Orval is one of my favourites, but there are so many I always try to drink something new, same as with British beer. The are no doubts, between us our two countries produce the best beer in the world, then I'd say it's the Czechs and Germans.
Westmalle is beautiful, especially if you can get hold of the Tripel version. Rochefort is also lovely. Like The President, I can also vouch for Duvel and Leffe (Brune would be my choice, but Blonde is also good - looking forward to trying their triple version).
Personally I'm not so keen on their sour beers like Roddenbach Grand Cru, but I can see they have their place and would probably appeal to cider drinkers. There is one Belgian beer that's overrated though. Hoegaarden, available everywhere and absolute cack. In fact, it's worse than that; it's cloudy cack.
All down to personal taste, of course. I find that the taste of alcohol in strong Belgian beers overpowers any subtle flavours of hop and grain. That's my general criticism of American attempts at English ale, too. On Saturday evening I was in the Man of Kent in Rochester, which serves a range of local beers from handpumps. Goacher's Gold Star, brewed in Maidstone with Maris Otter malt and East Kent Goldings hops, has a deceptively hefty ABV of 5.1%, yet the subtle flavours come through perfectly. Delicious.
I love the Man of Kent in Rochester - good friend lives a 5 min walk away, so pop in there fairly regularly...(although was last in on New Years Eve....which means I am due a visit...)... With the Belgian beers I tend to stick to the 6-8% - definitely stay away from the 10%+... I work right near the Lowlander Bar in Cvt Gdn...always worth a pop in for a quick refresher on Belgian beers....
Westmalle is beautiful, especially if you can get hold of the Tripel version. Rochefort is also lovely. Like The President, I can also vouch for Duvel and Leffe (Brune would be my choice, but Blonde is also good - looking forward to trying their triple version).
Personally I'm not so keen on their sour beers like Roddenbach Grand Cru, but I can see they have their place and would probably appeal to cider drinkers. There is one Belgian beer that's overrated though. Hoegaarden, available everywhere and absolute cack. In fact, it's worse than that; it's cloudy cack.
Hoegaarden is one of those beers, like Stella Artois, that used to be good but the quality has diminished as the advertising budget has increased. When I first drank Stella it was brewed in Belgium and a good pint, then I tried it a few years later and it was awful. When I looked at the bottle it said 'Brewed under licence by Whitbread'. Says it all.
One of the things that I enjoy about Belgian beer (apart from the taste, the bouquet, the trouble remembering who I am after a few) is that each beer has its own glass. Whether you subscribe to the view that the shape of the glass can affect the flavour or not (and there's good scientific evidence that it does), the glasses are mostly visually appealing (see the Orval picture in the post two above this one).
One of the things that I enjoy about Belgian beer (apart from the taste, the bouquet, the trouble remembering who I am after a few) is that each beer has its own glass. Whether you subscribe to the view that the shape of the glass can affect the flavour or not (and there's good scientific evidence that it does), the glasses are mostly visually appealing (see the Orval picture in the post two above this one).
i do subscribe to that theory but i feel the real reason for the different glasses is simply because they're so strong that after a few you cant pronounce them and so the glass lets the bar staff know what you want.
The trouble with bottles is that they're too small, and the trouble with bottles made of dark glass is that you're never sure how much is left in them. If you're out with an amateur drinker and you keep tipping an empty bottle at your glass, the amateur might think you've got a problem. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer my beer in pint glasses.
Also, Belgian Trappist beer at 8% is a bit strong for me: a couple of those and my stomach feels empty but my brain is dancing. I prefer to drink twice the amount of 4%, and have the intoxication gently creep up on me, as if by stealth.
Trappist beer is very nice but, as has been said, you really can't drink too many of them.
The thing is they are also very, very similar to a lot of UK breweries specialist "Barley Wine", which is also top-fermented. Frankly, a good one of these is just as good as the Trappist product from Belgium.
Our praise - and I'm including myself here - of Belgium beer is rather typical of UK consumers for pretty much all products. Somehow we seem to be drawn to the exotic foreignness of other countries' produce and our own stuff gets overlooked and marginalised. For Trappist beer, read Brazilian footballers, German cars, Italian clothes, French cheese, etc, etc.
got back from a long weekend in Bruge last monday. loved it.
Never been that bothered about beer, used to have a few shandies in the summer, but nothing else.
After going to the only remaining brewery in Bruge (de Halve Maan) I am now rather partial to a Brugse Zot or a Leffe Blond, as well as Delerium Red, Floris Apple, Liefmans Kriek Cuvee, Lindemans Cassis but my ultimate favourite is now Mongozo Banana beer.
Boon marriage pafait geuze (sour) is nectar made in heaven. Try drinking beers from midday until after midnight, brews that range from 6% to 12%. Just back from Leuven.
