Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2010

Dan’s brewing seems to hit the mark with his Bourbon ale as well as his peach wheat. Some may speculate that the memory losses attributed to some of this year’s revelers “might” be attributable to a tiny bit of fungus (and subsequent lysergic acid) in the wheat. That or some one may have dropped a ruffie in their drinks. Dan is a renowned chemist so the wheat was most likely pure.

A few more highlights:
This year’s VIP glassware was both very large and very nice.

Smoked pig was a big hit.

Ed & crew did a nice job cleaning the grounds even if one latrine was out of order.

Rick’s prom was a big success!

Original Gravity’s Primordial Porter was well received.

Manni may become a relationship counselor.

Some beer was stolen and then stolen again.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2011 can’t possibly be more strange. Of course we have been wrong before.

Allagash Brewery:

Allagash White : Belgian style wheat beer. Spiced with coriander and orange peel. Silky, clean and refreshing. 5% ABV

Allagash Larry: Belgian Golden fermented exclusively in French oak with an ale yeast, two strains of Brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria. 9.5% ABV

Artisanal Imports:

Urthel Saisonnière: A bright golden beer combining attributes of a saison, wheat beer and golden ale. Moderate in alcohol and very satisfying with a good hoppy backbone. 6% ABV

St. Feuillien Saison: A classic Belgian Saison. Golden in color with a full-flavored, yeasty character. Modeled on the best farmhouse ales. 6.5% ABV

La Trappe Isid’or: Holland’s only Trappist brewery produced this beer to celebrate their 125th anniversary. It’s an amber beer with nice malty, caramel overtones and a fruity character. Brewed with perle hops grown at the monastery. 7.5% ABV

Tripel Karmeliet: Brewed with oats, barley and wheat, Tripel Karmeliet has soft, full, rich grain character with hints of banana, vanilla, and a slight pleasing of bubble-gum aroma. 8.4% ABV
Bobcat Café & Brewery:

Saison de Cassis: Translation- A season of blackcurrants. Brewed in 2009 with barley from Belgium; hops from England (Kent Goldings) & Germany (Hallertauer Mittelfrüh). The resulting fermentation delivered a crisp and very dry beer with estery aromas of earthiness & fruitiness. However the standout flavor is attributed to Vermont grown black currants offering a subtle tart finish. 6.5% ABV
Brooklyn Brewery: TBA
Butternuts beer and ale:

Autumn Harvest: sour spiced ale brewed with roasted pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potato and fermented with Saison yeast. 8.6% ABV

Trappist Ale: Brewed with 75% maple sap. The sap is soured lending a blue cheese mold aroma. Trappist yeast is used to ferment giving this brown ale a clean finish. 8% ABV
Captain Lawrence: TBA
Custom Brew Crafters Inc:
CB’s signature series “Barry”: Double Wit 6.5% ABV
CB’s signature series “Ryan”: Double IPA 8% ABV
CB’s signature series “Max”: German Barleywine 9% ABV
CB’s signature series “???”: TBD
Clipper City Brewing Company:
Heavy Seas Holy Sheet: Belgian über abbey ale
Heavy Seas Yule Tide: Belgian tripel
Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night: Belgian saison ale
D&V International:
Duchesse De Bourgogne: Oak aged Flemish Red ale. 6% ABV
Echt Kriekenbier: Oak aged Flemish ale with cherries. 6.8% ABV
St. Bernardus Abt 12: Abbey Brown Ale. 10% ABV
St. Bernardus Prior 8: Abbey Brown Ale. 8% ABV
St. Bernardus Pater 6: Abbey Brown Ale. 6.7% ABV
St. Bernardus Triple: Abbey Triple. 8% ABV
St. Bernardus Wit: Belgian Wheat ale. 5.5% ABV
Caracole Nostradamus: Wallonian Brown Ale 9.5% ABV
Caracole Troublette: Wallonian White Ale. 5% ABV
Val-Dieu Triple: Abbey Triple. 9% ABV
Buffalo Stout: Belgian Stout. 9% ABV
Des Rocs Grand Cru: Abbey Brown. 9%

Oud Beersel Framboise: Traditional lambic aged with raspberries. 5% ABV
Dogfish Head:
Raison D’etre: Deep mahogany ale. 8% ABV
Festina Peche: A neo-Berliner Weisse . 4.5% ABV

Flying Bison Brewing Company:

