This post is a part of the 2015 New Beer Every Day Beer Diary Challenge, #ottbeerdiary. Over the course of 2015, I will be trying a new beer every day. Please read the background in the link above, and enjoy reading about the most recently tasted beers below. If you’d like to join the challenge as well, let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out Grown-up Travel Guide and his #grownupbeerdiary, where Andy Higgs came up with the diary format in use below. You can catch up on all of our posts as part of the challenge under the tag ottbeerdiary.
Day 255: September 12, 2015
Diary entry:
Going to bed as early as I did last night made for some difficulty sleeping in, but I managed to force myself to stay in bed until around 6:30AM. I really hate being a creature of routine, unable to truly enjoy a good lie-in.
Spent the morning working, with the intent of running a couple errands in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the afternoon before a quiet night at home.
Those plans took a wee turn when I heard back from Paul Leeyan, owner of ‘t Paultje and the new Thornbridge Pub that while the pub is not yet officially open, they would be pouring beers from 6PM as part of a soft opening to work out any kinks, etc.
Taking that as an invite (which it was), of course I decided to add that to my plans.
I was wondering what I was going to do with myself for a few hours, as I was already on the 1:07PM train to Den Bosch and didn’t have that many errands to run, but that was solved by the fact that ‘s-Hertogenbosch was having their Open Monumenten Dag, where historic buildings, museums, and churches around the city were opening their doors to the public for free.
I managed to spend a few hours wandering the old town of Den Bosch, even climbing to the top of the tower at Sint-Jan’s Kathedraal, which I had never done on prior visits. A cool visit, especially since Joost van Balkom, the current Beiaardier (player of the bells), was on hand, playing and allowing others to play the impressive, hundred-year-old carillon.
Wandered back to Bar 35 and ‘t Paultje for some lunch and a couple beers (and a phone recharge) before venturing over to the Thornbridge Pub.
The Beer:
Name: Cocoa Wonderland
Style: Chocolate Porter
Producer: Thornbridge Brewery
Alcohol content: 6.8%
Bottle size: 0.19l (1/3 Imperial Pint) Draft
Purchased from: Thornbridge Pub, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
Cocoa Wonderland by Thornbridge Brewery. Holy chocolate milk! From the initial aroma of this dark black pour with a creamy head, to the first hits of flavor that cross your taste buds. Cocoa, leaning towards black licorice a little. I like this one a lot! Even if a bit sweet.
Commercial Description
A full-bodied, robust porter with natural mocha malt flavours from the complex malt grist, complementing the decadent additions of real chocolate to the maturation process.
