Jack Curtin’s LIQUID DIET

Father Isaac, the Prior of Abbey De Koningshoeven in the Netherlands, was at Monk’s Café last ngiht as was Isidor, the beer pictured above shortly before I downed it. It was his first visit to the U.S. and he was here for a Koningshoeven promo event which featured the American debut of Isidor, a right tasty 7.5% amber ale brewed with Perle hops grown on the monastery grounds. A few bottles were airlifted in for the event (Isidor will reach local shelves in August) at considerable cost, so getting to taste it was a special treat for those who crowded into the fabled back bar.

Note the use of the old La Trappe brand on the bottle, a name the monks had to give up in this country after local Trappists objected. Russell has the skinny on that.

Many of the usual suspects were in attendance: George Hummel, to smugly inform me that Isador was all gone before I arrived (he lied); Mrs. and Mrs. M. Haynie of New Jersey, because they are freakin’ everywhere; the inimitable Scoats, who is planning a !3 Events in 13 Hours thing for August 15, the Grey Lodge’s Thirteenth Anniversary, and Gordon Grubb of Nodding Head, about whom more in a minute.

I didn’t to talk to the Prior since I was only there for half an hour (see subsequent post for why) but I did at least exchange greetings with Gisj Swinkels, the layman in charge of brewing operations at the monastery. And I did manage to get these photos of Tom Peters and Father Isaac…

In this first one, I believe Tom is holding up five fingers to stress what he is saying to Gordon. “You’ve already had five Isidors, let’s leave some for the rest of the guests.”

And here, Father Isaac is astonished to learn the dimensions of Gordon’s transgression. Whether he offered the miscreant Confession or not, I don’t know, because I had to leave. The night was still young and there were things still to be accomplished.

Tags: Beer Buddies, Beer Events, Breweries, Brewers, Cafes, Restaurants, Taverns //