Belgian beer - the drink of the gods

[LitNetIsGreat]

The world of Belgian beer is like no other. For a small country it has a huge amount of beers, all of them unique and individual. The vast majority of them come with their own specially made glasses, designed to bring out the tastes and flavours of their unique characters.

Belgian beer denotes quality and ritual, in a world that seems increasingly geared towards fast-paced mass production, Belgian beer offers a genuine and real experience, with a taste that is fit for the gods. They are sipping drinks, they are drinks to take your time over, not just because they are so strong, which they are, but because they demand it.

The Trappist Beers

The Trappists are the kings of the Belgian beers and the most sought after. They are officially brewed by monks in working monasteries, with seven of them in total, six in Belgian and one just over the boarder in Holland/Netherlands. All of the Trappist brews represent extreme quality, as one of my servers said at my Devonshire Cat, "you simply can't go wrong with Trappist beers".

The breweries are:

Westmalle - Located in the Belgian province of Antwerp, the dubbel and the tripple are the only commercial beers sold and both of them are particular favourites of mine, absolutely divine on the palette. Both of them are subtly different brews of course, but the tripel in particular is very strong and lasts for ages on the tongue, forming little bubbles on the tip and never fading, (I could still taste this drink one hour after sipping it). For more information visit this site: http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/biersoorten.aspx
http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/images/biersoorten.jpg

The monks of the monastery drink this stuff daily, I could quite happily convert to Christianity and join them for it! (Though the Devonshire sells it readily enough.)

Chimay - The Chimay is the most readily available Trappist beer on the market, and in my opinion (and generally regarded) not quite as good as Westmalle, but still a wonderful beer. They come in three brews, the red, the white and the blue, increasingly going up in strength. You should be able to get hold of these in large supermarkets, go buy!
http://www.chimay.com/

http://butterlandnet.blox.pl/resource/ChimayRed2.jpg

Rochefort - These are monster beers, mostly dark and demanding in nature. They come in the Rochefort 6, 8 and 10, the 10 being 11.3% ABV, though that is not unusual for strong brews. These beers are deeply satisfying but you have to be in the mood to tackle the dark and bitter nature of them.
http://bb.cactii.net/images/rochefort-choc-sm.jpg

La Trappe - I believe that these have only recently been allowed to officially call themselves trappist, (2005), instead of the abbey label. Abbey beers are brewed under direction of monks, but they aren't officially allowed to be called Trappist beers. These beers are also some of my favourites, particularly the dubbel, which is dark red in colour but highly refreshing - those little bubbles are back! By far the main brews are the la Trappe Blonde, (highly refreshing), the La Trappe Dubbel, La Trappe Tripel and guess, yes that's right, the La Trappe Quadruple. Not quite as explosive as the Westmalle, but highly refreshing stuff.

http://thebeeremporium.com/media/2ndsept09%20001.JPG

Westvleteren - This is an extremely withdrawn brewery!!! Don't expect to be able to try this one without a trip directly to the brewery. Here you will be served the beer by one of the brewing monks. They are supposed to be the very finest of all the Belgian brews, but until I get out there I will never get to taste it for myself.

http://home.datacomm.ch/fiulijn1/LILLE/B/westvleteren3.jpg

Achel - Achel brews five Trappist ales and I have yet to taste any of them for myself. I believe that the Devonshire only serves one of them, so I am going to try that next time I think, I'll tell you what I think then.

http://www.geo.uw.edu.pl/GALERIA/BEER/B/ACHEL/achel04.gif

Orval - Orval produces only two brews, the Orval and the petite Orval. I've had the Orval brew before, but I can't remember what it was like! In my defence I do try a lot of brews and they are strong; so I'll just have to try another.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BxDwlkjd6xY/RmrIx5_2TPI/AAAAAAAAAwM/VYsfv6uDDFw/s400/134%2B-%2BOrval.JPG

OK, so that is the Trappist beers, only about another 400 breweries to go!!! :banana:

[Scheherazade]

So, after how many pints does one dedicate a whole thread to the Belgian beer?

;)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Ha, actually none today unfortunately, which is why I'd had to settle for looking at the pictures. And as for "a whole thread", we could devote this whole website to Belgian beer, it is that huge a subject, in fact we definitely need a Belgian Beer section at least, right next to serious discussions!

Oh, and most Belgian beers are not served as pints, but in smaller glasses of varying amounts, on average around the 330ml mark.

Here is where I am mostly to be found if I am not on lit net:
http://www.devonshirecat.co.uk/ :redface: it is where my serious contemplation occurs.

[Niamh]

I'll be in belgium tomorrow and cant wait to have a few Cherry Kriks!

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'll be in belgium tomorrow and cant wait to have a few Cherry Kriks!

I do hope you're joking, extremely jealous if not.

[JCamilo]

What does Harold Bloom have to say about this? :D

[The Comedian]

Those brews do indeed look tasty, and I would love to go to the Devonshire Cat some day as it looks to be an establishment of supreme worth.

[Virgil]

Sounds great. Excellent idea for a thread Neely. I have never been disappointed with a Belgium beer. :)

[Niamh]

I do hope you're joking, extremely jealous if not.

Oh i aint joking! :D will be sipping beer in Bruges. :D

[prendrelemick]

What does Harold Bloom have to say about this? :D

:lol::lol::lol:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Those brews do indeed look tasty, and I would love to go to the Devonshire Cat some day as it looks to be an establishment of supreme worth.

Yes they are indeed very tasty brews and the Devonshire is indeed of supreme worth, it is quite a rare place, I mean 100 bottle beers, all served in their correct glasses by experienced and devoted bar staff! Of course if you are ever in the area pop in, more than likely I'll be there, especially at the weekends. I'm the good looking one in the corner...


Sounds great. Excellent idea for a thread Neely. I have never been disappointed with a Belgium beer. :)

Thanks, I'll will be adding another couple of chapters so keep tuned in.


Oh i aint joking! :D will be sipping beer in Bruges. :D

:eek2: No comment.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Lambics

Lambics are very distinctive and genuinely unique Belgian beers. They are produced via spontaneous fermentation, which means they are left out in the open in order to capture specific wild yeast cells. These only exist in the south west region of Brussels, and therefore, the drink can only ever be made there. After the magic fairies ferment the beer, it is then stored in large oak barrels for up to three years before it is ready to drink.

In terms of taste it could best be described as tasting like a light, sour cider and definitely not like standard beer. The pure Lambics can certainly take some getting used to, but once you have a taste for them (if you do) they can be extremely rewarding. They are often called the champagne of beers, due I suppose to them only been brewed in one particular area, like the French wine equivalent, and to the effervescent nature and quality of the drink.

The Cantillon brewery is perhaps the very best and most exclusive producer of pure Lambic beer. http://www.cantillon.be/br/3_1 and the Grand Cru is arguably the best of all: http://www.cantillon.be/br/3_104.

http://www.cantillon.be/br/ww/Cantillon_i012.jpg

Variations of Lambic: Gueuze, Faro and fruit beer

Because the Lambics can be quite sour they are blended with a variety of things to suit all palates. A Gueuze (pro. Gu-za) is a blend of young and old Lambic and is less sour than the pure form of Lambic.

http://web.mit.edu/~tcarlile/www/images/blog/379cantillongueuze.jpg

A Faro contains added brown sugar and has a much sweeter tang to it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3535958820_2467bf1e52.jpg

Fruit beers based on Lambics are numerous and very popular little numbers, including cherry Krieks, peach, strawberry, raspberry, banana, pineapple, anything really:

http://www.soshiok.com/images/0001/9812/timmermans_sk.jpg


I quite like the Timmermans strawberry which the Devonshire serves on tap (I don't have shares in the place honest).

http://www.devonshirecat.co.uk/thumbnails/timmerman_fraise.jpg

Overall though, if I am going to have a Lambic I like to drink the Cantillon Grand Cru, a real Lambic, but the strawberry is highly refreshing though, it has to be said.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Here is a particular Belgian beer that me and my brother are addicted too at the moment, a very tasty little one called Delirium Blonde:

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:FTuice84y1SSJM:http://www.fortybeers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Open-Beer-3-Delirium-Tremens.jpg

It is easily noticeable by the pink elephant logo:

http://www.lowlander.com/img/db/Blonde_Delirium_tremens.png

It is so popular in Belgium that they named a whole bar after it, incidentally one of the most famous bars in Belgium: http://www.deliriumcafe.be/

Feel free to share any favourite Belgian beers, I would be greatly interested...:santasmil

[LitNetIsGreat]

Achel - Achel brews five Trappist ales and I have yet to taste any of them for myself. I believe that the Devonshire only serves one of them, so I am going to try that next time I think, I'll tell you what I think then.

http://www.geo.uw.edu.pl/GALERIA/BEER/B/ACHEL/achel04.gif


Orval - Orval produces only two brews, the Orval and the petite Orval. I've had the Orval brew before, but I can't remember what it was like! In my defence I do try a lot of brews and they are strong; so I'll just have to try another.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BxDwlkjd6xY/RmrIx5_2TPI/AAAAAAAAAwM/VYsfv6uDDFw/s400/134%2B-%2BOrval.JPG

Yes, I had the Orval last night and it didn't suit me at all, very harsh bitter taste to it, I actually struggled to drink it, but that is the nature of beer, some you like and some you don't. I might be trying the Achel later, we'll have to see how that compares to the other Trappist brews...

