Notes from Wine Country

Belgian Beer Trip Day 6

Our day started at the Van Steenberge brewery in Ghent with a quick sample of their new Augustine Blonde Ale. This brewery has been brewing beers since the 1784 and is one of the only breweries to refermentate their kegs. Jef Versele is a 7th generation brewer and owner of the brewery. He is a very passionate spokesman for his company and the brewery is a reflection of their family’s passion and dedication to producing quality beer. Van Steenberge Brewery is best known for their high alcohol content beers such as Gulden Drak and Piraat, which won gold at the 2012 World Beer Cup.

We were then off for sightseeing in Ghent. We did a walking tour with stops for local candy, mustard, meats and cheeses. It was amazing to see books that were 300-400 years old in their library. We had lunch at a local Augustine monastery. We then took a boat tour (while Jef continued to fill everyone’s glass with Piraat) that ended at a pub followed by a carriage ride to the oldest fencing club in Europe. At the club we were awarded Gulden Drak Ambassador certificates and shirts.

We had dinner at a restaurant under the Gulden Drak tower followed by a little pub hopping in Ghent—one pub required you to deposit a shoe in order to drink out of their large mugs. So with one shoe on and one in a basket above our table, we had our last beer of the night and enjoyed all the sights and sounds in the city of Ghent.

Beer Consultant Evan Kaye and Chris Brower

Spring in Florida - What to Drink When the Yard Work is Done

Spring is finally upon us again in Florida! Everything starts to grow, flowers are starting to blossom and become once again thriving with life. During the winter months I can enjoy my yard without spending too much time on maintaining it. I like to relax in the evening out on the deck with a good Hefeweizen or Witbier. Then the seasons change and for those that maintain a yard, that means yard work season is back in full swing.

The yard looked groomed and well-maintained for three months, now with the change of the season it is a jungle. This is when I see myself with a chainsaw and hedge clippers on a mission to cut down the jungle that is now my yard. Nothing sounds better when working out in the hot sun than an ice cold beer. As the work is getting done a domestic will do the job, but I always find myself yearning for that time when I’ve finished the work and can relax and enjoy the yard again.

It is of course warmer now and after a long day working in the heat I want to reward myself with an ice cold beer to relax with. This is the time to pick up a summer seasonal that most breweries have available. Anchor Brewing, Leinenkugel, Samuel Adams, just about any brewer has a beer available during the warmer months. After a long day working in the yard, tasting one of the available seasonal brews is the reward that gets me through the rough work.

Andrew Chouinard, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant - US Hwy 27, Lake Wales

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeerandrewc

Belgian Beer Trip Day 5

Today was spent with Lionel and Bertrand from Silly Brewery. This brewery was started as a farm that began brewing beer in the winter of 1850 with a Saison that farm workers drank during the harvest. When they started making beers in 1850, the town of Silly had a population of 1,500 and 7 breweries. After WW2 there were only two breweries left, and when the other brewery shut down in 1950 the name of the brewery changed from its original name of 'Bieres Meynsbrughen' to 'Brasserie de Silly'. This is still a family run company; Lionel is the 6th generation to run it. Meynsbrughen is the last name of Lionel's grandmother, and the name was shortened by deleting the 'e' in Mynsbrughen, because they were taxed for each letter they had on a sign.  

After touring the facility we were brought in to a barrel aging room to sample the next batch of scotch ale called Scotch Silly. This new batch will be much different than previous releases because the brewers purchased used port barrels for the aging process. The sweetness of the port was nicely present in this great scotch ale. It is a favorite beer to pair with steaks, chocolates and cigars.

We were thrilled to learn the history behind this beer. A British solider asked them to brew a beer that was like what he had back home—he even provided the brewery with the ingredients. The beer was—and still is—great, and the solider who helped brew the beer stayed in Silly after the war ended. His family is still lives there.

Next we got to sample the Silly Sour. This was a refreshing sour that is very unique. It has a light and lively taste that any sour fan will enjoy. After this we got a special treat:  We were all able to sample the pure sour brew used in the blend. It was this overwhelming sour that was strangely enjoyable; it was very warmly receive by our group. We also got to sample the next batch of Barrel Aged Scotch Silly direct from the barrel. This beer should be ready to bottle in another 3 months, and we’ll try hard to get as much as possible as they only have 24 barrels aging.

