Saturday, February 25, 2012

With Apologies to Dumbarton's Brewing

I like beer. This ought not to come as much of a surprise to you. And while I like lots of different kinds of beer, my tastes generally run to either really hoppy ales or really chocolatey porters and stouts. Lager? I hardly know her.

For the past month or so, I've been fairly diligently following an uber-healthy 'cleansing' diet prescribed by Dr. KQ (who may or may not be an actual doctor) after I complained of feeling sluggish and bloated following a particularly gluttonous holiday season. I ate tons of vegetables and fruit, lots of fiber (flaxseed and steel cut oats in my breakfast smoothie ever day, like clockwork - and as a result, that's not the only thing that's like clockwork), quinoa, beans, and lean meat proteins (turkey, chicken, eggs). I refrained almost entirely from butter, cheese, bread, beef, pork, and most saturated fats. I even cut back on (though didn't eliminate entirely - don't tell Dr. KQ) my alcohol intake.

Last weekend, I ran my first half marathon, covering the 13.1 miles in a slow but steady 2:04.25. I ate the best Krispy Kreme donut of my life about 10 minutes later, but I never really got a chance to reward myself with a really great beer splurge.

I'm fortunate to live near a Wegman's, a big box grocery chain that caters to obnoxious elitists like me - lots of fancy schmancy organic foods, high-end cheeses, and most importantly a large selection of beer and wine. Last night, in search of something new and interesting with which to pat myself on the back, I grabbed one of these:


New Belgium Brewing's Lips of Faith series explores regional flavors and their expressions in beer. The Cocoa Mole Ale, as you might guess, is inspired by Mexican ingredients, featuring chocolate, cocoa, ancho, guajillo, and chipotle spices, and a bit of cinnamon. Quite simply, it's a phenomenal quaff. The flavors are perfectly balanced, and the subtle heat of the peppers builds slowly with each swallow, lingering after the liquid passes your mouth.

I know you usually get your imbibing tips at our friend Dumbarton's web abode, but trust me on this - try the Cocoa Mole. You'll be supporting a great craft brewer and your taste buds will wake up and say thank you.

18 comments:

rob said...

thanks to w&m's loss and jmu's win, the tribe plays georgia state at 6:00 on friday. who wants to go to richmond with me? i'm dragging fogtb billy karn along.

Clarence said...

Barnburner in Norfolk as ODU senior Kent Bazemore is fouled from beyond the line with under a second to go with his team down three. Makes the first two, just short on the third. Drexel wins.

Both teams look way, way, way better than the Tribe. Rob, you're on your own next Friday. I'll be watching the Cowboy Junkies at a tiny joint and prepping for Gfest.

Danimal said...

Redfish grill....abita beer....bourbon st....and the vcu/mason game on the tube. You like apples?

Danimal said...

And sitting at bar next to a young couple who is conversing w a guy they met not more than 10 min ago....its very chummy. The stranger just guessed her breast size (34D...and she's pretty hot) and its now getting even chummier.

Dave said...

does it actually taste like mole sauce? because i love beer and i love mole sauce, and i'm not sure if i can responsibly handle the two combined.

rob said...

igor, i watched that game. bazemore was such a stud. shame it ended that way. drexel's gonna win at least one ncaa tourney game.

dave, it does have a little bit of mole flavor. it's really quite terrific.

rob said...

duh, tribe's playing northeastern, not georgia state. we actually beat northeastern handily in the burg earlier in the month.

Dave said...

can i get a fucking answer here? DOES THE BEER TASTE LIKE MOLE SAUCE? i don't think anyone realizes how important this answer is to me.

Dave said...

wow. i need to read more carefully before i go berserk with the cap lock button. SORRY!

okay, now i've got to find this stuff pronto.

Marls said...

Dave - this might help

http://tinyurl.com/BeerforangryNJguy

rob said...

daytona! get fired up.

T.J. said...

Yes, rain delayed car races are very exciting.

rob said...

oscars, daytona, nba all-star game. worst 'big' night in teevee history.

Danimal said...

Was there an over / under in this all-star game?

Mark said...

Florida swept William & Mary in baseball this weekend. Suck it, smart guys.

T.J. said...

rob's muppet song won.

Clarence said...

Muppets win!!!

Clarence said...

Men Without Hats' sophomore slump song in a commercial. Unlikely but true.