Cage Beer Match @ Mekong's

An Mekong organized what he called a Cage Match between Belgian and American beers. He paired a Belgian beer with an American beer of the same or similar style. Tasters chose a winner in each of eleven pairings and the country with the most winners was the overall winner for the taster. The country with the most overall winners won the cage match – or something like that.

It was a fantastic event. Mekong’s restaurant supplied appetizers to accompany the food. The beer was good and plentiful. The crowd was large and enthusiastic. An said that 100 plus people registered.

I recommend Mekong Restaurant, http://www.mekong-restaurant.com/. It carries a wide assortment of Belgian beers and a large number of beers from other countries. The food is good and the prices are reasonable.

My scorecard: Belgium = 6, USA = 5. (My choices are in bold.)

Match #1, Saison, Saison Dupont v. North coast Le Merle

This was a close call. Saison Dupont had funk and sass. Le Merle was smoother and apple-fruitier. My preference was Saison Dupont but I could not disagree with someone who chose Le Merle.

Match #2, Belgian IPA Style, Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor v. Green Flash Le Freak

Le Freak was an easy choice. The hops were bolder and complemented nicely the other components of the beer. It was a surprisingly good beer.

Match #3, Strong Golden Ale, Delirium Tremens v. North Coast Spranqster

Tremens was an easy choice. It was fuller, richer, and more complex.

Match #4, Dubbel, Maredsous 8 v. Anderson Valley Brother David Double

This was a close call. I thought that Maredsous had a little more complexity and liked a sweet apple flavor that flashed through up front.

Match #5, Triple, La Rulles Triple v. Allagash Triple

La Rulles was an easy choice. Allagash was thick and too sweet.

Match #6, Strong Dark Ale, Nostradamus v. Brooklyn Local 2

This was a close call but I thought the Local 2 tasted better.

Match #7, Belgian Style Stout, Van den Bossche Buffalo v. Allagash Black

Black was an easy choice. It had more smoke and lies between the English and Belgian versions of Stout. The Belgian version is a Strong Dark Ale in my book. I like smoke.

Match #8, Grand Cru, Abbaye de Rocs Grand Cru v. Southampton Grand Cru

Southampton was the easy winner. It was one of the highlights.

Match #9, Quad ( Monster Ale), St. Bernardus ABT 12 v. Smuttynose Gravitation
Gravitation is really good. I think that St. Bernardus is a little bit better.

Match #10, Holly Ale, Rochefort 10 Holly Trappist Ale v. Avery-Russian Collaboration Salvation

Rochefort was an easy choice. Collaboration is really good. Rochefort 10 is really, really, good.

Match #11, Wild ass ale, Duchess de Bourgogne Flemish Sour Red Ale v. Avery Brabant Limited Edition weird ass ale aged in Zinfandel barrel

Brabant was an easy choice. It is a wild ride. Lots of tastes and complexity and the flavors all form a nice and unique whole. I think it was the biggest highlight of the night.