[LitNetIsGreat]

The Achel is heaven. I want to be a monk...

[Buh4Bee]

Awesome thread!
You are making me salivate. My husband calls this beer porn. I have to stay on the wagon. b/c I am pregnant. I have had Chamay- red. Very powerful flavors and a high alcoholic content- 7-8%?
YUMMMMM!

[Niamh]

What i currently have in my fridge, brought home all the way from Belgium.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/nabeel164/bellevue_kriek.jpg

[LitNetIsGreat]

Awesome thread!
You are making me salivate. My husband calls this beer porn. I have to stay on the wagon. b/c I am pregnant. I have had Chamay- red. Very powerful flavors and a high alcoholic content- 7-8%?
YUMMMMM!
:lol: Yes, I had the red last night, it is indeed 7%, which is strong, but only average by Belgian standards, (the blue is 11%). I do love the red very much as well, deep and altogether so, so tasty.

You'll have to get some good Belgian beers for when the baby is born and celebrate in style!



What i currently have in my fridge, brought home all the way from Belgium.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/nabeel164/bellevue_kriek.jpg

Oh, yes you're the evil one who went to Belgium aren't you? How, er, how, did you get on there? :redface: Just been flicking through my city breaks brochure, taking in Brussels and Bruges, amongst others, ah...

That kriek looks yummy, I don't think that it would be sitting in my fridge for long.

I have only got one small Leffe and Erdinger in the fridge, drinkable, but hardly anything to get that excited about. It is certainly one of the drawbacks of tasting the finer things in life; it leaves one so deliciously unsatisfied...

[Niamh]

Oh, yes your'e the evil one who went to Belgium aren't you? How, er, how, did you get on there? :redface: Just been flicking through my city breaks brochure, taking in Brussels and Bruges, amongst others, ah...

That kriek looks yummy, I don't think that it would be sitting in my fridge for long.

I have only got one small Leffe and Erdinger in the fridge, drinkable, but hardly anything to get that excited about. It is certainly one of the drawbacks of tasting the finer things in life; it leaves one so deliciously unsatisfied...

It was a very magical place and sitting beside the canals drinking Kriek was pleasent. i highly recommend a visit. I have posted pics of Bruges in my blog and in the photos by you thread if you are interested.

Oh and it is no longer in my fridge. it is in a glass! :D

[LitNetIsGreat]

It was a very magical place and sitting beside the canals drinking Kriek was pleasent. i highly recommend a visit. I have posted pics of Bruges in my blog and in the photos by you thread if you are interested.

Sounds like heaven, I'll check those out, thanks.


Oh and it is no longer in my fridge. it is in a glass!

:lol::lol:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Come on folks I want to know your Belgian experiences. If you have not rushed out and sought some great Belgian beers after reading this thread I want to know why.

I will not accept the excuse that the cat ate your Belgian beer shopping list. Or that you have other things to do. I was not born yesterday. Do you want me to phone your parents and explain to them that you are just not pulling your weight? No, I didn't think so.

You may, or may not realise it, but drinking good quality Belgian beer is for YOUR benefit and not MINE. I have my qualification in Belgian beer, I am OK, but you haven't.

You may just think that all this is just a laugh, and that you are only here to "have a good time" but what about when you log off? Where are your so called friends then? Oh yes, I am talking about YOUR future here, and nobody else's, think about it.

Do you really want to spend the rest of your life drinking warm tap water? No, I didn't think so. But nobody can go out and get the fine quality Belgian ales for you, you have to do it for yourself and grab those Trappist brews with both hands.

Tut, really, when I was younger I didn't have all the support that you have now. Oh no. I was simply thrown out in the wide world of the pub and made to suffer by drinking chemical beers and weak real ales. It is only through hard work and dedication that I have come to appreciate the finer ales of those most noble Belgians.

But you, with all your "new fangled" internet have access to all the support that you need and you are just not applying yourself at all. It is just plain laziness and habit. Never mind if you are a wine drinker, or that you may be under age, that is not an excuse at all. Belgian beer is the drink of the gods and you are off task, so repeat after me:

I must drink Belgian beer and report to Mr Neely
I must drink Belgian beer and report to Mr Neely
...
...
X50

Now get out of my class, and don't return until you are truly sorry. We can all say sorry, but it is not the same unless we really mean it.

Now then, where was I? Oh yes, Timmerman please continue...

[Scheherazade]

Belgian beer is the drink of the gods and you are off task, so repeat after me:

I must drink Belgian beer and report to Mr Neely
I must drink Belgian beer and report to Mr Neely
...
...
X50

...Done, Sir.

Mr Neely, Sir, you forgot to put fullstops at the end of your sentences but I took the liberty of typing them with a fullstop, Sir.

[LitNetIsGreat]

:lol::lol::lol:

Ah, yes, yes, put it down over there by the table. Take a seat.

Ahem, I marked your essay on the merits of Westmalle Triple during matins, and yes it had some interesting points in the conclusion, very er, well put, excellent, I think there is some promise in you yet child, capital, capital.

Well what are you sitting there for? Off you go to break, shoo, shoo, come on dear, I have to prepare for my lecture on the Abbey beers, capital, capital.

[bazarov]

Belgian beers are really exceptional, unique, every beer has it's own special glass, too strong to drink it a lot and very expensive; at least in only pub in my town that has it.

Too bad they are hard (almost impossible) to get in my country.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes they certainly are exception beers and unique in many respects. They are stronger, but it then becomes more of a sipping drink, a drink to take your time over and savour, as opposed to standard strength British "session" beers which really demands drinking more quickly. They are more expensive in the UK than the standard drink £3-5 per bottle on average, as opposed to £2-3 per pint (so more than double in cost per amount) but I certainly think they are worth it. How much are they in your country (Russia?) compared to standard beers?

After drinking Belgian beer it is very difficult to drink anything else, although I do enjoy the German wheat beers and occasionally some of the better continental lagers. I also drink ciders, but it is now rare that I drink British real ales anymore, because I have been spoilt by the art of the Belgian brew and although there are some fair British beers, they simply can't compare to Belgian beers, especially the Trappist ones.

[The Comedian]

Professor Neely! Professor Neely! *raises his hand*

In my remote hub of the northern US, we have what are commonly called "Belgian style" ales and "Beers brewed in the Belgian tradition". Are these Belgian ales too?

I am eager to begin my studies of this subject, but I fear to leave my lovely Pabst Blue Ribbon behind me. Which reminds me of another question: Do Belgian ales come in 30-packs?

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hmm, unfortunately such brews are not authentic Belgian ales. If they say "Belgian style" or "brewed in the Belgian tradition” they are like copies of an original, ahem. But don’t be disheartened there dear fellow, such brews are I good starter I’m sure, and you can certainly get hold of real authentic brews over there if you look hard enough. I suggest that as your homework for the next week, capital, capital.

Belgian ales come by the bottle, always by the bottle and not in “packs”. Although you can order them by the crate, usually in 24s, but that would cost a lot. Look out for Chimay, le Trappe and Westmalle, you should be able to find those in the US they send enough over there, excellent, excellent, Carry on.

[Niamh]

Hmm, unfortunately such brews are not authentic Belgian ales. If they say "Belgian style" or "brewed in the Belgian tradition” they are like copies of an original, ahem. But don’t be disheartened there dear fellow, such brews are I good starter I’m sure, and you can certainly get hold of real authentic brews over there if you look hard enough. I suggest that as your homework for the next week, capital, capital.

Belgian ales come by the bottle, always by the bottle and not in “packs”. Although you can order them by the crate, usually in 24s, but that would cost a lot. Look out for Chimay, le Trappe and Westmalle, you should be able to find those in the US they send enough over there, excellent, excellent, Carry on.

they sell them in cans and packs in the airport in Brussels...

[LitNetIsGreat]

Cans and packs? Belgian beer in a can? Not the Trappist brews certainly, certainly not the Trappist brews, oh dear the thought of it. Now stand outside for shouting out, tut, tut. Oh, I feel faint.

[Niamh]

Cans and packs? Belgian beer in a can? Not the Trappist brews certainly, certainly not the Trappist brews, oh dear the thought of it. Now stand outside for shouting out, tut, tut. Oh, I feel faint.