The rest of our afternoon was filled with lunch, playing old pub games and getting to know the family behind this beer. We even met the 7th generation of this family—Lionel's 2 and 4 year old sons were having fun helping their father pour our pints. Dinner was fantastic and paired with their abbey golden ale.

This is a small brewery that is staying true to its core belief in quality, and they only expand when they are confident that it will not affect their quality. There are only 22 employees, and their passion for beer is contagious.

Beer Consultant Evan Kaye and Chris Brower

Dominio de la Peseta Brut Cava

With the Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, unofficially kicking off the summer grilling season, it’s an ideal time to check out wines that offer great flavor, but can cool us off a bit too.  It doesn’t matter if you’re having a backyard barbeque or just an informal gathering. It’s the perfect excuse to chill out and beat the heat.  I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the weekend than to invite some friends over and share a few crisp and refreshing, thirst quenching wines.

Cava, the sparkling wine of Spain, is always a great summertime sipper, especially if you’re in the mood for mouthwatering seafood like grilled shrimp, diver scallops or juicy salmon steaks.  I’m pleased to announce that after an extensive search scouring the Catalan countryside, ABCFWS has discovered an exceptionally delectable Cava for our Direct To You wine program.

Dominio de la Peseta Brut Cava is made in the time-honored traditional method.  It’s a labor intensive process with secondary fermentation in the bottle and sur-lie aging for added complexity.  A blend of traditional Cava grape varieties, Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo, this sparkler has beautiful citrus, green apple and stone-fruit aromas and flavors, with nice toasty overtones from the lees contact, a fine bead of tiny bubbles and lively, crisp acidity.  

It’s a relative steal at $10.99 a bottle, as it fits the profile of cavas that sell for considerably more. 

Stop by your local ABCFWS this weekend and pick up some!

Jim Greeley, WS SWFL

Follow me on Twitter @ABCWineJimG

Belgian Beer Trip Day 4

Today we did something a bit different; we headed to Popering in the southwest corner of Flanders to visit the Hommel Bier Hop Farm. We were amazed to see the time and dedication that goes into growing hops. From the care given to the soil, the cutting off of shoots, to the hard work that goes into making sure the hops are growing up the wires was amazing. Pests and bugs are an enemy to the hop vines, and the winds are also a huge challenge. The fields are lined with large trees to protect the vines from the winds, but we can attest to just how windy it was walking around there. To see the care and pride that went into the growing of hops is impressive.

When it was time for lunch we were able to sample a hop-infused gin produced by the farm and had a great bag of several types of local sandwiches which were washed down with their Hommel Bier. This beer was a wonderful mix of hops and Belgium yeast that was very much like an IPA and wasn’t overly
filling. The wife of the hop farmer who conducted the tour also entertained us with her singing and playing of the accordion.

Next we headed to the Hop Museum where we were shown the history of growing and cultivation of hops in Belgium, and shown the advances made in hop production. After this we went down stairs and across the street to a local pub where we ran into a wonderful 90 year old woman drinking a St. Benardus Tripel. Many of our group sat around her and listened to her stories of the city.

Following this we were off with Danny, the export manager, and Philippe, the brewer, of the Van Eecke family breweries. When the original brewery was destroyed in World War 1, it was rebuilt in its current local
in the center of town. The 84 year old mother of Danny invited us I to her house (which is attached to the brewery) for cheese, chocolates and beer. Later we headed to the ‘T Zweerd Restaurant for another great dinner of stew and French fries. 

After dinner we went to observe the ceremony at the war memorial where the entire village turns out. Every night at 8:00pm a horn is played to honor the WWI British, Australian, French and Belgian soldiers who
died defending the city. The entire monument is inscribed with their names; it was a very somber reminder of history. The entire town was destroyed during the war and was rebuilt to look exactly as it was before the war started, and was also so its impact is real on the people living in the city. This nightly event
draws a crowd of 500 people and is a very emotional experience.

Beer Consultant Evan Kaye and Chris Brower

In Defense of Cheap Wine!

In this line of work, we spend a little too much time tasting, comparing, swirling and analyzing wines to remember something very basic. When I taste nice wines all day, and world class wines pretty frequently, sometimes I forget their real purpose—enjoyment.

I don't think we have let the process become sterile or clinical, but every once in a while, sometimes when I just don't expect it, I find myself actually enjoying a wine that I would probably not have given a second thought to at one of our marathon tastings!

