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December 31, 2011

New Year, New Beers

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I can’t think of a better New Year’s resolution as a beer lover than resolving to experience new flavor sensations crossing my palate. This is one resolve that I am absolutely positive will be attained in 2012, despite all the grumblings of the world’s ending and such. Why, you ask? Simply because I am privy to knowledge of upcoming releases of new beer. And this year will not disappoint this Belgian beer lover in the least.

May I humbly present the the source(s) of my optimistic view of an apocryphal year:

1. Poperings Hommel Dry Hop: As an avid IPA connoisseur, what better way is there to celebrate the stately hop? The word “hommel” means hop in the local dialect around the town of Poperinge. Brouwerij Van Eecke produces the most elegant and poetic form of an IPA that even GQ agrees it is fashionable. I anticipate that the added accessory of dry-hopping will make a serious fashion statement.

2. Barrel Aged Scotch Silly: The original Scotch Silly made by Brasserie de Silly is a complex and wonderful incarnation of a scotch ale. How can it possibly be better? By aging in wooden barrels, of course!  I can already imagine the deep oak and fine scotch essence of an already great beer will inspire awe and respect like viewing an master’s work of art.

3. Gulden Draak 9000 Quad: I’ve had the pleasure of pouring (and personally sampling heavily) at the Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival earlier this summer. Right now, you may be lucky enough to find it on tap in a few places in the U.S., but have patience: it is slated to be bottled and shipped stateside sometime in January. Just like Gulden Draak, this beer is incredibly smooth, maybe dangerously smooth; the 10.5% ABV is well hidden by a lighter sweetness an unmistakeable ripe banana aroma of the Van Steenberge yeast. I cannot wait to have a few bottles to enjoy and to cellar, given the tasty success I’ve had with the original Draak.

4. Piraat IPA: Aaaargh….PA. Brouwerij Van Steenberge has already bowled me over with the original strong ale. I wonder if this new style will inspire me to wear an eyepatch and plunder me mateys with puns? Shiver me timbers, aye, this brew is bound for glory methinks!

5. Troubadour Magma 2012 Special Edition: I’m still in ecstasy over 2011′s Special Edition Cascade Hop from Brouwerij The Musketeers. No hint yet from Stefaan, Kristoff, Rikkert, or Sven on what limited release they have in store for us in 2012, but if 2011 was in any way comparable….I may not be able to wait very long.They made magic in a bottle with the original Troubadour Magma, and pure poetry with the homage to the Cascade Hop.

6. Troubadour Black Magma: As if the Musketeers couldn’t make me salivate more, I hesitate to make any presumptions on what characteristics this beer will have, other than it will be dark in color. I have already fallen desperately in love with the Obscura and more recently the Imperial Stout (as well as many of my friends and colleagues), so I eagerly anticipate the arrival of the next black beauty.

So, those are your beers for thought. They’re all worthy of your resolve. I resolve to have them all in 2012. As bleak as the predictions are for 2012, I refuse to let the year (or time for that matter) end until I’ve had them all.

HAPPY NEW BEER FROM ALL OF US AT GLOBAL BEER NETWORK!

 

August 25, 2011

Destination Paradise: 13th Edition Belgian Beer Weekend

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Ah, the end of summer is approaching: the kids are starting to return to school, mums are already available at the nursery, and most of us will be contemplating what to cook on the grill for Labor Day weekend.

I offer you an alternative to slaving over those hot coals: Belgian Beer Weekend.

If you have the means and a passport next weekend September 2-4, make your way to the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium. Here will be the site of the 13th Edition Belgian Beer Weekend, sponsored by the collaboration of the Belgian Brewer’s Association, The Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff, and the beautiful city of Brussels .

Early evening in the Grand Place, September 2009

Friday, September 2 starts off with the celebration of the patron saint of brewers, Saint Arnould, for the consecration of the beers at the Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral. It is said that Saint Arnould performed a miracle during the peak of the Black Plague in Flanders by placing his staff in a brew kettle, consequently curing all those who drank from it. I just knew beer was medicinal! Saint Arnould is often depicted with a mash staff, and is honored annually on August 18th.

After the consecration of the beers, there is an enthronement ceremony for the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff, where new members to the brotherhood are formally knighted. Finally, the beer stands are solemnly inaugurated, then the area is open to the public for tastings.

Saint Arnould, the patron saint of beer.