Rusty Chain: Belgian Amber. A light bodied biscuity amber that boasts delicate earthy and spicy hop notes. 5.2% ABV

Dawn Patrol Gold: Belgian Golden. A refreshing crisp golden ale that is balanced nicely with a soft Belgian yeast finish. 6.5% ABV
Global Beer Network

Troubadour Blond: Belgian Blond Ale brewed under Reinheitsgebot law- just water, malt, yeast, and hops. 6.5% ABV

Troubadour Magma: Belgian triple IPA brewed with American Simcoe hops. 9% ABV

Piraat: Belgian deep Golden Triple brewed with lots of hops and malts with a mild sweetness, hint of bread, spices and fruit. 10.5% ABV

Golden Draak: Belgian dark triple with creamy head, malt toffee-like sweetness and hoppy accents. 10.5% ABV
Halftime Beverage
Wittekerke: authentic Belgian Wit with a white head, great aroma and hints of lemon. 5%ABV
Harpoon Brewery/Mass Bay Brewing

Chocolate Orange Wit: A dark Belgian ale brewed with a wit yeast, chocolate, and orange peel. 6.5% ABV

Jed’s Pony: A dunkel brewed with caraway seeds instead of aroma hops and fermented with Saison yeast. 5% ABV

Belgian Pale Ale: traditional Belgian yeast used for fermentation produces fruity, slightly spicy aromatic. A blend of Pale, Caramel, and Munich malts creates a golden amber hue with malty sweet notes up front. 5.8% ABV
Haverhill Brewery

Three Graces: Belgian Tripel brewed with pilsen malt, Belgian candi sugar, and styrian Golden hops. Light and drinkable with a unique Belgian yeast character. 9.1% ABV

Seventh Seal: Belgian Quad. Our seventh anniversary Belgian quadruple brewed with Pilsener, Munich, and Amber malts, Styrian golden hops and two types of Belgian sugar. Aged for 6 months. 10.1% ABV

Ascension: Belgian IPA brewed with Pilsener malt and a huge dose of Saaz hops. Has a refreshing dry peppery finish. 7.2%
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Abbey Dubbel: A fruity Belgian-style ale, deep brown in color, roasty/nutty caramel malt sweetness balance by a dry finish and accentuated by complex, and fruity aroma. Bronze medal winner World Beer Cup, Silver medal winner in GABF. 7.3% ABV

Abbey Tripel: A Fruity Belgian-style ale, pale golden in color, pronounced caramel malt sweetness balanced by dry finish and accentuated by complex, fruity aroma. Two time winner of bronze medal at GABF. 9.2% ABV

Cannibal: A golden , complex, effervescent, strong Belgian-style ale. Featuring a dry, light body, potent alcoholic strength, fruity esters, and a spicy nose. Gold winner GABF. 7.8% ABV
Keegan Ales
Old Capital: Simply put, it’s a golden, crisp and refreshing beer. 4.5% ABV

Mother’s Milk: A dark and creamy milk stout. Hints of oatmeal, chocolate, and of course, milk make Mother’s Milk’s remarkable smooth and silky finish. 5% ABV

Hurricane Kitty: this is a coppery and heavily hopped IPA. Named after Brewmaster Keegan’s grandmother who’s driving earned her quite a reputation with the police. Trying to make the hop bill reads as aggressively as her driver’s record, this is the undisputed family favorite. 6% ABV
Lagunitas Brewing Co

Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild: Another Big Sister of the Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, Loads of Malted Wheat for a Curious Malt Foundation and a Light Color, but our Belgian Yeast leaves a Huge Flavor and complexishness. 7.8% ABV

Lagunitas IPA: This is our unique version of an ancient style. A style as old as the ocean trade routes of the last centuries Great Ships. Not as old as the equator they had to cross twice enroute, nor as old as the 10,000 or so miles of Di-Hydrogen Oxide and Sodium upon which they sailed, but older than the Circulithium-4 Lentloid that binds the Lupulin Quartnate onto your taste buds. Weird. Think about it. Now stop. OK, go again, now stop. Think again, and stop. But we digress. Made with 43 different hops and 65 various malts, this redolent ale will likely float your boat, whatever planet you’re on. 5.7% ABV
Latis
Palm: Belgium amber ale. 5.4% ABV
Rodenbach: Flemish sour ale. 5.7% ABV
Boon Kriek: lambic “macerated” with only real cherries. 6.5% ABV
Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Session in The Rye: A light, session style saison farmhouse ale brewed with barley, wheat, and rye, Slovakian hops, and a classic strain of Belgian saison yeast. 4.5% ABV
Magic Hat Brewing Company
#9 : An ale cloaked in secrecy. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. 5.1%

