Definitely a Belgian...

It's a Friday and I don't have any plans. I've worked all week, spent a good portion of today in the car driving from meeting to meeting.

Plus I had an hour of physical therapy to help me mend a broken shoulder.

Bottom line: It's time for a beer.

So, when I get home at 5:00 PM I decide that I'll walk myself to the local market and buy myself something that I've never had before.

First thing I see when I get there? Gnomegang.

Terribly tempting since I grew up near Cooperstown,NY - the city responsible for Ommegang Brewery - and the brewery behind "megang" in this beer. But, at $14.99 a bottle, I just can't bring myself to buy it. Maybe next time Andrenna comes over for a dinner party...

Instead, I buy Goose Island's Pepe Nero.

It's definitely a belgian...

In fact, that's mostly what you taste - belgian yeast.

The bottle says that it was brewed with black peppercorns, but I don't get any pepper, or any of the spiciness I expect.

I get an easy beer. It's easy to drink. Not too aggressive, not very hoppy, and none of that offensive smoke flavor that I've been seeing in some of the newer dark beers. Instead it's malty, has a little coffee flavor, and is lacking depth. It's not a beer that will put hair on your chest, or make you wish you had taken a smaller sip. It's just, well, easy to drink. It pours with a nice tan head and finishes smooth. It's 6% ABV too. That means you don't have to sip too slowly.

Another reason to try it? Pepe Nero took the Saison Gold Medal at the World Beer Championship... I didn't know that when I bought it, but knowing that now makes me feel better about passing up the Gnomegang to give it a try.