HOW TO PAIR BEER WITH EVERYTHING: Orabelle by Great Divide Brewing Company
Beer: Orabelle
Brewer: Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Tripel
ABV: 8.30%
Description: Orabelle pours a cloudy light orange with a frothy white head that recedes, leaving behind wisps of lacing on the glass. The aroma is full of great fruit notes like orange, apricot, and lemon, balanced with subtle peppery spices and Belgian yeast. The taste follows the nose with strong hits of fruit on the palate, followed by subtle spices and the always enjoyable Belgian yeast. The soft malt bill gives this beer a smooth and round mouthfeel with moderate carbonation that really opens the beer up.
Orabelle is extremely easy drinking and immediately imparts visions of warm, sunny days. The 8.3 percent ABV is extremely well-hidden, so be sure to keep that in mind while enjoying or it will make itself known eventually! This is another world-class beer from a world-class brewery!
Ideal setting: The light qualities of the beer make this ideal to enjoy while outdoors, if possible. At the very least, it should be in a setting that is vibrant and full of lively conversation.
Ideal music: The light, airy qualities of the beer conjure up images of sunny days outdoors. Music that imparts a similar feeling most certainly makes for the best pairing. Whether you live in a warm climate or are still digging yourself out of the snow-filled winter, allowing the mind to dream of sunny days is never a bad thing!
Some great albums to enjoy with Orabelle are:
- The Head and the Heart – “The Head and the Heart”
- Pele – “Enemies”
- Minus the Bear – “Highly Refined Pirates”
- Noah and the Whale – “The First Days of Spring”
- Wilco – “Sky Blue Sky”
- Elefant – “Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid”
Ideal movie: Orabelle invokes visions of beautiful days outdoors, taking in all that life has to offer. Films that inspire and capture the world at large make for a wonderful pairing with this beer and just may push you to take that adventure you have always been putting off.
Some great films to watch while enjoying Orabelle are:
- “Little Miss Sunshine”
- “The Motorcycle Diaries”
- “Easy Rider”
- “The Way”
- “The Art of Travel”
- “A Map for Saturday”
Ideal book: A beer such as this cannot help itself from sending the brain into a happier place, and a book that expands the mind into areas of travel is a superb pairing. If possible, enjoy this pairing while sitting outside on the deck to truly have a life-changing experience.
Some great books to read with Orabelle are:
- “Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World” by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
- “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig
- “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson
- “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer
- “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac
The perfect experience: Orabelle is a beer that will be best enjoyed while outside soaking in some of the sun’s rays. Whether the choice is made to read a great book, enjoy some music, or simply have a few friends over to enjoy the experience with you, the important thing to keep in mind is that this beer will help bring a little sunshine into your life!
