Friends, it was a lovely time. A tasty time! A Belgian Beer tasting time! Sergeant Stout, Admiral Ale and Brigadier Bock gathered around with ‘ol Captain Beer and we strode over to the superlative Red Carpet Liquors—one of Mrs. Beer’s and my favorite haunts!—and reveled in good beer, wisdom and revelry! Yes we… we reveled in revelry. Well, see here, smartass! We did:

What tales have I to tell! I mean… what tales have I to tell? Why don’t you read on!?!?

The good folks at Red Carpet had come up with an interesting and enjoyable whathaveya: the tasting focused on Belgian and Belgian-style beers, and each round was served up blind. One glass held a genuine, “old world” Belgian brau, the other an American beer in the same style. I’m proud to report that the Fleet came to a correct consensus as to Belgian v. American* with 90% accuracy! That’s because we have refined and trained palates, eyes and noses:

It was a lovely event with lots of great beer and it was informative too! For instance, I never knew that Belgians brewers are taxed based on the amount of grain they use, and thus have grown resourceful and tricky, adding more sugars, fruits and other elements to their beers. This in turn lets (and indeed they encourage) the yeasts to play a much more prominent role in shaping the flavors and characteristics of the beer. German beer’s flavors, on the other hand, are much less influenced by yeast which serves really just to convert the starches of the malt (and/or wheat) and break down the hops.

Yowza, right!? RIGHT!!! Oh, and then there was this:

That was… later in the tasting. (Wonderful beard, Brigadier! Prost!) Anyway, along with some excellent cheeses I have heretofore not mentioned because, c’mon hosebag, we’re here for beer! But naw, there was good cheese as well… anyway, all the great beer, and even the surprise finish of an Old Rasputin Imperial Stout from 1997** made for a great time and a good way to salute Sgt. Stout’s birthday (shared with The Kolonel and the General by the way! Ey!). In fact, damn… how better to spend a Sunday? Perhaps with even more beer… but I’ll take it!

* now THAT would be a fair fight. Heh.

** the flavor was INTENSE. Oily, thick mouthfeel bringing in deep chocolate, roasty coffee, almost leathern and smoke notes. Damn. The carbonation was too low and I think the brau was maybe a year past its prime but man… awesome 11 year aged stout? Sweetness.