The Off-Menu Bottle List

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MICHAEL’s SECRET BEER COOLER

Since the Hopleaf opened the new bar side, what we call the South Bar, there was a cooler that housed rare and special bottles of beer.

Visitors to the Hopleaf had to “know” that this list existed; no bartender or server, or even Michael, would tell you about this list unless you asked. When you did ask you were presented with a crinkled, torn and ripped packet of papers detailing what lay inside that elusive cooler.

During Covid times, as we downsized significantly the number of beer bottles we had on our list, we decided to move our beautiful collection of white wines to “Michael’s Secret Beer Cooler.”

But because we love beer at Hopleaf it was hard for us to pass up rare and special offerings! Since things have started to get back to normal we realized we had yet again amassed a collection of limited quantity specialty beers that only had a home in Michael’s Secret Beer Cooler.

Brouwerij BOON-Belgium
Oude Geuze Apogee 
7% 750ml  . . . . .$80

Oude Geuze Apogee is a celebration of Frank Boon’s extraordinary achievements. At the same time, this one-off edition celebrates the handover to Jos and Karel Boon. This transition from one generation to another is reflected in the composition of this geuze—because for Apogee, Frank created a special blend with lambic beers from the oldest (N° 79) and from the newest (N° 83) foeder.

The Oude Geuze Apogee was bottled on 29 April 2019.

Oude Geuze a l’Ancienne
—numbered casks—8% 330ml . . . . $28

Vat 108, brewed on 2/15/2015 and bottled on 12/20/2016 —The very wine-like accents of this Oude Gueuze combine with a distinctive ‘old beer’ character, which provides full-bodied & robust flavor, with unmistakable hints of volatile acidity that never overwhelm.

Brasserie Cantillon-Belgium
Classic Gueuze (2024) 
5.5% 375mL  . . . . .$40

A blend of one, two & three year old lambics refermented in the bottle. Bottled February 14,2024

Saint Lamvinus (2025) 
7% 750mL  . . . . .$80

Blend of lambics aged on average 16 to 18 months. Made w/ Merlot, Grenache Noir & Syrah grapes. Intense, fruity, lingers on the palate and has a clear connection to its winemaking origins. Bottled September 9, 2025.

LINDEMANS-Belgium

Oude Gueuze Cuvée René (2021)
6% 3L  . . . . . .$200

An exclusive release and one of the jewels of the brewery. With its golden color, its sparkle and its beautiful sherry aromas, this is the queen of gueuzes. This old gueuze is a blend of old and young lambic matured in large foudres.  Slightly carbonated and tart, perfect to share for a special occasion.

Cuvée René Kriek (2016)
7% 750mL  . . . . . .$45

To produce this beer, the cherries ferment in lambic that is at least 6 months old in huge 10,000-liter oak barrels (foudres). After another 6 months the beer is bottled and then undergoes a spontaneous second fermentation process which, after a few months, will produce the CO2 to which this authentic beer owes its carbonation and distinctive foamy head. Bottled February 2, 2016.

RODENBACH -Belgium

Rodenbach Vintage (2018)
7% 750mL  . . . . . .$60

A unique, unblended Flanders Red-Brown ale matured in oak casks for 2 years. Only the best casks are used, after which the beer is subjected to a strict sampling selection. It has a uniquely balanced acidic taste and a long, fresh and fruity aftertaste. Tasting beautifully for an 8 year old beer.

ALVINNE -Belgium

Wild West Grape
6% 500mL  . . . . . .$25

Golden blonde ale brewed with their own hops and fermented with Morpheus house yeast. Aged in wooden Bordeaux barrels for eight months. Then fermented on grapes for five months.

Wild West Plum
6% 500mL  . . . . . .$25

Flemish Sour Ale aged in French Pomero (Small Bordeaux Region) l barrels with French plums. Fermented with in-house wild yeast strain ‘Morpheus’. Barrel aged version of Omega.

The Oak Melchior (2018)
11% 750mL  . . . . . .$20

Ale brewed with mustard seeds then Aged in French Monbazillac (a sweet white wine from the South of France)  barrels for 8 months.

