Earlier this week I mentioned that my friend Dick and I had gotten together last weekend to celebrate his 1,000th craft beer.
The lazy @$$hole just now got around to getting me his review of that beer, so instead of a pat on the back, he gets an, "it's about damn time!".
Haha, just kidding buddy - take it away...
Bear with me as I reminisce about my humble beginnings of drinking craft beer (don’t worry, there is a point)…
Once upon a time Matt, Tom, and Dick
worked together in the small “Firm” in Virginia. They decided, one uneventful
evening, to get together, play Texas Hold ‘Em, and watch “Anchorman”,
to drown their sorrows after an awful work week (this is how the best stories
always start).
They were all fairly new to the craft beer scene, so they began
this specific night with mixed drinks (nothing with umbrellas) and eventually
moved to Miller Lite (not craft) and Red Stripe (not really craft, but a move
in the right direction).
This night would begin a lasting friendship forged
with good times, good memories, and mediocre suds!
Within a few weeks Dick
began to hear Matt talk about a local craft beer store in town named Vine’s
(now out of business). Matt invited Dick to join him for a beer run to Vine’s.
Dick was still unsure about his true passion for beer (please understand that
Dick is a little slow).
That first
six-pack was exciting, but fairly uninspiring.
Sometime later Dick had Matt
decided to try a local hole-in-the-wall, Rivermont Pizza, after playing a round of golf. They arrived later in the afternoon to find that the restaurant closes
early to clean up for the evening crowd.
After deciding to take a stroll to another small deli, Magnolia Foods,
Dick proclaims (in a very high-pitched girly voice), “When is our small town going
to get a real beer store?” Both Dick and Matt looked to their left and noticed
a bright, white sign (I swear it had a glowing hue around it) for “Ned’s Beer
and Wine”. The timing of this gem was impeccable! It was sitting there like a
centennial hop among thorns! After spending a nearly a week’s gross pay, Dick
walked into the sunset with his first, real passion for craft brew!
Fast-forward 994 beers later to last weekend. It was time to select Dick’s
1,000th beer! The stage was
set and it was time to choose. The anticipation had built to a level rivaling that of a 12-year-old awaiting the release of Modern Warfare 3! In order to celebrate this momentous
occasion, Dick wanted to select a beer that culminated a milestone in a single
word, “Adoration”. Adoration?!?!? Well, adoration means, “the act of paying
honor, as to a divine being, worship; reverent homage; fervent and devoted
love” (www.dictionary.com). Dick could
not have said it better himself!
Ommegang Adoration is a 10% ABV Belgian Strong Ale (a lot different than
Dick’s humble beginnings of Miller Lite and Red Stripe), that is listed on the label as a
“Special Winter Ale”. Dick has aged this beer for over a year, since its release from
mid-October through December 2010. The
bottle proclaims that this is best served in front of a roaring fire (see
picture).
This brew poured a dark hazy
red with a 2-3 finger light brown head. Adoration was brewed with Grains of
Paradise (see Sam Adams’ Summer Ale), mace, clove, dark fruit (definitely
raisins and fig), and orange zest. This was a very fruity, yet spicy beer that
I would have to say probably aged well!
This brew had a full-body, lingered for days, and ended with a dry
finish. This brew encapsulated the past 999 brews before it. It reminded me of
all four seasons, lots of spices that I had tried before, fruit, and alcohol
(all which make a wonderful beer)! This beer also shows the progression that I
have made with my palate and launches Dick to 1,000 more!
And remember, “Love acknowledges others’ flaws. Adoration
accepts them.”
Cheers!
Dick gives this beer 4.2 kegs out of 5 for taste, but 5 kegs
for remembrance!
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