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A Kind of AmbushNov 15 '02 (Updated Aug 04 '04) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I cannot be bothered writing a bottom line. Just read the review.
After being dragged around the shops in Glasgow the other day by the lovely, but bossy Mrs P, and then having a beer-free lunch (it just gets worse), I eventually put my foot down. I had to as I was getting extremely tired hopping. I needed a beer injection and I needed it bad. Turning the tables, I dragged the old ba...Mrs P along to the Republic Bier Hall, a fanastic cellar pub just off Buchanan St. As it is slap bang in the centre of Scotland's largest city, it is, as you would expect, in the style of a Czech Bier Hall. No significant problem. That's not the point though. The moral of this tale is that looking through the huge menu of beers while supping on a cheeky little Chimay Rouge, I decided to buy a couple of bottles of different beers to consume at home. Purely to enable me to have something to write about on epinions of course. One bottle I bought was La Trappe Dubbel at £3.10 for 330ml. Aren't the prices in Britain outrageous? Was it worth it? Judge for youself. Koningshoeven is the only Trappist brewery outside of Belgium and is situated in the southern part of The Netherlands near Tilburg. The monks of Koningshoeven have brewed ales since 1884. In 1999, the brewery was acquired by the large Dutch brewer Bavaria although the monks of Koningshoeven remain brand owners of La Trappe and control the brewing process. Today there are four brands sold under the La Trappe label: Enkel, Dubbel, Tripel and Quadrupel. ---------------------INTERLUDE------------------------------ Two Scottish guys get off a ship and head for the nearest bar at the pier. Each one orders two whiskys and immediately downs them. They then order two more whiskys, and quickly throw them back. They then order another two whiskys each. One of the men picks up one of his drinks, and turning to the other man, says, "Sláinte!" The other man turns to the first and says, "Hey, did you come here to gossip, or did you come here to drink?" ------------------------------------------------------------ * The Pour * When you first pour La Trappe it looks very black but look a little closer, maybe hold it up to the light, and you'll find it's a beautiful, deep, ruby-red colour, very like blackcurrant juice. A light tan, creamy head soon dissipates. The aroma is most definitely phenolic, almost medicinal with a dominant malty, raisins and plum fruitiness, with some over-ripe pears and traces of caramel and coffee. There's also a slight tartness with hints of lemon and a bit of bread. It has an extremely intoxicating blend of aromas, I'm sure I can even sense dark rum in the bouquet. * The Taste * It's medium-to-full bodied with a crisp and sparkly, and slightly chewy mouthfeel. Upfront there's a spicy peppery character with a hint of cloves and a slight tartness with a little toffee. The hops are very subtle and hardly bother to make an appearance. As this beer warms, a little more of the roasted malt, chocolate and treacle-like flavours kick in. The phenols are there in the taste as well with lots of alcoholic fruitiness and a suggestion of vanilla. The finish is quite well-balanced, maybe a little dry, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. * The Verdict * At 6.5% ABV, this is a good example of the style, the flavours blend together perfectly without becoming over elaborate. It's a very complex beer and deserves a long slow sipping session. This is not for sloshing down your thrapple as if beer is going to be rationed from tomorrow. A good food pairing would be simple bread and cheese but as this beer is really a food in its own right, it's perfect all by itself. Would I drink it again? - In the blink of an eye. Would I buy it again? - Only if I win the Lotto. Thanks for reading, Sláinte ©proxam2002  |
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