I was at Disney last weekend with my family, and we had lunch at the French Pavillon in Epcot. We ordered 3-4 different plates, including a cheese assortment. I ordered a glass of their Pinot Noir. It was Pays d'Oc and I did not have any expectations. I was trying hard to not have any expectations, not because of the wine’s origin, but because I wanted to turn that whole thing off. And to my surprise, the wine was lovely! Just right for a hot day—for the simple lunch we had—and nothing more. A simple wine for sure, but wine for wine’s sake, it tasted good.

That is why we drink wine, I suppose, for enjoyment…and you can find simple pleasure in most any wine, if the circumstances allow. And you can relax and savor it instead of thinking too much!

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne

Belgian Beer Trip Day 3

Today was one of the greatest days of our beer-loving life.

We traveled to Harelbeke for a tour of Bavik Brewery hosted by Yves, one of their brewers. This is a family owned brewery and we got to meet the youngest generation, Albert, as we toured the property. 

Bavik is the 8th largest brewery in Belgium with half of their production going into kegs. The brewery owns over 1200 pubs that serve their products. While many Americans do not recognize Bavik Pilsner, they do know their other brands such as Wittekerke and Petrus. The brewery also bottles water, soft drinks, and table beer (1.5% alcohol beer sold to school children, retirement homes and hospitals). The brewers were happy to meet us as they have learned the Wittekerke in cans is very popular in Florida. Petrus is on fire now in America with their popular Old Pale Sour Beer.

Bavik can best be described as 'tradition meets innovation'. Brand new steel brew kettles are sitting next to old cooper kettles. They take the time to brew their Bavik Pils to original gravity instead of brewing it to a higher alcohol content and cutting it with water like many other brewers do. They also do not pasteurize the pilsner in order to keep it fresh and protect it from the heat, hitch is a big risk for a brewery because they need to maintain perfect sanitation. While on the flipside, the huge oak barrels that Petrus Old Pale is aged in need natural microorganisms to eat the sugars and create the sour beer.

The popular Old Pale was originally made to be blended with the Old Bruin to give it a sour flavor. It was the famous late beer writer, Michael Jackson, who convinced them, after 3 years of begging, to bottle it on its own. Due to the growth in demand of the brewery, they are adding more and more modern equipment to increase production and with more consistency. 

Then after another wonderful lunch of beef stew and French fries, we headed into Kartrijk for a walking tour of the town. Beautiful medieval buildings and structures dot the town along with an 800 year old church that is currently being renovated. We have seen many historic buildings under renovation during our time in Belgium so far, which reflects this country’s desire to preserve history and tradition.

After the tour we stopped in a local pub for a quick beer and then went on to dinner.

There was an excellent meal planned—each course was prepared using different beers from Bavik. We were provided live music from a jazz band. The hospitality of our hosts was incredible, and there were several surprises for us at dinner. But more on that later.       

A final note about beer culture in Belgium:  We mentioned earlier that they brew low alcohol table beer that is served to children. However more and more young people are drinking soda and soft drinks here and they do not like the un-sweet taste of beer. This worries brewers about the future generations of Belgium beer drinkers.  

Beer Consultant Evan Kaye and Chris Brower

 

Don’t Fear Rose

While working in Georgia at a vineyard tasting room, yes you heard correct, Georgia, as in the state above us. I was reintroduced to rosé. I had a fear of pink wine. I always thought of rosé as sweet and sticky. But to my surprise, I was told to “shut up and try this” and when I did I couldn’t believe my taste buds. Flavors of strawberries, cranberry, and a little spice swirled in my glass. What had I been missing out on? I eventually came to find out, a lot. All I could think was, this is red wine for the summer. The vineyard I worked at used the saignee (French for bleed) method of extraction. That is to say it is a production that involves bleeding off the juice after limited contact with the skins. Who knew that rosé wines could be so yummy?

After leaving Georgia I had a chance to find so many more rosé wines to try. I found that there were a few from the US that quenched my thirst, including a couple Pinot Noir rosés from California. Then I found Provence and Tavel. That is where I set up shop for drinking fine roses. At ABC we carry Chateau Montaud Rosé from Provence and Dom des Carteres Tavel Rosé. Two different areas of France and two different flavor profiles. I have to highly recommend both of these wines--and I only recommend what I have tasted.

