Year of New Beer (Day 1000): 2009 Cuvee de Tomme & Love Child #4

Written By: Dion on 09/26/2014

Today's Year of New Beer post is a little different. I've been drinking craft beer for nearly 20 years. How many have I tried? I'm not really sure, since my sampling pre-dates the internet (that time when we actually looked at a map to get where we were going, and famous people didn't have every action analyzed by armchair psychologists). If I had to guess, I've probably tried in excess of 3000 unique beers. What I know for sure is on January 1, 2012, I decided to try a beer I'd never had before, every single day for one year. With the proliferation of craft beer, that was an easy task. So I kept going...and going...and today I hit 1000 days. On some days, I've been lucky enough to try more than one new beer, but I've stayed true to the quest...meaning if you see it posted on my wall, I sampled it that day, nothing carries over. I had envisioned a big party with a bunch of my beer nerd friends to celebrate Day 1000, but this whole moving thing sort of got in the way. So I decided to fall back on what the heart of craft beer is to me--friendship. I've met some great people through beer over these last several years, and I wanted to drink something good with a good friend. So I turned to my Yoda, Chris Vandergrift, who graciously provided Beer 1000--a 2009 Cuvee de Tomme from The Lost Abbey (CA). Cherry and oak on the nose in a rather subdued fashion, giving little hint to the puckering sourness that lies ahead. The vanilla alluded to on the label has all but vanished as a red wine vinegar acidity rules, drying the tongue and getting slightly harsh on the finish. The cherries are nice throughout, but both of us are left wondering what this beer would have been like a year or two ago. For my half of the share, we opened Love Child #4, Boulevard Brewing (MO). Another wild ale, but only a few months old. This one again brings the tartness of unripened berries, but they are tempered in their astringency, perhaps by the blended portion from the bourbon barrel aging. Ultimately though, it's the wine barrel portion that wins out, providing a nice funky element to the beer. Two great versions of the same style, shared with a good friend. How much longer will I continue the streak? At least a while, I'm sure. But whether I'm trying a new beer or enjoying an old favorite, I'm going to make an effort to share the good ones with good friends. Cheers!