Not Sick of Heidsieck

I am not usually one for champagne. I do not like the fuzzy nature, the sweetness, nor lack of signature flavors, and the frilly nature associated with it. But in time, all must reconcile their differences and see things for what they are. Champagne therapy you say? Not quite. Most of it is still crap. For the champagne that will displace my wine glass or Belgian beer glass, it has to be spectacular. Usually, ones I have considered have been from France. As so with this.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne is worth drinking when you want a great bottle of champagne. It is dry with a powerful body, upfront biscuit like flavors with hints of light orchard fruit. The flavors are well integrated and constantly develop on the palate. This one stays in my list of champagnes worthy of the wallet.

Chick Beer for Guys

Why would you want fruit in your ale, especially if you are a guy? Unless you are German, this would be a strange ale to down. Maybe, maybe not. Finally, an A-list world class brewery has taken this on and created three outstanding ales, of which I have only tried two, that you have to taste to believe.

England's own Samuel Smith Brewery, maker of so many great ales has created organic Strawberry, Cherry, and Raspberry ales that are a flavorful punch to the palate. These are addicting and too easy to drink. The first will go down fast as you are amazed with how an ale can taste like this. The second will put you in a state of shock. Knowing that someone has created this and you must tell all foodies you know about it.

I have tried the Strawberry and Cherry and they are excellent. They taste as if the fruit was freshly mashed into the ale. Spectacular.

Try them now before they are gone.

Quite a Strange Brew

Strange Brew, Cheech and Chong and a funky ale all have distinct personalities. You can smoke dog crap, pretend to crush people with your thumb and index finger against your eye (works better if you are tipsy) or drink something transformative and difficult to explain. While I will forgo the dog crap, I will try the other two, with the strange brew of a special ale first…then try the thumb crushing.

I had another spectacular beer, obviously I am on a beer kick, that I feel the need to write down and let others know about. I have read about this one for years and finally picked up a bottle to try.

Trappistes Rochefort 10 is a strange beast instead. It could almost be a magical elixir or a ancient mayan root potion. What is in it? probably some monk spit and some other bad jokes that are being played on people like me trying to figure out what the heck this thing tastes like. Ultimately, it tastes like itself. There you go. Not helpful at all is it? This 11.3% quadrupel Belgian ale comes in a small 11.2fl oz bottle all the way from Abbaye St-Remy. Quite a trip for such a small lad.

But open that bottle and pour it in a good Belgian beer glass and it has machismo and refinement to battle any larger bottle with a muscle complex. Frankly, it will kick your ass and shock your palate. The flavors are this: (I did a double take, so this is quite accurate): it has a upfront tinge of apple followed by old coffee, leather and then raisins and a tawny port. Can you imagine? This is funky and dark and definitely worth exploring once in your life.

Mid-Life Crisis Pinot, Testarosa 2005

Short and sweet. Not this wine, but this post. This is the best Pinot Noir I have ever had. Testarossa. Flat out. It has that elusive Pinot funk that everyone is searching for, complimented by a beautifully long finish. This is one to try.

GET IT.