Deep Breaths Neely! Its not the end of the world!!! That beer is for pure tourist commercial value. :nod:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes, yes, real, Belgian beer is bottled. While we are on the subject of commercial Belgian beer, Stella does not count as Belgian beer, it is the worst sort of commercial Belgian beer and is mostly brewed under licence in the UK and elsewhere anyway. Either way it is pretty poor stuff, it is a lager anyway and not a beer.

Edit: incidentally it is probably the best commercial lager available in the UK today, which says a lot about the rest...

[bazarov]

They are more expensive in the UK than the standard drink £3-5 per bottle on average, as opposed to £2-3 per pint (so more than double in cost per amount) but I certainly think they are worth it. How much are they in your country (Russia?) compared to standard beers?


Croatia :)
Normal beer 2 euros, Erdinger and Guinness 4 euros for 1/2 L those are prices in pubs.
In the store it's about half of those in pubs.
Belgian beers are available in only one pub and they are minimum 4 or 5 euro, depends is it 0,33 or 0,5 bottle.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes those prices are more or less consistant with those in the UK then, although your normal beer is cheaper. I found a website where I can order Belgian beer from the UK at cheaper prices, approximately half price of those in the bar if ordered in bulk - you can order the correct glass as well. I think I will stock up for Christmas and maybe a smaller order before.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Of course it is not just about the beer, but the ceremony that comes with it too. Last night I had a Westmalle Triple in an inferior real ale establishment - really, the landlady spilled a lot of it upon opening the bottle, she then continued to fill it into completely the wrong glass! Naturally, the head was far too big for the plume type container she placed it into and she didn't even knock off any cost, despite throwing half of it onto the floor and all over the side, you just don't get that sort of sloppy service my main drinking arena. Don't worry I made my feelings clear. :argue: (She even served me with the sediment, she didn't even bother to ask me if I wanted it or not, she probably didn't know what sediment was, god!) Belgian beer is not a drink that amateurs should be serving, it deserves much more respect than that and in future I will not be drinking Belgian ale in that particular public house again...at least the Erdinger they serve in there is in the correct glass. Disgusting. :mad:

[The Comedian]

I feel the need to revive this thread and to follow up with my lessons.

I did indeed find a Trappist brew in one of the local stores in my area. I purchased a fine looking bottle of Belgian beer, brought it home, and poured it into wide-bowled glass, with an appropriately literary name. Here's the proof:

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC01957-Copy.jpg

I drank hearty. But. . . . .I was disappointed. Spare throwing stones a moment! The brew tasted yeasty and stale, like bread left on the counter too long. I wondered if the beer was just too old -- it would not surprise me. I could taste the malty potential, the fruity undertones. But the purity was missing.

To be sure, I compared this beer with a personal favorite of mine -- a fine example of cheap American lager: Pabst Blue Ribbon.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k431/ssteter/DSC01956-Copy.jpg

To my surprise the Pabst, whose cheap, mass-produced qualities go so well with a handful of Cool Ranch Doritos and a can of processed bean dip, seemed more crisp and complex than the aged Trappist, which tasted as though it had been lost in warehouse, baked in the long sun of an over-seas voyage, lost again in a warehouse, cooked in the trailer of a 16-wheeler, only to sit on the shelf of my local market for over a year.

Professor Neely -- could my taste in brew be faulty? Or does Belgian beer need to, well, not so old and well-traveled as mine so surely was?

[LitNetIsGreat]

Good man for bringing this most noble thread back to life! I myself have not had much of the Belgian brew of late, much, though I intend to indulge in style this Saturday. The pub I briefly frequent on Wed and Thu after university has Belgian beer but serves most of them in wholly the wrong type of glasses, it is really quite shameful, and I refuse to drink them in such a state - would you drink champagne from a dirty bucket? There are one or two that are served correctly but still...

Anyway, I digress. That Chimay white you have/had there should be a very refreshing little brew ( I have one in the fridge). It shouldn't sit heavy or yeasty on the palette at all, quite the opposite, it should be very light and a little effervescent on the tongue. The glass you have for it is perfect, so it does indeed suggest that the beer was off. Maybe it was sat in an unhealthy condition or was transported poorly. If it was left in bright sunlight too much it wouldn't have helped, it should be stored in a cool dark pantry wherever possible and treated with the utmost care.

Other than that it could be that your taste buds have not yet adjusted to the beer, maybe due to drinking duff beer, but I think that unlikely, most people more or less instantly recognise the quality of the stuff as long as it is not too challenging or dark in nature, which Chimay white isn't.

I hope that this experience has not put you off the art that is Belgian beer and I hope that you have better luck in the future. I would give the Chimay white another chance or find another Belgian beer if you can get your hands on one. Let me know how you get on. Good luck!

[LitNetIsGreat]

Temperature. Temperature is a very important factor too brother C. Don't over chill the Belgian beers, consult the label at all times - for many beers fridge temperature is just too cold and will kill much of the flavour of the drink.

I had one Chimay Red last night (I got a good enough glass) and it took me a full hour to drink! I savoured every drop. You have to let it sit awhile in the palette and let it dance on the tongue – it’s an art like I said. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with smashing down a few ice cold lagers once in a while, over the past few weeks I have had quite a few of those, but the pull of the special Belgian stuff always brings me back in the end.

[The Comedian]

Temperature. Temperature is a very important factor too brother C. Don't over chill the Belgian beers, consult the label at all times

Ah! I did not consider temperature well-enough. I'm going to purchase another bottle this evening after work. I admit that I'm tempted to buy a local "Belgian-style" and trust it to be more fresh than the true Belgian that I had before. But I'm undecided on this point at the moment.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hmm, let me know what you do, I have a Chimay White and Chimay Blue for tonight (and some English beer Spitfire). I would be tempted to try the Chimay again over the "Belgian style" stuff. What the hell does "Belgian style" mean anyway, it is either Belgian beer or it isn't?

[LitNetIsGreat]

These two English beers that I have in my fridge are quite drinkable, though of course not in the same league as the Belgians.

http://www.bishopsfinger.co.uk/images/bf500ml2.png

Quite a distinct, aromatic ale.

http://www.spitfireale.co.uk/userimages/SpitfireBottle-2_001.jpg

A fine maltly little brew.

Both of them are from the Shepherd's Neame brewery in Kent.

But even so, let's not sulley a Belgian beer thread with English beer, as fair as it may be. :thumbs_up

Edit: I'm enjoying the Chimay White (or tripel) right now Comedian and it is a little more yeasty than I last remembered it, not quite as light. It is very close to the excellent Westmalle tripel, though that is superior to Chimay. Not wanting to tell you how to drink, and at the danger of sounding a bit geeky, but try holding each sip of the beer in the mouth for 20 seconds or so and let it take over the palate - this is the way I drink most of my Belgian beers actually, especially the trappist brews. Try doing this with it being slightly off fridge temperature and compare it with a duff beer, and I think you will see the difference.

[The Comedian]

I've done some more research to get adequately acquainted with this divine nectar.

Reflecting on my earlier failure, I postulated that the poor atmosphere in which I drank the Chimay white may have contributed to my poor experience with it. What "poor atmosphere" you ask?

You see, once work is over, I pick up my two young children and come home. . .fairly exhausted. Once in the house I reach for a cold can of the Pabst brew, indicated in a previous post, and drink a gulping rushed slurp of the stuff before I'm on to play with/discipline my children. The other drinks of that brew are done in a similar, hectic manner.

This chaotic atmosphere may be well suited to my usual mass-produced American beer. But perhaps Chimay requires a more reflective, calm state of affairs. . .such was my thesis, anyway.

To proceed with my experiment:


After work, I purchased a bottle of Chimay red from a local vendor.

I picked up my children from their care provider.

Upon our return home, I inspected the bottle carefully, ignoring the trivial demands of my offspring, for requirements of temperature, etc. . .

Once I was confident that all requirements on the label were met, I offered each of my children a handful of candy so as to muffle their demands for parental attention.

Then, to secure a quiet environment, I plugged them into the "electric baby sitter" (to use our family parlance, i.e. let them watch movies on the computer).

Now that I was confident that I had a good 45 minutes of peace and quiet, I opened the elixir and poured half of it into my Falstaff drinking glass (pictured earlier).

Taking care not to rush the first sip, I retrieved my National Geographic magazine and browsed it casually, letting the brew "breathe" as they say.

Then, it was time.

Then the first sip, taking care to let it linger was in this order: cool, subtle bitterness, fruity undertones, then warm. Heaven. The other sips, spaced between moments of silent reflection and casual reading offered the kind of solace and wonderment that few other earthly pleasures can offer.

Dare I say, "success"?

[Emil Miller]

These two English beers that I have in my fridge are quite drinkable, though of course not in the same league as the Belgians.

http://www.bishopsfinger.co.uk/images/bf500ml2.png

Quite a distinct, aromatic ale.

http://www.spitfireale.co.uk/userimages/SpitfireBottle-2_001.jpg

A fine maltly little brew.

