Beer of the Week: Corsendonk Abbey Pale Ale

Beer score: 8.7

Company: Brouweij Corsendonk
ABU: 7.5
IBU: NA

To be honest, I don't even know if they make this beer any more. Maybe it goes by a slightly different name nowadays, or perhaps it has a different name in different parts of the world, but no amount of online sleuthing could prove to me this beer still exists under this name. But that doesn't mean I didn't get a chance to try it again recently, and that after not tasting it in nearly two decades. Fortunately for me, a buddy of mine had a bottle that had been sitting in his beer fridge for a good long while.

And aging did not hurt this pale ale one bit.

Pours a pale golden color and leaves behind plenty of foamy head that takes a while to vanish while giving of citrus scents, perhaps a little orange or lemon.

Has a slightly fruity, sour taste that can make the lips pucker, though it's not as tart as some lambics I've tried. Goes down easy enough that you could drink these all night and not feel full. Not quite smooth enough to be served as an after-dinner drink, like wine, but almost.

Yet another great-tasting brew from Belgium.

Books read in 2025: No. 37 -- Under a Graveyard Sky

by John Ringo

Started: Oct. 14

Finished: Oct. 25

Notes: I've been trying to read more horror of late, so why not a novel where zombies have taken over the world and to survive humanity has had to take to the oceans? It's also a nice bonus that I've been meaning for a while to check out this author.

Mini review: If Tom Clancy had written a zombie novel, it would have been this one. Hell, the USS Dallas submarine even shows up. More action than horror here, but this was a fun read, and apparently the first in a series. I'll have to look for more of these books.

Beer of the Week: Highland Brewing Daycation IPA

Beer score: 5.8

Company: Highland Brewing
ABU: 4.9
IBU: 40

To be honest, I know IPAs have been popular for a few years now, but it's one of my least favorite types of beer, so I'll be glad when that trend burns away.

That being said, this one has a huge foamy head, if that' your thing. In a clear glass it has a slightly cloudy copper color and gives off smells of citrus zest and maybe a little bitter woodiness.

On the tongue, this one is fairly watery for an IPA. There's initially a burst of citrus bitterness not uncommon to this style, but it burns away quickly to be replaced by a vague flat bitterness that lingers on the back of the tongue for a while.

One of the lighter IPAs I've ever tried.

Books read in 2025: No. 36 -- Gone Girl

by Gillian Flynn

Started: Sept. 22

Finished: Oct. 14

Notes: I've been trying to read more horror of late, but I honestly can't say if this book qualifies or not. I don't even remember why I bought it other than I had listed it on my Books I want to Read list. I don't even remember why I placed it on that list, but something must have drawn me to it. Anyway, I know there's been a movie of this novel, though I've not seen it, and I seem to have spotted some blurbs online about the movie at least having horror elements, so maybe it'll fit in with my current reading attempts.

Mini review: A wife goes missing and all the clues seem to point at the husband, as might be expected. But this is a complicated story where nothing is at it seems. Without giving anything away, I will say the true villain here is one of the most devious, though not necessarily bloodthirsty, I've read in fiction in a long while. Ultimately, this is a story about bad people who deserve one another. I can now see why this one made my list of books to read.

Beer of the Week: Highland Brewing AVL IPA

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Highland Brewing
ABU: 6.5
IBU: 70

Pours a faint golden color with some very slight cloudiness. Smells like orange zest. Has a decent foamy head.

As with nearly all IPAs, there's some bitterness that hits the tongue upon tasting, but here it's not all that strong. The bitterness does tend to linger, but it's way in the background for the most part, hanging around on the tongue.

I've had better from Highland Brewing, but I've also had slightly worse (in fairness, most of their beers are pretty good). If you're a fan of IPAs, this one is worth tasting. If you're not a fan of IPAs ... uh ... then go drink something else.

Beer of the Week: Highland Brewing Wishing Star

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Highland Brewing
ABU: 6.8
IBU: 70

Going into a clear glass, this one looks extremely pale, almost clear, though there is a hint of yellow, and there's a sizable foamy head. The smell is fairly weak, in my opinion, but there are hints of bitterness and citrus.

The taste is a stronger version of the smell, with bitterness and citrus, but neither are overly strong. To add, that bitterness is definitely present, but it's also quite smooth and not as strong as I've experienced in other IPAs, which is the style of beer here. There's also none of the skunkiness I've sometimes experienced in IPAs.

Is this a great beer? No. But it is a pretty good beer. I wouldn't turn my nose up if handed one.