I have zero data to back this up, but I keep hearing beer store people exclaim that craft beer sales are through the roof. And I keep seeing stores expand their high end offerings.

Come on and have a cup of beer!So will you do so?

I never spent any time exploring in that area, but color me jealous as hell. Brugge is a magnificent city. Most of the prime ones seem to be south and west of Brugge. Brouwerj Abdij der Trappisten van Westmalle is east of Brugge and pretty much on your route. Damned fine Tripel they make.

I'd have to expand my range and go:

Southeast maybe 40 km to Brouwerj Bosteels, home of Kwak
South about 60 km to Brouwerj St. Feuillien (of course)
West about 60 km to Brouwerj Abdij St. Sixtus van Westvleteren. A friend reported that you won't get inside the Abbey per se, but with luck, there is a place across the street where you can drink a bottle of their ABT 12. I had one in Mons. It will reduce you to an orgasmic, quivering blob of protoplasm. And for your trouble getting there, Brouwerj St. Bernardus NV-Watou is only a few km away.

Not much help, I realize, but what the fuck- those would be on any wish list of mine if I was making a similar journey.

If I were over there and so close to this place I'd have to make it my #1 priority. I know you can only buy their stuff during one time of the year. Can't remember if it's a 2 week period or 1 month period. Regardless, it's by appt and and a 1 case limit I think. But yeah, I thought they had a pub nearby that you could drink it, just not buy it in bulk. Routinely ranked as the best beer in the world on multiple websites.

Cap, I'm assuming by "biking" you mean motorcycle. If so, where are you putting the kid?

Whenever you come visit, you gotta bring me one. I'll fill it with BL out at The Cold Keg just for the novelty factor. Not sure why, but I think growlers rule.

I'm a fan of Maredsous. They are always, for me, in that B+ to A- range. They have nothing hall of fame worthy (unless you find Duvel at that level) but nothing bad either. Kind of like your go to best buy fave Caracole and down here it's actually about a buck or two cheaper than Caracole.

I tried that Headwaters brew at a Victory tasting a couple weeks ago and really liked it. Definitely another solid addition to what is already a pretty damn fine lineup with them.

As far as sessionable pale ales it won't displace Stone's Levitation just yet. Although, at $11 a six pack I can't buy them on the reg. Which, IMO, kind of defeats the purpose of making a highly sessionable beer.

My bar just tapped a keg of that Headwaters yesterday, and had one of the honchos from Victory on the premises last night. I fucked off and didn't get by there.

Victory is uncannily solid and predictable in their goodness.

As for The Promised Land, we are bicycling, not motorcycling. It's only about 120 miles between Amsterdam and Brugge, so 20 miles a day, which is no biggie even with the baby in a trailer. We'll rent bikes and trailer there, and only be biking hard for 5 days out of 2 weeks, with a lot of stationary hanging out on either end.

we stopped in Brugge en route to Amsterdam, oh...14 years ago (yikes). ended up staying for 3 days. the place is like a living fairytale...probably my favorite European city that I've visited. sounds like a killer trip.

except for that moonglow weizenbock. that shit is gross.

Didn't have one, I don't think.

Also I don't wanna be crass but I feel like we're glossing over what a spectacular can I brought to this thread.

For your sake, I hope ayah doesn't come in here.

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

I'm hoping all my love for k.d. lang in the other thread will restore the balance.

I drink booze and wine a lot more than beer these days but a bar down the street has Scrimshaw Pilsner on tap and I've really been enjoying that



Deschutes is in town holding special events this week. Debating going. Their Black Butte Porter is probably the beer I drink the most but their beers are not that hard to find so I'm not sure it's all that worth making a big effort to go.

I still have a bottle of this from that first sixer I bought.

A friend of mine sent me an email about these, and I may just have to go grab one (or five). It's right down the street from my office, and I really don't go there enough.

Ale Yeah in Decatur is supposed to be getting them, too.

secret ingredient: monk jizz

Been a couple of weeks since I posted some new ones so my thoughts are pretty vague at this point.



Delirium - Nocturnum- Had this before dinner a couple weeks ago. My first time trying their stuff. I seem to remember some sweetness but overall a pretty complex beer with the alcohol showing up towards the end. The only fault I can find with it is that it falls in that "Belgian Strong Dark Ale" category where the competition is brutal. Many of the "best" beers in the world fall in that style and ultimately, for me, it just doesn't make the A team.




Unibroue - Ephemere- Had this sitting outside on the deck of a restaurant for lunch 2 weeks ago. I remember Cap'n suggesting this for FemDerris at one point. Turns out, he was right. She really liked this and with the weather we were having that day, so did I. It's not for everyone. The taste is dominated by green apples and in that regard, it almost borders on a cider. If you know that going in then you might like it. Of the 3 Unibroue beers I've tried it's the first one I've really liked. I felt the La Fin du Monde and Trois Pistoleres just weren't better than others of their style but this is a left field beer that distinguishes itself as something unique IMO.





Left Hand - Milk Stout- Grabbed a couple of these while putting together a "make your own 6 pack" at the store. Wasn't bad and would be a welcome offering in most places that serve only big domestic beers. But, it's not on par with Duck Rabbit or Young's who I'm currently Joe Fanboy of. The only beer I've had from Left Hand that really liked remains their Sawtooth Ale.





Stone - Smoked Porter- Had this as my first beer Saturday after a LONG night of Bud Lights at a bachelor party over the weekend. Didn't really leave an impression probably due in no fault to the beer itself. I was just hanging on at that point. Will try again later but at the moment, it wasn't that great.




Weihenstephaner - Dunkel- This, on the other hand, was freaking delicious. I've come to just expect greatness from these guys. Had it with an Panamanian version of Arroz con Pollo and it was perfect. Light and summery but enough dark flavor to match the chicken dish. Could've drank these all night.

Oh and I finished my last Monk's Blood last week as well and now think it's just not that great.

I've only had a couple things from 21st Amendment and have been underwhelmed so far

Forgot. One more:





Ommegang- Three Philosophers- I know this is supposed to be complex and interesting, blah, blah, but the cherry flavor in this just killed it for me. I won't be revisiting. Ommegang, you're fired.

Good. I'm not alone.
I wasn't crazy about it, either.

Completely agree, except that this one shouldn't ruin all of Ommegang for you. The cherries just kinda shit all over what was otherwise a good beer. But they make some good stuff otherwise.

Also my hands shot up in victory regarding FemDerris and the Ephemere. Woot!

You're right. I actually like their Rare Vos, Chocolate Indulgence, and their Witte. It drank pretty goog. I thought the Hennepin was okay but I had heard a lot of hype for it.

Haven't had their Adoration though. Guess I just had, for whatever reason, built up an unrealistic expectation for their beer in general.