Both of them are from the Shepherd's Neame brewery in Kent.

But even so, let's not sulley a Belgian beer thread with English beer, as fair as it may be. :thumbs_up

Edit: I'm enjoying the Chimay White (or tripel) right now Comedian and it is a little more yeasty than I last remembered it, not quite as light. It is very close to the excellent Westmalle tripel, though that is superior to Chimay. Not wanting to tell you how to drink, and at the danger of sounding a bit geeky, but try holding each sip of the beer in the mouth for 20 seconds or so and let it take over the palate - this is the way I drink most of my Belgian beers actually, especially the trappist brews. Try doing this with it being slightly off fridge temperature and compare it with a duff beer, and I think you will see the difference.

A bit geeky Neely ? There's no way I could hold each sip of beer for 20 seconds without sending it down the hatch. It's just as well that Trappist monks take a vow of silence, with all that powerful booze around nobody would be able to understand them anyway.
Apparently, Shepherd's Neame produced Spitfire as a one off to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain but it was so popular they decided to keep it. Have you tried Tennants Extra:? one of the few beers that can match the strength of the Belgians and much favoured by alcoholics. I am just off to my local Food and Drink Store to buy some now.

[LitNetIsGreat]

A bit geeky Neely ? There's no way I could hold each sip of beer for 20 seconds without sending it down the hatch. It's just as well that Trappist monks take a vow of silence, with all that powerful booze around nobody would be able to understand them anyway.

Apparently, Shepherd's Neame produced Spitfire as a one off to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain but it was so popular they decided to keep it. Have you tried Tennants Extra:? one of the few beers that can match the strength of the Belgians and much favoured by alcoholics. I am just off to my local Food and Drink Store to buy some now.

Tennants Extra??? Now I know you are joking, do I sound like some amateur Scottish drunk? Please don't swear on the board Brian, have you read the notice at the top ot the page?

Don't get me wrong brother Bean, I'm am not a geeky nerd with a notebook on beer, the type that always surveys the glass to the light and washes the beer down to get the full on mouth-feel for a full 20 seconds each sip constantly. I'm merely trying to help brother C in his most noble beer drinking experiences (I fear however, that he as relapsed on that blue Duff stuff, not having got back to me, tut, tut).

Indeed, the Spitfire was a one-off brew that remained due to demand, and I hold it as a particularly good example of British real ale at its best too, well recommended - perhaps there should be a thread on British real ale, oh let's not go there, the mods will not be happy I think! I'm actually drinking more British ale like Spitfire and co because of a lack of beer funds at the moment, nothing wrong with "roughing it" now and then...

Incidentally, the 20 second rule only applies to Belgian beer, and though I admit to not being able to limit myself to it with every drink (it's just too damn good) it is a way to fully appreciate all of its finer subtleties though, and needs to happen at least once with every glass or you just don't experience the true love of the brew.

Bottoms up. :thumbs_up And all respect due to those fabulous Belgian people!!!

[Emil Miller]

Tennants Extra??? Now I know you are joking, do I sound like some amateur Scottish drunk? Please don't swear on the board Brian, have you read the notice at the top ot the page?


Now, now, Neely, you should know that there are no amateur Scottish drunks: only professionals.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes professional drunks, but not professional drinkers...

I've never been a massive fan of Duvel, which is a widely available (and quite cheap) Belgian golden ale, but I have to admit that it has grown on me over the passed couple of weeks:

http://coldneck.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/duvel.jpg

This is certainly one to sip as it weighs in at 8.5%, which is not unusual for Belgian beers of course, but this one tastes its strength. The large foamy head just explodes from the glass - so be careful. It's lagery type taste has taken a little getting used to, but now I am a convert to its delights.

Watch it being poured here, notice the head :nod::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9c4o_DBNnk&feature=related


And all together now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIgnIuF04Dk&feature=related

[kilted exile]

dont worry neely you sound nothing like an amateur scottish drunk - perhaps a little like a southern nancy boy though :p

[LitNetIsGreat]

Ha, I was just about to say I am not a southern boy, I am from Yorkshire, but then again I suppose everyone is a southerner for a Scot? Anyway, I am not a nancy boy, I am as hard as nails. However, let's not derail this beautiful thread with Nationalistic bickering.

Belgian Beer Festival:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEervvgKV3Y&feature=related

Be there or be square.

[gbrekken]

PBR in the picture? tis a blue moon month here (two fulls in 30-31 days). However, my favorite pub has removed Blue Moon from the tapped kegs list and replaced it with another supposed Belgian. Is the only Belgian beer I can get here a poser?

[LitNetIsGreat]

PBR in the picture? tis a blue moon month here (two fulls in 30-31 days). However, my favorite pub has removed Blue Moon from the tapped kegs list and replaced it with another supposed Belgian. Is the only Belgian beer I can get here a poser?

Come again? Has your pub got rid of a Belgain beer is that what you mean?
.........................
How to serve the perfect Trappist beer (taken from the westmalle website):

http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/images/schenken.jpg


1. It is best to keep the beer in a dark place at a constant temperature from 8° to 14° Celsius. Leave the bottle to rest for at least a week before serving. The yeast will then sink to the bottom and you will get a nice clear beer in your glass.

2. Serve the Trappist beer in a Westmalle goblet. This does full justice to the complex character of the beer and you can fully enjoy the rich head. Ensure that the glass is free of grease, so that the foam does not immediately disappear.

3. Hold the glass at an angle in the glass and begin pouring slowly along the side. Continue pouring in one movement and hold the glass vertically at the end in order to end in the middle. You thus get a perfect head. Leave around one centimetre of beer in the bottle. That is the yeast base. It is rich in vitamin B and has a blood cleansing effect. It is best to drink this remaining part separately.

To your health!

So now you know...

[JuniperWoolf]

I just tried Guinness for the first time. I thought that it really tasted like soy sauce. There was also some hard little thing in the can. Probably a baby tooth, that's my guess.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Oh, Guinness is a fine dandy old Irish drink, really you need more than one to make comparisons.

It is strange to think that somebody has tried their first Guinness as I take all that stuff for granted, as many do I suppose over here. I certainly remember my first Guinness, I was 10 and in Ireland on a fishing holiday, it was like creamy Irish heaven. I drank three of them and sang to myself in the mirror. Good days, good memories...

[Niamh]

I just tried Guinness for the first time. I thought that it really tasted like soy sauce. There was also some hard little thing in the can. Probably a baby tooth, that's my guess.

the thing in the can is called a widget. If you are trying your first guinness, getting it from a can is not a great idea. you need to get it poured for you in a bar... preferably an irish one that knows how to pour a proper pint. And try it with a drop of blackcurrent first to help ease the taste. Personally i think its manky.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'm quite shocked to here someone of Irish origin attack the nature of Guinness in such a harsh and bitter manner. I do agree though that you need to experience it from a tap and not from a can. Guinness is not something that you can have one drink of and either like/dislike, it is one of those drinks that you have to let grow.

Personally, I'm having a little rest from the beer myself, instead I'm drinking the drink of the wise: water; for a little while at least...

[Niamh]

I'm quite shocked to here someone of Irish origin attack the nature of Guinness in such a harsh and bitter manner.

you obviously dont know many Irish people then :p

[LitNetIsGreat]

you obviously dont know many Irish people then :p

Oh, I know enough.:)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Over the last couple of weeks I have been returning to an old fling - Leffe Blonde! Leffe Blonde has to be one of the most widely available Belgian beers on the market today. It is found in just about every supermarket and many pubs, both real ale pubs and ordinary ones alike, worldwide, so there is little excuse for not making this beer part of your daily life. Technically, it is classed as an Abbey beer, which is a beer brewed under the guidance of monks, but not by the monks themselves. Just how much influence those monk experts have over this beer in real terms though, is perhaps questionable and its mass production no doubt lessens the quality of the finished product. However, despite of it having a large commercial base it is still a satisfying and delicately tangy little drink, which just needs to be consumed on a fairly regular basis. I like to think of it in terms being like a reliable table wine, it is nothing outstanding but perfectly drinkable and inexpensive into the bargain.

Certainly my re-acquaintance with it has to do with it being so easily available and perhaps as a psychological rebellion against my once so beloved Devonshire Cat, who have recently hiked the prices up all round - taking many top quality Belgian beers above the four pound mark per 330ml bottle! Of course I will return and pay these prices anyway in small doses, but I will certainly be writing frantic letters to my MP over such a sudden increase in the basic standards of living - how can one be expected to live a noble and decent life without quality Trappist brews?

