Hey everyone, just a reminder of the event. I hope everyone has access to this kind of beer (it can be really good!). Once again, here is a link to a list of Belgian tripels.
We'll be meeting and discussing here.
The meeting time will be 10 p.m. EDT and as per discussion, the thread created the-day-of, will be open for people to discuss the beer beyond the IRC meeting. We can post thoughts from the IRC chat in the thread too, so that there is more context for those who are not able to make the IRC time.
Shoutouts:
_refugee_, mk, b_b, insomniasexx, flagamuffin, theadvancedapes, humanodon, cW, wasoxygen, zebra2, ijustcantanymore, ecib, Meriadoc, lil, cliffelam, sounds_sound, cgod, kleinbl00, elizabeth, pseydtonne, istara, steve, OftenBen, coffeesp00ns, BrainBurner, codingvagrant, kevinf311, ButterflyEffect, forwardslash, backslash, givello, briandmyers, thenewgreen, shitizen, beezneez, uh_oh
And anyone else who'd like to join.
I ended up getting a Quadrupel (Three Philosophers). Is that okay?
Three Philosophers is the shit. I love Ommegang, I'm actually planning on doing a tour of the place in July. It's not far from the Baseball Hall of Fame, the entirety of Cooperstown is nice for anyone in NY that hasn't been there yet.
That is a pretty good beer. You've made two attempts, so I think that's good enough. If you really felt bad about it, you would buy two more, since 3*Quadrupel = 1(Dodecadrupel) = 4(Tripel), but I won't be sore if you don't. I am interested in hearing about your impressions of that beer and the one you got earlier too.
I already drank the other one. In the words of my slightly tipsy self "OMG this shit is delicious." I'll see if I can organize my thoughts on Long Winter's Nap for the IRC on monday.
It's a good strong beer, but not much like a Tripel. It'll most likely be quite dark, and much fuller-bodied. It won't have that characteristic deceptive hidden strength; it's got an obvious strength instead. But enjoy it anyway!
i just gave up on finding a Tripel. For some reason they're unobtanium in my town (and liquor stores are hard to find). I'll enjoy it and hang with you folks anyways!
'm on IRC now. I'm nappy and didn't pick up beer. Can't guarantee how late I'll stay on, been an exhausting few days and etc. Been all over the place mostly tying up various poetical loose ends, for Kenning as well as myself. Plus spewing every idea I can get onto the page. I'm apparently really into bird poems right now. I may do a NaPoWriMo just of bird poems. I'm rambling.
So I got Delirium Tremors on the advice of the Whole Foods self described "Beer Guru" -literally, a plaque with his name and photo on it said so. But in looking up the beer online, I see no tell of it being a "Trippel" even though he said it was the standard bearer for this class of beer. I have no time to procure another bottle. I'm super bummed. Maybe I can talk the wife in to putting the kids to bed solo so I can go get a Tripel and then ditch her all night to hang out with my internet friends and get drunk. "What's that hell? You show no signs of freezing over any time soon."
Edit: I stand reassured that the beer guru did not steer me wrong. He's earned his title: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huyghe_Brewery
It really is a good beer and something special by my taste. My pal from Montreal showed it to me once and was adamant that I'd like it. He was right.
humanodon - I've located a tripel that I can get nearby. But how do I prepare myself for la fin du monde? Seriously. I will be home alone.
I have a computer, a glass, and an opener.
What else do I need? oh also, I have no sense of smell. Will that affect my taste experience?
Lacking a sense of smell will make you taste less of it. If you have the glasses, there are ways to make it stronger. For example, using a goblet or chalice will make a much more even and open nose for flavor. When pouring the beer as well, do not tilt the glass. Pour it straight until full, let the head die down some, pour again until you have a nice amount of beer and a good sized head. This is a good, even way to open everything up. Some say it enhances flavor by doing so, with the interaction of the head and distribution of the yeast, but most likely the difference is negligible, but you do have a much thicker, richer head from doing it, and that should be involved with any beer. La Fin du Monde is a very big, very good beer. A good choice. The flavor is stronger than a lot of tripels, but it's a very balanced one. Really a good place to start. Start off with a medium sized sip to get a complete profile of everything, and then take a few smaller sips as well. Belgians have a lot of profiles in them, and taking different sips you might pick out different flavors. You're going to notice some spice to it, like a nutmeg type flavor, as well as a sharpness in the beginning. The finish will be a someone fruity flavor. In between, the comparisons of the different notes will be described differently by different people. Be sure to try to pick out as much as you can, because these are complex beers and there will be lots to take note of. Additionally, you may feel tipsier than you would normally with a smaller beer. That might be worth noting as well.
It sounds like you are well prepared. Do you mean that you can't smell at all, or that your sense of smell is not so sensitive? In any case, I'd be really interested to get your perspective on how the beer tastes. La Fin du Monde is fairly tasty, if a bit alcoholic tasting for me, but I enjoy it all the same. As Meriadoc mentioned, a goblet will work well, as will a snifter, or those Stella glasses you've got. Actually, any old glass will do if you're not so concerned about the smell. As mentioned elsewhere, tripels tend to be very strong in terms of alcohol and the best tripels are very drinkable so it's easy to go faster than one might intend.
I have no sense of smell. Will that affect my taste experience?
I had forgotten about that. You'll be able to discuss mouth feel at least and partake in the effects of the alcohol which, let's face it, is the best part.