We're in need of having more off-topic threads that can sustain themselves over the long haul, so what better subject to dedicate to one than beer? I'm not sure who the big beer drinkers are here, though most of our staff does appreciate a good brew. While I am bound to talk most about imports and beer that's not sold by the palette at the store, there are no limits to what can be discussed here.
Sad for me, I live in a small city and have a very limited selection of import beers at our local liquor store. It could be worse, but it's far from great. Still, there are enough options there to talk about, and because I travel enough to places where I get a greater number of options, I will be posting here fairly often.
Last night, I had two trappist beers I've not had before: Orval and La Trappe. In talking to our beer guru Brett about them, he said that they ranked pretty low on his trappist charts, but given that they are the only two my local store sells, beggers can't be choosers.
As far as alcohol content in trappist beers go, Orval has got to be the lowest at 6.2%. The brewery also produces Petite Orval which almost halves the abv, but unless you plan to go to the Abbey where it's brewed, you're not going to be tasting it. Orval actually has a rich history, especially given that it was the first trappist beer to be sold nationally around Belgium.
But that doesn't mean it's the best. At $3.33 USD for 330ml, I wasn't expecting too much. Pricing like that puts the beer in-line with Red Speckled Hen, Kronenbourg, Innis & Gunn and so forth. Still, I expected a bit more. The smell and taste was a little harsh, a little tart, spicy with a lot of hops. None of this is a bad thing per se, but it was bitter enough where I couldn't find it refreshing or that enjoyable. If you like complexity, this is a great beer, but it's not one I'd jump on purchasing again.
La Trappe Tripel (8%) on the other hand impressed me. It smells great, a little nutty and citrousy (is that even a word?), and the taste was a bit sweet with a hint of brown sugar. The carbonation was mild, as is the taste, making it possible to drink it a lot faster than you probably mean to. Compared to the Orval, the La Trappe comes out ahead (for me).
Neither of these beers hold a candle to Chimay, however, which is the only other trappist beer I've ever had (red and blue varieties). But I'm thankful that at least La Trappe is an option for me at the local store, as I'd hate to be stuck with just Orval. At $8.65 USD for a 750ml bottle, though, La Trappe requires a little bit of a commitment.
Unfortunately, I didn't take notes when I drank these beers (given I was gaming at the time), so for future beers I talk about I'll do so at the time so I can create better descriptions. It's not that easy to recall beers precisely a day after you've had them
Sad for me, I live in a small city and have a very limited selection of import beers at our local liquor store. It could be worse, but it's far from great. Still, there are enough options there to talk about, and because I travel enough to places where I get a greater number of options, I will be posting here fairly often.
Last night, I had two trappist beers I've not had before: Orval and La Trappe. In talking to our beer guru Brett about them, he said that they ranked pretty low on his trappist charts, but given that they are the only two my local store sells, beggers can't be choosers.
As far as alcohol content in trappist beers go, Orval has got to be the lowest at 6.2%. The brewery also produces Petite Orval which almost halves the abv, but unless you plan to go to the Abbey where it's brewed, you're not going to be tasting it. Orval actually has a rich history, especially given that it was the first trappist beer to be sold nationally around Belgium.
But that doesn't mean it's the best. At $3.33 USD for 330ml, I wasn't expecting too much. Pricing like that puts the beer in-line with Red Speckled Hen, Kronenbourg, Innis & Gunn and so forth. Still, I expected a bit more. The smell and taste was a little harsh, a little tart, spicy with a lot of hops. None of this is a bad thing per se, but it was bitter enough where I couldn't find it refreshing or that enjoyable. If you like complexity, this is a great beer, but it's not one I'd jump on purchasing again.
La Trappe Tripel (8%) on the other hand impressed me. It smells great, a little nutty and citrousy (is that even a word?), and the taste was a bit sweet with a hint of brown sugar. The carbonation was mild, as is the taste, making it possible to drink it a lot faster than you probably mean to. Compared to the Orval, the La Trappe comes out ahead (for me).
Neither of these beers hold a candle to Chimay, however, which is the only other trappist beer I've ever had (red and blue varieties). But I'm thankful that at least La Trappe is an option for me at the local store, as I'd hate to be stuck with just Orval. At $8.65 USD for a 750ml bottle, though, La Trappe requires a little bit of a commitment.
Unfortunately, I didn't take notes when I drank these beers (given I was gaming at the time), so for future beers I talk about I'll do so at the time so I can create better descriptions. It's not that easy to recall beers precisely a day after you've had them
