Black and Gold, New and Old

Warsteiner Bauerei Haus Cramer KG (est. circa 1754), Warstein, Rhenanie, Westphalia-North, Germany, produces Warsteiner Premium Dunkel, using the following ingredients: “brewing water, selected roasted barley malt, and hop extract” (label). Upon pouring, we notice a fine beige head accompanied by a dark amber-brown, translucent body, with ruby highlights. Aromas include burnt coffee beans, chocolate, and sour cherries, while finely roasted melt, melted carob and brown rum tickle the tastebuds.The brewery also makes the Warsteiner Premium Verum Pilsner, which is available in some grocery stores and depanneurs in 33ml bottles and/or 500 ml cans. Warsteiner is a major sponsor for teams in the German Bundesliga (soccer league). The “Dunkel” is saq available at $2.55/500ml can with 4.8% alcohol. It is ideal for delicatessen meats, sausages and smokey cheeses. Final note from the side panel: “A queen among beers”.

Brasseur Illimités (founded in 2009) is located in St. Eustache, Québec, has come out with a mysterious, experimental beer, tentatively identified as Project Red Beta #5, always up for a challenge, I filled my beer mug with most of the contents of two 12 oz bottles. Tiny bubbled froth tops a slightly cloudy blond liquid, similar to Belgian blondes. On the nose, there is a clean, yet salty, hoppy breeze, like an ocean mist, while the taste is bitter, acidic, but balanced with citrus fruit and honey mead flavours. At 5.5% alcohol, I’ve only found it at Fromagerie Atwater at $1.39 each. I can envision this with creamy brie or camembert cheeses, as well as chicken in lemon-lime cream-wine sauce with pasta. Passing comment: the bottle cap lists “twist” instructions in different languages, but I finally had to use a bottle opener.

A reminder: Festibière de Québec is coming up soon: August 18^th-21^st, open 11 AM to 11 PM Thursday-Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM Sunday- free admission Québec City Old Port 40oth anniversary area.

Another beer festival to announce: Oktoberfest en Couleurs – Ste Adèle, October 1stand and. Festivities start at 1 both days, (Claude-Henri-Grignon Park) – free admission.

Now you’re up-to-date,

Drink easy,

The Bugler,

(Beer Ambassador)

Hard To Find, But Worth The Hunt

Today we focus on a couple of beers that are, as the title suggests, hard to find, but worth the hunt.

But first, beer news – Quebec City will play host to their first “Festibière de Québec” next week-end (Thursday, August 19th – Sunday, August 22nd, 2010). There will be approximately 50 microbreweries and agents, as well as food producers and distributors. Admission will be free and the site, near the Quebec City old port market, is scheduled to be open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.

Now, for our first libation, the Charlevoix Microbreweries in Baie-St.-Paul, Québec presents us with another product in their “Vache Folle” label-  the Herkules Double IPA. Made from a newly refined exclusive German hop (Herkules), it provides a unique flavour combination and a complex nose. Golden liquid finally appears when the thick white froth dissipates. Lemon lime tones tickle the nasal passages, leaving way to tastes of flavourful malt & hops, with an after taste of pine resin and caramel-orange bittersweetness. Strong as its name suggests at 9% alcohol, a few specialty outlets still have some 500ml bottles at anywhere between $4.69 to$5.99. Not an everyday beer, connoisseurs will appreciate it as an “off the beaten path” revelation. Will do fine accompanying summer salads with feta, spinach, and campari tomatoes, etc…

The second tasting involves another Québec Microbrewery- Multi-brasse in Tingwick. The Belle Hélène is a marvellous pear beer that uses natural juice, with no artificial aromas or additives. Clear, blonde, and pale-orange body is revealed quickly, as the foam disappears rapidly, upon pouring. The immediate result of sniffing the hovering clouds above the beer mug is a fruity sweetness, not unlike mulled apple cider, with just a hint of cinnamon. The most delightful surprise is in the tasting- a moderate sugariness, though not cloyingly so, it is so well-rounded that it drinks itself, and leaves a subtle pear after-taste. At 8% alcohol, it can be priced between $3.99 and $5.49, depending on the dépanneur. Would pair well with pork roasts or chops, and could be used as a “digestif”, along with light fruit desserts.

Pleasant quaffing,

The Bugler

(Beer ambassador)