Off Topic (i.e. Beer-related) Diary

by johnbai on Apr 30, 2007 10:35 PM PDT

I don't do a lot of the personal diary stuff here, but I'm heading to Brussels for 10 days tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to visit a Trappist monastery while I'm there and thank them profusely from everyone at Lookout Landing for all the great beer.

Possible day trips include Ghent and Antwerp.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Maybe for Belgian ales I should make sure not to miss... or for breweries/alehouses I should visit?

And for the nostalgic among you... here's a glorious sight from a happy little pub in Paris. I hope to drink a few liters from the giant glass while I'm there, which will make missing all the M's games tolerable!

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Oh man.

Jealous.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 1, 2007 5:41 AM PDT reply actions

Hoegaarden

Just kidding. That's probably like Budweiser to them

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on May 1, 2007 6:49 AM PDT reply actions

Hoegarden is damn good though

Leffe/Leffe Blonde is good too.

by phil333 on May 1, 2007 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Already in another beer thread..

that hoegarden is overrated IMO. Its just kinda sweet and bland. Maybe a good beer to start drinking beer on but if I reach for a beer it won't be the one I'm getting.

PS. I'm pretty sure it seemed like Jeff agreed with me although that could be absolutely not true.

by Edgar for Pres on May 1, 2007 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Hooegarden...

Is a skosh overrated, yes, but it's very drinkable for n00bs. I'd grab some other stuff myself, too, but if it's the only belgian available, amongst several other good beers, you better believe it's one of the first I'm grabbing.

Pray for Felix. Pray for the M's!

by PositivePaul on May 1, 2007 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Stella =budweiser

to them.

by marc w on May 1, 2007 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Except bud is so much better

than stella its not even funny. That beer is terrible - its like Michelob Ultra for people who only drink imports.

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 1, 2007 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Bud better than Stella?

I can only assume you're referring to Budweiser Budvar

and not that watery-tasting American knock-off.

by Alex B on May 1, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

No, i mean Bud

which is a much better beer in the general scheme of things than seattleites give it credit for.

Stella is the wateriest beer I've ever had. Ever. I think Schlitz is better, to be honest, and not nearly so pretentious.

Budvar is OK. You can buy it in the states under the name Czechvar, I believe. But Bud isn't that much worse than Budvar either.

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 1, 2007 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

While I think Stella>Bud

slightly. When cost is accounted for Stella is probably one of the worst taste/cost beers broadly available.

by Edgar for Pres on May 1, 2007 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Amstel Light is up there, too.

Shitty shitty beer, yet it costs $14 for a 12 pack. Ridiculous.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 1, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Stella is Richie Sexson

Bud is Adam LaRoche

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 1, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Heh.

Duvel is Albert Pujols
Schmidt is Willie Bloomquist

Pray for Felix. Pray for the M's!

by PositivePaul on May 1, 2007 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I think Ichiro makes a better Duvel.

It's a unique kind of beer that doesn't really fit into any broader categories.

Jeff Weaver is antifreeze.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 1, 2007 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

old bong water

that someone spilled a Milwaukee's Beast into

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 1, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

and I think

Olympia Beer is a better match for Bloomquist. Local favorite, versatile, cheap...

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 1, 2007 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Nah

Barry Bonds for Olympia
Slogan: "Its in the water"
I think that says it all.

by Edgar for Pres on May 1, 2007 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

OLY!

How dare you compare Oly to Bloomie. No comparison.

Pray for Felix. Pray for the M's!

by PositivePaul on May 1, 2007 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Richie is Blitz...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tDffrktrM

except He's being sold at microbrew prices. ;)

by eponymous coward on May 1, 2007 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Clearly you don't drink PBR

... or beer-flavored bottled water, as I refer to it as.

PBR is mostly drank as a result of "Hey, it's only a buck!"

by eponymous coward on May 1, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

When I was in Madison Wisconsin recently

I saw a billboard. It had a picture of a six-pack of water and a six-pack of high life. The prices were shown for each as $5.99 for the water and $3.49 for the high life. Below that it said something along the lines of "You make the decision".

by Edgar for Pres on May 1, 2007 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha

that's awesome.

So, wait, was it a billboard for water or High Life? I could see it being either...

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 1, 2007 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed.

All the supposed "beer lovers" here in Portland flip over Stella Artois. I think it's swill.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 1, 2007 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Has Leinenkugel hit the West Coast?

It's a Wisconsin beer and has been around since the 1800s, but it just got to Baltimore and I'm a big fan. The sunset wheat is good shite.

