There is something to a beer that gets imported. It feels like one is buying something exclusive, something which others do not have access to. And then you see the price of the beer is almost cheaper than locally brewed beers, then that same product does not look that exclusive any longer; instead, I begin to question how they can ship this beer so far with it still being so cheap.
Usually with beer, I get into this philosophical disposition or attitude in which I begin to think deeper than usual.
Accompanied by the most spectacular view, I could not help but ponder some of the more fundamental things in life. Who would have guessed that a can of liquid can make someone think? The thoughts were not all that coherent, but at the time of drinking the beer, that was not all that problematic.
Only now, after having had all of the thoughts and the beer do I need to sift through the strange thoughts that occupied my mind.
I hope you enjoy these philosophical but beer musings!
First of all, it poured into a beautifully hazy beer with a beautiful white and creamy head. How wonderful that such a piece of art can be contained in a small can like that. From the pour, it had beautiful and strong notes of citrus and pine, but not too overwhelming. On the first sip, I was met with the familiar Belgian wit beer taste, similar to that of Hoegaarden (for me at least). This beer contrasted so well with the previous beer I reviewed (the Pale Weizenbock), the hoppy flavours coming through only a little bit.
The lacing was beautiful, and with each sip as the beer warmed up a bit closer to room temperature, the classic wit notes came through; some spices, some citrus, and that classic wheat beer "smell". If I were more poetic and had access to more nouns in my mind, I would have been able to describe the wheat beer and Weiss smell and taste.
The beer had 5 % ABV, so it was really refreshing without too many notes of alcohol that sometimes overpower the freshness of a beer.
We need to constantly practice a vigilance against the mere adoption of an attitude that things are as they are. From various perspectives, the same situation can look vastly different. The same beer can taste whole different after having eaten something bitter or sweet. There is no inherent taste to the beer, what would that even mean? The beer tastes like this to me at this moment after having been through this or that situation...
After finishing the beer, the vast open landscape (of my thoughts) remained in front of me. In its open expansions, I could not see the end in sight, and it became less and less about the end destination and more about the journey I took, the steps that I needed to take but also the ones I already took.
Few things are as good as a beer and pondering the corners of one's mind.
I hope that you had a good beer and a good thinking session behind you or in front of you.
Keep well, and enjoy a cold beer!
All of the musings and meanderings are my own, albeit inspired by the constant sips of this beer. The photographs used in this post are also my own, taken with my Nikon D300.
Inside the Philosopher's Beer Fridge
| Cederberg Brewery | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Voertsek IPA |
| Clarens Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 IPA | |
| 🍺 Hazelnut Brown Ale: Clarens Goes Nuts | |
| 🍺 Stout | |
| 🍺 Tondon Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Village Lager | |
| 🍺 Weiss | |
| 🍺 English Ale | |
| 🍺 Blonde | |
| 🍺 Mulled Apple Cider | |
| 🍺 Red Ale |
| Darling Brew | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Warlord Imperial IPA | |
| 🍺 Arrow Head Russian Imperial Stout | |
| 🍺 Long Claw Modern Saison |
| Devil's Peak Beer Company | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Jucy Lucy Hazy IPA | |
| 🍺 King's Blockhouse IPA |
| Drakensberg Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Cathedral Peak Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Champagne Castle Blonde Ale | |
| 🍺 Giant's Castle Stout | |
| 🍺 Amphitheater Red Ale |
| Hey Joe Brewing Co | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Session IPA |
| Route 96 Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Zamalek Lager | |
| 🍺 Summer Blond | |
| 🍺 Africa Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Stout |
| Saggy Stone Brewing Co | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Bear Jam - Session IPA | |
| 🍺 Pale Weizenbock |
| That Brewing Co. | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 That Blond Ale | |
| 🍺 That Subtropical Ale (Delicious Monster) | |
| 🍺 That American Pale Ale (APA) | |
| 🍺 'el Juicy IPA | |
| 🍺 VESS KISS IPA |
Nice musings - very poetic.
Imported beers can really be hit or miss for me. I always worry about the extra preservatives they use to keep them fresh during transport. I'm in Canada though so the journey is a long one to get to me from pretty much anywhere. In Europe I don't think the lat there would be that same issue. The drive is probably shorter than beers coming from some places in my own province 😂
That beer sounded good. Sounds refreshing. Cheers 🍻
Oh thanks my friend! For sure, I worry about the same thing. Funny enough, the problem of preservation was the reason for the IPA beers! Inda Pale Ale, extra hops for the extra long travels! If I have the history correct now.
I have heard that also so I believe that you are correct. Hops are natural preservatives and they used them to preserve beers during on the long ship journey from Britain to India along of the India trading route.
Okay, so I was not mistaken, thanks for backing it up! Incredible how things back then led to for example the modern IPA! I love to read about these stories especially if I have a nice cold beer with me. Keep well, and happy drinking!
Thanks. You as well.