spent a pleasant bit of wednesday evening in The Dove, Broadway Market, next to the Regent's Canal in E London, where they have a fantastic selection of Belgian wonderbrews. Ooh yum.
Flippin' supermarkets; they take the pleasure out of everything. How can you say you've earned a drink when you haven't had to spend 15 hours wallowing across the North Sea to get it? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.
Out of principle, I would not buy Duvel in the UK. It s a Grail thing.
A sample.......
Thomas Hardy's Ale 2005 Vintage
(Reference - UKTH102)
Tasting Notes: Britain's strongest ale is a piece of brewing history.
Bottles of this rare, bottle conditioned classic have kept for at least 25 years, maturing in flavour like fine wine.
'Bottle Conditioning' is a secondary fermentation in the bottle during which Thomas Hardy's ale develops its uniquely rich and complex character. The process produces a sediment which is laid down over time as part of the natural fermentation process.
Country: UK
Region: England
Brewery::
Type: ale/altbier
ABV: 11.7%
Bottle Size: 250ml
Case Size: 24
We call Leffe "COMPUTERBEER" because it is specialy made to have a taste most of the people worldwide would like.
To me and for most of the Belgians the best beer is DUVEL but drink it in a cold Duvel glas mmmm.... think am gonne have some this evening on the boat... its flippin 21°C on the coast..., 29.8 inland... and boat is still in Waregem (inland...)
Compie..... those of us that have sampled Duvel would agree completely!
I too will sample a bottle this evening.... and following your advice have just put two glasses in the fridge!..... its import from the last trip at the moment, so I can keep Full Circle appeased for at least a few more days yet!