3 FONTEINEN-Belgium

Oude Lambik 2017 No. 57
6.9% 750mL…..$60

The foundation and essence of 3 Fonteinen, pure lambic, spontaneous & complex. Three brews from March 2017 fermented and matured in the same oak barrel for six years. Bottled 3/21/2023.

Oude Geuze Cuvée Armand & Gaston (season 19/20) Blend No. 6
7% 375mL . . . . . $40

This specific blend of Oude Geuze consists of eight different lambikken that have fermented and matured on five different barrels. The oldest lambik was brewed in 2016 rendering the weighted average age of this blend upon release to about 55 months. Bottled 11/21/2019

Pruim Belle de Louvain No. 27 (Season 22/23)
7% 375mL . . . . . $32

Macerated hand-picked Limburg Belle De Louvain plums aged for four months on a blend of young lambic, as well as three-year & four-year old lambikken. The oldest lambic has been brewed the first days of 2019. Average age is more than 31 months. More than two thirds of the lambikken were brewed with Pajottenland cereals, sourced from their own Cereal Collective.

Tuverbol
9.6% 375mL . . . . . $25

Blend of Loterbol Blond and 3 Fonteinen lambik. Spontaneous refermenation in the bottle. Unfiltered and upasterized.

Perzik Geel (season 21/22) Blend No. 14
6.7% 750 mL . . . . . $70

In 2022 local harvest had been non-existent for the last three summers. So for this blend they macerated freshly hand-picked yellow peaches from an organic producer in Northern Spain. They used only two-and three-year old lambikken for macerating, and the maceration took almost five months. The weighted average of the peach blend upon bottling is almost 24 months. The final proportion of fruit used is 384 grams per liter. Bottled 5/1/2022.

Druif Muscaris (season 21/22) Blend No. 23
8.3% 750 mL . . . . . $70

Made with macerated muscaris grapes (a white grape varietal), picked at Hoenshof in the summer of 2021. The grape must was macerated on two- and three-year old lambikken. Maceration took almost four months before blending and bottling. This brings the weighted average age of the blend to more than 22 months. The final fruit proportion is 396 grams of muscaris grapes per liter of lambik. Bottled 1/27/2022

Cask Finish Series: Akevitt No. 75 (Season 23/24)
7.64% 750 mL . . . . . $100

A blend of traditional lambic that has aged in three aquavit barrels. These barrels have held PX sherry for over fifty years and aquavit for over ten years. These barrels were sourced with Atlungstad, the oldest Norwegian distillery still in activity.The barrels were filled with two-year-old 3 lambic for over 13 months. The weighted average age of the lambic blend at bottling is over 33 months. All brewing cereals used were sourced w/ farmers from Pajottenland. Bottled 10/15/2024

Cask Finish Series: Cognac No. 51 (Season 23/24)
8.62% 750 mL . . . . . $100

Small batch blend of three lambics aged on cognac barrels for more than twenty months. The lambic originates from five different brews of which more than 60% was brewed w/ local Pajottenland cereals. As most lambics have been brewed in 2020, the weighted average age of this blend is over 46 months. The barrels come from a small scale, independent cognac distillery from the Charente region, France, & is renowned for their focus on terroir & quality. Bottled 6/11/2024

Intese Red (2014) *Hopleaf Cellar Selection*
6% 375mL . . . . . $35

The result of macerating hand-picked whole sour cherries on lambic for at least six months, in a proportion of one kilogram of fruit per liter of lambic. It is then blended again with more lambic to obtain a minimum intensity of 450 grams of fruit per liter. The kriek lambic ferments in the bottle for at least another six months and develops into an intense wine-like fruit lambic. This bottle fermented, unfiltered and unpasteurized lambic is all-natural with no artificial juices, syrups, or sugars added. Traditional Lambic is living, cultural heritage rooted in the Zenne valley! Bottled May 2, 2014.

