LT Saloon

Courtesy mcduffwine.blogspot.com

Much like my friend Joe at Old World Old School, who included drinking more beer and paying more attention to it among his resolutions for the New Year, I’ve been meaning to write about beer here at MFWT at least a little more often for some time now. It’s the paying attention part that really clicked with me, as beer already slots in pretty regularly to my eating and drinking routines. There was a major focus on beer during the course of my posse’s pub crawling activities last weekend. One of our stops, in particular, provided plenty to contemplate, though we of course never lost sight of pursuing the pleasure principle.

In a city increasingly populated with great beer-centric bars and restaurants (if only wine would catch up…), we still couldn’t pass up a visit to that holy grail of all brews Belgian: Monk’s Cafe. Having set the stage with a thirst quenching bottle of Cantillon Gueuze and a follow-up with Lost Abbey’s Red Barn Ale, our server, Jill, didn’t hesitate one second when I asked her what I should try next. “Cuvée De Ranke.” Cantillon, I do love you; and Lost Abbey, I like you well enough, though I’m still getting to know you. But Jill nailed it, for on this day it was the Cuvée De Ranke that most captured my attention and most delivered on the principles of pleasure. With an ever so slightly sweet, more so sour center akin to better known Flemish Sour Ales, followed up by a funky, tart sneak-attack à la spontaneously fermented Gueuze, and finished off with a refreshing hint of hoppy bitterness, the De Ranke was a very complete, primordially satisfying brew.

Ex post-facto research reveals that my gut reactions to the beer were more accurate than I could have expected. “Cuvée,” it turns out, actually is a blend of two styles of Belgian sour beer. About 70% of the blend is a red/brown sour ale brewed by De Ranke in the tradition of the Roeselare/Kortrijk/Oudenaarde regions, top-fermented using Rodenbach (perhaps the most famous Flemish sour producer) yeast strains. The other 30% of the blend is actually lambic, which De Ranke purchases from Brouwerij Girardin. After blending, the beer is bottle-matured before release. According to De Ranke, it is capable of mid-term aging. It didn’t stand much of a chance of that on our table, though.

De Ranke is brought into the US by one of my favorite beer importers, Shelton Brothers; you’ll find more information about their beers at the Sheltons’ site as well as at De Ranke’s homepage.

-David McDuff @ 2.bp.blogspot.com (McDuff Blogspot)

Courtesy Ratebeer.com

Based on an extinct yet favorite tipple of the De Ranke owners, Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos, De Ranke Kriek emulates the famed Oud Kriekenbier from the defunct Crombé brewery in Zottegem. De Ranke Kriek is a mixture of two blended soured pale ales and Girardin lambic, all steeped in whole fresh cherries from Poland and then aged for six months. A unique and much sought after Kriekenbier.

-Beer Advocate

-Courtesy web.mit.edu (Thom’s Beer Blog)

De Ranke Kriek is simply splendid – a very dry, very fruity beer, radiantly ruby-colored, with only a hint of sweetness; wonderfully aromatic, with full fruity notes, deep earthy tones. It is perfectly refreshing, yet possesses depth and complexity to please the most discriminating connoisseur of Belgian beers. Beautiful, poised, and sophisticated, this may well be Belgium’s greatest Kriek. It is certainly the rarest. About 1500 bottles are made per year. You will savor every precious drop.

-From greatbeers.com

Courtesy greatbrewers.com

“I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself.”

Scribe…

“Scribe’s lawn must be a ‘Moe:’ it always insists on a bad haircut.”

______________________________________

“Sarcasm is just one more service I offer.”

Scribe…

“Oh, was that you standing on the corner in the short red skirt and laced pantyhose selling sarcasm?”

_____________________________________

“After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say I want to see the manager.”

Scribe…

“And he would say, ‘Just pay the money for your three hours worth of a lifetime and shut the hell up like everyone else. Mirrors and vibrating bed are extra.’”

_____________________________________

“I’d like to meet the person who invented sex, and see what they’re working on now.”

Scribe…

“Celibacy.”

____________________________________

“Where is the rapture when you need it?”

Scribe…

“Just elect little closer more ReTHUGlicans and you might find out.”

_______________________________________

“The last time someone listened to a Bush, a bunch of people wandered in the desert for 40 years”

Scribe…

“What about the horny, delusional, perv who got slapped for hearing voices coming out of a bush?”

_______________________________________

“My mind is like a steel trap. Rusty and illegal in most states.”

Scribe…

“Scribe’s is like a well oiled machine. Now where did he put that well oiled machine he bought that promised male enhancement?”

______________________________________

“Never believe generalizations.”

Scribe…

“Could you be more specific?”

OR

“Not true. For instance: a pot watched by Biggus Dickus never boils. He’s too busy stirring it with his… “