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Wine and Beer Enthusiasts
- Thread starter albertfallickwa
- Start date
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Last night, in the company of a very good (and a very old and cherished friend - we have known one another since we were both very small children aged four when we were neighbours) I sipped a few glasses of Orval (Trappist) beer, - in a lovely, roomy pub, with nice wooden floors, candles on large wooden tables, cushions on chairs, carved pumpkins with flickering candles on window sills, excellent service, no TV or other noise, just quiet, companionable chat with congenial company in extremely pleasant surroundings
..sipping excellent beer
.
This is exactly how I would want to spend some time with my friends. I hope I will have some more time in the near future to replicate this experience!
It was.
Yes, it was a most enjoyable evening, to be repeated fairly soon.
I must say that the Halloween accessories (carved pumpkins with candles flickering through expressions of evil glee and so on) were very attractive and the whole atmosphere was exceedingly enjoyable.
His life has taken him in some directions, - including most recently to university as a mature student, which he loved - while mine has taken me in others, (I work abroad most of the time), but several times a year we meet to catch up, always in a quiet congenial pub, the same one as last night which is close to the area where we both grew up.
Actually, the pub in question is a microbrewery, in a lovely old building, wooden floors, with plenty of space between the wooden tables, the sort of place that attracts a somewhat older clientele, interested in chat and conversation, and civilised sipping and prepared to spend a little more to get it; apart from its own original (some extremely good) microbrewery beers, it also boasts an excellent selection of Trappist and other beers and a wide range of excellent wines .
But yes. There are few greater pleasures in life than sitting chatting with old friends, in congenial surroundings, sipping good beer or wine .
Started brewing again, kind of. We're going to do are all grained Smoked Porter with some tweaks in the next coupe weeks or so.
I hate beer but love wine. I would post my collection but I'm pretty sure i'd get ridiculed for my cheap lifestyle.
Still, as long as it numbs the feeling.
Still, as long as it numbs the feeling.
And if there was a Cheese table, That sounds like you went to heaven.
No cheese table that night, alas, (and I agree with you - that would have lifted a wonderful evening into the realm of the truly transcendental) - however, it is a concept I must encourage with ever increasing enthusiasm when sampling a glass of excellent (preferably Trappist) beer or superb (aged, Italian) wine with friends ………
However, last night, at a small private wine tasting, - at my suggestion, - there was a small cheese and charcuterie board. This gathering took place in the small, very old stone basement - accessed by a disturbingly steep, narrow, staircase, - of the premises of an excellent wine merchant. The building is an old one, parts of it date back to the 17th century, and host was the wine merchant who is a friend of mine.
We were surrounded by stone walls and wooden shelves which were home to endless bottles of wine, candles and subdued lighting setting a nice atmosphere, and were seated on cushioned chairs, at a sturdy wooden table with a nice, white linen table cloth.
We all brought (or, in my case, simply bought from the wine merchant, as earlier in the day I had told him which wine I wished to have served when it was my turn) a wine we liked. The bottles were then decanted into elegant glass decanters, and wines, ranging from soft prosecco, to robust reds were consumed over the course of a lovely evening.
My offering was a rich, Italian Ripasso; a rare Chianti Classico or two also made an appearance and were savoured, with grateful pleasure, by the assembled gathering.
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Beer scores this week:
[left-to-right]
Founders Porter
Terrapin Moo-Hoo
Holy Mackerel Panic
Founders Dark Penance
Fatheads Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin
Bells Oberon Ale ... FIVE LITER mini keg .. !
(it was an incredible deal too!)
[left-to-right]
Founders Porter
Terrapin Moo-Hoo
Holy Mackerel Panic
Founders Dark Penance
Fatheads Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin
Oh, Oberon! I miss it dearly! I lived in Michigan for many years, and in the summertime it was on tap nearly everywhere. It was my go-to beer if I didn't want to make a decision (and often even when I did). Alas, Bells is not distributed in California.
Bells Oberon Ale ... FIVE LITER mini keg .. !
(it was an incredible deal too!)
Well now you're just provoking me!
Hope you enjoy!Wine and Beer Enthusiasts
Our lineup for this weekend in Vegas.
Three floyds urine trouble - imperial ipa with brettomyces
Three floyds dark lord barrel aged in moscatel barrels
Hill farmstead day break - barrel aged stout
Lawson's finest Maple imperial stout aged in rum barrels
Crooked Stave saison
Evil twin ryan and the gosling - ipa with Brett
The other one is mikkeller. Not sure the style.
Since the concert is at a casino. You can bring a drink into the concert. Unfortunately it has to be in a plastic cup.
Our lineup for this weekend in Vegas.
Three floyds urine trouble - imperial ipa with brettomyces
Three floyds dark lord barrel aged in moscatel barrels
Hill farmstead day break - barrel aged stout
Lawson's finest Maple imperial stout aged in rum barrels
Crooked Stave saison
Evil twin ryan and the gosling - ipa with Brett
The other one is mikkeller. Not sure the style.
Since the concert is at a casino. You can bring a drink into the concert. Unfortunately it has to be in a plastic cup.
Tonight, my beer of choice was an old favourite: 'Gouden Carolus Classic'; a really rich, luscious wonderfully full beer. Great drinking...
Not being in California presently, I happened upon a few bottles of Left Hand's Nitro Milk Stout.
Oh my...
Oh my...
Well now you're just provoking me!
My friend, if I could get you here for a cold pint of the Bell's, I would
I was pretty excited, up till now, I’ve only seen Heineken and New Castle in these [disposable] micro kegs (they're both imported/distributed through the same parent company).
Nothing from smaller breweries like Bell’s. I’d love to see more brands offer these, it’s pretty awesome walking to your fridge and pouring yourself a draft beer. It’s actually dangerous ... it’s a little _too_ convenient
Nice. You’ll have to post up some reviews, I’ve seen at few of those at my new beer source.
Tonight, a glass (or three) of Sauternes were sipped while watching the British TV series 'Downton Abbey'.
Wow. What can I say? A most impressive collection, - and some very serious pictures - beyond doubt.
Indeed, I will even admit that it very strongly challenges my own (rather well stocked) 'cellar' .and almost puts it to shame ..
have a lot more boxed up haha, no where to put them (all bottles are empty and have been enjoyed
) and thats why there's a wine fridge next to the front door lol, no room, wine fridge is primarily 90% beer anyway. We'll be moving next year to a bigger house, we're on the water with a huge FL room but don't feel like making custom shelves to go around the room. Goal is next house here we'll build a tiki hut bar and have bottles all around.... maybe even make dock lights out of bottles instead of normal dock lights hahahahahave this 16% beast aging
small sampling of what was at our wedding
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all my bottles/collection are empty, save for the wine fridge and kitchen fridgeGreat pics!
We consume faster than we collect
all my bottles/collection are empty, save for the wine fridge and kitchen fridge
I was wondering.
You know, I friend of mine did the same, and I’ve always been tempted, but it would wind up overrunning the house (sounds like you’re having the same problem)! I wound up using photos to preserve the memory
I have saved a few single malt bottles, just selected ones that are very special due to the vintage, or uniqueness. I’ve got them on top of the cabinets in the kitchen with backlighting.
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