Religious exBEERiences!

Having Solstice Stout on tap at Kuhnhenn. Might have been the best beer I've ever had.

 

For me it was my first beer festival with each of my kids.

 

The first times I had some of my favorite beers ever it was like a religious experience: Heady Topper, Bon Bon 2X TNT, Cloudbusting, BCBS, KBS, Backwoods Bastard.

 

Getting up at 6am for a 6 hour drive to Munster IN and getting delightfully inebriated at the FFF Brewpub at 11am. Every time, those pub exclusives never let down and make the trip 100% worth it.

 

when i showed up at RR for the first time last fall and walked into this situation....

 

When, as a 15 year old, I visited Denmark and Sweden and was able to purchase Tuborg and Carlsberg Elephant. They didn't even proof me.

 

So I jump ship in Amsterdam, and make my way over to Belgium, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Anderlecht. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? Jean-Pierre van Roy, himself. Great great grandson of Paul. The turtle neck, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one -- big hitter, Jean -- long, into a river. And do you know what Jean says? Too funky in he'e!!! ow! So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Jean, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consiousness, and a bottle of Don Quijote." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.

 

It would be while enjoying a Chimay, about half way through the bottle I always say, "God bless those Trappists for making this wonderful beer for us!" Honest, I actually do that.

 

Chimay Red is one of the few beers I actually look forward to having. Keep some on hand so it's not like a treat, just ever so often when I'm pondering between choices realize, hey, I've got some Red and the choice is made.

 

Early on in my journey of craft beer when I had Heady for the first time. I didn't realize an IPA could taste like that. Such an amazing experience and every time I've had one since, I'm taken back to that exact moment when it first hit my palate.

 

1. My first Chimay Premier (red) many years ago; it opened the flood gates.
2. First trip to Belgium and visiting all the Trappist monasteries in Belgium and the Netherlands over the course of a couple of weeks. So many highlights but drinking an Orval while sitting in the ruins at the abbey was definitely a religious experience. Treat yourself and check it off your bucket list.

 

Bacon flavored beer?

 

Well, for me, having my first Heady, my first Pliny and my first Mastermind all in the same hour or so was a soul-opening experience.

 

when i had Last Buffalo in the Park at 2015 MBCP day. transcendent experience.

 

That guy in the background (white shirt) is definitely not happy with you snapping this pic!

 

I've been to Kloster Andechs and the St. Sixtus Abbey. They seem appropriate.

 

Ooops... forgot Kloster Andechs.

 

Drinking pliny at Russian River..