Commentist Beer Barrel and Open Thread: Substitute Student

make it snow is off this week. This Beer Barrel is brought to you by Moose – The End Is Well Nigh!

This is the story of a break for make it snow, and of one’s quest for enlightenment. So that is not really it; it is one weirdo’s evening at a local small brewery. The destination of this worthy quest was the Yak & Yeti; a brewpub with two other restaurant locations. The brew pub is located in an older suburban neighborhood and the clientele is mostly local with a high percentage of regulars. The head brewer studied at Siebel Institute in Chicago, Illinois and the Doemens Academy in Munich, Germany where he received his International Diploma from the World Brewing Academy; I like the sound of this. He also plays bass in a band which would seem to be an important qualification. The owner, Dol Bhattarai is from Nepal and chef schooled in India, good chefage qualifications.

Upon entering and seating myself at the bar I was very hungry, which resulted in immediately ordering a flight of sampler brews. Let’s go ahead and get started; the Himalayan IPA has a pleasant nose, well balanced; not overly hoppy or malty. Almost mild compared to several recent IPAs tasted. Next up was Namaste Pilsner; a light and refreshing, crisp, but unremarkable, a basic American pilsner. The nose is… shit! Actually got some in my nose. I do not recommend snorting this beer. The Sherpa Porter; a very nice nutty taste, hints of oatmeal, chocolate, and roast flavors. Not sweet with a very smooth finish.

As I look around, the crowd in the afternoon appears to be mostly older locals. At this time, in comes a loud woman who backed her car in the closest space and blocked the bike rack. Now, if you are too fucking stupid to fucking back into a space properly, you shouldn’t be driving. Then this same person sits down two seats away from me, damn it. She then blew her nose with the same sound and content of a dying manatee.

Much to my relief and joy the Naan bread arrives; it smells and tastes delicious, expertly cooked in the tandoori. I am through that serving and order another within a few minutes, this time the butter and garlic. Now back to tasting; the Honey Amber is a typical light flavored ale, not sweet, but a slight hint of honey taste, now that my nostrils are cleared of their previous trauma, the nose of this is faint and pleasant. A smooth and clear finish.

I hear the manager and cook arguing in Nepalese; I interpret this to be a good sign. Now the food arrives I ordered the Lamb Kadai, ordered “between medium and hot spicy”. Holy crap! This is so good. It is also so hot that halfway through it, I develop the hiccups, which the beertendress cures with lemon and bitters. Side note; it tasted great reheated the next day. There are two retired men playing a board dice game in the corner; I just KNOW the fat one is cheating.

Oscuro Navidad Grand Cru is a Belgian style ale that is very good, has a complex character, a bit sour in a good way. The hostess next to the bar; farm girl thick in a natural pretty ponytail way, a sweet genuine smile that is brought about with a natural easiness, hints of lavender, appears not to have been cask aged (hardened by life’s disappointments).

The Yakety Yak Don’t Talk Bock; a really smooth, delightful bock with a light clean finish. Mild nose. The bar waitress; has a dyed blond hair experiment that doesn’t seem satisfactory to her, stacked up high. Quality arm tattoos, a very nice tall woman walk, hints of sour relationships, worn and hardened, but with bakers’ sugar smoothed edges, very polite, but with a taste of life’s disappointments underneath.

The Purnima Pale Ale; a nice hoppy with some staying power. More to my tastes with a crisp finish. The bar keep; beautiful strawberry haired, sweet, hints of pistachio, a pleasing melodic high voice, voluptuous nose of rose, attentive and sensitive to newcomers and regulars alike, impressions of honey and coriander, singing along with the background music in a light pancake syrup voice tickles one’s aural sensibilities.