And again: The Lost Abbey's Judgment Day

While this is from California, it certainly captures the spirit of Belgium.

Judgment Day
The Lost Abbey
Quadrupel (Quad)

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

On-tap at the Farmhouse in Emmaus, PA. Served in a wine glass it appears a very dark brown with a tan head. Quite dark for a quad, but there are faint red highlight when held up to the light. At first I get a candy plum note, but that quickly fades leaving to big dark chocolate flavors along with raisin and very mild peppermint notes. The aroma also sticks with the chocolate, but it reminds me of a creamier, fine milk chocolate. Finishes with a roasted orange bitterness from the mix of hops and malt. Thick, but reasonable for a 10.5% beer. Certainly not your average quad, but a great dessert beer.

More Good Beer: It's Belgian - Gaverhopke Singing Blonde

To combat Monday's heat, I popped open a bottle I'd recently snagged at Abe's Cold Beer while grilling some BBQ chicken. While the chicken was pretty good (probably from the Wegman's sauce, not my grilling skills), the beer was great. Apparently this beer in particular is almost untried in the U.S., but Abe's has it. Thank you Abe.

't Gaverhopke Zingende Blondine
Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke
Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Poured a clear gold with an aggressive head and only turned hazy because I let a little sediment in. The aroma is an interesting mix wine vinegar, cider, and scented burning candles - in the sense that it reminds me of spiced wax if that makes any sense. The flavor has bit of orange peel, lemon juice, mild pepper. The finish if fairly balanced with subtle bitterness with light sour tang. Complex and easy to drink for the 9.8% strength. Heck of a beer.

Sometimes beer is disappointing.

There's a good chance that being inundated with world-class beer in Belgium has made me more critical of other beer. This new cherry beer from Founders was particularly mediocre considering how delicious the rest of their beers are.

Founders Cerise
Founders Brewing Company
Fruit / Vegetable Beer

C+ / 3.1
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | drink: 3.5

Had a pint at Pearly Baker's in Easton, PA. This beer was a disappointment. It came out a clear cherry red with no head. The aroma and flavor are basically of cherry juice while there's also a vaguely nutty malt flavor in the background of the taste. Juicy but flat and not satisfying as a beer.

Post-Belgium: Man it was delicious

Anyways, here are a few of my favorite beers from the trip.


Saison De L'Epeautre
Brasserie de Blaugies
Saison / Farmhouse Ale

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a 375 cl at the Hopduvel in Ghent. The cashier asked me where I found this beer. I guess its not a popular option, but it should be. My first reaction was that it was like Saison Dupont, but thin I realized it also have creamy vanilla flavors and notes like Duvel. Damn, this beer is good. It was a bit of a foamer when I took the cork out, but once settled it has an appropriate carbonation level and is easy drinking. This is a perfect example of a lower alcohol saison. Drink this if you can find it.


Bracia
Thornbridge Hall Country House Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout

A- / 4.2
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

The honey and hazelnuts are obvious in the aroma and flavor. While chocolate roast and cocoa dominate the flavor. Yum Appears pitch black with a milk chocolate head. There's a long, espresso aftertaste. Hot damn, this is good beer. There's a paler malt notes that pop up in the aftertaste, but there's a whole lot of roasted malt going on that dives into roast chestnuts, honey, and spicy British hops. Delicious.


Oude Gueuze
Hanssens Artisanaal bvba
Gueuze

A- / 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

Had a bottle in Ghent and was quite pleased. Poured a hazy amber gold and thick white head. The big character here is the toasted oak barrel flavor. After that is more of typical (of great oude guezes) ripping sour tang that hits the back of your cheekbones with lemon, lime, and earthy spice. Delicious. I'll have another.