For anyone unfamiliar with Leffe (as unthinkable as that may surely be) I’ll include a little video clip of my old butler pouring me a Leffe (he was sacked on the spot for tasting the brew - he now breaks up rocks somewhere cold):

http://www.leffe.com/en-gb/de_bierproeverij.html#video1

Naturally, one must drink this one in the correct glass. It goes without saying really, though anyone doing the unthinkable (drinking from the bottle) should be given life with absolutely no chance of parole. Oh to bring back stoning...:thumbs_up

[The Comedian]

Leffe Blonde, eh? I think I tried a couple of these during my brief tour several months ago of the available Belgian beers in my area. I remember not having much fondness for it. But I think I drank it straight from the bottle. (A friend and I brought four of these brews along with some cheap cigars [i.e. the cheapest we could find] with us to a small lake to do a little fishin' for trout. We portaged the canoe, paddles, beer, cigars and bait to the lake ("forgetting" the life vests in the car: that's the official story, anyway). . . . but I digress.

These bottles, they have some gold-colored tin-foil around the top, right?

Anyway, upon reflection, the setting was probably not the suited well for my work with Leffe Blonde. There was the drinking straight from the bottle, the foul cigars we were smoking, and Slim Jims we were eating. . . . all very bad -- the latter two no doubt thoroughly contaminated our palates.

Time to make amends, I say. After my daughter's swim lessons, we will make a stop on the way home to pick up a bottle to drink properly. Yes! Amends must be made! Yes!

[LitNetIsGreat]

:lol: Yes time to make amends before you get sent off breaking rocks! Though, I must admit I have not drank the beer in a fishing trip on a canoe, that sounds pretty cool and I'll excuse you for not adhering to the correct etiquette on this occasion...

Yes it is the beer with the golden wrapper around it. Like I said though, think of it as a decent enough table wine and not a grand narrative. Enjoy all the same and do share thoughts, see if you like this one this time. :)

[Emil Miller]

:lol: Yes time to make amends before you get sent off breaking rocks! Though, I must admit I have not drank the beer in a fishing trip on a canoe, that sounds pretty cool and I'll excuse you for not adhering to the correct etiquette on this occasion...

Yes it is the beer with the golden wrapper around it. Like I said though, think of it as a decent enough table wine and not a grand narrative. Enjoy all the same and do share thoughts, see if you like this one this time. :)

Neely, I feel I must interject here in praise of Leffe. It may not have the super strength and taste of other Belgian lagers, but it is immeasurably better that the fizzy cats piss that passes for beer as produced by the multi national trash merchants posing as brewers. Of course, in the way of all things in this multicultural world, it will be ironed out into a 'global' brand where profit rather than competition beating quality will ensure its downgrading to the Eurofizz that is usually on offer. Enjoy it while you can.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Oh, yes Brian I certainly don't want to offend Leffe, it is a very good drink really and my comparision to table wine was not meant as an insult to its delights - really I have been drinking it almost constantly for the last two weeks, and I would hardly do so with something inferior!

You are right though, the way of the world and its dictates suggest that it will become another Hoegaarden - sold to the masses (or Scottish horse riders) in order to make a quick buck, as they say.

However, if you compare it to the likes of the outstanding Chimay, Westmalle, Rochefort, La Trappe or even other blondes such as Delirium Tremens it is a table wine, in comparison to these greats.

As for the cat piss, I leave that for those further north to "enjoy".

[LitNetIsGreat]

OK, it is now the time to return this ingenious and beautiful thread back into popular usage. Long gone are the spring months where masses of cheap lager was downed in the name of financial conservatism - now is the time to once again rejoice in what is best in the field of beer - Belgian Ale!

For the past couple of months I have been returning to higher quality drinks, consuming on regular occasions some decent British bottle real ales, such as the top Badger brews Golden Champion, as well as the readily available Spitfire and Bishops Finger. These beers are amongst the top beers that are regularly to be found in most supermarkets across the UK so there are no excuses for these not to be purchased by all in the UK today.

I've also managed to slip in a few Belgian ales, even some Trappist brews, but that has mostly been the exception rather than the rule. Of course these are relatively expensive, but now is the time, I think, to make these beers the rule rather than the exception. I regard drinking these quality brews, as brewed by the expert holy monks with the finest ingredients known to mankind, as my own personal reaction against the empty standardisation of our times, and I call upon all good fellows to do the same.

Remember drinking quality, eating quality, reading quality lies in the fruit of experience, the journey, and not in its destination. Sit in a comfy chair with friends or a book and take your time, savour the moment for the moment.

Just remember that by drinking quality, hand-crafted brews we are making a brave stand against our overtly consumerist and empty age, and in that I salute you.

:cheers2:

So feel free to record your quality drinking experiences here.

[kiki1982]

Glad to see that my nation's beer qualities are appreciated... :D

Anyway, yes, they are expensive (not in Belgium, of course, really, but in other countries they are).

I really liked Rochefort 8 (% volume) and Westmalle tripel (triple yeasting proces). My hubby liked Westmalle dubbel (double yeasting proces). Orval is nice too, a little sweet. Chimay I hate with a passion, already as a child I couldn't like it (yes, I drank beer when I was 1!).

Have you tried beers of 'De Dolle Brouwers' (The Mad Brewers)? A small company of two brother brewers who do it for fun in East-Flanders. The mother used to do the marketing, visits etc. Don't know if she still does it, as my parents got to know the company years and years ago, by accident, on a weekend in the area. Their company is still going. They have several beers: Oerbier (ancient beer, not really, of course) (sweet), Boskeun (wood rabbit, named after one of the brothers' nickname), Dulle Teve (buxom women/*****es, not sure why the name), Delirium Tremens, if I am right. I am not sure about the tastes of the others as I have never drunk them.

And then there is the king of all beers:

Westvleteren. For this one you need to go to the abbey and be lucky, because there is only a limited supply of it, not sold in shops, and only one crate per person/car. It was brewed more extensively by the Trapist monks of Westvleteren, a contemplative order, but their production had become so big that the abt found that really, the contemplative nature of their order was being threatened by this beer and everything around it, which was historically after all only brewed by way of medicine. They got their income of it as well, but much more too and he found that the beer had taken over the order instead of the order just brewing the beer. Therefore, the abt decided that its production had to be limited, in order to protect his order, and so they limited their production and their sales. But I am sure that it must be very good. I'll have to somehow obtain one bottle... One can be sure about the fact that it is brewed with a lot of love, though.

[Propter W.]

I'll be drinking La chouffe tonight.

[Patrick_Bateman]

I always like the Czech beers I find.

and Sagres from Portugal

There's a bar in Bath that has bottled beers from all over the world and they change quite frequently so there is always something new to try.

[kiki1982]

I'll be drinking La chouffe tonight.

good choice. I liked that with the lighter ones :thums_up:


I always like the Czech beers I find.

There's a bar in Bath that has bottled beers from all over the world and they change quite frequently so there is always something new to try.

Czech pilsner, to me, is the only beer of that kind which tastes of something other than water-and-bitter to me. And that includes Stella.

Interesting about the bar in Bath. I have been in Belgo's in London, but their glasses were dishwasher-washed and dry and not wet and cold when they poured their beer. Result: hot beer with no foam. tssssss (it seems hard to believe but cafés in Belgium wash all their glasses still in a sink and rinse their glasses before they pour any beer. They do wash their cups in a dish-washer though. Come to think of it, that's strange isn't it :confused:).

So, if you our your beer, make your glass wet first, the foam stays longer. :)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Wonderful stuff folks.

Yes Kiki, your great nation's beers are more than appreciated!

Of the Trappists I like the Rochefort but for some reason I am always drawn more to the Westmalles - probably because I too just love the dubbel in particular too. I think though I might opt for more of the Rochefort tomorrow, I'll see. I am not too keen on the Orval myself, great glass but for me it has a harsh, sort of bitter orangery taste that I'm not too keen on (I did try it a couple of times to be sure though). I'm surprised that you dislike the Chimay, I would have thought that there is little to hate about the Chimay especially the Red and the White - the Blue can be a little darker in taste, but the others seem pretty good to me. What don't you like about the Chimay?

Of the De Dolle Brouwers I've had the Delirium Tremens which is just insanely wonderful - so, so addictive. I have had the Oerbier and was so/so about that I think, but of the other two I have not had - I think I've heard of the Boskeun, though I've surely got to get my hands on a Dulle Teve, ha, ha!!

Yes you are quite right about the Westvleteren; it is easily the most sought after beer in the world today and is supposed to surpass everything else completely. As you say it is only available by visiting the monastery in person by appointment so as you can gather that one has had to remain firmly on the wish list at the moment. I have seen those available on the likes of ebay at around £70 for six bottles, but there is something morally wrong about buying them off there as you are not supposed to sell it on. I believe that you make an agreement with the monks that it is for your own consumption, so I wouldn't feel right about ordering it from there anyway - besides you have no guarantees to the condition they have been kept in or the method in which they are do be delivered. No, instead I'll just save it for that continent trip that has to be made pretty soon, which my soul has been crying out for for a long, long time.

I'm going out tomorrow for a drink of the great Belgian beers, but for tonight I'm going to have to settle for a few more of those decent English ales I mentioned as next best. I do have a Duvel though, a solid Belgian blonde if ever there has been one, so I can wet my palate with that.

