Let’s meet Arnold of Soissons, the patron saint of hop-pickers. He received the nametag because he preached in the hop-growing region of Brabant, in what is now Belgium. Hops became more widespread when a Belgian princess married a Kentish prince and the dowry included land across from the Affligem brewery. Belgians reportedly sent the first hops to England for use in making beer. Anyhoo, Arnold of Soissons pulled his beer proliferation number after a monastery roof collapsed in Flanders, destroying the monks’ supply of beer. With only a few sad barrels remaining, Arnold asked God to lend a hand. The barrels multiplied, the monks and townsfolk rejoiced, and Arnold was popularly canonized on the spot. Arnold of Soissons is often confused with Saint Arnold of Metz and the same miracles, therefore, St. Arnold’s Fest Day, July 18, is associated with both of them depending on the source. To skip past the confusion today’s beer flight is simply called Craft Beer Crosscut 7.18.17: A Flight of Arnold.
Side note: Celebrate Belgian National Day at Peaks and Pints July 21. We’ll be pouring seven Belgian beers from our Western red cedar tap log.
Blanche de Bruxelles
4.5% ABV, 18 IBU
Brasserie Lefebvre‘s Blanche de Bruxelles has a light, pale yellow hue similar to that of white wine. It owes its natural cloudiness to the presence of wheat, about 40 percent of the grain bill. During the boiling process, natural aromas are added — coriander and dried orange peel. The somewhat light color throws the nose for a loop, as the Blanche Bruxelles has a spiced aroma with plentiful notes of citrus fruit. Once tasted, the spices reveal themselves to be coriander, noticeably so, with a crisp finish that’s easy on the tongue.
De Troch Winter Gueuze
5.5% ABV
It’s July. Let’s drink Brewery De Troch‘s Winter Gueuze. That’s right, a winter gueuze. Yes, gueuzes are typically more of a spring/summer kind of beer, given their light citrusy zing. Brouwerij De Troch, located in Wambeek, Belgium, brews Winter Gueuze flavored with raisins and winter spices. It tastes like grape soda. Seriously. It tastes just like a delicious grape soda. At 5.5 percent ABV, this beer is more like a hard grape soda. Did we mention this tastes like a grape soda?
Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale
5.5% ABV
Family-owned Brouwerij Van Steenberge, just outside Ghent, Belgium, created the Monk’s Café label for the famous Belgian beer centric restaurant-bar in Philadelphia, Monk’s Café. This Flemish Burgundy is an old brown in style, aged in oak. Tart cherries and raisins hit the nose. The taste follows suit with a little bit sweet and tart at the same time. There is also a hint of honey and/or caramel in the background. It’s a light, easy drinking beer — a real thirst quencher and palate cleanser.
Brouwerij St. Bernardus St. Bernardus Prior 8
8% ABV
Between 1946 and 1992 the St. Bernardus brewery brewed the beers of the Sint-Sixtus abbey in Westvleteren. In 1992 production reverted to the abbey of Westvleteren. By some mathematical equation this means the recipe for the St. Bernardus Prior 8 originated in 1946. And to this day, this abbey beer wears the original Westvleteren yeast. On the nose, expect sturdy banana esters, moderate toffee-like malt and slight clove. It drinks like a dubbel with fruit esters (light raisins, banana, and clove) that finds a spicy counterpoint in sharp black pepper. Subtle earthy hops punctuate these malty, yeasty notes as the beer washes back.
Kasteel Tripel
11% ABV
Castle Brewery Van Honsebrouck’s Kasteel Tripel is as solid as a castle, at least according to brewery hype. The West Flemish tripel was originally called Kasteel Blond until the brewery chose to produce a new blond variety with a lower alcohol volume. The re-baptised Kasteel Tripel is a powerful blond tripel, very full in the mouth, sweet, very mild bitter with a good measure of fruitiness and very floral. This artisanal beer has a velvety soft but also robust and creamy finish.
