Monday, September 1, 2014

The Best Thing I Swallowed on Sunday Episode 13



Hopefully you're enjoying your Labor Day weekend. After a much needed camping trip during the week, I'm back and ready to drink some beers on your behalf, fellow worker. This week, we have two very different Belgians in the line up: Houblon Chouffe and newcomer Vicaris Tripel from Dilewyns. I also included Resurrection IPA from 4 Hands Brewing. 4 Hands has impressed me with several of their beers, which I only began drinking maybe at the beginning of this summer. In any case, let's move on to the review.

Anne-Catherine Dilewyns is the owner and brewer at Brewerij Dilewyns. I first became acquainted with Dilewyns and Vicaris thanks to her visit to Chicago earlier this summer.  She introduced everyone in the bar to her blonde and triple that day, winning over many new fans. Dilewyns' Vicaris Tripel returns to Hopleaf's taps, and is the first beer on my list this week. Like any respectable triple, this one hides a sizable amount of alcohol behind a wall of deliciousness (8.5% ABV). This beer is hazy gold with a nice head that dissipates rather quickly. It has a sweet banana aroma, and tastes sweet, with a bit of coriander spice in the finish. It also has a medium body. While it is a bit on the sweet side, Vicaris Tripel is still a solid example of this style.

Brasserie d'Achouffe, located in the Ardennes, began in 1982 and is currently owned by Duvel Moorgat. Houblon Chouffe (9% ABV) is described as a marriage between a Belgian Triple and an imperial IPA. It has a beautiful hazy golden color and retains a big head of foam, which leaves behind plenty of lacing. The aroma is earthy, while the flavor is very hoppy. The body is quite heavy, with a dry finish.

Houblon Chouffe, Resurrected, and Vicaris Tripel

Perennial and 4 Hands have put St. Louis on my radar as a place with good beer. After purchasing several of their beers over the summer, I was most pleased when Resurrected arrived on the taps this weekend. At 6.5% and with a lighter body, this is a citrus delight that I could drink by the gallon. This IPA is copper colored and holds a decent head. It is a single hop beer using mosaic hops, which are understandably growing in popularity. The grapefruit aromas of the mosaic hops are intense! This aromatic explosion carries through into the flavor of Resurrected, making it the best thing that I swallowed on Sunday.