I'm heading down south on my annual golf trip on Friday morning. Friday night I'm having dinner at a European style cafe that focuses on upscale sandwiches (who cares) and craft and domestic beer (yes please). I just took a look what's currently on tap and I have a serious dilemma. Among the 20 or so beers is Delirium Tremens, Rochefort (number not specified) and St. Bernardus Abt 12. I've had all three and liked the three Rocheforts the most. However, the Abt 12 is rated much higher than I rated it (is it possible I need to try it again). And I love the Tremens for the bottle alone. It's a dilemma I enjoy having. And yes, I guess I could have all three and may do that, but that's a lot of ABV, especially considering I'll have 9 bombers of other stuff, a 4-pack of something and only 8 days to get through it all.
If you have time to have all three, I'd go Rochefort, Rochefort, and Rochefort. And don't order a draft beer because you think the bottle looks cool. ;-)
European Street Cafe. They have something like 5 locations. We're heading to The Players Championship (golf) and will be eat at the one in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Good sandwiches, great beers on tap and a hell of a bottle selection. My brain explodes when we're there due to all the choices.
You can easily get the St. Bern here in Chicago , so I'm assuming you can find it in Indiana too. Go for something that you can't find here.
I've had all three and believe it or not, the Tremens is easier to find where I live. Occasionally I can find St. Bernardus, but to get Rochefort I've got to drive a couple hours away. Amazingly, I liked the Abt 12 the least (not that I didn't like it, I just liked the other two better) so I'm going to have that first. If I still don't find it absolutely amazing, I'll have Rochefort.
You answered your own question: Get what's hardest to find in your immediate area. I solve my dilemmas by either getting what I've never had before or getting what's hard to find in my hometown. Dilemmas like yours here is a win-win-win.
I've got an easy solution. I can get St Bernadus and Rochefort everywhere here in NJ. I would be glad to trade for some beers brewed in the great State of Indiana
I've never seen Rochefort on draft, I'd definitely go for that. The other two seem more common to find on draft. I've had Tremens on tap and wasn't blown away, although it was good.
