Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 16th 2007, 8:04am By Adam Fix

The bars of Allentown were hopping last weekend, in the midst of another successful Art Festival. The weather was great, the live music exceptional, and the spirits high (and flowing).

Thursday night (pre-festival), I journeyed with some companions to Allen St. Hardware Café, where we enjoyed the acoustic bluegrass of local legend Doug Yeomans and the Down to the Roots Band. The drink of choice this evening was La Caracole Saxo (colloquially known as Saxo), a Belgian Golden Ale.

Imported from Brasserie Caracole, a small brewery in southern Belgium near the French border, Saxo is very light and highly carbonated. It is a good summer choice, and easy to drink despite the 8% ABV (fairly well hidden). The aroma is rich and yeasty, and the taste includes hints of fruit and spice. I could detect a tinge of banana and very slight apple. As I spoke with the others at the table, each of my companions spoke of their enjoyment of the ale, indicating it is a good choice for the inexperienced but curious soul.

Personally, I found the zing of the carbonation to be a bit much, and wished the flavor profile would match the intensity of the aroma. Perhaps if I had enjoyed it to the sounds of smooth jazz, I would have appreciated it in its true environment (Saxo is named after the inventor of the saxophone). Maybe the country sounds of Yeomans & company were sending my brain subliminal messages- “moonshine… whiskey… liquor…” Even so, I enjoyed this ale, which is apparently well-received around the world, as a 2002 Gold Medal recipient at the World Beer Championships.

Saturday night I returned to the area, this time to catch Lazlo Hollyfeld at Nietzsche’s. The show was excellent. Lazlo continues to improve with every performance and truly has blossomed into one of the area’s best bands. Before their (1 AM) start time, I was able to return to Hardware for a few drinks. This night, the choice was an old favorite- Xingu, a Brazilian Black Beer.

Xingu is an extremely dark beer with a rich, full head. The aroma is malty. The taste matches the smell, but is not too sweet; it is nicely complemented by hints of spice and a roasted flavor. It is extremely easy to drink, with only mild hops and medium carbonation. Despite the dark color, it drinks like a much lighter beer. If you are looking for a Guinness-type of beer, you’ll be disappointed, but judging based on flavor alone, I really enjoy this one.

The company line is that it is brewed in the tradition of the pre-Columbian indigenous cultures that populated the banks of the Xingu River in Brazil. I’m not sure how much of a liberty they are taking with that claim, but I like the brew, so I’ll let them get away with it.

If you don’t feel like bar-hopping, you can also find this beer at Premier Gourmet.

Sunday was a welcome day of rest, capped by an evening of grilled burgers and hot dogs enjoyed with a glass of Rodenbach Grand Cru, also purchased from Premier (though it is available at Hardware as well). I’m not a big drinker of reds in general, but this Flemish Sour Ale is one of the most interesting brews around.

Rodenbach Grand Cru has a dark red color with a head that quickly reduced to a half an inch, but lasted at that point for a good while. Because it was a lazy Sunday, I drank it from a pint glass, but a snifter would be more ideal.

None of that is what makes it so interesting, however- it is the intense flavor, akin to sour cherry (or sour apple, according to one of my fellow “barbecuers”). The sourness is prominent, but shouldn’t be too much for the casual beer drinker. It also serves as an exceptional palate-cleanser, making it great for pairing with robustly flavorful meals. If you’re looking for something bold and refreshing, Grand Cru is a solid choice.

All in all, it was a successful weekend. If you haven’t tried these beers yet, give them a shot. I won’t say you won’t regret it, because everyone’s taste is different, but they are quality brews of disparate styles- you’re bound to like at least one of them!

Allen Street Hardware Café, 245 Allen, 14201, www.allenstreethardware.com Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen, 14201, www.nietzsches.com Premier Gourmet, 3465 Delaware, 14217, www.premiergourmet.com