Check out 'Beers of Europe' website. It in fact has beers from all over the world and is excellent, with a big selection of Belgian brew. if you are ever up Norfolk way pay it a visit, it's just outside Kings Lynn. The Belgian Monk in Norwich is also a top bar selling an absolute stack of Belgian beers (and unique Belgian grub). So next time Charlton are up this way!!!!!
Westmalle is beautiful, especially if you can get hold of the Tripel version. Rochefort is also lovely. Like The President, I can also vouch for Duvel and Leffe (Brune would be my choice, but Blonde is also good - looking forward to trying their triple version).
Personally I'm not so keen on their sour beers like Roddenbach Grand Cru, but I can see they have their place and would probably appeal to cider drinkers. There is one Belgian beer that's overrated though. Hoegaarden, available everywhere and absolute cack. In fact, it's worse than that; it's cloudy cack.
First had a Rodenbach many years ago in a "locals" bar in Brussels. Had it recommended as something different to try and, like you, found it a bit sour.
They then added a shot of grenadine to it - totally transformed it. Really smooth - a lovely drink.
The trouble with bottles is that they're too small, and the trouble with bottles made of dark glass is that you're never sure how much is left in them. If you're out with an amateur drinker and you keep tipping an empty bottle at your glass, the amateur might think you've got a problem. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer my beer in pint glasses.
Also, Belgian Trappist beer at 8% is a bit strong for me: a couple of those and my stomach feels empty but my brain is dancing. I prefer to drink twice the amount of 4%, and have the intoxication gently creep up on me, as if by stealth.
The beauty of having the glass for the beer is it holds the whole bottleful so you don't have to keep trying to empty the bottle after the first pour.
I agree with you about the strength, but it can depend on the situation. A Belgian beer often goes really well with food (not saying other countries' beers don't) and the small quantity doesn't fill you up whilst your eating.
Westmalle is beautiful, especially if you can get hold of the Tripel version. Rochefort is also lovely. Like The President, I can also vouch for Duvel and Leffe (Brune would be my choice, but Blonde is also good - looking forward to trying their triple version).
Personally I'm not so keen on their sour beers like Roddenbach Grand Cru, but I can see they have their place and would probably appeal to cider drinkers. There is one Belgian beer that's overrated though. Hoegaarden, available everywhere and absolute cack. In fact, it's worse than that; it's cloudy cack.
First had a Rodenbach many years ago in a "locals" bar in Brussels. Had it recommended as something different to try and, like you, found it a bit sour.
They then added a shot of grenadine to it - totally transformed it. Really smooth - a lovely drink.
The Belgian equivalent of lager and black? Are you a pikey in disguise?
Comments
Delirium Tremens, Blanches De Bruges, Duvel,Leffe - luvly,luvly,luvly.
Personally I'm not so keen on their sour beers like Roddenbach Grand Cru, but I can see they have their place and would probably appeal to cider drinkers. There is one Belgian beer that's overrated though. Hoegaarden, available everywhere and absolute cack. In fact, it's worse than that; it's cloudy cack.
Good stuff on the whole
@Stig are you drinking Hoegaarden with or without lemon?
Quite partial to a Chimay.
Belgian beer is the best there is.
Also, Belgian Trappist beer at 8% is a bit strong for me: a couple of those and my stomach feels empty but my brain is dancing. I prefer to drink twice the amount of 4%, and have the intoxication gently creep up on me, as if by stealth.
Find one you like, then go to a local supermarket and buy packs of four for about 5 euro. Belgium beer in england is ridiculously expensive
The thing is they are also very, very similar to a lot of UK breweries specialist "Barley Wine", which is also top-fermented.
Frankly, a good one of these is just as good as the Trappist product from Belgium.
Our praise - and I'm including myself here - of Belgium beer is rather typical of UK consumers for pretty much all products. Somehow we seem to be drawn to the exotic foreignness of other countries' produce and our own stuff gets overlooked and marginalised. For Trappist beer, read Brazilian footballers, German cars, Italian clothes, French cheese, etc, etc.
Never been that bothered about beer, used to have a few shandies in the summer, but nothing else.
After going to the only remaining brewery in Bruge (de Halve Maan) I am now rather partial to a Brugse Zot or a Leffe Blond, as well as Delerium Red, Floris Apple, Liefmans Kriek Cuvee, Lindemans Cassis but my ultimate favourite is now Mongozo Banana beer.
Bruges and Ghent are fantastic if you like your beer, get over there. It really is different class.
Had a lovely glass of Zot in Belgo's in Bromley today. Another excellent drop.
They then added a shot of grenadine to it - totally transformed it. Really smooth - a lovely drink.
I agree with you about the strength, but it can depend on the situation. A Belgian beer often goes really well with food (not saying other countries' beers don't) and the small quantity doesn't fill you up whilst your eating.