Drinking Duvel watching the Giro d'Italia which started with Bulgaria, rain, and cobbles, and has some big climbs tomorrow.
Definitely not my normal stomping grounds. But realizing I did a quad recently that I didnt drop in here. OOPS! But here is something for y'all to check out. Cross posted with What MId-Atlantic Beer are you drinking thread. Sharing something from a previous Christmas beer haul. This is ZeroDay Brewing in Harrisburg and their 2024 vintage of Douglas. A Saison brewed with apparently an entire fir tree in the kettle??? 8.5% abv and has been in my cellar for about 1.5 years. Onto my review: I am sampling a 2024 can with no date stamp, but only the vintage year on the label. Pouring into my snifter. Given to me as a gift, and it sat in my cellar since Im a little leary of a saison with actualy fir tree used in the brewing process. But here we go! The beer pours a bright clear gold color with large fluffy bleached white head of almost 5 cm foaming up and almost overspilling, but the clinginess holds it in the glass. Foam recedes slowly leaving some windowpane lattice. Dense soft foams sits on top of the beer throughout my tasting. Many very fine streams of carbonation rise towards the surface during the sampling. Aroma is much less Christmas tree than I anticipated , I do get some lemon, maybe some pink bubblegum, hints of coriander and a little spicy black pepper. No hop character really and not boozy. First sip reveals a relatively light body with fine and gentle carbonation, texture is smooth and the beer drinks easy. I get some lemon on the flavor profile mixing with a little white grape and hard candy. Mixing with some spicy yeast and a little white bread dough. Finish has that same pink bubblegum trait that I found on the nose. Where the hell is the Fir Tree? Did that fade in the past 1.5 years? No hint of the ABV and hops are absent. This is a pretty smooth and complex saison that I am enjoying, even though its out of my normal comfort zone. Not sure I would chase it, but I wont be so hesitant with drinking this one again in the future. 4.24 in the BA DB
A photo from 2020: I have homebrewed with spruce but I only add fresh growth tips from a Blue Spruce tree. Adding the whole tree is 'adventurous'; I would have assumed that some not as nice favors (e.g., creosote?) could be part of the the flavor addition? Maybe the boiling action 'scrubs' that stuff away? Cheers! P.S. I add my spruce tips at the end of boil, akin to adding aroma hops at the end of boil.
I was surprised at text about whole tree addition for your reasons, sap, etc. The picture is impressive! I was surprised at how little aroma or flavors I got from the tree.
I was surprised too. My speculation is that during the boil some of that stuff is boiled off. Cheers!
I have never heard of Monkless before, what a great name! I visited their website and it appears they solely produce Belgian Ales. What an interesting concept. https://www.monkless.com/beers And the place looks beautiful. @rrock44 Cheers to Monkless Belgian Ales!
Bend, Ore has a bunch of breweries. Some are quite outstanding in my book. However, Monkless is the only one I hit up every time I am in the area. A great way to scratch the Belgian itch. And the food is banging, too.
The Unyielding Ale from Kuhnhenn. A golden quadruple ale. 17.1% ABV. This one has a nice aroma, but not a great taste. Harsh and boozy. I wish it were closer to 12% as I think this one could have been great.
2016 Vigneronne from Cantillon. A two-year old lambic with white grapes. 6.5% ABV. Super sour and funky. Great stuff.
Hommage à la Fin du Monde from Godspeed Brewery This is an interesting one. It's a take of Unibrou's "Fin Du Monde", a Belgian Triple From a 355ml can packaged on 5 Nov 2025. Poured into a tulip. A three finger off white head on a slightly hazy amber. Some tiny floaties. Excellent head retention. A thin layer sticks around to the end. Lots of foamy lacing. Some spice in the nose. Some phenols. Tastes of sweet malts and bready yeast, overlaid with ripe fruit. Banana and clove. the ABV is well hidden. Finishes slightly sweet. A surprisingly creamy texture for a Triple.Medium body and carbonation. Overall a solid Belgian Triple, rivalling it's Unibroue namesake. Well worth a try. 4.09/5 rDev +0.5% look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Last night was down in Philly, stopped by Monks Cafe for a couple of pre-dinner beers Westmalle Dubbel
