Saison Dupont

Belgian Beer.

Last night I went in search of some blog inspiration. I dragged my husband around Brooklyn just begging something to jump out and inspire me. Luckily, our first stop drew my eye to a special beer bottle behind the bar. The Saison Dupont bottle not only had a cool label that looked classic and very Belgian but it had a cork to boot. I was sold immediately.



The beer did not disappoint. It is light and refreshing with some fruity undertones. If I said anymore that that I would officially be a poseur as I am not a beer connoisseur and I don’t exactly understand hops and yeast. But I will tell you that it would make a wonderful presentation at your next get together and pair it with a big pot of mussels and some fresh baked bread and you will definitely be a Hip Hostess! A little fun fact to add to your dinner party is that legendary brewmaster Garrett Oliver said that Saison Dupont is the “desert island beer” of many men. Pop a cork, guys, I think you’ll feel the same thing

Kwak ain't Whack...

Belgian Beer.

In yet another installment of the I Love Belgian Beer series, I must talk to you about a delicious choice called Kwak. I first came across this gem at a little unassuming watering hole in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Being that it was Happy Hour and that the beer menu was filled with a plethora of brews with fun names, those in our party decided that we would never order the same kind of beer twice...thankfully Kwak was part of my beer rotation.

First, the beer is served in quite a peculiar glass. The glass design is said to come from the 18th century when Pauwel Kwak designed it to be used by coachmen, who hung the glass on what I would describe as the world's first cup holder. This was all so that the coachmen could enjoy the tasty brew while driving...sounds safe, huh? I digress.

Now as for the taste...amazing. Kwak embodies what I love about Belgium Beer: sweet malt, caramel and maple richness, with a toastiness that warms you right up. And the beauty of this selection is that even with the complex flavor, it still manages to have a high level of drinkability and a very smooth finish.

So when you are at Happy Hour tonight with coworkers or at home this weekend preparing to have some friends over, consider giving Kwak a try...it's whiggety whiggety whiggety whack. --a

Mmm...beer.

Belgian Beer.

Don't snub your nose at beer, folks. It is high time that beer came out from behind the shadows of Merlot & Cabernet or even Martini & Sidecar. How many times in my life have I heard, "umm...I'll just have a beer." Just? Just? We must change our attitude.

I have the perfect cure for those of you that doubt me. Belgian beers. Often touted as the finest beers in the world, they are likely very different than most beers that you may have tried. Because they continue to ferment after being bottled, Belgian beers are usually cloudy and may sometimes have a bit of sediment in the bottom...not unlike wine. This doesn't make the beer bad, it actually means that it can be stored longer and will often get better with age. There are many different types of Belgian beers. The most famous are: Pilsners, Trappist Beers, Lambics, Witbeirs, Abbey Beers and Saisons.

Today I am going to focus on an Abbey beer - Maredous Tripel. The Maredsous Monks of Devee, Belgium, entrusted their recipe to Duvel Moortgat in 1963. Of the three versions of Maredsous that Duvel produces, the Tripel is the strongest - clocking in at a whopping 10% alcohol. This is not the beer of choice for drinking games. But the taste is so good that I can't do it justice. Here is how a more qualified reviewer described it, "Pear slices macerated in Poire Williams and sprinkled with ground clove is present in each delectable gulp. Sipping doesn't cut it with beer this good."

So what are you waiting for? To be a true Hip Hostess, just prepare a big pot of steamed mussels & frites...then crack one of these puppies open. You won't miss having wine. --a