Euro Beer #16 - Le Bier Circus

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. Still in Brussels:



Euro Beer #16 - Le Bier Circus

Clean and modern. What a place. Good beers too.



I had to hit up this place after reading about it on BeerAdvocate. It was kind of a hike uphill in the rain, but it was worth it. The crowd was sparse, atmosphere chill. Perfect place to enjoy a beer, unlike that Delirium madhouse. I had a Kapittel Watou and Sofia had a La Chouffe. Both enjoyable, though I took time to warm up to my Watou.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

Le Bier Circus
rue de l'Enseignement, 57
Brussels



This guy.

Belgian Beer Week

It's already started . . .

DRAUGHT HOUSE

Tuesday- Chimay Blue- glass with beer purchase
Wednesday- Ommegang Witte- glass with beer and free cheese sample
Thursday- St. Bernardus ABT 12- glass with beer purchase
Friday- Duvel Green- Free glass and cheese with beer
Saturday- Lindemans Framboise- Free glass with beer

FLYING SAUCER

Mon - Timmermans Glass Night
Tue - Blanche de Bruxelles Glass Night
Wed - Duvel Glass Night
Thu - Chimay Glass Night
Fri - Maredsous Glass Night
Sat - Hopus Glass Night

. . . putting tons of cool Belgian stuff on tap as the week progresses and more holes open up. Delirium Tremens, Houblon Chouffe, St Bernardus 12 and 8, Maredsous (Tripel, Blonde and Brune), Kwak, La Trappe (formerly Koningshoeven) Quad, BarBar . . .

7/24 - Adelbert’s Public Tasting

GINGER MAN

July 21st - 7pm

Come celebrate 180 years of Belgian Independence! Free glassware and swag with purchase of Chimay!

Brasserie de Rochefort Coming Back to TX

Hopefully. If they don't, don't blame me, blame You Stay Hoppy Austin.

Euro Beer #11 - Le Royalty

In the fall of 2007 my wife and I traveled through Europe for 10 weeks. We ate a lot of food and drank of a lot of beer (and wine). Not enough food, not enough beer. First beers on the Belgian mainland:

Euro Beer #11 - Le Royalty

While traveling, arriving in new cities is always confusing and disorienting. It's also the time when you are most likely to get into fights with your travel partner(s). Your lost, your hungry, your schlepping your bags, yada yada yada. Luckily it was still early on in the trip and we were still fresh and happy. But it was still disorienting. Our host lived close by and we eventually found our way over to his flat. I had to call him first and make sure he was home. His name was Yves and we had never met him before this:

"Hello, is this . . . Yah-ves?"
" . . . uh, yes, . . . this is Eve."
"Hi, this is Aaron, just wanted to check if you are home we are on our way over."
"Yes, come on up."

Then of course I yelled at Sofia for allowing me to sound like a complete idiot. "Hello, Yves saint Laurent! Sofia you are supposed to know this stuff! I can't believe I just called him Yah-ves! Yah-ves? Ugh, I'm a moron!"

Yves was perfectly kind and never mentioned my faux pas. He was actually quite knowledgeable about beer and schooled me on lambics, a subject I only had limited knowledge about before leaving on this trip. After talking for awhile, we set out for a beer before dinner. We walked aimlessely. It was Sunday evening and most everything was closed. We finally stumbled upon Le Royalty, a small, then empty bar off the Place du Grand Sablon. We slugged down two beers–a Bellevue Kriek and a Westmalle Triple.




Sofia's Kriek EXTRA! Not so extra, juicy though. Avoid.



Well, you know this is good. Westmalle Triple.

Admittedly, this was a pretty lame spot, but it worked. Onward.

For more euro foodage and drinkage, go here.

Le Royalty
38 rue Sainte-Anne
Brussels



Some old shit. If I ever go back to Brussels, I'm going into this shop and spending money.

ATX Snow Day

We get em once a year pretty much.



Currently drinking this, eating quesadillas and dancing to Belle and Sebastian in my kitchen. What's wrong with me? Snow's gone to my head.

Want some Westvleteren?

Who doesn't, right? I had one bottle of Westy 12 when I was in Belgium in 2007. Not sure why I only bought one. I should have bought ten and ten of the other varieties. There are various methods of obtaining this beer over the interweb. Now a new (cheaper?) way has emerged. Beernews.org fills us in.