Wacko: Wacko is the liquid song of summer. Delicious summer beer with a malty aroma, a subdued hop bite and a clean, slightly sweet finish. 4.5% ABV
Matt Brewing Company/ Saranac/ Lake Placid

Saranac Pale Ale: A beer that would make the English jealous! This true English pale ale is rich and fruity, yet finishes crisp. You’ll love the copper amber color and medium body. 5.5% ABV

Lake Placid UBU Ale: Deep garnet red in color, this English-style ale is a tribute to the legend of UBU. It features a smooth, rich maltiness complemented by just the right amount of hops. 7% ABV
Merchant Du Vin

Orval: often referred to as the queen of Trappists. 6.2% ABV

Westmalle Dubbel: A dark reddish-brown Trappist dubbel with a rich and complex, herby and fruity flavor. 7% ABV

Westmalle Tripel: A clear Golden-yellow Trappist tripel soft and creamy with a bitter touch carried by the aroma. 9.5%ABV

Rochefort 6: Belgian Strong dark Ale 7.5% ABV

Rochefort 10: Belgian Quadruple 11.3% ABV

Lindemans Framboise: Magnificent aroma, delicate palate of Raspberries with undertones of fruitiness. 4% ABV

Lindemans Cuvee Rene: Belgian Lambic. 6% ABV

Greens Discovery: Medium bodied with subtle caramel and nut nuances. 6% ABV
Microbrasserie Charlevoix

Dominus Vobiscum Triple: This triple is eloquent and generous golden ale with fresh hop aromas and warming alcohol, wrapped up in a wealthy body that lures you into a delicately bitter finish. 9% ABV

Dominus vobiscum Blanche: This blanche is a sunny straw-yellow Witbier, veiled by its wheat proteins which impart a refreshing tartness, itself complemented by notes of citrus fruit and chamomile. 5% ABV

Dominus Vobiscum Double: this is a complex mahogany-brown brew with an impressively aromatic personality. Its nose of candied fruit, dried raisins and star anise segues into a rich, nearly full mouthfeel that beckons you to savour delicacy delicately. 9% ABV
Olde Burnside Brewing

Penny Weiz Ale: A Belgium Witbier, incorporating 50% wheat and 50% barley. A hint of heather and sweet orange peel where added to keep with the brewery’s Scottish roots. 5% ABV

Dirty Penny Ale: this is a hearty, but never heavy “Black’n’tan” style, which is a mixture of 60% Ten Penny and 40% signature stout. 5.7% ABV
Six Point Craft Ales
TBD
Sly Fox
Incubus: Belgian Triple in the abbot style. 10.3% ABV
Ichor: Belgian quad in the abbot style. 10% ABV
Saison Vos: Belgian style farmhouse ale. 6.9% ABV
Black Raspberry Reserve: Red and black raspberry wheat beer. 8% ABV
Southampton Publick House

Double White Ale: Light in color with a refreshing orangey tartness and a hint of coriander flavor. There is also a detectable alcohol “warming” that is balanced by a pleasant residual sweetness. 6.7% Alcohol by volume

Southampton Saison Deluxe: Southampton Saison Deluxe has an intense fruit character with notes of passion fruit and pineapple which is accented by a mild earthy character of imported hops. Bone dry, it is deceptively light tasting and refreshing despite it’s alcohol content of 7.4% Alcohol by volume

Southampton Saison Brun: Our “Winter Saison”, made with 9 different malts including barley, wheat and rye. We brew this special batch of Saison with candi sugar and molasses and ferment with a very unique yeast strain for a most extraordinary brew. 7.0% Alcohol by volume

Southampton ABBOT 12: A very complex brew that has notes of raisins, figs and caramel and a pronounced “dark rum” character. Deceptively smooth at 9.9 % Alcohol by volume, this strong ale makes a great after dinner sipping brew. 9.9% Alcohol by volume

Southampton Cuvèe des Fleurs: A very complex and unique Saison that has notes of lavender, dried flowers and spices. 8.2% Alcohol by volume.
Stoudt’s Brewing Co.
Gold: Munich style helles lager. 4.7% ABV
Triple: Belgian style triple. 9% ABV
The Bruery:
Trade Winds Tripel: Belgian style tripel brewed with rice and Thai basil. 8.1% ABV
Mischief: Hoppy Belgian style golden strong ale. 8.5% ABV
The Peekskill Brewery