*While law requires every beer to display an expiration date, we kindly ask you to regard it as you would a fine aged wine; a mere formality. Our cellared selections have not expired; they have simply had the good fortune of time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​*

Framboos (2014) *Hopleaf Cellar Selection*
6% 750mL. . . . . $60

One year old lambic brewed with an addition of 30% whole fresh raspberries from Payottenland. Lambic brewed with 60% barley malt, 40% unmalted wheat, and water.

*While law requires every beer to display an expiration date, we kindly ask you to regard it as you would a fine aged wine; a mere formality. Our cellared selections have not expired; they have simply had the good fortune of time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​*

Oude Geuze (season 18/19) No. 50
7.2% 1500mL . . . . . $150

A blend of one-, two-, and three-year old lambikken. No two bottles are alike, as there are multiple variables in the blending process. A high variety of barrels, differences in aged lambik proportions. When cellared properly these beers can be aged for decades.

Gueuzerie TILQUIN-Belgium
Rullquin 2018-2019
7% 750ml  . . . . .$42

Beer of mixed fermentation, obtained from a blending of 7/8 of Rulles Brune (Stout de Gaume) and 1/8 of a blend of 1 year old lambics, which has matured for 8 months on oak barrels. Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this beer is re-fermented for 6 months in the bottle.

Westmalle – Belgium
Tripel
9.5% 750mL  . . . . .$35

The slow brewing process and secondary fermentation in the bottle produce a complex beer that has a fruity aroma of ripe banana and a lovely nuanced hop nose. The soft and creamy flavor, with its bitter note carried by the fruit aroma, is full of finesse and elegance. Also enjoy the deliciously long, dry finish.

De La Senne – Belgium
Brett Porter
5.7% 11.2oz  . . . . .$15

Inspired by old London Porters of the 1800s, which were kept in huge wooden tuns where Brettanomyces yeasts would develop. It has not been barrel-aged, but co-fermented with their own Brettanomyces, and brewed from magnificent English special malts. The Brettanomyces are very present on the nose, giving it a vinous character with very ripe cherries like an old kirsch, and and slight leather notes. A roasted and slightly smoky touch completes the picture.

La Brasserie de Blaugies – Belgium
La Vermontoise
6% 12.7oz  . . . . .$20

Hill Farmstead collaboration, a saison made with malt, spelt and American hops. It stands out with its substantial bitterness and its dry and subtly lemony finish.

Darbyste
5.8% 12.7oz  . . . . .$20

Saison made with wheat, fermented with fig juice. Figs are not evident in the flavor, which is light, lemony and dry.

TIMMERMANS – Belgium
Faro
4% 375mL  . . . . .$15

One of the most historical beer of Belgium and is obtained by adding sugar-candy to Lambic beer. The sweetness of the candy sugar and the acidity of the lambic is a very nice balance. Sweet and light aroma, hinting at a slight expression of Lambic. It has a clear golden-amber color topped by a dense and creamy foam.

DE KONINGSHOEVEN – Netherlands
La Trappe Quadrupel (2021)
10% 1.5L  . . . . .$80

First Quadrupel ever made, great to share with friends. Warm, amber colored, heart-warming and intense taste is malty with sweet tones of dates and caramel.

La Trappe Tripel (2021)
8% 750mL . . . . .$35

A classic Trappist ale with floral, fruity aromas of peach and apricot. It has a candy-sweet and light malty character, the aftertaste is bitter and slightly dry.

La Trappe Oak Aged Batch #23
11% 375mL . . . . .$35

This batch was blended on New Years Eve (Dec 31) of 2015, consisting of 80% Spätburgunder red wine barrels, 10%New Oak Medium Toast, 5% New Oak High Toast, and 5%Acacia wood. Aromas of pinot noir. Notes of sweet apple, banana and dates. Taste includes a lot of wood tannins, which will lessen as the beer ages. This comes from a subtly sweet red wine that hints at a port wine. The taste lingers and slowly develops with a red-wine aftertaste, with a gentle hint of tobacco.

