What are you drinking?

[Que]

With an alcohol percentage of 7.5% by volume, Alfa Super Dortmunder is the strongest bottom-fermentation beer in the Netherlands. The use of the best German and Czech hop varieties in conjunction with a storage period of some 2 months result in a beer with a powerful hoppy aroma and a rich bouquet. Alfa Super Dortmunder is best drunk at a temperature of 9/10°C.

Q

[Que]

An online review:

Gulpener Korenwolf, Gulpen, Netherlands
Jul 06 '01 (Updated Jul 08 '01)

The Bottom Line
Excellent contribution from the often forgotten Netherlands, combining an imaginative mix of grain, fruit and herbs. An aromatic nose leads up to a fruity/herbal flavor with a pleasant banana aftertaste.

This one is called Korenwolf and comes from the Gulpener brewery in the town of Gulpen near Maastricht. Maastricht is in the south of Holland and if you see the bottleneck on the map between Belgium and Germany you will understand where this brewery's influences are coming from. The Gulpener brewery was established as a farm in 1825 and is currently in its fourth generation of family ownership.

Korenwolf (lit. corn-wolf = hamster)
Type: Belgian Wit
Multi-grain: wheat, barley, rye and spelt.
Hops: Herald (England) and Taurus (Germany)
Additional ingredients: coriander, Curacao, orange peels and elderflowers.
Fermentation: two stages, top and bottom
ABV: My notes and the website say 5% but the bottle says 6.5%.

The first point to note is the imaginative idea of such an industrious creature as a hamster employed in the name and depicted on the label for such a multi-grain brew. I was also surprised that this undergoes both a top, then a bottom fermentation, as it just seemed like an ale to me, but maybe that's what made it so refreshing.

Tasting Notes
The beer pours to a very pale grapefruit juice color, and is particularly hazy from the wheat (I'm not sure what influence the other grains have on this). There's a slight white foam that quickly dissipates
When I first opened the bottle, I got an initial cleanliness, but this was quickly overshadowed by a flowery and herbal aroma, with signs of coriander, cloves and cinnamon. It's certainly a deep, relaxing and aromatic nose.

There's an initial spritzy carbonation that mellows out and runs very smoothly past the middle, while the body is somewhat medium to light. Much like the nose, the flavors are light at first, but this is very brief as it turns marginally minty with some orange and lemon fruitiness. It develops a dryness in the middle with a peppery spiciness. Towards the end there's an interesting herbal flavor with a brief passing of banana (this was certainly more noticeable on the second bottle which I served a little warmer), while the finish shows some bitterness and sourness. There's a long lingering aftertaste with the banana coming back a little more. Overall it leaves the palate both refreshed and satisfied.

Verdict
This is an extremely satisfying beer combining the fruity sweetness with a drier herb and peppery finish. Not only is it refreshing, it also carries an extremely flavorful complexity that makes this a quintessential summer brew.

Q

[JoshLilly]

Stone Brewing "ARROGANT BASTARD"

Bought that for the brilliant label, and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Later, came across Double Bastard, which tastes like they meant it literally: almost double hops and double malt. Oddly, I found it a bit more pleasing and harmonious than Arrogant, perhaps because they got the balance better despite the greater quantity of ingredients.

Even people who hate beer should check out the website devoted to it: http://www.arrogantbastard.com/
To get into the site, one of the things you have to agree to is that "I am not a fizzy yellow beer drinking ninny here under false pretenses".

[toledobass]

Silver Fizzes lately.

2oz gin
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water)
1 egg white

shake over ice for at least 2 minutes,  strain into a chilled ice filled glass and top with soda water.

Great drinks but they take forever to make and I've found they are better when you make them individually to let the egg white froth up the most.

Allan

[bhodges]

Silver Fizzes lately.

2oz gin
1 oz lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water)
1 egg white

shake over ice for at least 2 minutes,  strain into a chilled ice filled glass and top with soda water.

Great drinks but they take forever to make and I've found they are better when you make them individually to let the egg white froth up the most.

Allan

Yum!  (Even with the caveat.  I guess you have to enjoy shaking... )

--Bruce

[Kullervo]

Probably the worst coffee I've ever had. Tastes like a mixture of motor oil and bat guano.

[Robert]

Bought that for the brilliant label, and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Later, came across Double Bastard, which tastes like they meant it literally: almost double hops and double malt. Oddly, I found it a bit more pleasing and harmonious than Arrogant, perhaps because they got the balance better despite the greater quantity of ingredients.

Even people who hate beer should check out the website devoted to it: http://www.arrogantbastard.com/
To get into the site, one of the things you have to agree to is that "I am not a fizzy yellow beer drinking ninny here under false pretenses".

I AM WORTHY.......

[Lilas Pastia]

A nice portuguese red. Those are my current favourites. Lots of fruit, a little oak. Splendidly juicy and chewy.

[BorisG]

[DavidW]

Sweet and Sour-- brandy, lemon juice, sugar and water, but that's for evenings.

Mostly I drink coffee and bubble water.

[karlhenning]

Probably the worst coffee I've ever had. Tastes like a mixture of motor oil and bat guano.

Some people really go for that combo, I suppose . . . .

[karlhenning]

Hoy, David! How you doin'?

[DavidW]

Hoy, David! How you doin'?

I'm just swell, thanks for asking.

What about you Karl?  Writting long Mahlerian symphonies with plenty of wubba wubba?

[karlhenning]

I defy wubba-wubba! 

[DavidW]

I defy wubba-wubba! 

Now to perform my three day brass quintet... oh crap...   Oh wait that would be more Feldman style, less Mahler style.  Even Mahler has his limits.

[Kullervo]

Some people really go for that combo, I suppose . . . .

Well, remember how many Americans used to own percolators?

Wait, maybe you don't remember that.

[DavidW]

Well, remember how many Americans used to own percolators?

Wait, maybe you don't remember that.

I saw it on the History Channel, does that count?

[Keemun]

Tea. 

[Lady Chatterley]

The Official Wine Of The 2010 Olympics...a very nice merlot.Made by Jackson Triggs.

[tjguitar]

POG juice. Passion-Orange-Guava