Thirsty Thursday #28

Hopus Ale
by Brasserie Lefebvre SA, Rebecq-Quenast, 1430, Belgium
Style: Belgian IPA
ABV: 8.5%

Last week (or was it two weeks ago, whatever, you get the point) Central Market had that somewhat amazing sale: 20% off all beer. I took the opportunity to buy a bunch of beer I usually would never have bought. Mostly pricier items. I saw this bottle and it caught my eye. Grab it, why not? It is a hefty one, weighing in at 8.5%. I split it with Sofia since I am watching my waste line and I have a bet to wing (which by the way ends in two days, I'll be in a food, beer coma for the following week, just kidding Sofia).

Did you see I just wrote "wing" instead of "win"? I am starving. Visions of buffalo wings and pilsner dancing in my head. Ok, back to the beer.



As you can see by the above stats, I liked it. I'll probably never buy it again. It's a try one and done beer for me. And should be for you too.

A sort of sad story

3 Fonteinen has decided to pack it in, as far as brewing lambics goes. They will continue to blend lambics and are starting a distillery as well. So it is not all sad news.

Thirsty Pilgrim has the full story.

Now I am craving a good lambic.

Hennepin Baby

I've been on a serious Hennepin kick. Not sure why. Maybe it's the weather. It started this weekend. I had a 750ml. Then yesterday I bought a four pack of 12oz. Meanwhile, things have slowed down around the blog - this is due to me trying to become a father. Come on baby, just get out here. We are past due, well my wife is past due. Tomorrow, it's gonna be tomorrow, I know it. For now, I'll have a Hennepin.

Zax Belgian wrap-up

I did not go. I was too busy hiding from possible hail damage. But Patrick Beach went and you can read about it.

Thirsty Thursday #24 - LATE EDITION

Duvel
by Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale / Belgian Golden Ale
ABV: 8.5%

My idea was to have Duvel, in lieu of champagne, to celebrate the birth of our first child. Duvel, how could you go wrong? Sofia asked if her parents or anyone else in attendance would enjoy it as well. I don't usually need an excuse to drink, but this was a good one. Thanks Sofi. I picked up a small bottle of it last night to test its compatibility with beer philistines.

Spicy. Bitter...no sweet...no bitter. Just good. Crisp and refreshing.

I am thinking this is a go for baby day! How much is a magnum of this?

3rd Annual Great Austin Belgian Beer Festival

Saturday May 16 • 2-7pm
Zax Pints and Plates
312 Barton Springs Rd.,
Austin, TX

Tickets now available$22adv/$25 at the door(advance tickets available only at Zax) Entitles you to a tasting glass and your first six 4-oz. samples of over 30 of the most amazing, remarkable and historical beers in the world. Additional samples will be available for purchase for $3 each.

Premier level ticketing is available for $40 per person, and includes access to a VIP tasting of exclusive Belgian Ales at 1:00pm, and unlimited tasting at the festival.

Food is not included, but our normal menu will be available.

Partial List of Beers (Subject to availability):
Tripel Karmeliet
Kwak
Deus
Duchesse de Bourgogne (Flemish Red Sour)
Urthel Hop It
St. Feuillien
Dubuisson Scaldis
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Chimay White
Chimay Blue
D'Achouffe Houblon Chouffe
Duvel
Liefmans' Kriek
Orval
Westmalle Dubble
Westmalle Triple

I could be wrong, but aren't all of these beers available in Austin? So why the hell would I spend $22/25 to sample them. Correct me if I am wrong. I like Zax. There food is tasty. They always have a fairly decent tap selection. But this is lame. I remember last year's list of beers being better. I was hoping for more. Something special, even rare.

La Folie Again

photo: jcnkc

Ok, last post on La Folie. There are still some bottles available at the Hancock HEB. More will be available in the coming months, but these are the last of the cage-and-corked bottles. From here on out, La Folie will be produced in capped 22oz bombers. Say goodbye to the 750s.

Thirsty Thursday #22

Urthel Samaranth
by De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel), Ruiselede, Belgium
Style: Quadrupel
ABV: 11-12%

I had this Sunday night actually. Our weekend was a schlep-fest and I needed a brew to take the edge off. This one did quite nicely. I love quads. Spicy. Dark fruit flavors. Who doesn't love a fig? Fig newton?

This was a good beer, but I have to say, for the money you can get a better quadruple. My favorite currently is Boulevard's Sixth Glass, made right here in the ole US of A. Kansas City, MO to be exact.

Try both. See if you agree.

Local 2 - Texas

Best email all week:

Hi Aaron -

Local 2 should make it to Texas sometime in June. We are excited about its arrival...it has been a long wait! Thank you for your support of the Brooklyn brand. Cheers!

Nadine
Brooklyn Brewery
Texas Brand Manager

This beer is so good. Much better than Local 1, a great beer as well. Local 3 is gonna kill me.