Paramount Pale Ale: American pale ale is lightly hopped and spiced with a delicate hint of saffron. 4.5% ABV

Sour Old Wagon Ale: Traditional British old ale offers both sweet maltiness with a bretty tartness. 8.2% ABV

Rosemary’s Baby: Belgian strong pale ale is unfiltered golden in color, spiced with rosemary and has a citrus/piney nose.
Tröegs Brewing Company

Mad Elf: A combination of cherries, honey, and chocolate malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious ale. 11% ABV

Scratch # 29-2010: Scratch #29 imparts an intense spicy flavor with grassy notes from the Hersbrucker hop. Hints of orange and a slight alcohol burn come through with the high carbonation leaving “pins on you tongue” in the finish. 7.7% ABV
12% Imports
Stateside Saison: Saison from Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Baltimore, MD. 6.8% ABV
Valeir Extra: Belgian IPA, from Br. Contreras, East Flanders, Belgium. 6.5% ABV
Noblesse: Belgian Pale Ale, from Br. Dochter Van De Korenaar, Antwerp, Belgium. 5.5% ABV
Finesse: Rye Tripel, from Br. Dochter Van De Korenaar, Antwerp, Belgium. 8.5% ABV
Gaverhopke Extra: quad, from Br. ‘t Gaverhopke, West Flanders, Belgium 12% ABV
Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout: Ris From Br. Emelisse, Kamperland, NL. 11% ABV
Unibroue

Blanche De Chambly: The first bottle conditioned white wheat ale in North America. Subtle bouquet of spices, citrus notes, aromas of yeast breads, coriander, and cloves. 5% ABV

Éphémère: White, primarily wheat based ale blended with fresh granny smith apple juice and select spices. Slightly sweet, slightly tart and very thirst-quenching. 6% ABV

La Fin du Monde: “The end of the world” is a good thing! Strong, Belgian triple-style golden ale. Mildly yeasty with a complex palate of malt, fruit and spice notes with a smooth, dry finish. 9% ABV

Maudite: Strong red-amber Belgian-style ale. Wildly spicy, vinous and complex with a crisp hop finish. 9% ABV
White Birch Brewing, LLC

Belgian Style Pale Ale: This Straw colored beer Greets with an aroma of noble hops, pears and Belgian esters. The flavor follows nicely with a spicy hop and Belgian yeast effect buoyed by a soft malt body. 9% ABV

Dubbel: A ruby mahogany colored beer highlighted by toffee, caramel and dark ripe fruit notes with a subtle dry finish. 8% ABV

Tripel: A combination of noble hops to bring in earth and light citric hop notes. Belgian yeast notes, light spicy flavors, soft lightly sweet malts and a crisp dry finish. 10.4% ABV

Wrigian: this beer melds the spiciness of rye with our house yeast to create a smooth beguiling beer. 10% ABV

Indulgence: made with copious amounts of chocolate malts. Highlights include sweet chocolate aromas and dark chocolate and coffee notes in the finish. 8% ABV

Barrel Aged Wild Ale: Notes of dark fruits, grape skins, vanilla, chardonnay and oak mix with a hint of cherry tartness. Velvety, medium carbonation deliver a balanced refreshing drink that the base Belgian yeasts cannot create on their own. 7% ABV
Yards Brewing

Saison: Crafted using Belgian Pilsener malt and candi sugar, this golden Belgian style ale is a refreshing change from your usual beer lineup. 6.5% ABV

Snuggies will be the “in” fashion wear at the campfire as the temps will dip into the 50’s.

Be prepared, don’t forget your Snuggie D-Lux!

Fear hung over the festival-goers like a heavy raincloud. With the brewery deciding to ban dogs at the last minute, handing out “limited” drink tickets, and supplying official State of NY training to help volunteers identify drunks, we feared that BCTC had jumped the shark. As if the drunks needed help identifying each other or had the slightest proclivity to do anything about it… yeah, right!

A well written e- mail by Neal shows that years in the service industry paid off, Max and his canine compatriots are allowed to attend, woof!

