Rauchbier and a late Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest ended last Sunday in Munich but we had our own celebration complete with German smoked lager (Rauchbier), German Potato and Leek Soup, bratwurst and sauerkraut.

The beer was Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, a classic example of the style. This beer delivered with a delicious smoke flavor backed by a solid malt base. It was really great with the potato leek soup. The cold, poignantly smoky beer was a sharp contrast with the warm, creamy understated soup. The pairing put a vivid autumn image in my head: a smoky bonfire on a cold autumn day and a warm cabin to retire to.

Rauchbier pairings has been an interesting challenge for me recently. The first thing that comes too mind is smoked meats, but I feel that the flavors are too similar. I think that the contrast with a creamy soup such as this is a good way to go with this smoky brew.

Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale

Deep thanks to the friends who gave this and several other beers and the brewing kit to me as wedding gifts. I miss you guys and am thinking of all of you as I enjoy this.

Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale
6.2% ABV, cascade hops

This is an extremely well balanced ale, complete with nutty malts, a hint of distinctive Belgian yeast flavors, a crisp carbonation, and a subtle cascade hop flavor. It reminds me of a great Belgian golden ale with the addition of measured hops. The aroma, however, points directly to luscious cascade hops. Despite the hops, this tastes genuinely Belgian (probably do to the yeast and wide malt profiles),. I will be on the lookput for more from Ommegang, a brewery in Cooperstown, NY under the Duvel family.

Link: Belgian Reunion at Design*Sponge

This made my mouth water. I've had Duvel and mussels steamed in white wine before, it is amazing. I like the steins as well, even if they weren't the right glassware for those beers.

Beer Festivals: New Belgium and Terrapin

Ok, so I visited New Belgium's Clips of Faith festival in Asheville and I at least need to talk about my favorite beer from the Lips of Faith line: La Folie. This sour ale is brewed in the spirit of a Flanders Red. It smells like a brown ale, with hints of chocolate, but packs an intense sour hit with some finishing chocolate notes. I love sour beers and I hope more craft brewers will brew this delicious style. I'm also hoping that New Belgium will distribute La Folie more widely in the Southeast.

Above is the old design on the La Folie bottles. By the way, Eric's Ale was another tasty sour ale I enjoyed at Clips of Faith.


I also visited Terrapin's Hop Harvest Festival. They introduced a solid fresh hop beer called So Fresh and So Green, Green. It was nice having another fresh hop beer; I'm definitely going to stay on the lookout for more. I heard that Palmetto just put out a fresh hop IPA that I'm going to have to check out. And of course I am going to have to grab a few bottles of Great Divide's delicious fresh hop pale ale.