The Shy Bubbly
I first tasted this unique beer at the Belgian dinner I attended. Only a small shot glass was offered as it was with the amuse so it was the one beer I had that night that I felt I never really tasted. Of course, the leftovers from that dinner lined our local liquor store shelves shortly after and I picked up a few bottles.
Gueuze's brewing is especially unique to the area it is brewed, near Brussels, due to the fact no yeast is added. The ancient recipe relies on a spontaneously fermented lambic of malt, wheat and hop from the yeast in the air. It is then fermented in Oak barrels and bottled with a combination of young lambic and old, the young then starts a secondary fermentation in the bottle similar to champagne which is why it is sometimes referred to as a champagne styled beer.
Whoaa...perhaps a bit too much info. I don't know how else to describe this beer but as elusive. I have now tried three bottles (not
just now) and still can't come up with an adequate description. Gueuze is very gentle and mild and doesn't have a bamm! kind of taste more a whispery kind of flavor you're going to just have to try for yourself.
Christle
Crowd Pleaser
Last night I hosted a family dinner in celebration of my daughter's birthday. I was looking for a inexpensive red for the family who appreciates quantity more than quality, I say that in the most loving way, of course. Also lets face it, it's almost Christmas and I have three birthdays to contend with so we're not dripping with extra cash for the wine upgrades.
Luckily I found the 2006 Beringer Zinfandel which was inexpensive, pleasant and not overly sweet. I found it to be a easy drinking, full bodied red. I am familiar with Beringer wines from previous restaurants I've worked in but they were always pricey and I did not realized they produced the blue collar variety too. In fact after checking out their website found they have products ranging from $7 (2006 Chenin Blanc) to $290 (2002 private reserve Cab Sav). Quite the range but after a hundred and thirty years, give or take, of operation I guess they have discovered diversity along the way.
The Beringer website described this wine as "crowd pleasing" and it definately held true for our crowd. For 13.95 a bottle, I suspect it will be pleasing a few more crowds in our house for a while.
Christle
Six Pack of My Dreams
I was awoken this morning by the beeping and hydrolic sounds of the recycling truck in our little cul de sac thinking, no doubt, that our recycling was still sitting on the deck. My husband has many talents but remembering recycling and garbage day is not one of them. He
is, however, an incredibly talented and particularly sexy Chef. I don't often have the opportunity to dine at the Bistro in which he works but I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a special Belgian Dinner he created last Thursday. It was a gluttonous six course dinner inspired by his home and our recent travels, each course paired with a Belgian beer.
One of my favorite courses was the appetizer of a trio of Belgian endive paired with my favorite bubbly Duvel. Another stand out was the Beef Carbonades a la Flamande (carmelized slow braised beef stew) paired beautifully with the rich, carmelly, dark Chimay Blue Cap. The Amuse was a butter poached oyster served with the unusual champagne style Mort Subite Gueze. The fish course was sole a l'ostendaise(sole poached with mussels and shrimp with a most exquisite lobster sauce) paired with Witterkerke Wit beer. Of course the evening finished with some Kriek flavored chocolate truffles paired with the Mort Subite Kriek, the lovely, light cherry flavored beer which has won over many a non beer drinker.
Of all the wonderful food and beers offered, my husband was particularly excited to share his Chicken Waterzooi paired with Karmeliet. Karmeliet is brewed in his little home town of Buggenhout. The recipe for Karmeliet was created in 1679 in the Carmelite Monastery. It's unique blend of three grains and in bottle refermentation creates a truly memorable beer. Professional opinion eludes to the distinctive vanilla and citrus flavors, mine, is each tastes illicits a small grumbling, satisfied moan. MMMMM...goooood.
It was a amazingly memorable dinner not in the least because it opened up the wonderful world of Belgian beers (and food) to a few more people. A few more people to harass the local liquor store into stocking the products we love.
Christle
