pubs galore bar

[sheffield hatter]

Yes in the larger Tescos down here, would imagine they are more prevalent near you as they brew in Leeds.

Haven't seen it in my local Tesco, but there are larger ones a cycle ride away. Not sure I can justify another shopping trip, especially when I've just placed an order with Stori, a bottle shop in north Wales. And as mentioned previously, my cupboard-under-the-stairs is not getting any emptier.

A solution proposes itself: drink more.

[sheffield hatter]

Onto my third abbey beer from Belgium via Beautiful Beers: Bornem Tripel 9%, which pours with a big frothy head above a slightly hazy pale liquid. The haze is explained on the label: "Bornem tripel is een abdijbier met nagisting." How's your Flemish? Or French: "...fermentation secondaire"? So much easier if it says "Camra says this is real ale in a bottle."

The aroma is that familiar cat's pee smell that is noticeable in quite a few beers from Belgium and France, and not unpleasant once you're used to it. As the froth dies down it's replaced by a suggestion of bubblegum; though there's no mention of wheat in the list of ingredients, just barley malt, sugar and rice. Sugar? Rice? WTF.

In the mouth there are plenty of bubbles, but plenty of flavour too. But is it my sort of flavour? No, obviously (why would I be asking otherwise?): it's a bit sweet, no bitter finish, leaving a malty/bubble-gummy coating on the tongue. Actually, it's not all that bad, but it needs drinking quickly rather than savouring. Not such a good idea when the abv is 9%....

[sheffield hatter]

I hope no one was taking bets on whether I would go for the fourth Belgian abbey beer. Here's a tip: drinking a fourth beer is a lot easier than stopping drinking and cooking dinner.

I think Grimbergen is probably the least respected of the breweries that describe themselves as Abbey. A bit like Marstons compared with Harveys, in terms of English family/regional breweries. I don't know what the comparative volumes are, but certainly Grimbergen blonde is seen in every supermarket in France. When I'm there, I always pick up one or two (per supermarket, not per holiday, you understand) because they always go down well; never come across Optimo Bruno 10% before though.

The label is very strong on the authenticity of the abbey brewery - "een authentiek abdijbier met een uitgesproken karakter" or "au caractère prononcé" - I love "uitgesproken". It's looks or sounds like the beer is outspoken, but it just means pronounced, like the French prononcé does. (UI in Dutch or Flemish is OW in English: like Zuider Zee= South Sea. The UI=OW sound is usually mispronounced by the BBC and hence by everyone else, so in the UK we call the greatest ever footballers Johan Croiff and Kevin de Broiner instead of Johan Crowff and Kevin de Browner.)

This beer pours with a thick, creamy head which is slow to clear, but I don't get much in the way of aroma apart from a little beery yeastiness. The mouthfeel is not as silky as tonight's first beer, the Bock, but it's certainly not gassy. (This is probably why I prefer dark bottled beers, for the most part: either the malt "hides" the gas, or the beer is naturally less gassy...who knows.) The flavour is fairly subtle. Alternatively, my taste buds are shot after tonight's alcoholic blast. I'm reminded a little of Pelforth Brune, which is another that I go for in France, though that is "only" 6.5% and a lot sweeter than this too. I expect a 10% dark beer to have more complexity than this, so I must admit to being a little disappointed. There's another one in the cupboard-under-the-stairs, so maybe I'll give that a go when it's first on the menu, rather than last.

Wouldn't mind something with a bitter finish to cleanse my palate. Now, what have I got in that cupboard-under-the-stairs...

[rpadam]

I'm reminded a little of Pelforth Brune, which is another that I go for in France, though that is "only" 6.5% and a lot sweeter than this too.

Pelforth Brune is very sweet and malty, and not really to my normal taste, but it was the first French beer that I remember as standing out from generic Euro-fizz and one I am very happy to sample on the other side of the Channel.

[london calling]

I hope no one was taking bets on whether I would go for the fourth Belgian abbey beer. Here's a tip: drinking a fourth beer is a lot easier than stopping drinking and cooking dinner.

I think Grimbergen is probably the least respected of the breweries that describe themselves as Abbey. A bit like Marstons compared with Harveys, in terms of English family/regional breweries. I don't know what the comparative volumes are, but certainly Grimbergen blonde is seen in every supermarket in France. When I'm there, I always pick up one or two (per supermarket, not per holiday, you understand) because they always go down well; never come across Optimo Bruno 10% before though.

The label is very strong on the authenticity of the abbey brewery - "een authentiek abdijbier met een uitgesproken karakter" or "au caractère prononcé" - I love "uitgesproken". It's looks or sounds like the beer is outspoken, but it just means pronounced, like the French prononcé does. (UI in Dutch or Flemish is OW in English: like Zuider Zee= South Sea. The UI=OW sound is usually mispronounced by the BBC and hence by everyone else, so in the UK we call the greatest ever footballers Johan Croiff and Kevin de Broiner instead of Johan Crowff and Kevin de Browner.)

