#226: New Belgium Brewing » Lips Of Faith: Paardebloem (Strong Ale)

Peach juice, dandelion greens, and grains of paradise, oh my...

The Brewery: New Belgium
The Brew: Lips Of Faith: Paardebloem (Strong Ale)
Availability: Draft and bottles (Limited, Brewed Once)
ABV: 9.0%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Home
Found: (New Orleans)

Since finally procuring a dedicated beer fridge, I've had a bit more visibility on what we still have hanging around. Paardebloem, from New Belgium's Lips of Faith series, is an ever-enticing brew, crafted with Peach Juice, Grains of Paradise, and Dandelion Greens, blended with just a touch of wood-aged beer.

Alluring aromas of fruit and yeast start the tasting off even before the pour is finished. Mild herbal notes are in there as well.

The big, juicy peach flavor is prefect for the first warm evening out back. Mild spice heat and prickly carbonation are excellent augmentors and the whole package wraps up in a lovely dry finish.

Further through, white-wine like flavors sneak in with more defined, though still light, pepper notes along with a hint of apple juice, pineapple, and that always enjoyable Belgian yeast character.

Overall, a wonderfully drinkable, experimental, Belgian-inspired brew.

#101: Twisted Pine Brewing Company » Hoppy Boy IPA

Once last go in NOLA...

The Brewery: Twisted Pine Brewing Company (Boulder, CO)
The Brew:  Hoppy Boy IPA
Availability: 16 oz. cans / draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Borgne Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? The final beer review on my final day in New Orleans. It's been a good ride...

The Beer? This can had a far better pour than the Caldera IPA, sporting a tuft of off-white head with a bit of legs atop a glowing, unfiltered amber brew. The inviting nose yields orange, grapefruit and even a punch of lime.

The first gulp down is quite pleasant. There's a slow rise of hot hop heat and spice, ester alcohol notes and a variety of fruit notes. Bitterness is solid, threaded through each taste, but it lingers a bit more on the finish than it presents itself up front. A sturdy, substantial IPA I wouldn't mind running into again.

#099: Caldera Brewing Company » Caldera IPA

Recommended Coloradoan IPA...

The Brewery: Caldera Brewing Company (Ashland, OR)
The Brew:  Caldera IPA
Availability: 12 oz. cans / draft
ABV: 6.1%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Borgne Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? After the Southern Star farmhouse, I was in the mood for something hoppy this next round. I grabbed this on the recommendation of the bartender and the manager. Glad I did too.

Interesting note, Caldera was the first microbrewery in the State of Oregon to brew and can its own beer. And now you know.

The Beer? This IPA packs some lively effervescence, foaming up and everywhere momentarily. But, that was quickly rectified with a huge frozen goblet to tame this bustling brew. Once freed from its canned cage, its a hazy, unfiltered caramel brown color.

On first sip, I'm met with a blooming bouquet of huge, pinely flavors. The mid-level carbonation and silk-smooth mouthfeel niceties are countered by aggressive hops with a boisterous amount of bitterness, heat, and spice. Big notes of grapefruit, rind, and resin, but it rolls off the tongue like no big deal. Impressively smooth, big single IPA.

#098: Southern Star Brewing Company » Walloon (Farmhouse Ale)

Killing time with cans...

The Brewery: Southern Star Brewing Company (Conroe, TX)
The Brew:  Walloon (Farmhouse)
Availability: 12 oz. cans / draft
ABV: 5.5%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Borgne Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? I happily found myself with a couple hours to kill before my shuttle to the airport and figured I'd better spend this last chance at some regional beers wisely. Walloon is Souther Star's seasonal released in July.

The Beer? A lovely craft meal beer - mild, slightly fruity, and clean. There's a hint of black and white pepper flavors in there, but it's not particularly spicy. Smooth mouthfeel without too much carbonation.

I am a fan of a good farmhouse ale and this one is clean and refreshing with a subtle dry finish that really lent itself well to the marvelous duck/sausage gumbo start to my meal.

