Aged Belgian Dubbel Homebrew

The last beer home-brewed in Media, PA prior to the move...

A meticulously-crafted, true-to-form belgian Dubbel. Now a year old...purposefully kept to mature and savor. Made with a yeast strain right from Chimay Trappist Brewery. Flavors of: Raisins. Spice. Caramel. Smooth, and crystal clear.

Enjoyed with stinky brie, dried fruits, and nuts.

For a similar commercially-available Dubbel, spoil yourself with a Trappistes Rochefort 6, St. Bernardus Prior 8, or Chimay Première (Red). What's your favorite Trappist ale?

Goal for 2013 ... Italian Wine Deep Dive!

First up...Rubrato Irpinia Aglianico 2010.

Homemade pizza night! Made a crust in the bread maker. We baked it focaccia-style, added sauces, cheeses, mushrooms, spinach, and pepperoni, baked, then ... done!

The wine paired nicely...

Aglianico is an Italian black-skinned grape. Red berries, little floral and herbiness on the nose. Medium body, smooth, with spices on the finish.

(Written 19th January, 2013)

Christmas May Be Over, but ... Goose Island Christmas Ale...

Goose Island ... a fantastic brewery in Chicago.

Their Christmas Ale is awesome. I received a six pack before Christmas, and am now enjoying the remaining few. It's a Brown Ale, with bold, balanced, dark fruits. Plums, fruit-cakiness, ginger, carmel, sweetness - but not overly... Goose Island doesn't go over-the-top with the typical Christmas Ale spiciness; to me, that makes it refreshingly wintery.

While the snow and cold are not my fave, this is the best time of year for beer, in my opinion. Bring on the spiced ales, porters, and stouts. More MALT!

I Do Not Typically Drink Muscato

Tonight I did, though. We had Thai Night...a well-spiced red curry over basmati. I cracked open a lovely bottle that I purchased back in late summer 2012.

The Torres Vina Esmerelda hails from the Catalonia region of Spain. Typically, Muscatos (or Muscats or Muscatels) are sweeter...this one is NOT. It is mostly dry, with a hint of non-dryness. I don't know how else to say it. It is floral, bit of spice... Some essence of tropical fruits, citrus-y, quite refreshing, and decent with our spicy meal.