The next day, there is a collection of historical beer carts on display in the Fish Market, which will be ceremoniously paraded through the streets of Brussels. Upon the departure of the historical beer carts, the brewers have their own parade that takes them around the Grand Place to keep the festival goers in good spirits.

Not to be outdone by the pageantry of the previous 2 days, Sunday’s parade consists of wonderful bands and brewer’s confraternities.

What can you expect? Well, come thirsty. Sample some of the best Belgian beers the country has to offer. Ask a brewer questions. Enjoy the company  of thousands of like-minded people. Stop and have a fabulous beer dinner in one of the many restaurants in or around the square. Munch on some crispy frites as you marvel at the sheer amount of beer available to try…but make sure you save some room for an authentic Belgian Waffle!

A real Belgian Waffle as presented by La Rose Blanche, right on the Grand Place.

 

August 16, 2011

Boston’s Belgian Beer Fest

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Prepare your tastebuds, Boston…

A little taste of Belgium will be coming to The Bean on Friday, September 9th and Saturday, September 10th at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. For my father and I, this will be a pleasant prelude to the tour that we will be departing for just 4 days afterwards… “conditioning” is definitely necessary, if you take my meaning!

On Friday, September 9th, the 700 people who were lucky enough to snag a ticket before it was completely sold out, will be in for a rare treat: The Night of the Funk. What makes this night so special that it sold out faster than you can say “Belgian waffle”? Well, to tempt your adventurous taste buds, there will be over 50 beers available that are on the wild side of the spectrum–as in sour beers, lambics, gueuze, or simply fermented with wild yeast. Global Beer Network will have a fine representation of funky stuff:  Petrus Aged Pale, Cherish Kriek Lambic, Cherish Framboise Lambic, and my personal favorite, Monk’s Café  Flemish Sour Red Ale. Be prepared to make a face…a happy face!

I remember my first taste of the Petrus Aged Pale at the Bavik Brewery: feeling a bit bleary-eyed a few days into the last tour, a fellow tour companion made it known that we would be in for a wonderful pick-me-up at the tasting. Sure enough, and even though it was only shortly after 10:00 in the morning, came the promise of deliverance from our drowsy selves. The sourness hit the back of the tongue, and the flavor was a crisp as a Vlasic pickle! I think after that tasting, everyone was feeling the spirit again!

Not to be outdone by the night before, Saturday’s 2 sessions will be no less epic than the previous nights’ event. There will be two sessions: 1:00-4:30 p.m. and 6:00-9:30 p.m. In fact, most of the representatives from Night of the Funk will yet be available–add to that another 75 different beers or so-for a grand total of over 125 fine real Belgian and Belgian-style beers (I say Belgian-style, only because as a purist I consider true Belgian beers to be produced only in Belgium, although I really enjoy some of the beers made here in the U.S.)  Make sure to stop by Global Beer and try some of the “funky” stuff or one of the 16 other beers we’ll be pouring:

Brouwerij Bavik:  Petrus Blond, Petrus Dubbel, Petrus Gouden Tripel, Petrus Oud Bruin, Petrus Speciale Ale, Wittekerke, Wittekerke Framboise

Brouwerij The Musketeers: Troubadour Blond, Troubadour Magma, Troubadour Obscura

Brouwerij Van Eecke: Kapittel Abt, Kapittel Blond, Kapittel Pater, Kapittel Prior, Poperings Hommel Bier

Brouwerij Van Steenberge: Bière Du Boucanier Red, Gulden Draak Triple, Gulden Draak Quad, Piraat

So, Boston beer connoisseurs, better get your ticket for the Saturday festivities before they run out! If you’re interested in attending one of the 2 sessions on Saturday, September 10, click here. Get them quick, I see that the VIP tickets for Saturday have sold out as well!

Cheers! Santé! Prost! Hope to see you there!

 

August 3, 2011

There’s More to Cooperstown Than Baseball?

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Over this past weekend, I found myself in a Paradise that didn’t require an overnight flight or a passport. In the rural outskirts, stands the Belgian-style farmhouse that represents Ommegang Brewery-the sight of this year’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Festival 2011.

As an esteemed fan and companion of Global Beer Network, I was invited along with the Lusso crew to play the part of spectator and of course, to lend a helping hand in setting up the table and handing out prizes to festival attendees sporting our temporary tattoos. What made this event for Global Beer awesome were 2 factors: the first time using the new portable Gulden Draak tower, and premiering a new beer..Gulden Draak Quad.

