I think my opponent in Fantasy Football this week had Peyton Manning as his QB. Yikes!
Just had to get that off my chest before getting to the beer.
As you may recall my wife signed me up for a Microbrew Beer of the Month club. I've been working my way through the August shipment which was International in flavor. There were two offerings, one from a Czech brewer and one from a French brewery. Even though this is beer and not wine we'll begin with the French offering.
The French brewery is Brasserie Meteor in the Alsace region. Alsace is practically German in nature (if I may say that without starting a war) so they know something about beer. The current brewery can trace its lineage back at the current location to 1640. It is, according to the newsletter, the last independent-owned family run brewery in Alsace. So that's worth rooting for.
The brew is called Wendelinus Biere d'Abbaye. The name, at least the Abbaye part, certainly invokes a Belgian style beer in my mind. And indeed that is what this beer tastes like. You get the immediate aroma of sweet spiciness when you open the bottle and begin to pour. The beer has that golden color with slight reddish tints you see in some Belgian style beers. But it is definitely the spice you notice the most.
And it is also the first impression when you taste it. You get that prickly carbonated sensation combined with the spice. They say cloves and I tend to agree because there is the sweetness of pumpkin pie but not cloyingly sweet. There is a dash of tartness accompanying the sweet taste.
I think it is that combination of tartness and sweetness that has always intrigued me about Belgian style brews. It seems a bit weird perhaps for an IPA fan to have a liking for Belgian beer, but I do.
One of my favorite spots in New York City used to be this Belgian pub on the West side. I think it was on 45th street (or somewhere in the West 40's) between 5th and 6th Avenue. Sure they had mussels and good sandwiches and salads. But for me the draw was the 40+ varieties of Belgian beer available either on tap or in bottle. Had to sample at least three at each visit. Would have been rude not to I figured.
Just had to get that off my chest before getting to the beer.
As you may recall my wife signed me up for a Microbrew Beer of the Month club. I've been working my way through the August shipment which was International in flavor. There were two offerings, one from a Czech brewer and one from a French brewery. Even though this is beer and not wine we'll begin with the French offering.
The French brewery is Brasserie Meteor in the Alsace region. Alsace is practically German in nature (if I may say that without starting a war) so they know something about beer. The current brewery can trace its lineage back at the current location to 1640. It is, according to the newsletter, the last independent-owned family run brewery in Alsace. So that's worth rooting for.
The brew is called Wendelinus Biere d'Abbaye. The name, at least the Abbaye part, certainly invokes a Belgian style beer in my mind. And indeed that is what this beer tastes like. You get the immediate aroma of sweet spiciness when you open the bottle and begin to pour. The beer has that golden color with slight reddish tints you see in some Belgian style beers. But it is definitely the spice you notice the most.
And it is also the first impression when you taste it. You get that prickly carbonated sensation combined with the spice. They say cloves and I tend to agree because there is the sweetness of pumpkin pie but not cloyingly sweet. There is a dash of tartness accompanying the sweet taste.
I think it is that combination of tartness and sweetness that has always intrigued me about Belgian style brews. It seems a bit weird perhaps for an IPA fan to have a liking for Belgian beer, but I do.
One of my favorite spots in New York City used to be this Belgian pub on the West side. I think it was on 45th street (or somewhere in the West 40's) between 5th and 6th Avenue. Sure they had mussels and good sandwiches and salads. But for me the draw was the 40+ varieties of Belgian beer available either on tap or in bottle. Had to sample at least three at each visit. Would have been rude not to I figured.
So I have some working knowledge of Belgian style beers which is the category I would put Wendelinus in even if it comes from France.
So overall I give Wendelinus Biere d'Abbaye 6 mugs out of 10. It is a step up from mass produced brews like Stella. But it didn't give me anything to distinguish it from other Belgian brews I've enjoyed either at the Belgian pub or from store bought offerings.
As with most beers I try I enjoyed it and wouldn't turn it down if offered. It was a good Belgian style beer without being special or something that would stay in your memory.
As a sad postscript let me say that I cannot find that Belgian pub listed anywhere in New York City anymore. Perhaps like so many restaurants and bars in any location its run has ended. Tha
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