Comments on: Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale: My Zen Beer http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/ Drinking through the world, one beer at a time. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:40:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ron http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-4783 Ron Thu, 06 May 2010 20:21:15 +0000 http://drinkwiththewench.com/?p=4508#comment-4783 My two Zen beers are: Duchesse de Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe and La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin. I had the Duchesse for the first time about five or six years ago at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, GA. At that time, I had never had any beer like it. The carbonation, the sour bite, and the complex flavors had a huge impact on my appreciation of Flemish brewing. Later I stumbled upon Jolly Pumpkin’s La Roja and had nearly the same “Wow” reaction. Both beers take me to my happy space from the first sip. They knock me out of my beer geek analytical mode and into a “life’s simple pleasures” frame of mind. My two Zen beers are: Duchesse de Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe and La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin. I had the Duchesse for the first time about five or six years ago at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, GA. At that time, I had never had any beer like it. The carbonation, the sour bite, and the complex flavors had a huge impact on my appreciation of Flemish brewing. Later I stumbled upon Jolly Pumpkin’s La Roja and had nearly the same “Wow” reaction. Both beers take me to my happy space from the first sip. They knock me out of my beer geek analytical mode and into a “life’s simple pleasures” frame of mind.

]]> By: Drink Me Magazine http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-4782 Drink Me Magazine Thu, 06 May 2010 20:14:20 +0000 http://drinkwiththewench.com/?p=4508#comment-4782 Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was living among the Ponderosa Pines and Massive Meese (plural of mooses?) of Big Sky Country, Montana. Those days are tinged with memories of ice fishing in the wilderness, warming my frostbitten hands upon the fire while sipping nearly frozen Powder Hound from Big Sky Brewing Company. Or hot summers doing trail work in Glacier National Park, wiping the dirty sweat from my brow, stuffing my mouth with a handful of fresh huckleberries and washing it down with Summer Honey. Unfortunately, as these beers are seasonal, they are not available in stores on the West Coast, although other year round Big Sky Brewing Co. beers are. The only way for me to relish those delicious memories is to go back to Montana! Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was living among the Ponderosa Pines and Massive Meese (plural of mooses?) of Big Sky Country, Montana. Those days are tinged with memories of ice fishing in the wilderness, warming my frostbitten hands upon the fire while sipping nearly frozen Powder Hound from Big Sky Brewing Company. Or hot summers doing trail work in Glacier National Park, wiping the dirty sweat from my brow, stuffing my mouth with a handful of fresh huckleberries and washing it down with Summer Honey. Unfortunately, as these beers are seasonal, they are not available in stores on the West Coast, although other year round Big Sky Brewing Co. beers are. The only way for me to relish those delicious memories is to go back to Montana!

]]> By: John http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-4778 John Thu, 06 May 2010 18:24:08 +0000 http://drinkwiththewench.com/?p=4508#comment-4778 Don, agree on both Sierra Nevada and Great Lake Brews - Dortmunder is a longtime favorite. But my go to beer, and one that got my wife hooked is Harpoon IPA. Had it the first time at the brewery in VT. Drinking that beer makes me smile, not just cause it tastes good, but of the memories in Woodstock, VT it conjures up! Had it on tap a couple of years ago at a bar at Horseshoe in WVa. Great beer on tap, or in bottle! Think it is time for a VT roadtrip... Don, agree on both Sierra Nevada and Great Lake Brews – Dortmunder is a longtime favorite. But my go to beer, and one that got my wife hooked is Harpoon IPA. Had it the first time at the brewery in VT. Drinking that beer makes me smile, not just cause it tastes good, but of the memories in Woodstock, VT it conjures up! Had it on tap a couple of years ago at a bar at Horseshoe in WVa. Great beer on tap, or in bottle! Think it is time for a VT roadtrip…

]]> By: Jason http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-4775 Jason Thu, 06 May 2010 15:57:16 +0000 http://drinkwiththewench.com/?p=4508#comment-4775 Green Flash WC IPA and Racer 5 were my first "wow" IPAs that made me try more and more (they still remain high on my favorites list), but the beer that blows me away day after day is Troegs Nugget Nectar. Down with the people who say it is overrated (of course overrated/underrated is all a personal preference). Every sip of NN causes an explosion in my mouth, and the last drop leaves me yearning for more. The only other beer that I can say has an effect near that of NN is Rodenbach Grand Cru. I hate it when the bottle goes dry. Green Flash WC IPA and Racer 5 were my first “wow” IPAs that made me try more and more (they still remain high on my favorites list), but the beer that blows me away day after day is Troegs Nugget Nectar. Down with the people who say it is overrated (of course overrated/underrated is all a personal preference). Every sip of NN causes an explosion in my mouth, and the last drop leaves me yearning for more.

The only other beer that I can say has an effect near that of NN is Rodenbach Grand Cru. I hate it when the bottle goes dry.

]]> By: Don http://drinkwiththewench.com/2010/05/bells-two-hearted-ale-my-zen-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-4766 Don Thu, 06 May 2010 04:51:06 +0000 http://drinkwiththewench.com/?p=4508#comment-4766 My first craft beer, that started me down a road to homebrewing and other unmentionables, was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale... I still remember it. I also went through a TON of Great Lakes Brewing Co beers, but since I live near CLE, I don't think of GLBC as a craft beer co. They're just Great Lakes. Good beer, but common place for me. My first craft beer, that started me down a road to homebrewing and other unmentionables, was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale… I still remember it. I also went through a TON of Great Lakes Brewing Co beers, but since I live near CLE, I don’t think of GLBC as a craft beer co. They’re just Great Lakes. Good beer, but common place for me.

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