Oude Kriek De Cam
De Cam Geuzestekerij
Lambic - Fruit

A / 4.3
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Ordered a bottle at the Waterhuis in Ghent. Damn, this might be the best kriek I've ever had. Not overly funky, but interesting and with a long, dry sour cherry flavor. It's a pleasant mustiness, that for whatever reason reminds me of cobwebs and cellars before the tangy cherries kick in. Definitely find this beer if you're in Belgium.


Sussex Best Bitter
Harvey & Son Ltd.
English Bitter

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Had a half pint on cask at The Harp near Trafalgar Square. This was one of my favorite real ales while in London for a week. It was a mixture of floral hops and oak with a fruit punch aroma at first. Then I started to pull cherry juice flavor with dry wheat cracker in the background and a note of blueberry in the aroma. Delicious.

Epilogue: London

After Belgium I flew to London to visit my sister for a few days.


Look kids - Big Ben, Parliament.


This sums up Katie's tour.


Nothing like British real ale and pork skin/fat.


One of my favorite pubs, The Bree Louise, and it's 11 gravity casks.


Another pretty pub.


Sittimg down for lunch.


Dessert - bread pudding and beer.

Day Ten: The End (And Paris-Roubaix... Go Tommeke!)

Tailgating Paris-Roubaix starts at breakfast.


I want to kiss the cobbles. We were at sector 3.


Ready for the riders.


The second place finisher, Potazzo, and a fan. They were so f'ing fast.


Watching the finish with the Tom Boonen fan club.


Boonen's grandparenters were there to toast his victory.


Pryor gets the official last beer (for now) of the trip.

Day Nine: Rocking Retie

"You are in Retie. You must drink beer."
Retie is our tour guide Jan's hometown, and near Tom "Beans" Boonen's.


Before leaving Ghent I finally went in the cathedral across the street. It was big and stuff.


Jan from Ridley took us for a ride in his hood.


Kuklix took a nap while the band played on.


Pomosomething2 won't be fooled by any card tricks.

Day Eight: A Beautiful Day in Hell

Ready to ride with the Russian pro team Katusha. Moments before, Danilo Napolitano did a wheelie for us.


We rode half of Paris-Roubaixs (Hell of the North) and started at Arenberg.


Hanging on with Katusha after a few sections of cobbles.


And then the Italian pro team Liquigas rode by.


A perfect day to ride Roubaix. We left it all on the cobbles.


Pryor takes an amazing win at the Roubaix velodrome.

Day Seven: Belgium Talks Back

Local cheese shop. I got the local special, the Gentse Blue, a creamy blue cheese. Yum.


Street band rocking out with TWO accordions.


Afternoon ride along the canal south of Ghent.


The best store in the world.


You tell 'em, Belgium.


Working on life's tough decisions.

Day Six: Belgium Gets Weird

Amanda's Leffe while we watch Gent-Wevelgem in a cycling pub.


Ryan doing his thing with the frites during a rain break.


Belgium likes to rock out with it's cock out in parks.


This is a bar. We had two rounds here. Try to guess where we sat.


The cathedral next to our hotel.

Day Five: In Our Wheelhouse

Our for a morning ride. Look closely and you can see Ryan's tri-color "Belgian neck spoiler."


The monks at St. Sixtus were closed for the Easter holiday already, but the nearby town of Watou offering plenty of amazing local beers.


Mario Cipollini decided to join us tonight.


Taylor and our new friend outside the, how do you say... "dude bar."


Yeah. Kuklix.

Day Four: Ridley Bikes Factory Tour

Awesome Ridley Noah in the Italian colors.


Taylor at Dulle Griet, standing below Jesus.


Last stop of the night. This place looked like it was 500 years old, and probably was.

Day Three: Tour of Flanders

Hanging out at the VIP area before the start. We were all over the team buses.


Bar stop before the second cobbled section of the race. That's the publican's dining room in the room behind the bar.


Our boy, Big George Hincapie, going over the Koppenberg.



Champagne outside the Katyusha bus. Their man, Filippo Pozzato, took 5th.