by Justin Baker
Beer may not be the first thing that comes to mind for Valentine’s Day (which is probably a good thing), but beer can be both fancy and romantic. Just like with wine there’s expensive and cheap, fancy and boxed, so too beer comes in a variety, from bland to full flavored. Some of my favorites over the years are discussed—or at least mentioned, from flavors to target drinkers. Additionally, a website (read on!) for the uber-enthusiast, replete with tests and more than wikipedial knowledge on the subject.
(Now guys, I’m not saying the romantic thing to do is throw a kegger with Keystone Light or buy your lady friend a twelve pack of bud light. Nor am I telling ladies to buy their man some miller or coor’s…or natty light.)
Lindeman’s Lambic Framboises (Raspberries)
~$7, very lady friendly
Though Lindeman’s is considered a beer, the taste of one will remind you of no other beer you’ve tried; that is, it tastes more like a heavy, quite sweet but lightly bubbly champagne than a beer. For a fun twist, add Young’s Double Chocolate Stout or a Porto wine for a mixed treat.
Blanche de Brussels
~$4, for the not too adventurous beer drinker or I’m not a beer drinker types
No orange required. The Blanche is what all Belgian whites strive to be, especially the knock off American version Blue Moon. Blanche is a great starter beer, as it’s not too heavy and allows a smooth change of pace to something heavier/darker or lighter. It’s a good beer for those who usually don’t drink beers or for those who think that miller/coor’s/bud are the only beers they can drink.
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter/Imperial Stout
~$6, for those who think the Samuels with beers named after them ought to be president
For the classy gent or lady who wishes to skip right to the heavy, but still delicious beers. Both are full bodied, aromatic, flavorful, but the Imperial Stout packs an extra punch at 7 percent alcohol.
~$10 Maredsous 8/10
A Belgian Abbey ale that comes from the Benedictine order of monks. The 8 or 10 stands for the alcohol percentage and comes in a 25oz bottle. Essentially, it gets you as drunk as a bottle of lightly alcoholic white wine.
~$10 Chimay Trappist Grande Reserve
Located in Scourmount Abbey, Chimay is one of 8 order of Trappist Belgian breweries in existence, since 1862. The Cistercian monks originate from the monastery of Citeaux of 12th century Burgundy; from this order comes the Trappist monks. You could call this the Crown Royal of beers.
Other beers worth that need to be consumed are the Three Philosophers’, Westmalle Tripel, Old Speckled Hen, and Spaten Fransikaner. Each of these gives a full body of flavor
If you’re a beer enthusiast, check out greatbrewers.com for an awesome selection of beers (most of which you didn’t know existed), wealth of information, and a blog, forum, and test for anything beer related. The test comes in 20 and 100 question varieties to adequately gauge your beer knowledge and grow your skill. Topics such as how to taste beer, types of hops, flavors, beer types, and basically anything you want to know about beer can be found on this site.
Check it out: greatbrewers.com, and happy beer hunting and drinking.