Chuck's Passion ... Great Beer

This is a sample of the fine beers and ales that were in Chuck's refrigerator during the Christmas Holidays (2002-2003).

Chuck's refrigerator contained many of of his favorites during the Christmas Holidays 2003-2004, .

During a Florida vacation in November, 2006, Chuck enjoyed a wide variety of imported and domestic micro-brews.

Chuck's Favorite Beers

Imported Beers:

Ayinger Maibock, Ayinger Oktoberfest from Aying Germany, and Mahr's Brau - Ungespundet Hefetrub (unfiltered Lager from Bamburg Germany) It is exceptional!
Leffe Blonde Abbey Ale, Blue Chimay, Affligem Dubbel, and Duvel Triple (the latter three of which are bottle conditioned, cork finished) from Belgium;
Samuel Smith Old Pale Brewery Ale and Theakstons Old Peculiar from England;
Traquair House Ale from Scotland

Domestic Microbrews:

Fat Tire Amber Ale (New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins,Colo.)
O'Dells 90 Schilling (O'Dells Brewing Company. Fort Collins,Colo.)
Penn Marzen (Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh, PA)
Penn Oktoberfest (Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh, PA)
Penn Weizen (Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh, PA)

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper."

Bemjamin Franklin

What started as a casual social activity long ago has turned into a real passion for Chuck Cantalamessa. He enjoys drinking the world's best beers, and he has become quite an authority on the subject. Next to enjoying the taste, bouquet and color of a fine brew, Chuck likes to talk about the history and brewing processes for fine lagers, ales and stouts.

Visitors to Chuck's home in the Laurel Highlands in Southwestern Pennsylvania always get a double treat ... a beautiful mountain top view, and a wide selection of his favorite refreshments.

Most of Chuck's beer supply includes imported lagers and ales from Germany, Belgium and England. He also keeps a good supply of domestic microbrews on hand too. At any time he will have about a dozen different types of beer on hand.

What you will not find in Chuck's beer cooler are mass marketed domestic beers. In fact, the only Budweiser you will find in his house is a single bottle of the Original "Beer of Kings". This bottle of Budweiser Budvar was brewed in Czechoslovakia, and is not available in the USA.It was given to Chuck by a friend who traveled there. Chuck will never drink it, he values it too much as a conversation piece.

During the summer, Chuck keeps his beer in a vintage Coke machine on the front porch. Here he likes to sit back in an Adirondack chair while taking in the view and sipping a refreshing brew.

When it gets too cold outside, Chuck stocks his beer in a dedicated refrigerator in the basement. This is the time of the year when Chuck's supply of beer includes Oktoberfest brews and winter warmers.

As a beer connisour, Chuck has met many of the importers and brewers of his favorite beers. Through these connections he has built a collection glassware to enhance the enjoyment of his beer.

Chuck's collection of mugs and glasses add to the enjoyment of drinking a fine beer.

Chuck said, "There is no substitue for having the right glass or mug for a particular beer, and when everything is right, you get a perfect pour.... the head reaches the top of the glass as the last drop of beer falls from the bottle".