quote:

No. The lambics are spontaneously fermented, and as such tend to have a good bit of wild yeasts and bacteria in them, giving them a deliciously sout flavor. These are just strong, pale colored ales with a light flavor that typically has overtones of banana and pear from the yeast.

Don't mistake those Lindeman's fruit things for a true lambic. Those are sickly sweet and fruity, like a liquid Jolly Rancher. It's kind of annoying that that's what most people think of when they think "lambic" because that's all bars carry. If you can find it, try a Cantillon. The unblended gueze is very sour, tart, and delicious, and if you like sour cherries, try the kriek.

I've never heard of the Lindeman's fruit stuff before. I can never remember the names of the lambics I've tried, but I know I've tried the kriek before. Brown Derby does have a good selection of brew to try, everything from a kriek to a smoked beer (which is actually very tasty if you like smoked food). I worked there for three years and during that time, I would have people come find the store I was working at to get ideas for beer to try. I haven't used that knowledge in a LONG time, so my memory is a bit faded, you know the saying, use it or lose it.

Aha! Acquired some La fin du Monde at a local store, and am going to open one after dinner tonight.

Haven't tried any of the lambics that I can recall. Are they really fruity tasting? I'm more of a stout and bitters drinker. Hate pilsners, love a good frothy lager. When it comes to mixed drinks, I stay simple...rum and coke, 7 and 7, salty dog or a screwdriver. Or else good Scotch rocks. I stay away from all the fruity mixers with parasols and sh_it, and I don't like liqueurs. Maybe Uzo once in a while.

I haven't liked any lambics I've tried though I must admit I have been avoiding them for quite a while now.

If you like somewhat fruity, champagne-like drinks, they are for you, Pete. Doesn't sound like you would like them, but give one a try, just to say you've tried one. It may surprise you.

One of my favorites is the Black and Tan or Black and White. You pour either Harp's lager (white) or Bass (tan) in a pint glass and then pour (slowly over an upside down spoon) Guiness over that. They don't mix that much until after your first one or two dinks. Wonderful tasty beverage right there, I don't care who you are!

quote:

Originally posted by Pete Kirkman:
Aha! Acquired some La fin du Monde at a local store, and am going to open one after dinner tonight.

Haven't tried any of the lambics that I can recall. Are they really fruity tasting? I'm more of a stout and bitters drinker. Hate pilsners, love a good frothy lager. When it comes to mixed drinks, I stay simple...rum and coke, 7 and 7, salty dog or a screwdriver. Or else good Scotch rocks. I stay away from all the fruity mixers with parasols and sh_it, and I don't like liqueurs. Maybe Uzo once in a while.

Lambics don't have to be fruity, no. Many are fermented on various fruits, such as cherries (kriek), raspberries (framboise), peaches (peche), apples (pomme), and just about anything else you can think of. But even then, they shouldn't be sweet. That's why I dislike the Lindemann's stuff so much. It's like candy, and that's just wrong. A good fruit lambic will still have the lambic character shining through. Very sour, almost to the point of vinegar, but in a good way, very tart, and some wild yeast character as well. The character of the fruit is in its raw form, meaning not overly sweet but rather tart as well.

A good ol' plain lambic is going to be just sour and tart, not really fruity at all, unless there is an ester from the yeast that decided to land in it and start multiplying. As I told Kevin earlier, if you can find Cantillon, give it a whirl. They aren't cheap, as production levels are never high. But in my opinion, they're quite worth it.

I love sour beers. Not just the lambics, but the Oud Bruins and Flanders Reds as well, like New Belgium's example called "La Folie", or Rodenbach. They are definitely an acquired taste, as at first sip most are going to have either a "love it!" or "WTF is this??" reaction. But if you're really looking to expand your beer horizons, they're a good way to go. A long way from the lagers you like (and pilsener is a lager variety, btw).

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Cline:
If you like somewhat fruity, champagne-like drinks, they are for you, Pete. Doesn't sound like you would like them, but give one a try, just to say you've tried one. It may surprise you.

One of my favorites is the Black and Tan or Black and White. You pour either Harp's lager (white) or Bass (tan) in a pint glass and then pour (slowly over an upside down spoon) Guiness over that. They don't mix that much until after your first one or two dinks. Wonderful tasty beverage right there, I don't care who you are!

The black and tan or black and white (which I've always heard referred to as a "half and half") are great, and even better when you use a slightly better stout like Beamish or Murphy's, in my opinion. You can also use Guinness or another Irish dry stout to top off Blue Moon (Belgian Brunette), an apple cider such as Woodchuck or Strongbow (Snakebite), A Fuller's ESB ('arf and 'arf), or just about anything else your heart desires. The trick is to find a stout that's low enough in alcohol that it doesn't blend with the slightly stronger drink underneath. And pour s l o w l y, since it's unlikely you have a nitro tap at home.

There are quite a few reasons for drinking.
And one has just entered my head,
If a man can not drink whilst he lives, How in the he@@, can he drinks when he is dead?

And.. the chorus of one of my favorite songs..
Whiskey is too rough,
Champaign costs too much.
Vodka puts my mouth in gear!
This little refrain should help to explain,
as a matter of fact, I like beer!

Now, give me a Boulevard Wheat, Killians Irsh Red, or any good dark flavored Lager.

Truth, the beer I drink has to be cold. The brand and style only matters when I buy. If you buy, I'll have one of those, please...

quote:

Originally posted by John O:
Of course, for that style, I believe Duvel trumps both DT and La Fin Du Monde

Got Duvel... going to try later.

quote:

Originally posted by Rawhead:

quote:

Originally posted by John O:
Of course, for that style, I believe Duvel trumps both DT and La Fin Du Monde

Got Duvel... going to try later.

I'd like to hear what you think of it. It's a bit more estery than DT of LFDM, with the pear and slight banana overtones I mentioned earlier.

quote:

Originally posted by John O:
I'd like to hear what you think of it. It's a bit more estery than DT of LFDM, with the pear and slight banana overtones I mentioned earlier.

K... sadly I don't have the proper glassware for it but oh well!

I must say that I'm not impressed with Samuel Adams pale ale. I'm wishing I picked up a good doppelbock instead. Local store carries Paulaner Salvator which I like.

And doppels are just one style I cannot get in to. Just too sweet for my taste. Oddly, I loved Sam Adam's Utopias, but it's well past a doppel.

Proper glassware helps with the Duval (or with any beer, for that matter), as it benefits the aromatics. But it isn't an absolute necessity, obviously.

Yeah on the aromatics... I try to recognize all these things you beer ppl seem to see but it all boils down to good or bad for me. I'd say the Duvel ranks in with the good About to crack open the third.

Where did you find the utopias? I had a hell of a time tracking down even sam adams doppelbock which May's had in stock sometime year before last even though the sam adams site said it was not legal in mo? Why not legal in MO? Wound up getting sick as a dog on it for some reason. hehe.