Geoff Reeves
does Belgium Proud
Fellow Atom Mashers,
With great anticipation, we [even dozen] gathered on Wednesday night
[June
4] at Geoff Reeves home. Geoff's transparent ploy to limit attendance
by
announcing the event with only 24 hours notice was an abysmal failure
- as
evidenced by a truly respectable turn-out of those remaining Faithful
to
the Mash.
Geoff showed off his new dispensing system, a fridge equipped with
three
taps protruding from the starboard thwart, with a gas line entering
aft
from the next room. Labels adorned the three taps. My interest focused
immediately on the Old Bruin = Belgian Brown Ale. This item was brewed
with aged barley [resulting in a ridiculously low yield] and other
ingredients, yielding a 10-gallon malt bill as follows:
14 lbs pale malt
4 oz crystal
8 oz oat flour
8 oz wheat flour
3 oz Hallertauer, 0.5 oz Saaz
OG = 1.047 FG = 1.010
Wyeast 3763 - yeast and bacteria mix
To the uncertified palate [mine] the resulting nectar had the properties
of
a mild tasting brew with a slightly sour note and the lower alcohol
content
that whispers those welcome words "Session Beer". I detected
a subtle
aroma at the finish and a sort of warming mouth feel. A devotee of
Belgian
ales, I count this experience as positive, welcome and [hopefully]
repeated. Thank you, Geoff. I'd have been happy to "session"
this brew
for the rest of the evening. ...it was not to be, for other distractions
presented themselves.
Geoff pulled out a little sampler pack of Unibroue beers, retrieved
from
our northern neighbor [no, not Colorado], Canada. The dozen of us
managed
to share the bottles with gentility and good humor. The play bill
reads as
follows, in order of serving. Quoted notes were shamelessly lifted
from
www.unibroue.com.
Blanche de Chambly 5.5% wheat based, available at Kokoman's for $3
per big
bottle on close-out
"In the spring of 1992, Unibroue marketed its first beer on lees,
the
Blanche de Chambly. It contains 5 percent alcohol and is produced
from an
interesting blend of unmalted Quebec wheat and pale barley malt, to
which
spices and natural aromatics are added, along with a light hopping.
The Blanche is only partially filtered so that it retains the full
benefits
of its natural ingredients. This gives it the cloudy appearance that
was
characteristic of pale beers in the Middle Ages. While it is naturally
of a
champagne color, it appears white because of the fresh yeast in suspension."
Eau Benite [Trippel] 7.7% "fruity and spicy" This translates
as "holy
water" and has a devilish angel in a foamy tub on the label.
"Unibroue launched this beer in June 1996. It is a golden beer
with a
slightly fruity nose and a pleasant warming character. Because of
its
in-bottle refermentation, Eau Bénite reaches 7.7 % alcohol.
Unibroue has
thus developed a beer offering the characteristics of a triple-fermentation
beer, but with a lower alcohol content."
1837 7% in the yummy category. The ale commemorates an uprising of
French
inhabitants of the British Empire, who met their end at the end of
a rope.
But, heck, they'd be dead by now of natural causes, anyway, so what's
the
beef?
"On May 1, 1997, Unibroue launched 1837. It is dedicated to the
heroes who
died fighting for the freedom of our country during that year. Some
fought
at the battle of St-Eustache, and others were executed at the
Pied-du-Courant."
"1837 is a blonde beer that is slightly cloudy. It contains 7%
alcohol and
is refermented in the bottle. Following the brewing tradition of the
great
abbey beers, it is made with a blend of Quebec-grown raw wheat, lightly
roasted barley and a hint of spices. It is a truly refreshing beer."
Maudite 8% The label is transparently a rip-off of the Western anthem
"Ghost Riders in the Sky". In this case, it's "Ghost
Paddlers in the Sky".
Check out the web site. Thicker than the taste is the malarkey quoted
below.
"In November 1992 Maudite (the damned one), was the first strong
beer to be
distributed in Quebec grocery stores. It contains 8 % alcohol and
is also
the first beer brewed in America that improves with age. When served
young,
it is very smooth, but when served after several years of storage,
it can
taste a bit like. Maudite is a mahogany-colored, rich-tasting premium
beer
that has a distinctive, complex taste. Because of the warmth it releases,
this strong character beer must be served cool but not cold. Perfect
with
pasta, red meats, stews and spicy dishes, it also makes a good aperitif
and
after-dinner drink.