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on May 1, 2007 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

It wasn't too bad

definitely better than most major US brews but I feel like I might have been spoiled by living in the northwest. It seems our micros are just amazing compared to others. Granted Leinenkugel isn't really a micro since it is pretty big.

by Edgar for Pres on May 1, 2007 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I think I lived off of Leinie's

The two years I lived in Illinois. Man, I miss that stuff.

by patsfan on May 1, 2007 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Try the

Big Butt. It is liquid dessert.

by david h on May 2, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

David likes big butts and he cannot lie

Those other lagers can't deny....

by Gomez on May 2, 2007 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions

When I worked at an ad agency

My coworkers LOVED Stella. Of course, they also had no problem buying pitchers of Miller High Life, so take that for what you will.

by Gomez on May 1, 2007 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Weird

I'll be in Brussels in May. I'm going to be monitoring this diary closely.

by marc w on May 1, 2007 9:10 AM PDT reply actions

From a guy who was drinking Belgians

Before several of you were born, there are ales in the monasteries that you can't even think about getting over here. Go hunt some of those down, take pictures, and make tasting notes. Take any sort of coasters you can. Pay special attention to the shape of the glass they bring you, as that's as much a part of the Belgian ale experience as anything.

But since you posted this last night, mentioning that you were leaving in the morning, you'll probably only read this after you get back. Heh.

Go have some Kwak.

Pray for Felix. Pray for the M's!

by PositivePaul on May 1, 2007 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

And when you have your Kwak

drink it in a dimly-lit underground bar. It's the only way.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 1, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Try some Floris Honey if you can

Tastes like a slightly edgier mead.

by Alex B on May 1, 2007 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Obviously

you have to go for a little Duvel. But if you're looking to go a little more unfamiliar, hit up the Rochefort, Chimay, and Westmalle.

Also, if you're willing to sacrifice your testicles for a few minutes, it's hard to go wrong with 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek (and avoid the kriek that comes in cans).

by Jeff Sullivan on May 1, 2007 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

I'm trying to book a tour

at Duvel's brewery.
Sounds like it's quite hard to do - you're supposed to book these things like a year in advance.

by marc w on May 1, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Anyone try the Samichlaus Bier?

I want to get some but with the shipping cost equaling the beer cost, I want to be sure it's worth it before I splurge at $10/330ml bottle.

by Matthew on May 1, 2007 10:58 AM PDT reply actions

Is Pilsner

Urquel belgian? I would go there above anything, one of my fav beers for sure along with Grolsh

by dust on May 1, 2007 11:37 PM PDT reply actions

Pilsner anything

is Czech. From Pilsen, to be specific.

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 2, 2007 6:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Pils is Czech

I need some serious European beer recs (I'll be in France) or else it will be a summer of Carlsberg, Heineken, and as much wine as I can drink.

by robrun2 on May 2, 2007 12:49 AM PDT reply actions

Checking Your Advice...

from an internet cafe in Bruxelles. Great tips so far. Thanks. I am asking my hosts about touring a Trappist monostary in the next few days.

Today I drank some Orval, some Westmalle, and some light wheat beer with lemon that my girlfriend did not finish.

Also enjoyed the frittes with Samarai sauce.

Keep giving me advice good people...

by johnbai on May 2, 2007 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

I miss frittes.

My favorite thing about Brussels is that the dietary stereotypes people have about the city - beer, chocolate, and waffles - are all so totally true.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 2, 2007 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Belgian Beer event in Tacoma

just saw this, and thought I'd pass it along...

Belgian Beer and French Cheese on Monday
Beer and cheese fans, this is your Nirvana! On Monday, May 7th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, our friends at Vin Grotto are hosting a Belgian Beer and French Cheese event. Support your downtown wine bar and have a great evening on Monday night. The night includes:

Blanche de Moines Charrollais
Dupont Saison Pyrenees Brebis
Foret Oganic Saison Taleggio
Boon Kriek Lambic Mariolles
Boon Gueze Blue d'Auvergne
Witkap Tripel Mimolette
Sealdis Strong Ale Brillat-Savarin

Some of these beers are really hard to get. Some are subject to availability. Baguette and fruit will also be served. PLUS you get a beer glass to take home! The opportunity to purchase beer and cheese may also be available that evening. Call now to make your pre-paid reservation!

Vin Grotto Cafe and Wine Bar
813 Pacific Avenue
253.722.5079
www.vingrotto.com

$30.00 Advance Purchase

(hat tip: exit133.com)

by marc w on May 4, 2007 2:06 PM PDT reply actions