644. SanTan Brewing – Supermonk Belgian IPA
Dec28

644. SanTan Brewing – Supermonk Belgian IPA

It’s been another nice day relaxing at home over the holiday break. I’ve done almost nothing today, except watch TV, and catch up on a few beer reviews. Writing about beer makes me thirsty, so I reached into the fridge and grab this can that was sent to me by SanTan. The can says, “SuperMonk is a naturally hazy, Belgian style IPA. Notes of citrus and orange peel dominate the aroma. Upon first sip, happy bitterness...

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635. New Belgium – Lips of Faith Heavenly Feijoa Tripel
Dec11

635. New Belgium – Lips of Faith Heavenly Feijoa Tripel

As I mentioned in my last couple of posts, I’m out to dinner with my friend Joe, who is in town for work this week. We’re at Medici in Normal for dinner and a few craft beers. After dinner, I was looking for something flavorful and interesting to try as an almost dessert beer. I’ve had a few beers in New Belgium’s Lips of Faith series and felt like a sour beer might fit the bill. Location: On tap and served in...

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616. Three Taverns Brewery – A Night in Brussels IPA
Oct11

616. Three Taverns Brewery – A Night in Brussels IPA

After stopping at the Wrecking Bar Brewpub for a couple beers and a snack, we headed out to find a place for dinner.  We tried to stop nearby at Fox Bros. BBQ, but it was too packed, so we headed to Decatur. Joe said that Leon’s Full Service was one of his favorite places here, so we grabbed a beer at the bar and waited to be seated. They had some nice beers on tap, and this one gave me a chance to try out another local brewery....

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609. Wicked Weed Brewing – Cardinal Sin Belgian Red
Oct06

609. Wicked Weed Brewing – Cardinal Sin Belgian Red

It’s a gorgeous, sunny, but cool, fall day, perfect for sitting on the back deck and enjoying a beer. All morning, I’ve been working with my son to catch up on his homework from when we were gone on vacation last week, so I thought I’d enjoy a beer during our lunch break. As I mentioned, before I left on vacation, my sister gave me a bunch of beers from her trip to Asheville, North Carolina a few weeks ago. I already...

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594. Terrapin Beer Co – Monk’s Revenge Belgian Style India Pale Ale 2012
Aug26

594. Terrapin Beer Co – Monk’s Revenge Belgian Style India Pale Ale 2012

I helped at my son’s soccer practice this evening and was ready for a beer when I got home. I got this beer last year from my friend Joe, when I helped him pack for his move to Atlanta. I’ve enjoyed several Terrapin beers, and another Belgian IPA – Raging Bitch from Flying Dog, so I was looking forward to trying this one. The bottle says, “Step back in time for this holier than thou union of two great brewing...

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565. The Abby St. Sixtus – Westvleteren XII
Mar26

565. The Abby St. Sixtus – Westvleteren XII

I’m sure my upcoming heart surgery will go just fine, but before I go, I wanted to make sure I had this beer. It’s considered by many to be one of, if not, the best beer in the world, and is on the list of “1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die.” It’s one of the most coveted beers by all beer geeks. I was fortunate enough to get a six pack brick when they went on a once-in-a-lifetime sale here in the...

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556. North Coast Brewing – Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale
Mar11

556. North Coast Brewing – Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale

After stopping at Flinger’s Pizza Pub for a Green Flash West Coast IPA and a couple of pizza rolls, I headed to our homebrew club meeting at Fat Jack’s. I looked to see what was on the menu I hadn’t had yet, and this one caught my eye. I’d seen it at the liquor store, and heard good things about it, so I thought I’d give it a try since it was on draft. Location: On tap and served in a curved glass at Fat Jack’s in...

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548. Cathedral Square Brewery – Hail Mary Belgian-Style IPA
Mar03

548. Cathedral Square Brewery – Hail Mary Belgian-Style IPA

It’s Sunday night, and I’m finally getting a chance to sit down and relax after sending the kids up stairs to get ready for bed. I’ve found another corner of the beer fridge, with some beers (like Perennial Hommel Bier) I brought back from my many trips to St. Louis to see my dad. I’m not sure how long these St. Louis beers have been in the beer fridge, since they don’t seem to have dates on them, but...

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544. Perennial Artisan Ales – Hommel Bier Belgian Style Ale
Feb26

544. Perennial Artisan Ales – Hommel Bier Belgian Style Ale

My dad lives in St. Louis, so we get back there often. I remember stopping by the brewery to buy a couple of beers (including this one), but I honestly can’t remember when, and the bottle doesn’t have a date on it. The bottle says, ” In the hop capital of Belgium, Hommell is the word for Cumulus, the plant genus where Hoppes resides. Our Hommel Bier defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific...

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540. Brasserie Dubuisson – Scaldis Refermentée Amber Ale
Feb18

540. Brasserie Dubuisson – Scaldis Refermentée Amber Ale

I’ve recently discovered I have a heart condition and have had to cut back a little bit on my beer intake.  Therefore, I’ve been trying to keep it to no more than one a day. If I can only have one, I’m going to go big, like this one. A few weeks ago I corresponded back and forth with @belgianexpert on Twitter, and found out Wendy was located in Chicago (only a little bit north of me). Little did I know, she really is...

