Friday 6 May 2011

Lovely Free Beer


I rarely get sent free beer despite my extremely educated palate and my record of beer tasting going back donkey's years, as well as my leading blog status. I think I protest too much about not drinking at home. However the nice people that do the UK PR for Duvel-Moortgat kindly sent me a couple of bottles of Vedett and I've gone and drunked them.

I remember visiting Duvel many years ago and the hospitality was mighty. They brewed a pilsner then too I recall, so whether this is the same one or not, I have no idea. I do though remember, distinctly, the feeling of impending doom when they let us loose in the hospitality suite and our concerns amid a sea of Duvel, Duvel Green Label (it goes back years folks) and Maredsous, that by the time we got to De Koninck later that day we'd be pissed. I needn't have fretted. By the time we got to De Koninck we were indeed completely pissed, but happily, no longer worrying about it.

Back to Vedett then. Not the most complex beer ever, but I doubt if it is meant to be. Crisp, a bit of hop, very highly carbonated and would be great in the sunshine, or just as I did as a thirst quencher. It feels far cleaner than a lot of pils type beers and I like clean in a beer. You don't need to know any more really.

So there you are. Send me beer and you'll get history, provenance and usually an anecdote. Oh and possibly a nice mention too. Get sending then.

16 comments:

Dominic, Thornbridge said...

Send you BOTTLED beer? No chance. You'd never drink it. I'll buy you a pint instead.

Tandleman said...

Well - I suppose it's the thought that counts Dom.

Neil, Eating isn't Cheating said...

I never get sent free beer!

Maybe when I break the top 20 on Wikio (in at 25 this month) I'll get sent some free, lovely beer. Or even just lovely free beer. either will do.

Tandleman said...

Top 10, top 5 -I've been there. Still no beer. Try crawling though.

Birkonian said...

I'd accept free beer or lovely beer. I did the Moortagt brewery tour a few years ago. For a 1 Euro donation to charity you get a tour, beer/glass gift pack plus a few hours free beer with sandwiches. The downside was I was part of a coach trip which was due to re-unite mw with my car about 9 hours later. As I'd spent 3 days pickled in Belgian beer I had to abstain while everyone else got drunk.

Curmudgeon said...

Where's mine?

I did get a shedload of beer from Wells & Youngs last year (which I was generally quite complementary about, and even donated some to a CAMRA raffle) but since then nothing :-(

Mind you, if you are a small, newly-established British micro brewery, and want me to sample your new bottle-conditioned ale, on past form best forget it.

Beer Sagas said...

Free beer. That would be something... :)

In the meantime I will enjoy beers at Norwegian prices. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I like travelling abroad?

ZakAvery said...

Apparently Duvel Green is now being marketed as Duvel Single Fermented. Just FYI.

Tandleman said...

Zak - Then it was reserved for Duvel's own tied cafes. As for the new name? Don't like it.

Brewers Union Local 180 said...

I'm only permitted to send "yeast samples".

Tandleman said...

BU - I got a nice case of yeast samples last year from BridgePort, but there I have a connection.

rabidbarfly said...

What happened to that Kernel Black IPA?

Tandleman said...

Hoped you wouldn't notice this post (-;
It's still in the fridge! I'll drink it this weekend.

Honest!

rabidbarfly said...

Enjoy!

Baron Orm said...

Tandleman you seem to be whoring for free beer more than me! ;)

Glad you are starting to get samples, maybe you can come over to Ormskirk one evening to help Chris & I 'baron rate' a few bottled beers?

I'd even let you pick them...

Tandleman said...

Very much tongue in cheek Baron. I'll think about your kind off er though.