Belgian Beers

Brewery Visit: Brasserie d'Achouffe

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Been there. Done that.

Session 29: Will Travel for Beer

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:54:00 +0000

I am pretty sure the last Session www.belgian-beers.eu took part in was Session 16. Now that is a LONG time ago!

Which is why, with a very sunny weekend coming up I thought it might be a good idea to share with you our (beer) travel destinations. Do we travel for beer? Honestly, no. Why? Because we have more beer than we can handle in Belgium. Our twist on the Session 29, hosted by Beer by Bart is thus ‘Will Travel for Beer to … Belgium’. There are a couple of must-beers (?) while in Belgium so if you do travel to Belgium for beer here goes top 3:

Try to visit Belgium during one of the following beer festivals: Zythos (usually in March); Brussels Beer Festival (usually beginning September); Bruxellensis (usually mid-September).
Stop at the Chez Moeder Lambic and ask one of the waiters to guide you through a selection of Belgian beers. They know what they are talking about and they are completely against ‘industrial’ beers, think Leffe and the like. Doesn’t mean I necessarily agree, as I do like a Leffe once in a while, but you’ll get to try some unique beers. (Note: there is a second Chez Moeder Lambic opening this year!)
If you want to take beer back home, either go to one of the bigger supermarkets – trust me, they stock a fair amount of beers at decent prices, or head to Delices et Caprices or Beer Mania.

And if none of these works then just drop me an email :)
Cheers!

(Beer) News

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:49:00 +0000

Well, it's more 'news' than 'beer news'. Reason for our very long blog silence? We bought an apartment recently and all our energy goes into it. As you can see. Eventually, that will be our new kitchen.

Is there time for beer? Yes. So stayed tuned, we'll be back.

Belgian Beer no.311: Bles Herbie

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Not sure I even mentioned we went to the Bles Beer Festival. This was the Herbie beer voucher for the festival beer. Nothing memorable, but still deserving a number on the blog.

Belgian Beer no.310: Oude Kriek

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:03:00 +0000

A 6% lambic fruity old cherry beer. Quite sour for a cherry beer, but a very pleasant discovery from 3 Fonteinen.

Belgian Beer no.309: Jules de Kriek

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:01:00 +0000

By no means as bad as the bananas one. A nice Kriek. A fruity 4.9% number.

Brewed by De Ryck in case you wonder.

Brewery Visit: Affligem

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Just some impressions from a recent visit to the Affligem Brewery. Good fun and good beer. Love the glass.

Belgian Beer no.308: Jules de Bananes

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Just no. As simple as that. No. No. No.
Bananas - yes.
Beer - yes.
Beer and bananas - no.

Belgian Beer no.307: Gueuze Foudroyante

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:49:00 +0000

I am not a big gueuze fun as such - I am sure an acquired taste - but this is a refreshing one. Touches of sugar and some wood, a dessert beer. On the other hand I understand that gueuze lovers don't actually like this one brewed by Brasserie Lindemans. 4.5%

Beer Bar in Brussels: La Fleur en Papier Doré

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Although we regularly got to La Porte Noire (more about that another time) ... we never actually went into La Fleur en Papier Doré. And such a pleasant surprise.
Don't get me wrong. It's not hip. It's not young. It's not trendy. But it's all about old Brussels atmosphere. Apparently La Fleur en Papier Dore is the oldest bistro in Brussels. Lovely on a Sunday afternoon, for a couple of beers and a quick bite. We'll definitely go back as there is so much more to take in.

La Fleur en Papier Dore - Rue des Alexiens 55, 1000 BXL

Belgian Beer no.306: St. Bernardus Witbier

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:04:00 +0000

A great white beer, refreshing and easy to drink. The St. Bernardus Witbier.
Here on a somewhat mild night sometimes last year.

At 5.5% one of the easy ones to drink.

Belgian Beer no.305: St. Bernardus Pater 6

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:04:00 +0000

We tried the St. Bernardus Abt 12 already. It was time for the Pater 6.

A dark beer, almost red, with a very specific taste. There is enough fruit, but also hops to make it a 'grown up' beer. Some really love it!

At 6.7% very easy to drink.

Belgian Beer no.304: Poperings Hommelbier

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:44:00 +0000

I was sure we had reviewed this beer long time ago. But seems not. It's such a usual beer, that I am surprised we missed it.

The Poperings Hommebier. Brewed by the same people as Belgian Beer no.40.

Three varieties of hops are used in this beer. Fermentation in the bottle.

Due to the hops it does have a very rich taste to it. At 7.5% a fairly heavy beer as well.

A nice change from the usual beers.

