Chimay White Cap (aka White Power)

For those of you who have read or are familiar with my other inane, yet defunkt  blog 'Strong beer , strong legs' you will know that I don't really think there is any beer out there that rivals much from those that boast the AUTHENTIC TRAPPIST PRODUCT family logo.  This night I have been inhaling Chimay White Cap.  I'm rarely prone to hyperbole but I have to say Chimay may be my favorite.  I love the Chimay Grande Reserve blue label, and I have more experience on my corked amigo Chimay Premiere Red than any other Trappist beer, but I gots to illustrate here and on this night that it is Chimay White Power that gives me the finest arousal.

It was a night not unlike tonight.  Not  a celebratory nor sensational night.  Just a night where a simple man, with simple ideas and a simple vision took to the stage.  He would drink more than his share of a special beer.  This was his call to arms, to take up the fight against the less than magnificent  beers from the huge multi-national breweries like Anheuser-Busch, Labatt, and Molson.
He wouldn't kill people.  Not his enemies.....oh no.....they wouldn't be given clemency quite so easily. They would be made to suffer.  One by one they would pay.  Oh, don't think they won't pay.

My night of cracking caps off this, one of the finest strong beers ever, underline my commitment to drinking only fine beers and not shit beer.  A designation that should be worn with pride and not the shame that surely comes with shopping for beers at a  purveyor properly called  THE BEER STORE.

On the second night in as many weeks I was able to buy, all of or at least, the last of the Chimays at a large Liquor establishment in a huge Toronto store.  The first time I was ever to experience this awesome glory was with Westmalle Trappist where the store I stumbled upon had about 20 bottles in stock.  I took them all and had a shitload (my favorite unit of measure) of fun nights that week.

Chimay White Cap is a Trappist beer for the people.  A beer that needs no introduction.  No warning.  No "wait till you get used to it", it's simply a beer that has it all.  A pungent beery aroma, a fine longstanding head, and a taste you would step over Kate Beckinsale for.  I recommmend eating anything with cheese or meat with Chimay White Cap.  Tacos? Bingo.  Nachos? Why the fuck not?
Some type of lunchtime concoction of meat and cheese , with lettuce and tomatoe tucked tightly between 2 slices of bread, or better yet a crusty bun, sliced in half?  Goddamnit, you eat the shit out of that sammich. 

Then you look at that Chimay and you say 'That's how we're gonna beat 'em Scotty, those Monks make a good beer'.

Ace out.

Food Pairing: Enormous Snadwiches, or heavily salted peanuts
Cpmparable to?  Orval Trappst
Ingredients avaialble> Yes
Purchased at the LCBO

Augustijn Blond

 I arrived at the Liquor store yesterday I think.  It was an LCBO location that I have never been to.  Fairway Road, Kitchener.  They had a reasonable selection of beer for an LCBO, but still somewhat embarrassing for a city that boasts (and hosts) the second largest Oktoberfest celebration on the planet.

Anyways, I picked up a box of beer that represents the best of the Van Steenberge Brouwerij.  I have sampled this once last year and maybe once or twice the year prior.  Each year I have found the ales are more to my liking.

If it has an Abbey window or balding Monk on the label it's a good indicator
of its awesomeness.

 Augustijn Blond. They should have called this the  Blond Bombshell, because when I poured this one I was definately overwhelmed by a  BAM!!!! CODE X!!!!  It looked great and it smelled even greater.  It poured much like every other beer would, very liquidy and wet.  My folly was, like a rookie, and in my enthusiasm I let the head roll right over the glass.  Luckily, I was drinking alone, something that occurs with amazing frequency.
After I dove in face first and wiped away my awesome foam mustache (Movember remember......) I thought "Man Alive, this reminds me of something'.   It was smooth.  smooth but spicy. It had notes of fruit, but the fruit combinations were playing tricks on my mouth or they were fruits I have never heard of.  I don't ask questions.  The label says 7%, although you wouldn't know it.  Not boozy at all.  Still, probably enough to kill most Americans.

If you have ever tried a fantastic Belgian brew called Margriet, and don't quote me here but I think it's brewed by the Het Anker Brouwerij.  It smelled like  that, (even though I kind of think that the Margriet was a pale ale).  It tasted not unlike it either, a  bit spicier, and with a bit more bite......but my awesome brain brought me back to the Margriet limited edition.   Both are  great beers. Only, the Augustijn is available in Ontario . For now anyway.  If you are familiar enough with Rochfort 8.  I would say this is a dumbed down version of that,  but hidden in a different colour.

Obviously not a real Monk beer but I was pretty into it around Christmas .

Food Pairing: Genoa Salami sandwich, with real cheddar and spinach. Drowned in home brewed hot sauce.
Comparable to: Rochfort 8
Ingredients listed: Yes
Purchased at LCBO stores in Ontario, Canada
7/10
TD