Sunday 12 August 2012

Savory Sunday: Beer and Chocolate


We had friends over for dinner last week and for l'apéro, I thought it'd be fun to do a little beer tasting. Back in college, I came to appreciate all kinds of beers and really miss the microbreweries of the States. Unfortunately, since I moved to France, I haven't had a lot of opportunity to drink beer. As a consequence, I know very little about European beers. Anyway, I thought I'd go out and grab some random bottles at our local beer store (which is huge btw) to sample with friends. This is what I ended up with:  




My favorites were the first two on the left and the last on the right .
Abbaye des Rocs a dark Belgium beer (9 %), Tripel Karmeliet (8.4%) a Belgium light beer that claims their 3 grain beer recipe dates back to the 17th century in the Carmes de Termonde monastery. And lastely, Chimay (9%) another Belgium dark beer  brewed by Trappist monks of the Abbaye de Scourmont.  

The Quintine (8%) was a light beer and the only reason I got it is because I like the label. Serves me right, it really does taste like witches brew. The Timmermans (4.5%) was a bit too aggressive to my liking as far as taste, and the Goliath (9%) was so strong  I ended up watering the weeds with what was left in my glass. 

If anyone has any suggestions I should try let me know. Got any favorites?


And for you non-alcoholic / chocolate fans, here's something really simple to make and an instant smile generator no matter what time of year. Make hot chocolate and use a tooth pic to skewer two marshmallows and pinch them to the edge of your mug. See, you're smiling already. (:


My kids love this. Even in the summer, it's a hit.

17 comments:

  1. Now if you'd have said 'wine tasting' I would have been there!! It is so much down to personal taste. Love the hot chocolate. I fancied hot chocolate last night but we are currently enjoying a mini heatwave and I couldn't be bothered in the end.

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  2. Hey Elise,

    Try Duvel (Flemish for "Devil" if I'm correct :) it's *amazing*

    Can't remember the name, but *any* Belgian beer that comes in a *large* bottle that looks like a champagne bottle:)

    Sounds like you had a great time :)

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  3. the dutch/irish/brits/germans/scandinavians and many more, make excellent beers/ales and stouts... sample til you find what you like

    of commercial brews, i like heineken [dutch], but like you, prefer the stuff from micro-breweries... again, sample til you find a fave or three ;)

    some kits for home brews are excellent as well

    [you may want to sample some meads - honey wines - just check out sweetness index and other content]

    salut!

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    Replies
    1. i think belgians make better chocolates; dutch, the better brews... but that's me ;) lol

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  4. I'm *such* a hot chocolate girl... I drink it in the summer... So calming! :)

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  5. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'd love to taste beer with you. Oktoberfest here we come!

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  6. Sally: We've had so much rain this year that I don't think it will be a good year for French wine. ):

    Mark: check your e-mail. (:

    lawolf: I need to get my hands on some dutch brews for another round of comparison tasting... And yes, belgium chocolate is amazing. (: I'm so hungry for chocolate right now!! grrr.

    Morgan: Me too, love me some hot chocoate.

    Michael: That would be so much fun. Who knows, maybe some day.... *raises glass* Cheers!

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  7. Your title made me grimace at the thought of beer and chocolate together, but now I see. ;)

    I rarely drink and I don't know much about beer except that 'skunk butt beer' tastes better than it smells. LOL Sniff a Heineken and you'll know what I mean. :P

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  8. I'm not a beer drinker and not really a choccie fan either... got any ideas up your sleeve, for concoctions involving sweet rose'?

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  9. I'm not a beer connoisseur, so I can't be much help to you, especially since my taste in beer runs to light, crip lagers, like Heineken.

    But I AM a chocolate connoisseur and must agree about Belgian chocolates rocking the casbah. :-)
    Some Dark Romantic

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  10. Mmmm, chocolate! I actually don't like beer, so I can't help there :)

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  11. Melissa: LOL. I wouldn't be surprised if chocolate beer exists. And lol at skunk butt beer! I'm going to have to give it a try...I think. (;

    Michelle: sweet rose? Sounds really interesting. The closest thing around here is sweet violets...Let me look into this... (:

    Mina: If anything, you need to come here for the chocolate...just try not to OD on it, K? (:

    Kelley: You'd love the chocolate over here!! (:


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  12. Somehow or other, despite repeated attempts to develop a taste for it (including several incidents in college involving kegs I'd rather not speak of), I've never really become a beer guy. I'll occasionally drink a Labatt (good Canadian, eh?), but I'm much more likely to pop the cork on a crisp, cool bottle of Riesling.

    Ah, but chocolate? Especially dark chocolate? Oh, sweet manna of the Gods...

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  13. Hi Elise! I'm bookmarking this for my husband. He loves to try different beer. Thanks, sweetie. Missed you!

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  14. I haven't tried too much beer before. So far I haven't found any I liked. Heh.

    And, yes, the cup of hot chocolate did make me smile. :)

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  15. Chris: I have no idea what Riesling is, but you have piqued my curiosity. (: Also, LOL at "Oh, sweet manna of the Gods..." :D

    Mina: Miss you too! Glad you're back. (=

    Cherie: Beer isn't for everyone but thank the Chocolate Gods for sharing their treasures. (:

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  16. Enjoying your savory Sundays! We have a micro brewery around the corner from us which I am still meaning to try out. Norwegian beer is very good, if you get the chance you should give it a try :)

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