Great stuff!!

[kiki1982]

The thing with Chimay for me is that it has that kind of 'burnt' taste that I have always hated. I don't know why. I remember thingking as a child, 'oh, I'd like to taste what my daddy is drinking.' He would let me taste, and I'd think, 'oh, no, it is that awful thing again. Big disappointment.' And years later I discovered it was Chimay when I ordered it by mistake myself. I had often asked my father but he had never realised that that was Chimay. I thought he drank it very often on outings, but he didn't realise, obviously as I exaggerated my disapointment... haha At least I know now.

My parents used to heat up Orval for winter evenings, with rum and sugar. mm Must try that this winter again too... Orval is the lightes of the tripels, though, so it has a less persistent taste.

Indeed, it would be morally wrong to sell on Westvleteren. For those 70 pounds you can easily go there yourself and buy it, and then you have more than 6 bottles.


I hope you enjoyed your Duvel. :)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Oh I like the idea of warming up the Orval and adding spices. I can see how that would work – to drink it as a sort of mulled drink, I would have never thought of that.

Yes the Chimay Blue has a dark, almost burnt taste so I understand that, the Red so/so. The Chimay White is light though so you might like that one. Still I think it is great that as a child you had the opportunity to grow up with all those wonderful beers – to sip from them, I had to settle for much less!

Hey, I had a dream last night that I was in Belgium drinking a coffee (it was early) it was fantastic! I was with some of my family and we were about to have a bite to eat in this café/restaurant type place. However, I had obviously not done my research as I didn’t know if I was in the area of Belgium where it was rude to speak French or not. So, I didn’t know if to ask for “one coffee please” or “un cafe sil vous plait”. :lol::lol: It was a wonderful coffee though and I have awoken with the need for a great cup!

Thanks, the Duvel was OK. I am more looking forward to later this afternoon when I meet up with my brother and co for a few quality Belgian brews. I’ve got to do some work before that though – after my coffee obviously...

[LitNetIsGreat]

Oh wow, the only thing I am going to say is Rodenbach Grand Cru:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFooO_afrZDDWwncvGApp1yhloEnz7y Ze12Nas8GEBg4V985I&t=1&usg=__2EtWBYYpC8tSjP8X9u1CqYUEGA0=

Oh yes!!! :driving:

[kiki1982]

Haven't tried that. Have tried Rodenbach normal and that is quite nice as a not-so-strong drink.

[Propter W.]

I've been enjoying Augustijn as of late. I'm not good at describing tastes and flavours, so I won't try.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Haven't tried that. Have tried Rodenbach normal and that is quite nice as a not-so-strong drink.

I believe it is quite similar. I didn't know that it was a lambic brew - it didn't say so on the menu so I was surprised, pleasantly so. It's a blend of old and new, so it's sweetly sour and very light and highly effervescent, slightly stronger than normal lambics at 6%. I will certainly be having more of those at the weekend!


I've been enjoying Augustijn as of late. I'm not good at describing tastes and flavours, so I won't try.

Oh I've not come across those - I'm mostly limited by what the Devonshire Cat has available (though that's quite a lot) I will google it. Good stuff!

Keep up with the quality brew crusade!!!

[LitNetIsGreat]

I have got into quite a healthy habit of late of going out and drinking the quality Belgian brews at the weekend, while sticking to the British real ales in the week. As already detailed the Rodenbach Grand Cru is my favourite little sipping drink at the moment - it's a real winner! I've got into the routine of sipping a few of these for a couple of hours and then going off for a meal - make the whole evening last, take your time - you can't go wrong.

[Propter W.]

One of my best friends came over today for our weekly chess marathon. He brought 6 Brugse Zotten (http://www.halvemaan.be/index.php?id=16&L=2) and two Straffe Hendriks (by the same brewery). We finished with some Jupiler.

I'm quite fond of Brugse Zot. It became the family drink (because we hail from Bruges and it's easily available) and it flows richly at family get-togethers. Not that we stick to one beer... That would be silly!

[Propter W.]

Neely, I see you're not a big fan of Hoegaarden? Have you tried Hoegaarden Grand Cru?

Nevermind, the site says it's only available in Belgium. Sorry!

[LitNetIsGreat]

Propter, all this is great stuff, glad to speak to people from Bruges, I long to visit. Unfortunately I don't think I can get hold of the Brugse Zot or the Brugse Zotten (though they look and sound fantastic). Family get togethers and quality Belgian brews - you have it made!

Don't get me wrong I used to love Hoegaarden and I do like wheat beers (the Germans are good for that too) but I just felt that the quality of Hoegaarden has gone downhilll of late. I wonder if it is brewed under license elsewhere, perhaps in the UK? I don't know, it might be like its old self back in Belgium? I haven't tried the Hoegaarden Grand Cru, though I thought I saw it on the menu, I'll have a look next saturday and maybe give it a go if so.

Do you like the lambics? Have you had the Rodenbach Grand Cru? Are they (the lambics) popular in Belgium?

Also, do you play chess and sit sipping those fabulous brews - what a great thing? Is chess popular in Belgium?

So many questions, so many great beers, so little time...

[Propter W.]

Propter, all this is great stuff, glad to speak to people from Bruges, I long to visit. Unfortunately I don't think I can get hold of the Brugse Zot or the Brugse Zotten (though they look and sound fantastic). Family get togethers and quality Belgian brews - you have it made!

Don't get me wrong I used to love Hoegaarden and I do like wheat beers (the Germans are good for that too) but I just felt that the quality of Hoegaarden has gone downhilll of late. I wonder if it is brewed under license elsewhere, perhaps in the UK? I don't know, it might be like its old self back in Belgium? I haven't tried the Hoegaarden Grand Cru, though I thought I saw it on the menu, I'll have a look next saturday and maybe give it a go if so.

Do you like the lambics? Have you had the Rodenbach Grand Cru? Are they (the lambics) popular in Belgium?

Also, do you play chess and sit sipping those fabulous brews - what a great thing? Is chess popular in Belgium?

So many questions, so many great beers, so little time...

You should definitely visit Bruges! It's a beautiful, beautiful city! I might be a bit biased, though.

Hoegaarden used to be my favourite beer (to drink at a party when I was 16). Several years ago InBev decided to close the Hoegaarden brewery. The beer would be brewed in Jupille (where Jupiler is brewed), but they were unable to get the same taste. Eventually they reopened the brewery in Hoegaarden. Either way, I do think its taste has deteriorated a little. I blame InBev. I still like it, though. It can be quite refreshing.

I'm not too fond of Lambiek. I do occasionally drink Geuze beer or Kriek. When I was 17, my class went on a chemistry field trip to the Palm brewery. We took the tour and at the end we got to taste all the beers brewed there. They don't brew Rodenbachs there, if I remember correctly, but they did have them (since Rodenbach is owned by Palm) and we tasted those too. I can't say whether I liked it or not. I probably didn't. I can say we all went home drunk, teachers included.

They aren't popular, although a lot of women drink Krieklambiek. I'd say they certainly have a solid fanbase, which might be increasing slowly. But that's just my opinion. Maybe it's popular around Brussels.

Yep, chess and Belgian brews is a wonderful combination. Chess is slowly gaining popularity. But it isn't very popular.

You know this thread has actually inspired me to try our different beers more often and not just stick to my favourites.

[LitNetIsGreat]

You should definitely visit Bruges! It's a beautiful, beautiful city! I might be a bit biased, though.

Oh yes it looks stunning. I've penciled in Bruges and Brussels when the money fairy comes along. I certainly long to go there (I even dream about it, really) along with other European countries. What's your impression of Brussels and what other Belgian towns/areas would you recommend to visit?


Hoegaarden used to be my favourite beer (to drink at a party when I was 16). Several years ago InBev decided to close the Hoegaarden brewery. The beer would be brewed in Jupille (where Jupiler is brewed), but they were unable to get the same taste. Eventually they reopened the brewery in Hoegaarden. Either way, I do think its taste has deteriorated a little. I blame InBev. I still like it, though. It can be quite refreshing.

Yes I'd heard that they had changed breweries, I couldn't remember the details off-hand, though it does seem to lack a certain something that I remember. If you like the wheat beers I can certainly reccommend the German beers, Erdinger is an old favourite.


I'm not too fond of Lambiek. I do occasionally drink Geuze beer or Kriek. When I was 17, my class went on a chemistry field trip to the Palm brewery. We took the tour and at the end we got to taste all the beers brewed there. They don't brew Rodenbachs there, if I remember correctly, but they did have them (since Rodenbach is owned by Palm) and we tasted those too. I can't say whether I liked it or not. I probably didn't. I can say we all went home drunk, teachers included.

That sounds like one hell of great school trip. Great stuff.