#097: De Struise Brouwers » Black Damnation I: Black Berry Albert (Stout)

Imperial Stout aged in whiskey barrels with fresh blackberries...

The Brewery: De Struise Brouwers (Belgium)
The Brew:  Black Damnation I: Black Berry Albert (Imperial Stout)
Availability: Bottles, draft (limited - brewed once)
ABV: 13.0%
Rating: 9.9/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? From first glans at the beer menu, I knew I would close out my last evening in NOLA with this beer. Noting the 13% and the brief description mentioning "Proof that too much of a good thing is sometimes a very good thing."  Challenge accepted.

The Beer? The draft pour is long and enticing. Thick, jet black gold emerges from the tap with a generous amount of mocha colored head into a 6 oz. serving. For once I'm thankful for the modest size as at 13%, I would like to wake up in my hotel room.

The taste pure bliss. Rich, sweet, and dark with a bitter finish. I can't even think of the popper verbage to put down at first. I'm impressed with the amount of head for a brew this intense and high ABV.

There's a thick, heavy mouthfeel that is rich and complex. Deep chocolate notes, mild dark fruit, coffee bean flavors are quick present with the berry addition indirectly adds very subtle fruitiness and deepens the complexity alongside a growing amount of heat from the whiskey aging.

Black Damnation is remarkably well balanced. Unlike some Whiskey barrel aging, this imperial stout never burns. Only sweet, magnificent, stunningly sweet stout on the start which evolves into dark, beautiful bitterness on the finish.

Highly recommended if you ever find it. I wish there was a tick more berry flavor, but with everything else, I really can't complain.

#096: Scheldebrouwerij » Hop Ruiter (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)

A new Belgo-American classic on the rise...

The Brewery: Scheldebrouwerij  (Belgium)
The Brew:  Hop Ruiter (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)
Availability: Bottles, draft
ABV: 8.0%
Rating: 9.6/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? I had never heard of Scheldebrouwerij or Hop Ruiter before walking through the doors of The Avenue Pub. I had generated a pretty good road map of what I planned to enjoy this particular evening in NOLA, but the description completely sold me.

The Beer? Hop Ruiter starts with an inviting, slightly hazy golden color with a finger of fluffy head. The nose is even more enticing with huge nose of orange and other citrus fruit.

Expectations are more than met with an effortlessly smooth mouthfeel and a metric ton of hop oil and resin and bright citrus orange flavor. There's a wonderful spice in here from the hops and the booze. Supported all around by a mid-level of carbonation that is perfect and allows its full flavor to ploom - apricot, hint of yeast, a bit juciy, modest zesty pepper... another awesome brew. I never want to leave this pub. A new Belgo-American classic indeed. Cheers!

#095: Vanberg & DeWulf » Lambickx (blended Lambic)

One of my favorites on draft...

The Brewery: Vanberg & DeWulf  (Belgium)
The Brew:  Lambickx (blended Lambic)
Availability: Bottles, draft
ABV: 5.75%
Rating: 10/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? I was first introduced to Lambickx at that fantastic beer tasting party last December. It came out late into the evening and though I'd had several sours, whiskey barrel aged stouts, and big Belgians, I still remember this one cutting through the palate. Returning home, I found it somewhat readily available, but weighting in around $30 a bottle, I usually pass.  However, seeing this on draft for well under $10 was impossible to turn down.

The Beer? This one starts off with a subtle, but bright funk on the nose, zero head, and fully translucent orange/gold in color.

I think the best way to relay what happens in this superb brew is that it shifts through three stages. The first is smooth, sour, and refreshing. Bright, pithy sourness rises up to fill out your palate for the second stage and finds it's final resting place with a biting funk finish.

As with most sours, this is going to depend on your palate, experience, and preferences. To me, this is just awesome. It's smooth and sour for a second and then it turns on you with a palate destroying, f**king dry finish and a densely bitter funk. Enough rind, pith, kumquat, and gnarly grapefruit to fill a room. This one is for the adventurous enthusiast.

