers.  He’s definitely the preeminent gypsy brewer in the US right now.  This beer is no exception … a saison brewed with Hibiscus … the flavor was great.  I made sure to swirl around the sediment in the bottle and capture that in my glass.  I love those European-style Wheat beers (Weizen, Weisse, Saison, Wit, etc).  For some reason they sit better with me than the American-style.

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Another reason I like Stillwater beers is because he doesn’t leave out any details.  All of his labels are works of art — he definitely likes to include all aspects (as evidenced by this series) of the art world.  I’d recommend surfing his page and checking it out!

Oh, and he mentioned in his blog that there is a home for many of his beers — it is a pub in Baltimore call “Of Love & Regret.”  I checked out the draught list and there are definitely a LOT of his beers.  I mentioned the Brewer’s Art as a good location, but I think I would try this other place first!

Enjoy!  Beer Mentor

Beer 34: Stillwater Artisanal Ales “Sensory Series”

I really like this brewer — as a Gypsy brewer he uses other folk’s facilities to make his beers.  Don’t let that deter you though — he makes really good beers.  This is part of his Sensory Series … this is the v.2 (A Black Saison).

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I liked this beer–I like what this brewer does by pushing the boundaries on styles and expectations.  I also like the art associated with his beers.  His blog is worth the read — If you go to Baltimore, stop by The Brewer’s Art to have some of his beers.  You will enjoy it.

Beer Mentor

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 30/Day 30 – Another Hommel Bier!

 

 

 

 

beer30 - Poperinge Hommel Bier

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

 

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 3/Day 3: Schlafly’s Tripel! Woo Hoo!

Stopped in at my local neighborhood Belgian Beer Bar … Tripel Brasserie.   This is basically my watering hole.  Let me know if you want to meet and have a brew there!

The beer selection is excellent, the staff is great, and the atmosphere is wonderful.  Oh … the food is excellent too.

But on to the Beer!  Today I had a nice Schlafly … This local (regional) brewery is making very good beer — as a matter of fact, their Pumpkin Beer is near the top of the list for best Pumpkin Beers in 2013! (Great to see Selin’s Grove and Southern Tier in the top 10 … those guys are awesome!)

Since I was at a Belgian-style restaurant I had the Tripel from Schlafly.

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A nice touch at Tripel … as far as I know there are only a couple of places you can get the Tripel on tap and they have it.  This is a very good beer … right in style, goes down smooth … love the crisp hoppy flavor in this one.  The right spicy yeast too … very nice!

Recommend a trip to Tripel … you won’t be disappointed!

Beer Mentor