This beer pours with a thick, creamy head which is slow to clear, but I don't get much in the way of aroma apart from a little beery yeastiness. The mouthfeel is not as silky as tonight's first beer, the Bock, but it's certainly not gassy. (This is probably why I prefer dark bottled beers, for the most part: either the malt "hides" the gas, or the beer is naturally less gassy...who knows.) The flavour is fairly subtle. Alternatively, my taste buds are shot after tonight's alcoholic blast. I'm reminded a little of Pelforth Brune, which is another that I go for in France, though that is "only" 6.5% and a lot sweeter than this too. I expect a 10% dark beer to have more complexity than this, so I must admit to being a little disappointed. There's another one in the cupboard-under-the-stairs, so maybe I'll give that a go when it's first on the menu, rather than last.

Wouldn't mind something with a bitter finish to cleanse my palate. Now, what have I got in that cupboard-under-the-stairs...

4 Abbey beers but none brewed in a Abbey. Surely some Monk -ey business going on there.

[sheffield hatter]

4 Abbey beers but none brewed in a Abbey. Surely some Monk -ey business going on there.

Could you point me in the direction of some Abbey beers that are brewed in an Abbey? And where to get hold of them? I'm interested in stretching my experience of different types of beer, but obviously I've not found the genuine article so far.

[Tris39]

4 Abbey beers but none brewed in a Abbey. Surely some Monk -ey business going on there.

Could you point me in the direction of some Abbey beers that are brewed in an Abbey? And where to get hold of them? I'm interested in stretching my experience of different types of beer, but obviously I've not found the genuine article so far.

Some of these are very strong: Trappist by name, Trapis*ed by nature.

Or: get the Abbey Habit, drink with a monk.

[oldboots]

Some of these are very strong: Trappist by name, Trapis*ed by nature.

Or: get the Abbey Habit, drink with a monk.

Not to spoil the joke, well actually yes, Abbey and Trappist mean two different things, Trappist beer is brewed in the monastery possibly by the monks, possibly by a civilian brewer, Abbey beers are brewed under license from the religious order.

Could you point me in the direction of some Abbey beers that are brewed in an Abbey? And where to get hold of them? I'm interested in stretching my experience of different types of beer, but obviously I've not found the genuine article so far.

If, rather than pants like Tynt Meadow, you're after the genuine Belgian article either Trappist or Abbey, quite a few are available in the UK from the specialist beer shops, Chimay (Red White or Blue) is very well known and should be easily available. My favourite is St Bernardus Prior 8%, but it's also available as Pater 6% and Abt 12%, Westmalle is the commercial version of what some people consider to be the best beer in the world, Westvleteren 12. You may consider the Beer Hawk Belgian Abbey & Trappist pack, be warned it includes Tynt Meadow brewed in the UK, three from La Trappe which I consider mediocre, and Orval which is an acquired taste being a bit Bretty, on the plus side you do get a chalice and a Rochfort beer. Other suppliers seem to be www.masterofmalt.com and my mate John. Do remember your wallet of course, most are over the 7.5% watershed.

[sheffield hatter]

If, rather than pants like Tynt Meadow, you're after the genuine Belgian article either Trappist or Abbey, quite a few are available in the UK from the specialist beer shops, Chimay (Red White or Blue) is very well known and should be easily available. My favourite is St Bernardus Prior 8%, but it's also available as Pater 6% and Abt 12%, Westmalle is the commercial version of what some people consider to be the best beer in the world, Westvleteren 12. You may consider the Beer Hawk Belgian Abbey & Trappist pack, be warned it includes Tynt Meadow brewed in the UK, three from La Trappe which I consider mediocre, and Orval which is an acquired taste being a bit Bretty, on the plus side you do get a chalice and a Rochfort beer. Other suppliers seem to be www.masterofmalt.com and my mate John. Do remember your wallet of course, most are over the 7.5% watershed.

Yes, I did try Tynt Meadow a year or so ago, and saw no reason to trouble them again. I can usually get Chimay and Westmalle at the Dram Shop, a short walk up the road, but I'll certainly look into the others you mention.

I did look into the availability of Westvleteren 12 a few weeks ago. You can order it online and give your car registration number and go and collect it. Local beer for local people, it seems. But I've heard of people getting hold of it, so there must be a way through the red tape.

Cheers

[sheffield hatter]

My orders from Williams Bros and Allendale Brewery arrived to day - luckily they both use the same courier service!

From the Williamses I've replenished my stocks of Caesar Augustus, Joker IPA, Seven Giraffes and Profanity Stout. I've also gone for Paradigm Shift and what they call a "Tallboy Selection" - some half dozen of their beers in the more adventurous modern style in 50cl cans.

Kicked off this evening with a Caesar Augustus, the very refreshing Lager/IPA crossover that I first came across in the Barrels in Berwick on Tweed in 2013. Hits the spot after a bit of carpentry.

Then, having taken the precaution of putting a Wagtail in the fridge (it's been pretty warm in Sheffield today; probably not just Sheffield, I guess), it was time for a pint of bitter. Or half a litre. Very good. Well balanced, with biscuity malt and English hops (target, fuggles and goldings). Not too gassy, and an hour in the fridge had got it to just about the right temperature. Best beer of the week so far for me.

To follow up I'll have the two Allendale IPAs that I mentioned yesterday: Wanderlust and Dirty Deeds.