“Light wheaty flavors occupy the center and the beer slides into a long, dry, slightly tangy finish. The aftertaste has a warming glow. Super Baladin is beautifully balanced and it’s perfect for baked or grilled salmon or arctic char.”
–Garrett Oliver, The Brewmaster’s Table
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During the Michael Jackson years in the Rare Beer Club, starting about 6 years ago, we had worked a number of times toward offering this month’s feature selection to our members. Hurdles included availablity (too low) and price (far too high), and we were just never able to pull all of the details together and make it happen. But this month, and interestingly after just marking the one year anniversary of Michael’s passing, we have found a way to get it done and deliver this delicious Italian brew to you. Thanks to the import efforts of B. United in Connecticut, with an impressive and eclectic portfolio of specialty beers - many of which come from Italy - we were able to secure just enough bottles to fulfill our quantity needs. As for price, well, it’s hardly a secret that anything as stylishly Italian as this beer does not come cheaply. Think Ferrari, Ferragamo, and Friuli. Consider that part our treat, in finally being able to bring you Super Baladin.
 From the brewery’s notes on the beer:
Just outside of Torino, Italy, in the village of Piozzo (population 1,000), lies Le Baladin directly across from the town hall, an extremely unusual brewpub and microbrewery. “Baladin” is a French term referring to a “traveling minstrel.” The owner, Teo Musso, thought that this would be a fitting name for his brewery as the townspeople are known for moving around, especially between Italy and France. Upon visiting the brewery and meeting Teo, one finds that he is a very entertaining minstrel and has, thus, chosen the perfect name for his place. Teo studied at some of the best small breweries throughout Europe in order to learn his craft, and loves experimentation and never works by the books.
The Super Baladin is the masterpiece of the brewery and is most often the favorite among the customers at Le Baladin. It originated from an old recipe created toward the end of the 9th century following the style of the Belgian abbey beers. It is similar to a Belgian triple. The twist with this beer is that an English yeast strain is used for primary fermentation. Afterwards, it is bottle-conditioned for two months using a Belgian strain.
Tasting notes: A dark amber colored beer with good clarity. Aromas of warm flowers, apricot and banana, and bitter almonds are evident. Similar flavors of apricot, almond cake, citrus fruits, and rich malt come through strongly.
Food Pairing: This beer matches perfectly with ripened cheeses such as Port Salut or Trappist styles. It is also wonderful with almond sweets like a dry almond cake. Super is also good for “cuisine à la bière”
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