“The Beers to You Tasting Panel” was called together on short notice to once again crank-out a quick review of two beers sent to us by the good folks at Magic Hat Brewing Company. M-H usually brew a special beer each season along with a second beer they appropriately call their “Odd Notion” which is usually a one-beer freak show of sorts and this season’s Odd Notion didn’t break the cycle.

This time we only had three beer-geeks empaneled for this winter tasting. The sometimes curmudgeonly Charles Bockway, the usually grumpy Rob Absten and me, the guy that talks too much for his own good. I threw this panel together in about two hours time and it just shows how desperate some of us are for an excuse to drink beer.

The first beer was called “Howl- Black-As-Night Winter lager. A quick beer-snob analysis of the beer and its specs confirm that this beer is modeled after the classic German Schwarzbier style, a black lager hailing from the Franconian region of Bavaria. The beer poured an opaque black with a decent off-white head. Feedback on the beer’s aroma was mixed, with Charles insisting on a vegetal smell whereas I was leaning more towards a flabby red wine. Rob thought it smelled a little like a chemical aroma or maybe tannins. The aroma became a little better after the beer warmed a bit, with all of us agreeing on a root-vegetable aroma. The taste however, was thoroughly good and agreeable to all. The beer features an intense raisiny and toasted flavor thanks to the use of modern de-bittered malts hailing from the very region of Schwarzbier. The beer starts out fairly malty, never sweet and then finishes clean and dry. I am going to buy more of this beer and the others agreed to drink it if I bought it…

Magic Hat regularly releases what it calls its Odd Notion. This is always an odd sort of beer that lives up to its name and is only available in the “Feast of Fools 12-pack”. The Winter 09, odd notion is an American Sour Ale. The panel was looking forward to this beer as we all like a good sour beer once in a while. I did say “good” sour beer… This beer is not one of those and we all agree on that point. The beer’s aroma is reminiscent of draft Bass Ale and is very similar in color. The beer seems to be a basic English ale but with some lactic acid sourness (probably from acidulated malt). If anyone out there knows really good sour beers like Rodenbach, for instance they will attest to the nutty flavors and the complex acidity in the beer which is a result of a complex yeast and bacterial fermentation. Our Odd Notion “American Sour Ale” was very one-dimensional and I believe a potential turn-off to a neophyte beer drinker that might otherwise enjoy a well made sour beer. Craft beer already faces enough challenges, but imagine having to show up to the game with the “Sour Beer” label, even a world-class sour beer faces the challenge of getting someone to take that first sip. I am afraid it would be the last sip if this were their sour beer debut.

I just received an email from Capitol Beverage Craft Brands Manager Joey Campbell informing me that Chimay beers will arrive in Charleston on Monday. This is somewhat of a milestone, a kind of signal to Charleston that “We Have Arrived”.

Chimay is a traditional line of Trappist ales brewed at the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Belgium. The abbey is also well-known for fine artisanal Chimay branded cheese. Chimay is the leading brand of Trappist brew, which is more widely exported and distributed than the six other trappist producers of the World. The beer’s ubiquity often reflects negatively on the brand, but the beers are in-fact solid, and are good examples of fine Trappist ales. The majority of Chimay beers are sold in a corked 750ml bottle, which usually translates to a good value per ounce when compared to other Trappist beers sold in 33cl bottles; though Chimay beers are also available in the 33cl size in many markets.

Chimay produces four beers (one is only locally available) but exports three unique brews that are named for the color of their respective labels. The flagship beer would have to be the Chimay Red (rouge) a Trappist Dubbel style beer. The 7% abv beer is dark brown with an aroma of pear and dried prunes. Next is Chimay Blue (Bleue), a trappist strong –dark ale with layers of fruity complexity and a warming 9% abv. On the lighter (in color only) side is Chimay white (Blanche), an 8% abv Trappist style tripel ale. This beer pours a beautiful deep-yellow with a tight laced white head and a wonderful peppery aroma. This beer will finish very crisp and leave a balanced bitterness. Yum…

I’ll see you in the beer aisle on Monday!

Recently, A friend and his wife attended a seminar about developing a “Bucket-List” as a way to assure that one sets some goals and strives to live a fulfilled life before he or she “Kicks the Bucket”.

That idea inspired me to explore the more light heart-ed side of that idea by pondering and coming up with my very own “Beer-Bucket” list. Of course I hope I am no where close to kicking the bucket, but heck at least I’ll attempt an early start to reaching beery fulfillment and self actualization (and all that mumbo-jumbo).

1. European Beer and Bicycle trips – This has been on my wish list for awhile. I am a pretty avid cyclist and I have been pulling together info in order to plan a few different cycling routes that combine beer with sightseeing and culture. This will happen within two years unless I am hit by a bus in the meantime.

2. Drink in Prague – I have put this one off so long now that Prague has gone from a quaint, affordable and virtually unknown beer destination to world-class tourist trap and sex-trade capital. They still have great beer though… (And beer baths)

3. Drink at a world-class beer bar in Charleston, WV – Hmmm. Maybe in the after-life

4. Hike the Cotswold Way in England- Or basically any one of the number of excellent walking paths that criss-cross the English countryside. These pathways route you through quaint little hamlets and villages and by many a pub door with great real-ale within.

5. Spend a Sunday in Eizeringen Belgium- A couple of years ago, I won a lifetime ticket to drink for free on any Sunday at a very famous little pub who’s name translated in English means “In insurance against great thirst”. The pub sits in the middle of Payottenland, which is famous for it’s spontaneously fermented lambic beers. Maybe a month of Sundays would be better!

6. To Either own, operate or ride on a “Fietspub” – This wonderful invention literally combines two of my favorite things, beer and cycling, but together! Behold!

7. To own a SABCO Brew-Magic system – (look it up)

8. To be selected to judge in the Great American Beer Festival – I am working on this…

9. Retire and open a real neighborhood pub – You know, the kind of place where people meander in with their pets to have a pint. My place will have a little library with a quiet room and definitely a more boisterous section for conversation and occasional music, and great beer!

10. Brew an award-winning Belgian Sour Ale – I love the complexity and clean acidic finish of a great Flemish ale. All of the right tools are available but I gotta stop procrastinating!

Wish me Luck!