Pizza Port 12 Hour Belgian Beer Party

On Saturday the 25^th I hopped on a train with my bike and headed down to Pizza Port Carlsbad for the 12 Hour Belgian Beer Party.  The party was set in part to in honor Belgian Independence day which had occurred a few days earlier.  

Cantillon Saint Lamvinus

I was joined by my buddy and brewing mentor Shawn Olson and his wife.  Shawn has spent a large part of 2011 focused on learning about and brewing Belgian beers.  To date he has brewed some of the best Belgian beers I’ve ever had, his quad for one is a thing of beauty.

 
I had heard a lot about Pizza Port Festivals and this lived up to expectations.  It was well run, organized with a great line up of, mostly bottled, Belgian and Belgian inspired beers. 

I was a little concerned going in as I’ve not been the biggest fan of Belgian beers in the past.  Luckily I remembered what I’ve learned this year about Belgians, it’s less a style then it is a region. It would be like saying one doesn’t like American Craft beer just because they don’t like American Amber / Red Ales.

Reviewing my notes I was able to try the following beers which were mostly sours.  Sours have quickly become a style that I am enjoying. They aren’t for everyone and definitely an acquired taste. 

One of the Breweries represented that I was most excited to try had to be Cantillon. Till this point I had only heard of them and their reputation for sour beers. It was nice to have an opportunity to try the ones I did.

Beers I tried

Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus

Some of the Bottles

Drie Fonteinen Schaaerbeeksr Kriek

Panil Barriquee Sour Red Ale

Lost Abbey Carnevale

Cantillon Saint Lamvinus

Cantillon Cuvée Des Champions

Boulevard Tank 7

Dubuisson Scaldis Prestige de Nuits

Russian River Consecration

Hanssens Lambic Experimental Cassis

Hanssens Scarenbecca Kriek

Russian River Temptation

Orval – in my brand new Orval glass!

The top spots went to Cantillon Saint Lamvinus, Panil Barriquée Riserva and Russian River Temptation

My New Orval Glass Filled with Orval

Monster Bottle of Temptation