Serious Times Call for Serious Beers

This is no time to be drinking light lagers, Obama. No, now is the time for beers with some fortitude, some 'umph'. A drink with real substance and a big taste that can warm your heart even as you watch the least-common-denominator pander-fest that is our presidential election. A satisfying malt shoulder to lean on while the world economy attempts to China Syndrome us all into amateur fur traders and dirt farmers.

So stop panic-sloshing your Miller Light on your 401k statement and come down to my beer fridge where I have 10 gallons of Serious Beer chilling.

Serious Beer #1: The Saison
Oh yes. A clone of Brewery Ommegang's Hennepin - possibly the best beer in the world in my opinion. One usually things of strong beers as being dark in color, but this is not the case with the Saison. Originally brewed in farmhouse attics in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium, it is a gold/amber color. This beer is bound for consumption at our Octoberfest party and I don't expect it to survive the night. The recipe includes rock candy to pump up the ABV and at 7.2% this beer is serious business.

Serious Beer #2: The Strong Ale
This one is dark. Real dark. Brewed in traditional English Old Ale style and I even got a hold of some plug hops for the aroma. Bigger than a porter, but not as rich as a barleywine, it is sweet, malty, and at 6.9% ABV a serious beer.