JBmadtown

Recipes 

I recently bottled a belgian table beer. That recipe used Wyeast high gravity trappist and so I brewed a tripel and pitched using the old yeast cake. My friends keep asking what I have brewing.

I find belgian beer so unique that I can't figure out how to describe it to them. Perhaps, some of you can help...

wcarter1227

Recipes 

when i describe belgians i mention spicy yeast notes, peppery, fruity, bready. just some things that come to my mind

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primary:15 minute Cascade Pale Ale
Primary 2: Cream of 3 crops
Primary 3: Sam Adams Holiday Porter Clone
bottled:BM's Blue Balls Belgian Wit
15 Minute Cascade Pale Ale
DryHopped Cream of 3 Crops
http://hopville.com/brewer/wcarter1227

fineexampl

Recipes 

Here's how you describe it. Offer them a glass of water with an old lemon peel in it. Then offer them a 3 course meal. Explain that the tasteless old lemon water is a BMC product and what you make actually has flavor and aroma.

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Primary: Highway 35 Scotch Ale (Highway 78 clone), second runnings small beer

Bottled: Pitch Black Sheep IPA, Juniper Fail/Ale

Kegged: Apollo Pale Ale, South River Brown

vinyl_key

Recipes 

I'd just say offer up a commercial example of the style for them to go try. Hard to explain the flavors if they've never had anything like it before. Tasting is the best explanation.

cclloyd

Recipes 

+1 on this - get a couple of examples of classic Belgian style beers or at the very least recommend them to your flavor challenged compadres for a reference point. I just brewed my first Tripel and when it's ready I intend to do a Belgian tasting with some commercial examples, my Tripel, and a Dubbel that will be made using the slurry from my Tripel. Expanding the palette of the BMC crowd is a chore - and often times just a waste of good beer.

GilaMinumBeer

Recipes 

I NEVER "explain" a beer to a person unfamiliar. I just offer them a sample.

Trying to explain what a malt taste like is like trying to explain what Cardamom taste like, or what air smells like.

You just have to experience it yourself and draw your own conclusions.

j1laskey

Recipes 

I was able to introduce Duvel to a BMC friend this weekend. His experimentation outside of BMC is Sam Adams...He considers all other beers "too chewy"....I gave him a Duvel...and he fell in love...he said he couldn't wait to pick up a six pack...then I informed him that they come in 4 packs not 6'ers and that a 4 pack is about 15 bucks....what a bummer

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Primary: Cluster Fly Farmhouse Ale, Pirate Strong Ale
Secondary:
Kegged: Olde Zomby Woof, Fat Lenny DIPA, Apple Bottom Graff, E.at S.ki B.eer
The Secretion Brewery

Let's think it over and stop making sense

soldstatic

Recipes 

It saddens me that this is a deal breaker for so many people (not your friend, my friends too). I'll spend 16 bucks on a bottle of gueze if I'm out on the town. Someone will ask to try it, I'll let them have a sip and they'll love it / hate it whatever. If they like it they find it on the menu, realize I paid 16 bucks for it, and never buy it.

j1laskey

Recipes 

But it is nice to get a great bottle of something tastey and expensive...order your favorite pizza...and watching the boob tube

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Primary: Cluster Fly Farmhouse Ale, Pirate Strong Ale
Secondary:
Kegged: Olde Zomby Woof, Fat Lenny DIPA, Apple Bottom Graff, E.at S.ki B.eer
The Secretion Brewery

Let's think it over and stop making sense

soldstatic

Recipes 

My fiance's idea of a nice romantic night: steak dinner, grilled asparagus, bottle of wine

Mine: A priceless bottle of beer that can't be found in the states. (like Schladminger Pils which I'm currently craving, but have none of, and won't get till I go back to Austria this december)