ok, so this weekend in review is more like a week in review since AP and I met up with CB, JVG, AF, DH, and JC at la trappe on tuesday.

• although their prices made la trappe more of a special occasion destination during these recession days, their beer list was thorough (as always) and I had to resist getting some fries and mussels.
• I couldn’t resist the drie fonteinen geuze though – what an amazing, complex beverage.  picked up another bottle of it at bottle barn recently for under $15 – I can’t think of a better beer at that price point.
• later that week I dropped by CB’s to sample some of his latest brews and see how my steam/common was doing.
• CB said it had cleared up, and after a quick pour I was happy to confirm.  what can I say, it is damn tasty.
• the weekend led AP and I down to LA, where we rolled over to naja’s with AP for some fish tacos, great beers (hop 15, pliny, old chub, etc.), friendly staff, and fantastic weather.
• and on a side note, I learned a thing or two this weekend, compliments of the mad fermentationist (luckily, one of the ‘things’ was not the belgium/belgian issue).

I’ll never turn down a request for happy hour at columbus cafe in north beach.

• they have 26 beers on tap, mostly usual suspects, but they have a great west coast IPA selection.
• last friday I met up here with AP, AP, and TM.  I started off with a lagunitas IPA, then finished off with a bear republic racer 5 IPA – 2 of my favorite “session IPAs.”
• all seats were taken when I got there about 6:30, but it wasn’t crowded.  however, I have been here after 9 or 10pm and the place was shoulder-to-shoulder, so proceed with caution.
• columbus cafe’s happy hour runs from 4-8 (although I thought it stopped at 7 last friday – better double-check).
• the happy hour is 2-for-1 beers, which they give you a token to redeem.  this is a great idea since you don’t have to use the token that day, and can redeem it another time.
• another great element here is golden boy pizza down the street, which turns out awesome slices.  columbus and golden boy are the north beach equivalent of rosamunde and toronado - they were meant to be.
• also, FYI, rogue, la trappe, and church key are also within walking distance of this place.

bar lineup at la trappe

Rolled over to La Trappe last night with CB and Dave.  As of late, the place has been getting super crowded, to the point where I actually walked away a couple weekend nights when it was shoulder-to-shoulder and rolled over to Rogue instead.  I like La Trappe though, great belgian selection on draft and in bottles, and the staff is usually pretty friendly.  Oh yeah, the food is great here too.  Overall it’s always near the top of my list when I’m in North Beach.

• the place was full underground when we walked in, but we managed to get a table within 5-10 minutes.  note to self – come here on weeknights, screw the weekend crowd.
• busted out Temptation on draft – great as always, dunno how vinnie does it.
• followed by Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze – awesome, super dry. it was interesting to follow temptation with this one.  a discussion ensued as to whether any american brewer would sack it up and start exclusively doing geuzes/lambics/spontaneously fermented beers.  more on that topic later.
• finished off the night with  Gouden Carolus Cuvée Van De Keizer. great belgian strong, a year or two more in the bottle and it would be out of control.

a round of temptation

geuze: my favorite style?

great way to finish up the night