Best Session Ever
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The Session #24: Kerberos Guardian of the Tripel
Welcome to the Session #24 , A Tripel for a Two sponsored by David at Musings Over a Pint.
Beer is best when it’s shared, and a strong beer is just right for sharing. Belgian Tripels are big beers with a flavor profile that is enjoyed by both experienced and new beer fans. Be it an intimate evening, or watching a ball game on TV, a Tripel is made for sipping and sharing. For Session #24 the theme is “A Tripel for Two.” What Tripel would you pick to share with that good friend, family member, or lover?
If you have a beer or beer-related blog, it’s easy to participate in The Session. Pick a Belgian-style Tripel to review. Tell us why it’s your pick to share with that special someone. Be sure to include a review of the beer so that others might be inspired to choose that beer for a special moment. Bonus points if the person with whom you are sharing the beer includes their review as well.
Sitting by the fireside, the house was quiet, I had some alone time and I chose to share it with a good friend and a good beer; “because good people drink good beer.”
It is session #24 and Al and I decided to sample our tripels virtually. I picked the Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel because Al gave me two straight from the brewery’s home state of Maryland; who am I to argue?
I could smell the brew from 3 feet away as I poured it; malt, hops and that Belgian yeast. It had a thin head of white foam which disappeared quickly. The color was yellow only hinting towards gold with a chill haze.
I enjoyed carbonation level, which is not too high, just right. The hops were bright, a hint of lemon, but without a strong citrus if that is possible. It had a big taste, but not shockingly, with a surprisingly clean finish. I would describe the taste as candy & spices, but I can’t come up with anything more specific than that. It forms a strange balance of a big beer while sipping, and finishing light at the end. I like it.
While I think of Kerberos as a network authentication protocol, Flying Dog named it for the the three-headed guard dog of Hades, or in this case, it guards the beer.
“Greetings, oh god of the barstool. In your hand resides mighty Kerberos Tripel. A Belgian-style ale so cherished that its namesake, the three-headed hellhound, sentinel of the underworld guards thy bottle. So quench thy godly self. Then ask thee barmaid to retrieve ye another. For you are most powerful and this is your bounty”
The big hellhound comes in at 8.5% ABV and 26 IBUs. Not a huge beer, but plenty big.
Our virtual session went close to two hours and was the highlight of my week. This is what a session is all about. I don’t know why Al and I haven’t done this before, but I do know we will be doing it more often.
(You can also read Al’s review of Kerberos Tripel)
Session #23: What I will NOT miss from 2008
I don’t want to put a downer on it all, but 2008 was not one of the best years I’ve had. I could swing this as a “looking forward to 2009″, but let’s face it… this is just a “buh-bye” to 2008. For this Session, I’ve put together a top 5 things I will not miss from 2008.
So, a special thanks goes out to Beers and Firkins for sponsoring this session:
Specifically, what will you miss about 2008 (feel free to list your tasting notes, if that item is a particular beer) and what do you expect will excite you most in 2009 , in the “Beer World”? (again, if that is a beer, what about it is special and worthy of being excited about?)
Let’s get on with the list…
5) Imperial Race – I enjoy beer… so much, I like to have a second, or even a third. So what is it with this “mine is bigger than yours” competition? I can’t drink a 12% bomber! Let’s make big beer, big taste, and less alcohol.
4) Elusive Real Porter – Just so you know, I’m still looking. They’ve only gotten thinner from what I’ve tasted.
3) Poor Quality Control – I hate getting spoiled beer. Whether it is the distributor’s fault for hanging on to year old beer, or contract brewers not holding up their end, or the originating brewer not taking quality control measures…. I REALLY hate buying a nice beer that tastes like cardboard my cat just coughed up .
2) Wheat Beer Sprawl – Good man, people… does every brewer have to make 3 varieties of wheat beers to satisfy the gateway drinkers? Make one, and make the rest real beer!
1) Price of Hops / Shortage – While there is no way to predict where the price of hops will be going, it only went up in 2008. Let’s hope it doesn’t go up any further so I can have the hops I love so much.
2009… Here I come!