They aren't popular, although a lot of women drink Krieklambiek. I'd say they certainly have a solid fanbase, which might be increasing slowly. But that's just my opinion. Maybe it's popular around Brussels

Yes the krieks seem to go down with the ladies, though I've enjoyed a few of them myself - the strawberry one is nice, though I prefer the original, unsweetened Gueuzes - the lambics. I can also get the Cantillons' which are supposed to be the best examples. I'm in love with the Rodenbach Grand Cru at the moment however.


Yep, chess and Belgian brews is a wonderful combination. Chess is slowly gaining popularity. But it isn't very popular.

Oh OK. I just love the idea of sitting playing a quiet, steady game of chess and sipping on a couple of brews - they seem to go together. (Though I am only average at chess, probably less so.)


You know this thread has actually inspired me to try our different beers more often and not just stick to my favourites.

Hey, hey that's great. I think a good idea is to try and incorporate a new drink into every session (or every other one) so that you can still enjoy your favourite comfort drinks, but at the same time you are branching out and trying new things.

[kiki1982]

Do not take Kriek of Belle-Vue as the example of Krieklambiek, though. It is popular amongst ladies because they mainly do not know what a real one tastes like. As are Framboise and all the rest of those fruit beers. They put sirup of those fruits in there, not the real fruit, which gives a sugary taste.
Real Kriek is a lot less sweet and sourer as the base is Geuze, but also as 'krieken' are not sweet cherries, but sour cherries you can actually not eat like that from the tree... You put them in pies, make jame of them and so on because then you can put sugar with them. They get the Geuze and then drop real cherris into the beer and let it ferment (no sugar, no nothing), thus allowing the taste to penetrate into the beer, not get more sugary. Compare it to apple tea. If you put apples in boiling water and leave them and then drink it, you will not end up with very sweet apple juice will you?
Real Krieklambiek is much tastier than the sweet stuff.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes good point, well noted.

How do you rate the Timmerman brews? I take it that they are of a lower class, than for example, the Cantillon or the Rodenbachs brews. At least I had a Timmerman lambic last week and it certainly felt little compared to the rodenbach Grand Cru.

The place where I go for Belgian beers have a lot of the Timmerman stuff on tap, but I strongly suspect it is of the first type you mentioned.

[kiki1982]

I am not sure. I thought I had actually drunk that, but I don't think it was that one...
It isn't very very popular in bars, so I would imagine that it is one that is fairly good. How is their geuze? Is it 'sour' in beer terms, or just normal beer like Belle-Vue's alleged geuze? It is possible however that it is fairly ordinary, but on the good side.

Lindemans is quite popular amongst the real Kriek lovers and Belle-Vue mehs.

If you really want a treat, Boon is a brewery which brews Geuze and asociated beers like Kriek as well, which are very highly considered in the world. Their website is here (http://www.boon.be/?c=/home/&l=nl). You can probably get what it says there with 'Google translation'. Otherwise, we are here to translate :).

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks for the link, (and the offer of help) I'll check that out after tea.

Yes the Timmerman's lambic is sour; it is like you suspect, I suspect, that it is probably on the normal side. As I say, it is little much compared to the Rodenbach and the Cantillon (which costs about twice as much) but better than the fake lambics, or brews that are "in the style of"...I don't touch none of that, what's the point?

At the moment though, I have to stick with my Rodenbach Grand Cru, despite it's red colour it is not flavoured, and maintains a lovely long sour tang on the palate, delicious stuff. It does however sort of spoil many other beers after because it is impossible to go from a really sour drink, to a really bitter one - the sudden jump is too much - I get around this by ordering another Grand Cru!!!

Roll on Saturday!:drool5:

[Emil Miller]

I would be the very last person to enquire about a chap's bibulous propensities but what does Mrs N. think about all this imbibing of alcoholic beverages?

[LitNetIsGreat]

I would be the very last person to enquire about a chap's bibulous propensities but what does Mrs N. think about all this imbibing of alcoholic beverages?

:lol:

Oh Mrs N is glad to be rid of me for the night! Apparently, when I am in, I have a tendency to offer one or two minor observations regarding the quality of the TV programmes she insists on watching. I think I am just being helpful, obviously, but I've come to the conclusion that she doesn't seem to see it that way?:rolleyes5:

I've gotten into the healthy habit of waking up on a 'golden' Saturday around 9.30ish, drinking good coffee in the morning, then working on my damn dissertation for a few hours. I then take off to town around 4ish and sip Belgian beer for a few hours, before eating out with family/friends. I return home around 10-11. Sunday I get up at 10.30ish, devote to the kids and we have traditional lunch (with wine) which we drag out for ages. It's all good stuff. Quality and balance.

Of course in the week I have to mostly make do with top quality British beers, which are quite good, but of course my heart is with those Belgian beers - it's the difference between a magazine and good poetry!

Are you fond of those great Belgian beers yourself or do you mostly stick to good wine? Nothing wrong with wine mind, I like good, solid reds with Italian food, but of course quality beer for me rules.

[Emil Miller]

:lol:

Are you fond of those great Belgian beers yourself or do you mostly stick to good wine? Nothing wrong with wine mind, I like good, solid reds with Italian food, but of course quality beer for me rules.

Sounds as though you have got it all worked out. I certainly agree that Belgium produces the best beers, especially those brewed by the monks. Just imagine, if it hadn't been for that idiot Henry VIII, we might have been producing equally good monastic beers in the UK. As for the vino, I prefer red to white although it depends for some extent on what I am eating. I would always drink Chianti with spaghetti and Burgundy with poultry. The white wines are reserved for seafood. The finest wines are Bordeaux and the reds are best drunk with red meats but I am a bit of a barbarian when it comes to food as I don't much care for eating, so I usually buy wine for drinking only; which means that I am just as satisfied with a bottle of cote du Rhone and a sandwich as a with a Bordeaux which would knock me out if taken without a proper meal. At the end of the day, most people won't be too bothered with the differences and simply drink what's cheapest or nearest to hand.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Unfortunately I don't think I can get hold of the Brugse Zot or the Brugse Zotten (though they look and sound fantastic).

Ha, ha I was wrong - the Brugse Zot is available for ready money! However, I failed to try it out:blush: as I got distracted with wheat beer and Grand Cru, next time I'll make that my first drink though (I only noticed it later on anyway).

Onwards and upwards!!

[The Comedian]

Chimay, blue label? My local establishment recently received a few bottles of this Belgian. It's a $14 commitment -- good enough for a 12 pack of something else. Any thoughts? Should I splurge?

http://www.beerhere.co.uk/acatalog/B006_chimay_blue.jpg

[kiki1982]

Personally, I do not like Chimay, haven't done since I was a child and I was allowed to taste - I always thought, 'Sh*t, it's that bad one again' (my father evidently liked it) -, but it is nice if you like a kind of 'burnt' taste in your bear.

Unless I am mistaken about the lable.

...

I looked it up, it is Chimay Blue I don't like I think, there is also a red label one which has no burnt taste, I have figured out. It is said to use some liquorice.

But by all means, if you like liquorice and burnt, go for it, it is brewed with care :).

[Emil Miller]

I always imagined Chimay to be a lager type beer but the blue labelled stuff is a dark beer. I have checked it out on Google. It is sold in the UK but in small bottles, probably on account of its strength, but I have never seen the red labelled bottles which contain a blond beer. I think dark beers are an acquired taste and wouldn't pay the asking price of Chimay blue label.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I always imagined Chimay to be a lager type beer but the blue labelled stuff is a dark beer. I have checked it out on Google. It is sold in the UK but in small bottles, probably on account of its strength, but I have never seen the red labelled bottles which contain a blond beer. I think dark beers are an acquired taste and wouldn't pay the asking price of Chimay blue label.

No, no, it's the white label Chimay which is blonde, but the strongest. The red is actually a reddish colour itself. The blue is the darkest.


Chimay, blue label? My local establishment recently received a few bottles of this Belgian. It's a $14 commitment -- good enough for a 12 pack of something else. Any thoughts? Should I splurge?

Hmmm, seems a bit pricey, though many of the Belgian beers have shot up even more over the last year. Most of the beers I go on about at the start of this champion thread would set me back 50-100% more (some more than that) now. It's up to you. Chimay is the real stuff, proper Trappist beer, it may be an acquired taste though.

Currently I'm drinking decent British bottle cask ales mostly, though I've still got Leffe and Duvels knocking around in the fridge.

[kiki1982]

Chimay is sold in small bottles of 33cl (I think) because that is the standard measure in Belgium for any beer. We do not do half litres; we have the glasses for Stella Artois, Maes and Jupiler because foreigners drink them, normal people (sorry :D) drink 25cl or at most 33cl and you have to especially ask for the latter. Those three are maybe 5% alcohol.