#094: De Struise Brouwers » Weltmerz (Sour/Wild Ale)

Back downstairs for a low-gravity sour...

The Brewery: De Struise Brouwers (Belgium)
The Brew:  Weltmerz (Sour/Wild Ale)
Availability: Bottles, draft (limited)
ABV: 3.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

The Story? Keep on keepin' on at The Avenue Pub...

The Beer? Served up in a stem glass with a healthy dose of fizzy white head atop a hazy golden color brew. With a deep breath, my nose is met with sweet juicy sour smells matched with creamy citrus.

Flavors of kumquat, lime, and green able augment the nice, bright sour flavor that jumps right out of the gate while tropical fruit notes start to blossom further through the glass. Throughout, this sour is tart and minerally with a dry finish.

Overall, very fruity and just plain awesome.

#093: Brasserie Dupont » Monk's Stout Dupont (Belgian Stout)

Last night in NOLA starts of like this...

The Brewery: Brasserie Dupont (Belgium)
The Brew:  Monk's Stout Dupont (Belgian Stout)
Availability: Bottles and draft
ABV: 5.2%
Rating: 7.5/10
Location: The Avenue Pub

The Story? After taking a night out with a big group down to Bourbon St. for the mandatory Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's... I decided to take my last night out in NOLA back to The Avenue Pub for some quality, paced imbibition. I head upstairs, where they have a more limited, but quality, yet fairly familiar selection. The Dupont name stands out, known best for their famed Saison. I hadn't encountered anything else from them, much less on draft. Order up!

The Beer? Dark and roasted on the nose, this Belgian Stout is brown/black with a hint of red in the light to the eye with a minimal mocha head.

Onto the tongue, this is a very lively carbonation for a stout! Monk's is a true Belgian / stout cross-over. Light body, mildly bitter, mid-level of roasted notes with a hint of grass, mild hops, and faint herbalness. An elegant brew with earthiness and funk that arise and helps dry out the finish through the glass.

Not particularly mind-blowing, but highly recommended for dark Belgian fans. A great, light, but flavorful start to the night.

#092: Stone Brewing Co. » BELGO Anise Imperial Russian Stout (2011)

Vintage Stone IRS with anise? YES.

The Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
The Brew:  BELGO Anise Imperial Russian Stout (2011)
Availability:  Draft, 22 oz bottles (limited, brewed once)
ABV: 10.5%
Rating: 9.6/10
Location: The Avenue Pub

The Story?  When I perused The Avenue Pub's draft list online a week or so before heading south, they had the 2013 and prior two years of Stone's lauded Imperial Russian Stout's series on draft. I figured with three on tap, my chances were moderate that by the time I got down there, there'd be at least one left. To my surprise, the most vintage or the bunch was still hanging around.

Any of Stone's Imperial Russian series usually strike my fancy - aging well and full of robust splendor at any age. But this - fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, with star anise, and oak chips - is some next level business. I missed this release when it came out, so for the second and final brew of the evening, this was an easy order.

The Beer? I'm almost too excited to not rush drinking this one. Focus. I see a bit of nice, lacy head with some staying power, which made it's way with me up to the balcony atop jet black vintage ale. The nose is peculiar as expected and enticing. Coco, black liquorice, and slightly soured.

Into my mouth and - WOW! This is probably my favorite of the IRS series and one of the more unique offerings from Stone that I've had yet. The mouthfeel is big and creamy, though suprisingly drinkable thanks to the Belgian yeast and carbonation.

The taste is a sublime, robust amalgamation of deep chocolate, liquorice, mint, oak, and even a nod to the bourbon stouts, though it is not bourbon aged. The ABV slides itself gracefully through the door, but without really caring what it knocks over in the way through.

The star anise provides a cooling, medicinal nature too this dark, viscous monster and with age it's found a bit of funk notes deeper in the tasting.

I can easily call this a beautifully unique dark star of a brew, but there's no doubt this is going to be a polarizing beer. Anise is one of those flavors that some palates will just hate and while there's nothing wrong with that, Stone has expertly executed the addition of a somewhat volatile ingredient for the palate in the most mutually-beneficial way for the herb and the beer.