The Eurovan arrived early Friday, rolling onto the grounds prior to any other RVs and securing the corner spot for the Stewart’s gang, who rolled in shortly thereafter.  Kegs were tapped and bottles opened in short order.

Ed, Jamie, and Hans turned up next, followed by Neal, Rick and Kristin.  New to the event were Reka, Lori, THE Tom Harvey and son Jason. Some vowed to return, others, not so much.

Friday night found Neal and Dan up too late with the others watching Rocky Horror, only to be rudely awakened early or volunteer duty as one of Scottie’s Hotties. Cleanup duties and check in went smoothly, despite Scottie’s best efforts.

Afternoon finally rolled around and with it, the tasting. Fewer breweries than years past but still some very fine libations. Hans (AKA Manfred) appeared without his Wingman at times (see separate update), which could only lead to trouble. Kristin went clothes shopping. Manfred drank heavily. Max ran around with a squeaky beer bottle in his mouth, to Kristin’s delight. Mafred continued to drink.

Reka and Lori headed for home early citing an uncomfortable night in the tent. Ed found Manfred disembarking from the balloon, then beer disembarking from Manfred. Grills grilled, more beer was enjoyed and movies were watched. Neal “picked up” a house warming gift, to Suzan’s surprise on unpacking the van. Tom sat contentedly in his chair drinking fine beer and vowing to return next year.

Morning dawned with a light drizzle. The area behind the Eurovan smelled like a Moroccan men’s room; I know, I’ve been in one. Cars were packed, good-bye’s exchanged, but everyone knew one thing; when it comes to BCTC, you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave! 2010 was already being penciled into calendars, at least for most of us.

Distracted Wingman

Manfred & his new friend

So… will BCTC ’09 be a groovy Beatle-esque Abbey Road scene or will it be more like Helter Skelter. Never mind that Abbey Road was recorded during the most contentious period of discord between the Fab Four. Certainly don’t confuse the Manson mythology with the fact that a roller coaster of the very same name inspired Helter Skelter. Don’t be afraid of a little Helter Skelter.

On the plus side, for Abbey Road is Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, a sweet serenade about a serial killer. Nevertheless, just ask Dan; what would you play when retreating from Bells Way-Flow? Octopus’s Garden or Helter Skelter? Methinks the White Album has better beer drinking potential. Or is that the Wit Album?

When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Do you don’t you want me to love you
I’m coming down fast but I’m miles above you
Tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
and you may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer

Go helter skelter
helter skelter
helter skelter
Yeah, hu, hu
I will you won’t you want me to make you
I’m coming down fast but don’t let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer

Look out
Helter skelter
helter skelter
helter skelter
Yeah, hu, hu
Look out cause here she comes

Spring of  ‘08 finds a new cast of characters  ready to obtain VIP tickets the minute they go online, but to no avail.  The Ommegang web page crashes, the phone lines are busy.  By the time anyone gets in only standard tickets are available, but they are snapped up, and in greater numbers than before.  With no Friday camping at the brewery, all head for last year’s discovery,  Deer Haven.  Dan and Suzan pop the EVC first.  Neal arrives all the way from OH,  Max barks.  Neal has treats… ooh, you’re OK!  Ed, Jamie and Mani arrive (Mani all the way from Visp).   Max barks some more.  Krisitin and Rick arrive, Max… oh you get the drift.  Neal still has treats, though.  Beers are handed to Kristin and Rick, preventing them from shopping for food, but no worries,  no one notices, and there is plenty of food (and even more beer).  Drinking, eating, drinking, skinny dipping, and standing on the hill naked follow.

Morning dawned clear.  The party shifted to Ommegang.  Sh!t, no place to park the EVC… hey, there are Ric and Natalie!   The gang from Stewart’s opens up space.  As the festival begins, Neal (Johan) turns into the best “wingman” that Mani (Hans) has ever had.

The drinking goes on, the wingmanship goes on.

Sadly, Johan forgot that Amsterdam is not in Belgium, the chick noticed, and the beer tasting ended.  Stewart’s continued to pour, though, as did Uncle Jesse (homemade barleywine and whiskey!).  I think there was loud music, bands, a movie, and a bonfire.

Morning came and the crowd began to pack it in. 

Ed laments that this may be the beginning of the end, though photos showed that debauchery was not completely absent.  Max is Neal’s new best friend.  It was a good time, though, and all agreed that it should be revisited in ‘09.

Things to do…

1. Buy beer
2. Buy doggie treats
3. Arrange bail money