We selected these two guys off the shelf because they were just sitting there next to each other, identical in almost every way, at first glance. The label features an en-flagged Belgium with a howling wolf silhouette imposed over it. But, the borders were different colors. Why? We asked each other, not yet noticing the mysterious numerals resting in the lower right corner of the labels. Then we noticed the numerals resting in the lower right corner of the labels. Seeing the numerals resting in the lower right corner of the labels only deepened the mystery, as there is no explanation of the significance of the number anywhere on the label, and the brown bottle hides any clues that might have been found in the color of the beer inside. This was a grade-A Scooby mystery, gang!
Wolf 7 (great name!) is brewed in Brouwerij Lupus Belgium, Betekomsesteenweg 76 (not sure what that is), 3200 Aarschot, Belgium. 7.4% ABV, 12.2fl oz bottle. Golden and reasonably frothy. Knowing is half the battle.
Glass #1 is yummy. I like it. Off the bat, it is not the best beer I have every had, but I could get behind this. It is light and zesty, with an abundance of flavor molecules, and it goes down without a fight. Not overtly boozy or obnoxiously hoppy, I find it to be a quality all-around beer. Sounds good, right? I'm feeling pretty confident about my pick. Incidentally, we just picked which one we got at random, and right now I'm thinking I should buy a lottery ticket. Then again, Omar doesn't look like he's vomiting into his shoes or anything, so maybe I'm celebrating a little early. That Omar is a crafty bastard. Crafty as in beer, and bastard as in I question his lineage. Here ends glass 1.
Before I could pour my second glass, the "tasting" glass, the dog had a wiz to throw (you remember the dog, she's available for rent at a reasonable rate). Shivering in the back yard watching the dog pee gave me time to reflect on my first glass, to think about its flavors and the experience of drinking it. I will now masterfully combine those musings with the gentle art of making tasting-face while drinking my second glass. Scents of citrus and a hint of banana are hand-in-hand with the yeastiness when the foamy head hits me. This is what smart people have called a "good moment". The first taste is clean, almost neutral on my tongue, then blossoms into a slightly chewy, cool breeze on a summer's day. That veers far more to the poetic than I generally like to go, but this beer really takes me some place. I think this is what Wurstfest in New Braunfels should taste like. If you haven't been, then your life is incomplete, sad, and worthless, because you have never had the pork chop on a stick while making fun of a guy from Oklahoma and watching (participating in) someone's marriage falling apart. It is good times. And the beer... it's OK. In my mind, however, the beer should taste like this Wolf 7. It is deep and rich and, I'm going to say, "traditional". Like one of those really well done German Reinheitsgebot beers, where the flavors come from someone who really really knows what they are doing and assembles a beer that far exceeds the sum of it's parts. It is a tasty damn beer.
But, what does Omar have to say? What is the verdict? 7 or 9? Remember 7 of 9 on Star Trek Voyager? She was super hot, and Janeway was the greatest of all the Star Trek captains, hands down. That is off topic, let's get back to what is important. Did I have the better beer? Over to you Omar...
I can only respond by a simple reply.....as you state "I'm feeling pretty confident about my pick", I will whisper closely in your ear.....no.
Now, for double jeopardy. Does he dare take the last sip of mine. Putting his world-wide reputation on the line, and really laying it out there. Will he taste my beer? HE WILL!
He was bold and he was brave. He said to me of the Wolf 9, that there is a reason the Belgian monks carry chocolate in their shorts. We wait for the sipping, on the edge of our seats...
BUY THE 9
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