La Chouffe (Shuck and Chug)

This is my first post as a new employee of Specialty Beverage Virginia. Specialty is a craft beer house based out of Rockville Va. which is about 20 minute commute for me. I don't have to go to the warehouse daily, although my route goes from boulevard to Goochland Va. right past the warehouse. Specialty is a craft beer distributor, no budweiser, no heineken, no energy drinks, and no seagrams wine coolers. I will be selling such exciting national brands as Ballast Point, Green Flash, New Belgium, Terrapin, Six Point, Schlafly, and 21st Amendment to name a few. 

Whole Foods short pump is on my new route, and the growler king, Greg Self, has a reputation for being a leader in the Richmond craft beer scene. He has an appreciation for great brands that are commonly over looked. My first event at his account was a shuck and chug featuring La Chouffe. Shuck and chug is a Thursday event where they have dollar oysters, and beer specials. It also worked out that La Chouffe is property of Duvel USA, thus Stephen Tuzeneu's new passion. Stephen is also an Ex-Brown Distributing employee and long time acquaintance of Greg and Myself. See what I did there? La Chouffe was started in 1982, and set out to bring new beers to the world from Belgium. The stories of La Couffe, based around Gnomes making beer in the mountains of Belgium help create the same sort of mystic romance as say, a monk in a monastery? The three beers are La Chouffe, belgian blond, Houblon Chouffe, a triple IPA, and N'Ice Chouffe, the winter warmer. The Houblon is amazing, the hop notes are so clean. If you see this on draft get one!

So this is my new Ipad and my desk that afternoon. I have to admit my first beer was a habanero sculpin. I love that beer. Please excuse my finger in the picture. Later the rest of the team was there, and I began working on making connections with the guys that will be working with me. This event was a good time, and everyone left laughing and smiling. I think it was the La Chouffe song played on repeat, and people shopping in gnome hats. 

These oysters are soooo good. I like the salty ones. I look forward to this monthly happening.