Why not indulge the craving for a nice, rich stout?
Overcast, wet, miserable weather is a simply perfect backdrop fro sipping a soothing, restorative stout.
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Wine and Beer Enthusiasts
- Thread starter albertfallickwa
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Why not indulge the craving for a nice, rich stout?
Overcast, wet, miserable weather is a simply perfect backdrop fro sipping a soothing, restorative stout.
Yup, agreed. Heck, I like stouts during the hot days also. But then again I have been told I am one of the strange ones when it comes to my stouts. Don't get me wrong, I won't pull down a 12 pack during a 120 degree day, but stouts and porters are my absolute favorite style of beer and I have them all year long. But in fall, winter, and early spring when the weather outside is cold, wet, or snowy. They call my name, no they sing my name!
Candour compels me to admit that they call mine too, indeed, as recently, as today, I was thus called - which was when I bought a few more to add to my (already quite amply stocked) cellar.
A terrific beer called "Maredsous" - which is a traditional Benedictine (Abbey) beer in the "tripel" style from Belgium.
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Abbaye-Abdij - the community of Maredsous Benedictine Abbey in Belgium.
This is a beautifully balanced "tripel", if you like that style.
A Trappistes Rochefort 8, - a classic beer from Belgium - served in an elegant Trappistes Rochefort glass chalice.
I had a 2.5 oz or just about 75 ml pour of Yellow Spot this evening post dinner. Forgoing medicine for this ticklish throat. My first pour of Yellow Spot since acquiring three bottles a couple of weeks ago. The awful warm weather made it a bad choice. I'd forgone beer as well. It's a very enjoyable Irish whiskey. For it being nothing special, the Green Spot was quite nice, and as it turned out, I had suspected the Yellow Spot to be a fantastic entry for the price in the world of Irish whiskeys. And old school mate from back in the day who resides in Bath recently told me of an Indian whiskey called Amrut that I must try. Though I'm afraid I've never heard of it nor have I seen it in stores.
Yellow Spot is a terrific whiskey.
It comes from Mitchell & Sons and is the last of the old style "bonded" whiskies - a way of doing business that was very popular in the 18th century and into the 19th century - which meant that the company in question imported (or distilled) stuff - usually in barrels, aged it and stored it on their own premises (the 'bonded warehouse' style) and then proceeded to bottle it themselves and sell it under their own label.
They were the last business to do things this way in Ireland, and - a little over a decade ago - I was given a private tour of their splendid eighteenth century premises - which is almost across the road from the Irish parliament.
The "spot" denotes age; I have seen a similar technique used in apiaries in northern Italy (I was once given a tour of the Prunotto company's premises) whereby queen bees are daubed with a spot of particular colour to denote their age (or vintage) and to distinguish them, one from the other (the red one from 2015, the blue one from 2016 etc - queens rarely last more than three years, it was explained to me).
Anyway, re Yellow Spot, as recently as the 50s, when the company ceased most of its activities, they had a range of "spotted" bonded whiskies, red, blue, green yellow, all of which denoted a different age. Then, the multinationals , with bigger budgets and a longer reach, began to swamp them.
Thus, they continued with Green Spot - available in a very few outlets - usually the sort of antique pubs frequented by connoisseurs - until - in the past decade - they supplemented it with Yellow Spot.
Personally, I think Yellow Spot an outstanding whiskey, beautifully smooth and wonderfully elegant. Green Spot is a lovely standard whiskey, but - agreed - Yellow Spot is special.
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Founder's have supplied my brew for tonight. This is the legendary "Backwood's Bastard". Quite gorgeous.
Chilled Double Chocolate Stout by Youngs of London is the way forward.
A Spanish brandy. I was fancying a grappa after dinner but saw this and recalled buying it. It's a bit dryer than your typical armagnac, for example, but quite nice. Looking further into it, it's apparently a 15 year brandy. The "Solera Gran Reserva" threw me off, and likely anyone who drinks sherry or port would think it's a sherry. It's a brandy like armagnac or cognac or grappa, referred to as a sherry brandy but there's nothing of sherry in it. It's confusing to say the least.
They seem to come in three aging stages similar to VS, VSOP and XO brandies. I don't remember where I bought it or when, but I do recall knowing I bought it. I know it's definitely not sold around here.
Thank you for the fascinating explanation. Much appreciated.
Well, I write as someone who is more than partial to a good XO cognac, (I don't drink - or try not to drink - brandies that are younger than 14 years old), and therefore, all I can say is 1) it sounds delicious, and 2) I hope you truly enjoyed the experience of drinking it.
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A white Burgundy (a Grand Vin de Bourgogne) is being sipped as I write; elegant, crisp, dry ('fruity' and 'mineral' notes come through clearly). Quite lovely.
About to pop open a bottle of Lagunitas Maximus; a very nice double IPA with a rich mouthfeel, fruity sweetness and aggressive hopping. Love it!
Oh, and I finally had the chance to take on the Founders KBS last week. A fantastic brew to say the least.
Oh, and I finally had the chance to take on the Founders KBS last week. A fantastic brew to say the least.
Ah.
You have made the acquaintance of the legendary KBS - wonderful! It is a superlative beer, isn't it? One of the best that I have tasted.
Yes, he is - but this is a superlative beer. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Yes, you are quite right.
I love the complex chocolate, coffee, licorice and smoke notes. The bourbon might be too much for some people, but I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. Definitely one of the best slow-sippers out there.
Indeed, especially when a taproom near my home serves it. Much to my delight, I noticed that the local liquor store had stocked up on it as well.
Have a nice weekend everyone!