Try?
In my never
ending quest to dig up new and exciting beers, I’m often struck by the
choices people make when it comes to beer. I thought of this the other day
when I saw a fellow carrying a twelve-pack of Coronas out the door of the
local Publix supermarket. Likely, that’s the only beer he drinks. Oh how
he’s missing out, I thought to myself, and proceeded to the Beverage
Resort across the parking lot.
Where I picked up a bottle of Mort Subite Cassis Lambic, along with some other brews. That night, as I sipped on my beers at home, I couldn’t help but think of the guy with the Coronas. I know this may sound a bit snobbish, my friends, but really, it’s not.
Think about food for example. How would you like to sit down to a meal at home, at a restaurant, it doesn’t really matter where. Now imagine that you were served a delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. And nothing else. No potato. No vegetables. No salad. Just steak.
The next morning, when you wake up, time for breakfast! What’s on the menu? Why a delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. And for lunch? A delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. Same the next day. And the next. And the next.
Now, this analogy may seem a bit excessive, but really, it’s not. Because when you think about all the different foods that you enjoy so much, you should realize that the reason you like them in the first place is because at some point, you tried them. They were new to you at least at some point in your life, but you gave them a chance, and found them good.
Beer is much the same. If you try different beers, you will most certainly find some new and exciting brews that you’ll enjoy. Mort Subite Cassis Lambic may very well be one of them. Is this a beer to die for? Well, maybe not exactly. But the name does mean sudden death, although I assure you, this beer won’t kill you.
As beer lovers all know, the Belgians are the masters of eccentric beers. They just love to brew spontaneously-fermented lambics, already much different from your average brew. But that’s not enough. Frequently, they will further ferment them with fruit.
Raspberries and cherries are most common. Some lambics, however, are made with peaches, bananas, or even pineapples. Cassis lambic is flavored with black currant juice. And the results are extraordinary.
What are black currants? They are berries native to Europe and similar to blackberries in taste. The French often use black currant liqueur (Cassis) mixed with a bit of white wine to make a kir, a popular aperitif. You will sometimes see kir lambics made with black currants, too.
Mort Subite Cassis Lambic pours to a bright purplish color with a formidable thick creamy head and a tart berryish nose. A steady trace of thick Brussels lace follows the liquid all the way down your glass. Immediately, the palate is dominated by the strong berry flavor, though the beer is not at all sweet. The palate is very creamy and smooth, and the fruit flavors dominate all the way into the finish. There, a refreshing and quenching tartness punctuates nicely.
This is a delightful beer, very different from what you may think beer can be. But if you don’t try it, you’ll never know! In that spirit, why not pick up something different today?
Where I picked up a bottle of Mort Subite Cassis Lambic, along with some other brews. That night, as I sipped on my beers at home, I couldn’t help but think of the guy with the Coronas. I know this may sound a bit snobbish, my friends, but really, it’s not.
Think about food for example. How would you like to sit down to a meal at home, at a restaurant, it doesn’t really matter where. Now imagine that you were served a delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. And nothing else. No potato. No vegetables. No salad. Just steak.
The next morning, when you wake up, time for breakfast! What’s on the menu? Why a delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. And for lunch? A delicious, juicy, sizzling steak. Same the next day. And the next. And the next.
Now, this analogy may seem a bit excessive, but really, it’s not. Because when you think about all the different foods that you enjoy so much, you should realize that the reason you like them in the first place is because at some point, you tried them. They were new to you at least at some point in your life, but you gave them a chance, and found them good.
Beer is much the same. If you try different beers, you will most certainly find some new and exciting brews that you’ll enjoy. Mort Subite Cassis Lambic may very well be one of them. Is this a beer to die for? Well, maybe not exactly. But the name does mean sudden death, although I assure you, this beer won’t kill you.
As beer lovers all know, the Belgians are the masters of eccentric beers. They just love to brew spontaneously-fermented lambics, already much different from your average brew. But that’s not enough. Frequently, they will further ferment them with fruit.
Raspberries and cherries are most common. Some lambics, however, are made with peaches, bananas, or even pineapples. Cassis lambic is flavored with black currant juice. And the results are extraordinary.
What are black currants? They are berries native to Europe and similar to blackberries in taste. The French often use black currant liqueur (Cassis) mixed with a bit of white wine to make a kir, a popular aperitif. You will sometimes see kir lambics made with black currants, too.
Mort Subite Cassis Lambic pours to a bright purplish color with a formidable thick creamy head and a tart berryish nose. A steady trace of thick Brussels lace follows the liquid all the way down your glass. Immediately, the palate is dominated by the strong berry flavor, though the beer is not at all sweet. The palate is very creamy and smooth, and the fruit flavors dominate all the way into the finish. There, a refreshing and quenching tartness punctuates nicely.
This is a delightful beer, very different from what you may think beer can be. But if you don’t try it, you’ll never know! In that spirit, why not pick up something different today?
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