#090: NOLA Brewing » Hopitoulas (IPA)

First taste of New Orleans...

The Brewery: New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (New Orleans, LA)
The Brew:  Hopitoulas (IPA)
Availability: 16 oz. cans / draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 8.6/10
Location: Borgne Restaurant

The Story? I found myself heading to New Orleans last week with purpose of a conference for my day job. It's pretty rare that I travel for work, much less to some place as cool as NOLA, so I aimed to steal some time away from my 13-15 hour days for a taste or two of local and regional brews.

I arrived in NOLA ahead of schedule, caught a shuttle earlier than the one planned and found myself with more than enough time to grab a meal with drink and still start the conference early.

Before heading south, I'd reviewed which breweries are available in Louisiana that aren't in NYS. The cleverly named New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (NOLA Brewing...!) was one of the standouts, for being supremely local and one of the highest quality brews in the city.

Less than a hour from touchdown, I found one in hand.

The Beer? Hopitoulas is designed for can pour. Great deep, hazy coloring and a bit of head, without foaming over when opened. This one found it's way into a large, chilled 16 oz goblet. It was also nice to see a slightly higher-end hotel restaurant bar have such a wide selection of craft cans. Some companies have steered away (this article from Cigar City). But, I digress.

Back to the beer. Sweet hops fill my mouth with a pleasantly growing bitterness and slightly nutty flavors peaking through. The hops are on the orange zest with mild tropical side of things. Backed by a smooth level of carbonation and bready, biscuit hops.

I was able to grab a four-pack of this to bring home, which I'm particularly stoked on as the glass was ICE cold and I'm wondering if it didn't hinder some of the more subtle notes of the beer. There was also the distraction of meeting up with some co-workers I only see a handful of times a year!

Overall, definitely one I looked for after this can and glad I found it. IPA fans take note when you're down south.

#091: NOLA Brewing / New Belgium » Swamp Grape Escape

First beer on my first night out...

The Brewery: New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (New Orleans, LA)
The Brew:  Swamp Grape Escape
Availability: draft only (brewed once)
ABV: 5.0%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: The Avenue Pub

The Story? After my first day at the conference and having the opening event end earlier than expected, I decided to do some exploring on my own. On the recommendation of my friends who have lived in NOLA, a current resident who walks a lot, and my own judgement; I decided to take the evening in the opposite direction of Bourbon Street. While I love the red light district of any city like the next guy (actually... that's probably not true), I decided an experience I would enjoy versus just an "experience" was more in-line with needing to be bright-eyed at 7AM and feeling more like clearing my head than clouding it, I took the trek up to the brew-pub I'd been reading up on before the trip... The Avenue Pub.

About a 30 minute walk from my hotel later (great, warm, humid night for a walk - I do love the South), I entered. From the beer selection online and the fact it was open 24/7, I half expected it to be a bit stuffy, but found just the contrary.

Enter a slightly busted, aged wood establishment, endearing to my heart and mindset for the night. Smoking downstairs. Two different tap lines - while holding the same tab - and quality food if you're peckish or ravenous. I sit down at the bar - "What can I get you boo?"  Oh my glob, I love the south...

Let's see... where to start. Not too high gravity, local... but still delicious. A NOLA / New Belgian, draft -only collaboration under the sour section?  Strike me down.

The Beer? Swamp Grape Escape was NOLA's contribution to the Louisiana Craft Brewer Week. A Belgian single, brewed with local muscadine grapes - part of the "swamp grape" family.

The beer itself is hazy, dark brown with a slim bit of head. After a somewhat stressful day, this is tally quenching - light body, plenty of grape flavor with a touch of sourness. There's something distinctly old school abbot this one. While slightly on the sour side of things (my weakness), it's never overbearing or acidic. I could easily see beating the heat with a growler of this on the front porch. Quality tartness and good mouthfeel.

Overall, a solid one-off for a beer-week brew. Accessible, while holding its own.

(pics in the darkness)