24 Sep
2003
24 Sep
'03
10:48 a.m.
Well, sort of:
The Map Room has acquired a couple of _kegs_
of Grottenbier, the beer Peter Celis brewed in
Belgium after leaving Texas. Previously only available
in bottles, the beer is a spiced, relatively strong
brown ale. From rarebeer.com:
"Grotto" or "Cave" beer created by
the great brewer Pierre Celis.
He was the first to have the dream of maturing a beer by the
Champagne method, but after 15 years of work on the project,
decided to press ahead with the remuage (in which the bottles
are turned during storage) but without the degorgement.
Pierre's focus has been on the influence of the turning and of
the natural, even temperature and humidity.
The Grottenbier, matured in caves near the river Meuse, is a
strong (5.2w; 6.5abv) dark ale, in which small quantities of
"exotic" spices are added to create a gentle, balancing dryness
and crispness.
When Michael Jackson tasted an early batch, in December 1998,
he named it his Beer of the Year.
The Map Room is located at 1949 N Hoyne, near Damen & Armitage.
Z