This De Molen beer was found at Sergio’s World Beers in Louisville, KY. The big surprise was Sergio’s where there was one of the most impressive selections of beer I’ve ever seen under one roof, and also the beer was available to drink or take home (you never know what ass backwards regulation may crop up when in Kentucky). It was a good time, I went with a bar regular who had a Norm!-sized bar tab running behind the bar, said he settles up at the end of each month (although I don’t think Norm! ever settled up). Enough of that though, about the beer…

Ball & Chain a collaboration beer by De Molen and Sound Brewery seen in both the glasses to the immediate left and right poured smoothly with moderate viscosity and minor fizzle. Smelled of campfire with hints of meat (a mental bait and switch observed in smokebeers, much to SmokeBeerMinistry’s amusement). Tastes go on from there where the 3 ministry officials present all felt positively without anything taking it over the edge (scored fives and sixes). The third beer in the picture farthest to the right, which was not a smokebeer, did incite a great deal of excitement, upstaging the tasting a little bit, but I can’t remember what that one was. And that’s about it. De Molen, neighbors of the smokebeer’s birthplace, seem to have delivered a beer that’s right next to where it needs to be. Overall approval metric lands at 5.5 smokestacks out of 7.

• Here’s their site:

http://brouwerijdemolen.nl/en/

• and the other brewery:

http://www.soundbrewery.com/

• Once again, the Shelton Brothers Importers does a better job informing the public about this beer than either brewery does:

http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/beers/de-molen-ball-chain/

• And Sergio’s World Beers:

http://www.sergiosworldbeers.com/