Det er ikke meget galt, at jeg for første gang i Stovts historie føler mig en smule starstruck. Dagens bidragsyder til Poesibogen er Patrick Dawson, forfatteren til Vintage Beer som jeg flere gange har fremhævet her på bloggen, og i min bog en af de bedste og mest levende ølskribenter derude, der har leveret materiale til så godt som alle amerikanske ølblade. Vi stiller om.
What is your favorite beer?
Hmmm, this is always the hardest question for me. My first reaction was Rodenbach Grand Cru, so I'll go with that. Its combination of young, fruity, sweet Rodenbach Red, and the complex, mature foederbier is just so satisfying. I drink a lot of aged beer, and love the complexities that cellared beer offers, but often times I miss that fresh beer taste. Some US breweries are beginning to take this blended approach, and I really hope it takes off. I know from a logistical standpoint it is very different mode of operation than what they are used to.
What is your favorite beer type?
This seems to change every week or so. Right now I would have to say barrel-aged Imperial Stouts, but last month I couldn't get enough of the new wave of hazy, tropical IPAs that are becoming very popular here in the States. I think my current love for imperial stouts has to do with it being the middle of winter right now. It's my favorite beer to sip on while it's snowing outside. I love finding a bottle that still has some coffee-esqe roasted bite left to it, but has been barrel-aged long enough to start to develop those sweet vanilla and fudge-brownie notes.
Where do you buy your beer?
I live in Denver and there is a little bottle shop just down the street from me named Toast that I do a lot of my shopping at. They have nearly everything I need and are always willing to order bottles, or hold something for me if I can't get to the store right away. So many American beer drinkers spend a lot time hunting around at every shop in town for limited release beer, but I think it's better to develop a relationship with the folks at your local store, and they'll take care of you. It's so much less stressful. I'm moving to Italy in a few weeks though and will have to find out the best way to buy beer there. Looking forward to figuring it out!
What has been your greatest beer experience?
Great question. I would have to say the first time I visited Drie Fontienen. My wife and I traveled there by train from Brussels and were blown away by their beers (they were hardly imported to the US back then). We even got to try some vintage bottles he was selling at the time which helped open my eyes to the magic that is aged lambic. After chatting with the owner, Armand DeBelder, for a while he had his wife drive us to lambic bar he had suggested, but was inaccessible from public transit. After enjoying many fine gueuzes at the bar, the bartender then drove us back to the train station. This kind of hospitality is pretty much unheard of back in the US, and that paired with some of the best beers I've ever had made quite the impression on me.
What makes beer so great?
The vast range of flavors that can be attained. Think of the difference between an IPA and a vintage imperial stout, it's just astounding. It makes beer so versatile, enabling you to find a beer to match just about any mood or situation. I think this especially applies to pairing beer with food. I feel that when enjoying a meal, beer's versatility makes it far superior to wine, which has a more limited range of flavors. Though I'm sure a wine enthusiast would say the exact opposite!