January 21, evening, a Thursday. Upstairs at EBC (Ellicotville Brewing Company West in Fredonia, NY). Gathered there, fans of beer, and fans of fans of beer. Mostly, with some welcome exceptions, members of Northern Chautauqua Home Brewer's club, spouses and friends.
The occasion: The coming out party of a young Blonde of Belgian lineage. Conceived only a few short weeks earlier in vats and tuns by the wizards from magical locations of lore: Fredonia, Ellicotville. Attended in conception by almost as many as would return to witness the success of birth and breeding. She would be made of honey and ginger as well as malts and pure waters; the yeast which would impart life to her would be summoned from across the sea, the Atlantic, from the source; from Belgium itself.
Presiding was Dustin Hazer, Brewer and Beer Culturalist. Also provided were other ales, both pale and amber, and a variety of aliments, accompanied by the pleasure of conversation and anticipation. And then it was time. It was not an ordinary coming out party, but instruction in the drinking of beer. And who, one might wonder, needs to learn how to drink beer? Been sucking down long-necks since you were how old? Ah, yes. It is a skill to learn anew, and the Blonde is proof of that.
Look, first; the initial encounter is always marked by noting the appearance, both of a person and of a beer. There is something to learn of its character by mere observation. What do you see in the body? This beer is neither clear nor dark; it is amber ..., no lighter than that. Yes, a strawberry or honey blonde, but a clouded interior bespeaks mystery. Unlike the pale ales which like to pratt of how they shine, of how transparent they are, of how you can see through them, the Blonde makes no such petty boast. Rather, "Look into me, and lose yourself." It is a beer which carries with it the yeast that spoke life into it, and which remains suspended in the very liquor. See the head, it's color, the tight small bubbles that are there, which tell of a liquid dense enough to absorb the gas emitted by yeast, and not lightly release it back. So we learn from sight, before the beer meets either nose nor tongue.
Learn again how to smell. How to smell? You don't have to know how to smell! Things smell, and all you have to do to smell them is breathe with your nose! Ah, yes; like drinking, smelling is also a skill to be honed, should you want to understand beer and not just suck it down. So we learn again to smell, and how to smell, and what to sense in the smelling of this particular beer.
And then finally comes the tasting. It is the feeling of the beer on the tongue, in the front of the mouth, along the sides, in the back; there is also the taste that comes with swallowing and cannot be had without actually drinking. There, in the back of the throat, both the alcohol and the ginger appear, the latter taming the former. This Blonde is no shrinking violet; she boasts alcohol of 11.1%. It is not easy to credit that in this beer. Smooth, creamy, spicy.
Dustin's words recieved via email, in the invitation:
"For those who were unable to attend the brew day, this beer was designed as a Belgian style Blonde ale that incorporated the use of fresh-off-the-comb local (Ellicottville) honey, and was infused with fresh local (Fredonia) ginger root. It was fermented on a special strain of yeast that was flown in from Belgium that imparted it's own hints of spice. Fermented at a somewhat higher timperature of around 75-79 F, which allowed for the main body of the beer to really shine, while the ginger was keeping the finish somewhat dry in order to keep this high alcohol brew enjoyable to drink (10% ABV after only a week of fermentation)."
There will be coming events at EBC West - a food pairings and the like. They are something to look forward to, of a Thursday evening. The coming out of this Blonde is a singular event; she has come out, and she awaits you now on tap at EBC. Go and taste, if you have room for mystery in your beer.
Note: To be informed of upcoming events at Ellicotville Brewing Company, visit their website, ask to be put on Dustin's email list, or search them on Facebook as "Ellicottville Brewing Company."