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436. Flat Branch Pub & Brewing – Belgian Golden
Jun01

436. Flat Branch Pub & Brewing – Belgian Golden

As I’ve mentioned in the last few posts, I’m in Columbia, MO for my fraternity’s annual golf tournament.  After stops at 44 Stone for a couple beers, and Booches for more beer and burgers, my friend Joe and I met up with our friend Bill who lives in Columbia.  The rest of the crowd went to Harpo’s, and instead, we headed to Flat Branch Pub & Brewing for a few more beers.  According to the menu: “A...

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418. The Lost Abbey – Devotion Ale
Apr28

418. The Lost Abbey – Devotion Ale

We had a homebrew club meeting tonight just up the street at Fat Jack’s.  A few of us headed down to Flingers because they have half price craft beers on Monday nights.  They have several craft brews on tap, but this was one of the only ones that wasn’t on my list yet. Location: Enjoyed in a pint glass at Flinger’s Pizza Pub in downtown Bloomington, Illinois. Numbers: 6.25% ABV,  1.050 OG, 1.005 TG, ~ 188 Calories...

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394. Brewery Ommegang – Ommegang Abbey Ale
Feb03

394. Brewery Ommegang – Ommegang Abbey Ale

I’m still at happy hour, celebrating my moving to a new position within our company.  It’s been a great evening thus far, as I’ve enjoyed Bell’s Hopslam, New Belgium’s Belgo IPA, and St. Bernardus Abt 12.  A couple of folks at the table had been enjoying this beer, so I thought I’d finish off the evening by giving this one a try.  I’d seen the corked and caged bottles at the liquor store, but...

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393. Brouwerij St. Bernardus – St. Bernardus Abt 12
Feb03

393. Brouwerij St. Bernardus – St. Bernardus Abt 12

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m out at happy hour with my coworkers, celebrating my move into a new position within the company.  After the New Belgium Belgo IPA, I decided to try this beer they had on draft.  I’ve always seen it ranked fairly high, and have heard good things about it, so I wanted to give it a try. Location: Enjoyed the draft beer in a tulip glass, at Medici in Normal, IL. Numbers: 10.5% ABV, ~ 306...

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392. New Belgium – Belgo IPA
Feb03

392. New Belgium – Belgo IPA

Today is my last day at the position I’ve been in at work for almost seven years now, and I’m moving on to a new position at the same company.  So my co-workers planned a happy hour in my honor.  I hadn’t had this one yet, so when my boss offered to buy me a beer, I went for this one.  I’ve been considering brewing a Belgian IPA of my own, ever since I had Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch at this same bar over a...

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345. Unibroue – La Fin du Monde
Jul12

345. Unibroue – La Fin du Monde

I’m at our homebrew club meeting this evening, and we just finished up discussing hops and sampling several of the single hopped versions of Sam Adams Latitude 48.  Someone mentioned they had imports at the bar cheap tonight, and it turned out that this Unibroue was on the list. Location: Enjoyed the bottled beer, served in a tulip glass, at Fat Jack’s in Bloomington, IL. Numbers: 9% ABV, 19 IBUs, 5.5 SRM, 225  Calories...

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333. Bear Republic – Ryevalry
Jun03

333. Bear Republic – Ryevalry

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m on a “mini-micro” tour, visiting 3-4 microbreweries in St. Louis with my friend Joe.  We stopped at The Stable, a craft beer bar and nanobrewery, because I had a gift certificate from my sister.  Since I’d already had a couple of Double IPAs this afternoon, including the STLIPA at Urban Chestnut, and the Double IPA at Six Row, I thought I’d try this Belgian style double...

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314. Brasserie D’Achouffe – Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel Draft
Apr26

314. Brasserie D’Achouffe – Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel Draft

After having the Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan Nut Brown, I was feeling like something hoppy to finish off the night.  The bartender again let me try several samples to see if there was anything I might like (although I didn’t mentioned that I’d tried about half of the ones he was giving me before).  I’d remembered have a couple Belgian IPAs, and really enjoyed Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch, so the bartender...

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304. The Bruery – Mischief Belgian Style Ale
Apr20

304. The Bruery – Mischief Belgian Style Ale

I’m hanging out at The Abbey Brewing Company in Miami Beach, Florida this afternoon.  I’ve tried their Immaculate IPA and Father Theodore’s Stout, while having a nice conversation with their Brewmaster/President Raymond Rigazio.  He had to leave, but I stuck around for a bit nursing my stout.  Since it’s Easter/Passover this week, things were extremely slow at the bar.  So, I got to know Carlos the bartender,...

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296. Stone Brewing – Cali Belgique IPA Draft
Apr07

296. Stone Brewing – Cali Belgique IPA Draft

Last night I was at the Stone Brewing kick off event at Fat Jack’s.  I found out they also had an event at Medici in Normal, and tonight I’m at Medici for a “Tweetup” for an upcoming social media conference – @Midwest – I’m participating in.  The last Belgian IPA I decided to try here – Flying Dog Raging Bitch – I really, really liked, so I thought I’d give the one from Stone...

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