Hel & Verdoemenis

Brouwerij Van Molen:
Hel & Verdoemenis

I picked up this beer while late one night while I was wondering through the Castro in San Francisco on a tip from bartender who I had met a few hours before. Like the happenstance occurrence that caused me to be walked down the street, it was pure whimsy that I decided to head into the nearest little corner store I could find and pick up a beer or two for my night's adventures.

-->
Little did I know that I had just happened across one of the true hidden gems of the city, a tiny little place called Healthy Spirits, that is backed wall-to-wall, and floor to ceiling with beer and wine. And most surprising to me at least is that sheer number of beers I had never even seen of before, let alone heard of, and I have spent more than my fair share of time buying and hanging around beer selling establishments. Anyway, on to the beer...

(Specs) IBU 99.9, ABV 10.2%

Colour: Black
Aroma: Slightly alcoholic, dark and sweet fermented smell slightly hoppy
Head: Small bubbles, dark brown

Inital Taste: Bittersweet, slight coffee
Mouthfeel: Very full bodied, very dark (almost tasted similar to soy sauce)
Aftertaste: Spicy, bitter

Verdict: This was truly one of the most unique beers I have ever had, from the cellaring instructions, to the sealing wax, to the taste. However, there are some beers that you really have to be in the mood in order to drink them and I think I picked an off day. However, since I have only ever seen this bottle once, if I saw it again I would pick it up in a heartbeat.

La Trappe Quadrupel

This was the second beer that I picked up on my trip to Bier Markt, a quadruple, or a beer that has been fermented four times. Another interesting thing about this beer is that is bears the official designation of being a trappist beer, the specifics of which can be found here, but mostly stem from being made in a trappist monastery in the Benelux area (in this case Holland).

Name: La Trappe Quadrupel
Year: 2011
ABV: 10.0%
poured from a 11.2oz bottle into a pilsner glass
(site)


Colour: A reddish gold, cloudy (due to yeast, presumably)
Aroma: Medium distinctly hoppy smell
Head: Small head with creamy, offwhite bubbles


Initial Taste: Slightly sweet fermented hop taste
Mouth-feel: Medium bodied beer, sweetness of hops grows, but is not spicy or saccharine
Aftertaste: Slightly sour fermented taste, slightly taste the alcohol*

*initially this was very overpowering but I let the beer air for a few seconds and it decreased noticeably.

Verdict: It is definitely an interesting beer and the the history is pretty cool, so if someone is buying and it's on the menu, check it out, I probably