La Trappe Oak Aged Batch #24
11% 375mL . . . . .$25

This batch blended in May of 2016 contains a blend of 85% beer aged in used Kirsch-schnapps barrels, 10% in new oak, & 5% medium toast Acacia wood. Having the normal amber brown color of the Quadrupel. Cherries on nose right away, this could tamper a bit as the beer ages.  Besides cherries hints of mango, banana and strawberry. Also aromas of almond and vanilla, caramel and the oak wood. The ‘cherry-touch’ fills the Quadrupel-taste. Making this batch clearly different from all previous 23 batches. This particular components make batch 24 to a must for the enthusiast.

HILL FARMSTEAD BREWERY Greensboro Bend, VT

Damon (2024)
10% 500mL  . . . . . $70

Imperial stout blend of 28 month aged in Elijah Craig 18-year barrels & a second aged 31 months in Willet barrels. The result is a meaningful a deeply layered expression of their imperial stout, shaped by time & spirit, w/ resonant notes of dark chocolate, oak & a gentle warmth. Bottled 12/6/2024.

Samuel (2023)
6% 750mL  . . . . . $80

A base of buckwheat, spelt & Vermont wildflower honey. Deeply inspired by two farmhouse ales; Le Sarrasin & Vera Mae. It aspires to blend essential elements of each in a novel representation of a continuing effort towards refinement & intentionality. It takes a long rest in wine barrels & many months of bottle conditioning. Bottled 10/17/2023.

Arthur (2021)
6% 750mL  . . . . . $80

Farmhouse ale crafted from American malted barley, American & European hops, their farmhouse yeast & well water. Bottled 01/06/2021.

SIDE PROJECT BREWING St. Louis, MO

Punchdown (Blend #1)
9% 375mL  . . . . . $25

Missouri Wild Ale that is aged in wine barrels with California Pinot Noir grapes. A beer/wine hybrid, where 51% of the liquid is Missouri Wild Ale and the remaining 49% is Pinot Noir that was co-fermented with the Missouri Wild Ale. Pinot Noir sourced directly from S & L Vineyards of Lodi, California, for its herbaceous tones to provide balance to bright acidity.

PERENNIAL ARTISAN ALES St. Louis, MO
Barrel-Aged Abraxas (2025)
12.8% 750mL  . . . . . $65

Barrel-aged imperial stout with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks. Aged 26-31 months in a combination of Willet Bourbon, Willet Wheated Bourbon, Reclamation Rye, Willet Rye and Wild Turkey Rare Breed. *Contains Lactose

SCRATCH BREWING AVA, IL
Chambourcin (2017)
8.6%% 355mL  . . . . . $15

Bottle-conditioned farmhouse ale was fermented with their house wild mixed culture, then re-fermented on Southern Illinois-grown Chambourcin grapes & aged in a puncheon that previously held red wine.

FIRESTONE WALKER PASO ROBLES, CA

Anniversary XVII (2013)
13.3% 22oz  . . . . . $35

Blend of Bravo and Stickee Monkee, bringing rich molasses drenched oak flavors and cinnamon glazed almond aromas lifted by high alcohol. In the middle, Parabola and Velvet Merkin, work in concert to provide a dusty cocoa mocha aroma and bitter dark chocolate flavors, reminiscent of Bourbon-soaked chocolate chip cookie dough. Double DBA brings its signature vanilla-infused crème brulée flavor and Helldorado brings balance with honey notes and light leather nuances. A dash of Wookey Jack offers fresh hop notes creating even more complexity. XVII is full of soft chocolate and warm spice perfectly balanced by toasted coconut, bourbon barrel notes and smooth creamy malt mellowness. As this beer sits and breathes in the glass, more rich chocolate and spice character is revealed.

DOGFISH HEAD MILTON, DE
World Wide Stout (2016)
15-20% 11.2oz  . . . . . $16

Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley, it is dark, rich, roasty and complex. A highly ageable beer and has a depth more in line with a fine port. Just hitting 10 years old we think this is a great age to enjoy this beer.