Belgian Beer no.53, no.42 and no.303: Timmermans Beers

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:56:00 +0000

One tasted already.
The other as well.
The other Timmermans Kriek. Very fruity, very cherry, very Kriek.

(And yes, you've guessed it these are all beers tasted still in 2008 - I have a backlog of about 50 beers to go through ...)

Belgian Beer no.302: 'n Maurootje

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:56:00 +0000

This review comes from William Roelens, a Belgian beer blogger who also brews his own beer. The 'N Maurootje.

Life being life, I just read his wife passed away. My sincere condolences.

Below, his own beer review:
A dark blond beer with a white fine full.
The nose is spicy and hoppy.
Light predominating flavour of junipers
Also complete deeply a fragrant bread aroma.
The taste is bitter hopps.
Leading spicy
A good and nicely dry beer with a beautiful dry aftertaste. A thirst-quenching beer.

Belgian Beer no.301 and 2009

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:54:00 +0000

And here we go again :)
Sorry for the long silence, there will be more to follow as I am WAY busy ... but didn't stop drinking beer. Yet!

In the meantime, if you have some reviews you'd like me to post till I get back to normal - they'd be more than welcome.

Oh, and everyone knows beer no.301, no?

300 Belgian Beers and 2009

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:35:00 +0000

Hello Andreea ... now that you have tasted 297 Belgian beers are there 4 or 5 that you would consider favorites?

John from TX

Hi John from TX,

We did indeed make our way through 300 Belgian Beers and there are always favorites. Depending on mood and offer, I'll never turn down a fresh Leffe Blonde or in the summer, a Hoegaarden. Yes, we are spoiled with choice in Belgium but there is only that much effort you can put into always trying out a new beer.

However, 5 Belgian Beers stood out this past 300 beers - in no particular order:

And with this, dear Belgian Beer friends I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and let's make it to 400 in 2009!

Cheers,

Andreea.

Belgian Beer no.300: St Feuillien Cuvee de Noel

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:29:00 +0000

We drink the St Feuillien fairly regularly, but this is the first time I got around to try the Cuvee de Noel.

It's almost Christmas time so that means a lot of Christmas beers. Which is great if you ask me. We are in constant daze from such great, rich and very strong beers.

At 9% this is again a ruby beer, full of aromas and spices, smooth and with hints of caramel. Again, delicious. But let me remind you: strong!

And voila dear Belgian Beer friends we reached 300 Belgian Beers! Now this could not have been done without your encouragement and help. So a big THANK YOU to all.

Stay tuned for the last post this year, answering a readers question.

Belgian Beer no.299: Gouden Carolus Noel

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:17:00 +0000

Now this fellow Belgian Beer lovers, is an amazing beer! Last year we gave it away as a Christmas present, this year I got around to try it out. Delicious. Brewed by Het Anker.

Needless to say it is strong (10,5%) which caused a little wobble when I got up. It's dark, and rich, and ruby red, and smooth, and hints of Christmas spice - all you expect from a Christmas beer and more. Pity I can only about drink 1!

And just to make the whole Gouden Carolus Noel experience perfect it was also on tap at Chez Moeder Lambic.

Just because ...

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Belgian Beer no.298: Saison de Mai

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:47:00 +0000

Here is a beer I really enjoyed. The Saison de Mai brewed by Brasserie Saint Monon. A light beer with some hints of spice, floral notes, overall very ... springy. Orange, vanilla, hops, it's all very confusing. But very pleasant at 8.3%.

Belgian Beer no.297: Adelardus

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:48:00 +0000

Brewed by the Brasserie Kerkom (same brewery as for no.92), the Adelardus Dubbel. A fairly spicy and sweet brown beer, some herbs - an interesting but not long lasting taste. 7%.

Belgian Beer no.296: Delirium Nocturnum

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:43:00 +0000

Ok, first of all don't you just love the bottle/design? I think it looks pretty cool.

Now on to the beer. Brewed by Brasserie Huyghe the Delirium Nocturnum is a strong, dark ale at 8.5%. It's all a little fruity, a little nutty, a little malty, a lot of things going on in this beer. Very smooth and very rich, but then again it had to be at that strength.

Great beer but not one to drink too many of.

Belgian Beer no.295: Kriek Foudroyante

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:49:00 +0000

The Kriek Foudroyante. Another beer from Brasserie Lindemans, but despite being brewed in Belgium it is meant for export to France.

Cherry, sweet, the like. 4%.

Belgian Beer no.294: Livinus

andreeainbxl@hotmail.com (Andreea) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:46:00 +0000

A very interesting beer. The label definitely got our attention. A blond high fermentation beer, yeasty beer? Brewed by Brassrie Van Den Bossche.
We tried it at home. Very easy to drink at 5.2%.