Public fascination with the Draak tower was so epic, it was like fighting Papparazzi for the best shot.

Little did I know  that our “volunteers” for pouring draft for  us would vanish after only 30 minutes. Ah, so it was time for me to keep the taps flowing for the thirsty crowd of beer lovers. Although I was manning the tower tap with Gulden Draak triple, Piraat, and the new Gulden Draak quad, we actually had 6 beers for sampling, including Wittekerke, Troubadour Magma, and Wittekerke Framboise.  The funniest moment I experienced was when an obviously drunk young woman approached the Draak, and inquired ever so politely, “Do you have any light beer?”, to which I replied, “See that water fountain over there? I hear they have light beer available”. She trotted off determinedly on a mission to find what she was searching for.                                                                                                                                                   After 4 1/2 hours of pouring, chatting up the tasters, enduring random marriage proposals from alcohol-fueled patrons, sipping some fabulous beers, and generally getting bathed in Draak and Piraat (I can think of worse things to smell like!)–it was time to pack up the leftovers for the campsite we carved out the night before. The campsite was one BIG party, with lots of people stopping by with their own beers to share while we traded our leftover Wittekerke and Troubadour Magma in the spirit of free love for beer. In the background I could hear the sounds of a cover band doing their rendition of “Ace of Spades” while we sat back and enjoyed the fireworks display towards the end of the night.

Sadly, we packed up our sleeping bags, tent, and gear the next day to weather the 4 hour drive back home. This was truly the greatest weekend I have experienced outside of a week full of brewery tours and tastings outside of Belgium, and I can’t wait to participate again next year!

Like father, like daughter: Cliff and Cassandra Lusso celebrating in style.

 

June 15, 2010

Lessons From World Beer Festival

Posted by Global Beer Network under beer event, Brouwerij Bavik, Monk's Cafe | Tags: , , |
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After working the Global Beer Network booth this past Saturday for the World Beer Festival held in Richmond, I can say that I’ve learned a lot. Having been an attendee of various beer festivals in the past, I also know what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. Here are some lessons I’ve picked up along the way:

  1. Drink more water. – Four hours doesn’t seem like an awfully long time, but guess what, when you’re out in the heat of a Virginia summer, you need all the hydration you can get. Plus, a steady supply of water keeps your enjoyment level up and your inner drunken idiot down. I packed a refillable water bottle. Some attendees seemed to have forgotten this cardinal rule. Whether serving (like me) or drinking (like them), water is always a good idea.
  2. Pace yourself. – Again, it’s four hours long, but you won’t be able to try everything. Give up the ghost on that one. I recommend marking out booths you know you want to hit beforehand, especially ones featuring the pricier items that you’d like to try before dropping serious loot on a bottle. Pace is key here.
  3. People like sour beer. – From what I experienced at this festival, people couldn’t get enough of Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. Of course, you’re reading this blog and thinking, “Of course this guy’s gonna say that.” But the fact that this was apparently the only ale of its kind at the festival is saying something. You’d have been amazed. People just dabbling in IPAs and Dubbels for the first time were raving over the Monk’s Cafe. We flat ran out in about an hour during the first session. When you find a beer that makes you rethink what beer is, you’re in a good place.

All in all, it was a great festival and I met a lot of interesting folks whose first love may or may not have been beer. Regardless, many attendees gained a new perspective and had a great time in the process, and I was right there to help that transition along.

Oh, what a beautiful day to be a booster for better beer!

 

June 9, 2010

World Beer Festival Richmond

Posted by Global Beer Network under beer event, Brouwerij Bavik, Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Monk's Cafe, Petrus Dubbel | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Just a heads up/reminder:  All About Beer magazine is bringing its famous World Beer Festival to Richmond, Virginia!

Tickets are on sale now, and should be snatched up soon because this one beer event you don’t want to miss. Yours truly will be pouring at the Global Beer Network booth, so stop by this Saturday and see what we’re pouring! We should have Monk’s Cafe, Petrus Dubbel, and a few others for your drinking pleasure.

You can purchase your tickets at the All About Beer website. But if you happen to be in the Richmond area currently, swing by Mekong for dinner and order a couple tickets to the festival along with your beer! (And tell owner An you were sent by the Dalai Lama. He’ll know what it means…)

Looking forward to seeing you at the fest. And don’t be bashful – bring your friends!

 

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