Whole load of Belgians in my fridge

[corkybstewart]

My birthday was last week, so we threw a big cookout this weekend. I cooked pork tenderloins with a chipotle sauce, BBQ chicken, and homemade bratwurst. Drank bunches of homebrew, and then at 11 PM my daughter showed up from Albuquerque, a 4 hour drive, with my b'day present from her and her boyfriend: 2 Cantillon Lou Pepe 2003, 2 Lindemans Framboise, and 1 each Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus, Fantome Saison, Krieke de Ranke. I don't know squat about any of these beers but I'm damn sure looking forward to trying them. I would have started today, but it's tax day and I make a point of never drinking when I'm not in a good mood.

[chazwicke]

Happy Birthday. May I adopt your daughter. Nice gifts. She did well with her selection. Let us know what you think of the beers. Some of them are great beers.

[HarkJohnny]

hmm.. sounds like she's found herself a good beerfriend... i mean boyfriend. you may want to check into keeping this one around ;)

[corkybstewart]

Actually I don't really like him very much. But he's not as bad as some of the losers she dated in high school. But that's her problem.
I tried the kriek de Ranke last night. I enjoyed it, not too overpowering on the cherry flavor, but a nice crisp after dinner drink while my sweetheart finished the bottle of white wine. But the whole time I was drinking it I knew it reminded me of something I drink fairly often in France. After 2/3 of the bottle it hit me: this is cider, not beer.

[corkybstewart]

As I post this time I'm 2/3 through a bottle of 2003 Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek. This shit rocks. I love the gentle sourness to it, not sweet like the Lindemans or cidery like the Kriek de Ranke. It has a definite cherry flavor but not overpowering. I can't wait to try the Framboise.
And the boyfriend is getting less despicable but he's still there.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

Originally posted by corkybstewart

And the boyfriend is getting less despicable but he's still there.

Well being the father of a 20 year old girl, no one is good enough for daddy's girl.... You just need to relax.

Of course, if anyone ever hit my daughter and I found out about it, I would put the bastard in the hospital.

[corkybstewart]

He doesn't know we don't like him so everything's cool. We went to dinner with him Saturday night. His real problems is that he's a spoiled rich kid and I want my daughter to learn to rely on herself. But on the bright side, he's old enough to buy beer for her to deliver to me when she visits.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

See there's always a silver lining to every cloud :D

[Triple Freak]

Now, when you decide you can't possibly finish the rest of those beers, send them to me for proper disposal. :)

[corkybstewart]

I'm going to just gut up and do it. It'll be tough, but I'll manage. I'm down to the last 3.

[hops99]

I've been sampling a bunch of Belgians this week, including some that I haven't tried before - Val Dieu Brown, St. Bernardus Wit, Duchesse de Bourgogne, and Redbach to name a few. I don't seem to ever get tired of Belgians.

[Teej]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
Actually I don't really like him very much. But he's not as bad as some of the losers she dated in high school. But that's her problem.

Hahahahah. Reminds me of another 'net group I hang around with...car related. Back in '96 we started having an annual gathering at a race track for a few days of peace, love and smokin' tires.

Well, one guy brought his teenage daughter for a few years. The year she turned 18, there was a great deal of chatter about her and her physical attributes.

Well...her dad was still on the mailing list and followed up with something to the effect of "If you like my daughter so much, give 'er a damn call. Her cell is xxxxxxx. Any of you guys are better than the loser she's dating now!"

But back on topic...I've not had much of an appreciation for the belgian styles yet. Just picked up one to give a try again (local brew, belgian style...Sprecher's Abbey Trippel). ...along with a hefe which is another style I've not acquired a taste for yet.

[corkybstewart]

The problem with Belgian beer is that there are so many categories and styles that it's easy to be addicted to some Belgians, and absolutely hate others. I like the dubbles and tripels, and I'm learning about the lambices, but the saison I've drunk I didn't like, and some of the pale ales like Duvel I'm not real crazy about.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by hops99
I've been sampling a bunch of Belgians this week, including some that I haven't tried before - Val Dieu Brown, St. Bernardus Wit, Duchesse de Bourgogne, and Redbach to name a few. I don't seem to ever get tired of Belgians.

Some good ones there. Any favorites? The Val Dieu and Duchesse are great. I've not had Redbach.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
The problem with Belgian beer is that there are so many categories and styles that it's easy to be addicted to some Belgians, and absolutely hate others. I like the dubbles and tripels, and I'm learning about the lambices, but the saison I've drunk I didn't like, and some of the pale ales like Duvel I'm not real crazy about.

Belgians for me are hit and miss. Some I love others I don't like much. Such diversity though.

[hops99]

I've not had Redbach.

It's Rodenbach mixed with Kriek. I'm not a huge fruit beer fan, but I think it's pretty tasty.

Not to dredge up an old thread, but if forced to choose....I enjoy British Ales, like German Lagers, etc. but I never get tired of the array of Belgians out there.