It’s getting hot outside—it’s time to put down the reds for a little while, at least during the day. It’s time to try something new, and maybe a little pink. You should come check out what we have available. If you’re not sure what is sweet or dry, just ask your local wine consultant. I know what I’ll be having tonight.

Kathleen Anderson, North/West Wine Supervisor. Follow Kathleen on Twitter: @ABCwinekat

Belgian Beer Trip Day 2

Our day was hosted by the Musketeers brewery, home of the Troubadour beers. We had a boat trip up the Scheide River while we learned about the history of Antwerp and of their brewery. They started brewing beer in 2000 as a hobby amongst 4 friends. As their beer became more popular (selling it under the table in many local bars), they set up a brewery and entered the Belgium beer business as a full time job. We sampled several of their beers such at the Blonde, Obscura, Speciale, and Magma which is a Triple IPA which was wonderfully balanced between fruitiness and bitterness.

From the morning cruise we had a medieval style lunch (ribs, sausage bread and rice pudding) in a dimly lit medieval dungeon that was used as a storage bunker during the wars. Following this was a guided walking tour of Antwerp with stops for some famous local food (chocolates, cookies and headcheese). This city is full of history at every turn you make. Medieval forts and churches, statues dot the city. The architecture is incredibly beautiful and no pictures can truly convey the scale and magnificence of it all.

Next we had a few glasses of Troubadour beers in the Old Arsenal, a favorite local pub. This pub was closed but they opened it just for our group. There we were able to sample more Troubadour beers with cheese and pate as a snack.

Later we went for a fantastic dinner of chicken stew, white asparagus, mashed potatoes topped with sausage and thick cut bacon, and of course frittes. Our host said to us, "if we do not go home 10 pounds heavier, he has failed us." This was all washed down with Troubadour Imperial Stout, this is a great beer with strong coffee notes and great finish. Then we broke into song when the breweries own troubadour entered and sang the praises of Belgium beer.

Our hosts from Troubadour were great. Being a new brewery is hip and cool in America, but in Belgium three guys are making beers that go against hundreds of years of tradition (when have you ever seen a Belgium black IPA?). It is their passion for good beers that has kept them going. The one thing that keeps coming back to me here is the passion and love that the locals here have for beer, culture and food. Tomorrow we head to Ghent with a stop at the Bavik brewery on the way.

Beer Consultant Evan Kaye and Chris Brower

 

Don’t Judge a Beer by its Cover

Have you ever really looked at the label on your beer bottle? Breweries use all sorts of images to catch the consumer’s eye and sell their beer. Every beer I sample, I like to take the time to study the label. I look for nutritional information like alcohol by volume (ABV), original gravity (OG) and the International Bittering Units (IBU). Then I look for stories about the brew, maybe tasting notes or hops and malts used.

Red Brick and Lagunitas have some very funny anecdotes on their labels and 6-pack packing. After I have read everything I can about the beer, I look at the images on the front, back and sides. Some breweries use real artist’s compositions like Flying Dog and Ralph Steadman or Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven Tilburg’s Dutch Brown and Hieronymus Bosch. The Tilburg label is very interesting. The portrait is “The Birdheaded Monster” and only a small excerpt of Bosch’s famous work, a three-panel masterpiece entitled “The Garden of Earthly Delights” painted in 1504. 

Dogfish Head features work from a few different artists including famous musician Jon Langford, graphic artist Tara Pherson and Marq Spusta who has done work for the Sex Pistols, the Roots, the Black Crowes and Widespread Panic. Rogue uses the theme of a man or a woman throwing up a triumphant fist with one hand while holding an overflowing mug of brew in the other.

Most breweries that feature the Bock or Doppelbock styles have the iconic goat in some form on their label. The theory is, when Bocks were originally brewed, it was around the time of Capricorn, the symbol of the goat. Some breweries use simple but famous logos such as Guinness and their harp and Bass and their red triangle, which is the very first trademarked logo at the British Intellectual Property Office. Bass trademarked it on January 1, 1876, after the 1875 UK Trademark Registration Act came into effect.

So next time you crack open a cold one, stop for a minute and look at your beer bottle. You may notice that Left Hand’s Sawtooth Ale spells L-E-F-T in sign language or Orval Trappist Ale has a trout with the
monastery’s founder Mathilda’s lost wedding band in its mouth.    

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant – Archer Road, Gainesville

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams