By Nick Anderson, the Beermonger

I’d heard stories for the past few months about a new beer from the Belgian Het Anker brewery, makers of the Gouden Carolus line. I’d heard that they were making a hoppy version of their triple. I was under the impression that we in the States were still a few months out from seeing it, but I was wrong. Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor arrives this week and I’m here to report to you that it is fantastic.

I am, as I like to say, a ‘reformed hophead’. The big, hoppy IPA’s are what got me into beer to begin with. But over time, as I’ve gotten to try more and more different styles of beer, I’ve come to appreciate things like a great German Lager, English Ales and especially Belgian beer. You can imagine my delight, then, when I discovered the growing sub-category of Belgian IPA’s. These brewers had come to the U.S., tried out the hop bombs we were producing and fell in love like the rest of us did. Then they set out to make their own.  

 Beers like Le Chouffe and the excellent Urthel Hop-it created a stir among Beer Geeks with their full, bright, Belgian yeasty flavor and prominent hop character. When the news of the Gouden Carolus came down, my curiosity was piqued. Their Triple is outstanding—in fact, their whole lineup is outstanding. Finally, I got my hands on a bottle late last week and decided to try it out this past Saturday (if you were visiting Rick’s at the right time you got to try it too).  

 Hopsinjoor is at the same time not what I expected but somehow more. Where I was expecting a rich, Duvel-like Golden Ale flavor I got something subtler and restrained. Where I was expecting a big, citrusy, resin-like hop character I got something focused, almost grassy. For a moment I wasn’t sure what to think, whether I was disappointed or not. I was stunned by the difference between what I was imagining and what was.

I took a moment to let it all sink in. Here, within a style of beer that in and of itself is very different, was something very different. In many ways, Hopsinjoor reminded me of a strong Pilsner or an Extra Pale Ale. It is hoppy but clean, refreshing but flavorful. It is different from any other Belgian IPA I’ve had--which basically makes it different from any other Belgian beer I’ve ever had—but it is somehow undoubtedly Belgian. This beer is a standout amongst standouts.

Also arriving this week are the beers of Ballast Point Brewing Company. This is a brewery out of San Diego that started in 1992 as a home brew shop focusing on educating homebrewers of all skill levels. You can definitely see this focus on education and history by checking out their website at www.ballastpoint.com. Here you can find a rich and interesting history of their part of San Diego as well as background on all of the styles of beer they produce.

 I’ll be seeing my first cases of Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor arriving this week and I’ll be tasting it this Friday night at Rick’s Wine & Gourmet from 5-8 PM. This Saturday I’ll have the beers of Ballast Point, featuring their Yellowtail Pale Ale and Big Eye IPA open for tasting from 12-5 PM. As always, I hope to see you there. I hope everyone has a great week.

 Cheers!

 Nick Anderson, the Beermonger

 Nick Anderson is the Beer Buyer (or Beermonger) for Rick’s Wine & Gourmet in Alexandria VA. He has a running blog that he swears he’s not ignoring at www.beermonger.net