Maudite has a typically Quebecois name that is reminiscent of the
legend of
the Chasse-Galerie (the legend of the Flying Canoe). Legend has it
that a
group of lumberjacks struck a deal with the devil to fly home in their
canoes, guided by Satan himself, to make it home in time for Christmas."
La Fin du Monde 9% -comme syrup
"In February 1994, after 18 months of research, Unibroue launched
La Fin du
Monde (the end of the world). It is a 9 percent alcohol, triple
fermentation beer. This type of beer was originally developed by the
monks
of the Middle Ages to be served on special occasions. La Fin du Monde
is a
deluxe beer made by triple fermentation and a unique way of straining
the
yeast. This method produces an unexpectedly subtle flavour. With its
champagne-like effervescence, it has a vigourous presence in the mouth,
which accentuates its strong personality. Slightly tart, with the
balanced
flavours of wild spices, malt and hops, it belongs to the class of
great
Trappist beers and, in this regard, is a North American first. At
meals, it
can replace white or red wines and enhances the flavour of most dishes.
This beer is brewed to honour of the great explorers, who believed
they had
reached the end of the world when they discovered America." ...but
Coronado was Spanish, not French.
Trois Pistoles 9% -very malty
"Trois Pistoles was launched in June of 1997. It contains 9%
alcohol and is
brewed with roasted malt. Its rich, smooth texture, and the presence
of
yeast used for in-bottle refermentation give it a very distinctive
flavour.
This dark beer and has an aroma of ripe fruit and a pleasant aftertaste
that lingers like old port wine.
Trois Pistoles can be enjoyed before a meal or after, and is excellent
with
pasta as well as game meat and wild fowl.
It also enhances the flavour of desserts like chocolate mousse and
fruit
salad, and can even replace coffee as an after dinner drink "
Don de Dieu 9% -sweet and thick
"The Don de Dieu was first released onto the Quebec market as
a limited
edition in November 1998. It rapidly became one of Unibroue's most
popular
bottle-conditioned products. Therefore, due to increasing demands,
Unibroue
decided to distribute it internationally.
It was named after Samuel de Champlain¹s boat, The Don de Dieu,
which
arrived in Tadoussac, June 3, 1608. He was commissioned by the King
of
France to pursue, by way of the great Canadian waterway, the exploration
of
the vast and inhospitable land called "America".
His mission made him founder of Quebec and the land came to be known
as the
land of the "somewhat of a great people." Thus, it is in
the memory of
those ancestors that Unibroue has brewed the "Don de Dieu,"
a "somewhat of
a great beer."
Raftman 5.5% -We wondered how this tasted so light, when the alcohol
had
been increasing throughout the tasting. Boy, did our palates tell
true!
We looked for peaty flavor in this one, but not sure it's there.
"Launched in March 1995, Raftman is a beer with a coral sheen
that is
slightly robust. It contains 5.5 percent alcohol and combines the
character
of whisky malt with the smooth flavours of choice yeast. It has a
subtle
and exceptional bouquet that creates a persistent smooth feel. Raftman
complements fish, smoked meat and spicy dishes. .
It is brewed to commemorate the legendary courage of the forest workers
These hard working men knew when to settle their differences and share
their joie de vivre with a beer and a whisky."
This tasting was Fun, Fun, Fun. Thanks, Geoff.
John Stewart brought his Belgian ale. It's becoming a veteran of
tastings
and could last as long as Mike Hall's Old Mathematician, if John can
resist
the urge to consume at home.
Scott Robinson's porter was a refreshing change. It is a straightforward
English brew - dry with roasted malts the predominant flavor. Tasty
and
clean. Good effort, Scott. But the memory of the taste is fading.
A
bottle or two delivered to 20 Barranca might revive the pleasant
sensations. We'll sit on the deck overlooking Rendija Canyon and discuss
the fine points at sunset.
Matt Heavner produced his Westmalle Trippel, a brew made with caramelized
wort. A portion of the wort was boiled until dark and thick, then
re-introduced into the ferment. Grain bill is 10 lb pale malt extract,
4
oz Belgian malt and Saaz/Tettnanger. Great addition to the tastings!
I left by 10 PM, so other tasting experiences will depend on other
writers.
The evening was a delight. Thanks, Geoff. Thanks, fellow brewers,
for the
good company and the fine brews.
By way of suggestion - If you go to a brewing event this summer,
please
write it up and share with the rest of us.
You don't want to read [only] my ramblings, now, do you?
Yours in the Ferment,
Evan Rose
roseandorth@earthlink.net