The good stuff is drunk only in one measure. The bigger bottles, which the trappists and Krieks have plus a few other novelty beers, are usually limited editions of the same beers (some of them a bit too frequent to actually be called 'limited') to share around and drink with other people. Other big bottles are just made like that to be a 'share'-beer. I think La Chouffe is one, and possibly Moinette.

[Propter W.]

So, Neely... Have you tried any new Belgian brews? I met some foreigners yesterday and my friends and I decided to introduce them to Belgian beers, but after two Duvels, one Orval and a Leffe 9, they decided to switch to ginger ale.

[LitNetIsGreat]

So, Neely... Have you tried any new Belgian brews? I met some foreigners yesterday and my friends and I decided to introduce them to Belgian beers, but after two Duvels, one Orval and a Leffe 9, they decided to switch to ginger ale.

Hi, no I've not tried any new Belgian brews for a while, I've tried a few new British beers of course and the American beer Brooklyn Ale is a good one I think, but I've not had any new Belgians. Something I will have to look at changing of course.

Good move introducing the Belgian beers. Funnily enough, I've been drinking a little ginger ale as well, when I'm off drink, although I only have that Jamaican one.

[deguonis]

a businessman from Denver who works selling cages for dogs told me that Belgian beer is quite good.

[Emil Miller]

Hi, no I've not tried any new Belgian brews for a while, I've tried a few new British beers of course and the American beer Brooklyn Ale is a good one I think, but I've not had any new Belgians. Something I will have to look at changing of course.

Good move introducing the Belgian beers. Funnily enough, I've been drinking a little ginger ale as well, when I'm off drink, although I only have that Jamaican one.

As an interested beer drinker, you might consider logging on beerintheevening.com. It will enable you to read reviews of any pub in the UK and, if you sign in, give your own impressions. Some of the reviews are absolutely hilarious and I have already given my thumbs down to a number of hostelries in London and S.E.England as well as a couple of thumbs up to the few that in my view deserve it.

[LitNetIsGreat]

As an interested beer drinker, you might consider logging on beerintheevening.com. It will enable you to read reviews of any pub in the UK and, if you sign in, give your own impressions. Some of the reviews are absolutely hilarious and I have already given my thumbs down to a number of hostelries in London and S.E.England as well as a couple of thumbs up to the few that in my view deserve it.

Oh yes thanks. I have come across this site before by chance just looking for info on certain pubs. They have got a lot of good stuff on the real ale circuit locally as well as a few good reviews in pubs I wouldn't stay in longer than a swift half and a quick use of the quiz machine.

I love beer and I am going to drink a lot of it at the weekend!!! Back on beer, ditching the wine for a bit...

Edit: I take that back out the white wine. I'll have that Friday and beer and curry Saturday, no problems, no conflict.

[Emil Miller]

Oh yes thanks. I have come across this site before by chance just looking for info on certain pubs. They have got a lot of good stuff on the real ale circuit locally as well as a few good reviews in pubs I wouldn't stay in longer than a swift half and a quick use of the quiz machine.


I have found that pubs, like anything else, are a matter of preference, so an individual view may be personally but not universally valid.
However, the following review seeems fairly typical for this particular pub:

This place is grim- in fact it's put me off ever going back to Balham. Me and my girlfriend went there one Saturday (afternoon I hasten to add) and without exception every patron of this establishment was stranded between middle age and senility, had at least six teeth missing, and was staring vacantly into space or talking with their friends whilst using as few consonants as possible. We had our share of baleful, yellow-eyed stares as we cautiously took our seats in the corner.

It was like a halfway house or day care centre without the carers.

To top it all, several of these delightful characters started swaying and singing and leaning against each other in the opposite corner.

It was like being on a pirate ship, no I mean a real pirate ship, not the Hollywood stereotype.

Don't go to the dark place.

Here's another about a different pub but equally off putting

Last time I was there (and actually yes, I hope it was the LAST time) it was full of pissy chavs with funny eyes, talking backwards and eyeing up the pool table as if they were about to stuff the balls into socks and start skulling people.

Like many "next to the railway" type pubs it's a dive. The owners know they're going to get a certain amount of custom just because of the convenience (it's right between Dorking Main and Dorking Deepdene stations) so why should they even bother.

Best avoided.

Whilst the descriptions are less than poetic, they are compellingly graphic.

[Propter W.]

I have found that pubs, like anything else, are a matter of preference, so an individual view may be personally but not universally valid.
However, the following review seeems fairly typical for this particular pub:

This place is grim- in fact it's put me off ever going back to Balham. Me and my girlfriend went there one Saturday (afternoon I hasten to add) and without exception every patron of this establishment was stranded between middle age and senility, had at least six teeth missing, and was staring vacantly into space or talking with their friends whilst using as few consonants as possible. We had our share of baleful, yellow-eyed stares as we cautiously took our seats in the corner.

It was like a halfway house or day care centre without the carers.

To top it all, several of these delightful characters started swaying and singing and leaning against each other in the opposite corner.

It was like being on a pirate ship, no I mean a real pirate ship, not the Hollywood stereotype.

Don't go to the dark place.

Here's another about a different pub but equally off putting

Last time I was there (and actually yes, I hope it was the LAST time) it was full of pissy chavs with funny eyes, talking backwards and eyeing up the pool table as if they were about to stuff the balls into socks and start skulling people.

Like many "next to the railway" type pubs it's a dive. The owners know they're going to get a certain amount of custom just because of the convenience (it's right between Dorking Main and Dorking Deepdene stations) so why should they even bother.

Best avoided.

Whilst the descriptions are less than poetic, they are compellingly graphic.

The first one doesn't sound so bad actually.

[LitNetIsGreat]

The first one doesn't sound so bad actually.

It sounds like your one of your typical "Witheredspoon" pubs. My brother used to go in for early breakfasts, a bacon sandwiches and a cup of coffee. He'd get funny looks for not ordering Carlings or Stellas in spite of it being 10.30 in the morning.

[Emil Miller]

It sounds like your one of your typical "Witheredspoon" pubs. My brother used to go in for early breakfasts, a bacon sandwiches and a cup of coffee. He'd get funny looks for not ordering Carlings or Stellas in spite of it being 10.30 in the morning.

You're right, it is a Witherspoons pub according to the other reviews.
Looking through some more, I came across this one.

If you are leaving Tooting Bec tube staion at night you will hear an amazing caterwauling coming from this pub. Yes folks it's karaoke night at The Wheatsheaf. My last visit there many years ago ended in the biggest punch-up I have ever witnessed, making your average film bar room brawl look like a vicarage tea party. I was trapped in the bar by two of the many brawlers rolling in front of the entrance, but when I heard the sound of approaching police sirens I manoeuvred round them and made my escape. Needless to say, I never went back.

And what about this little gem?

There's only one thing I've always wanted to say... I adore the boss'es girlfriend. She's not only sweet, but she's a sex queen and has a nice bum. Shame she doesn't come there that often, but she is an amazing woman!!!

Of course, it might have been posted by the landlord to drum up custom but I imagine the reviewer had probably had a few too many and had reached the point where even Anne Widdecombe would look attractive.

[LitNetIsGreat]

You're right, it is a Witherspoons pub according to the other reviews.

:lol: I thought so. I thought I could spot those Nesbits types a mile off.


And what about this little gem?

There's only one thing I've always wanted to say... I adore the boss'es girlfriend. She's not only sweet, but she's a sex queen and has a nice bum. Shame she doesn't come there that often, but she is an amazing woman!!!

I have to say I love that one. She "has a nice bum". What a quote. Amazing.

I have to say that I am annoyed at the price of Belgian beer in the Dev Cat. Up about 50% in the last year; is not good. However, the American beers are making a storm with me at the moment. The Brooklyn Brewery and the Sierra Nevada beers are going down amazingly. Some top quality stuff!!

[kiki1982]

Has it been metioned yet that, under no circumstances, glasses should be washed in the dishwasher, or else, when cooled down, they should be rinsed in cold water first before putting the beer in? Preferably the glass should be cold, but room temp is good enough provided the rinsing water is cold. You see, that's what beer mats were for: a Belgian glass of beer is never dry on the outside.

This was a major draw-back in Belgo's. They can't pour beer you know... The foam goes extremely quickly, due to their dishwashers and lack of water. :mad2: When you tell them (my husband actually tried), they look at you with big eyes of astonishment and tell you they can't do that because it's against the rules.

I guess that is why Belgian cafés seem to be the only ones left with sinks to wash their glasses (all glasses) and only small dishwashers (at best) for coffee cups and the like. Actually this is against European rules of health and safety, but no-one cares :D.

[Propter W.]

Has it been metioned yet that, under no circumstances, glasses should be washed in the dishwasher, or else, when cooled down, they should be rinsed in cold water first before putting the beer in? Preferably the glass should be cold, but room temp is good enough provided the rinsing water is cold. You see, that's what beer mats were for: a Belgian glass of beer is never dry on the outside.

This was a major draw-back in Belgo's. They can't pour beer you know... The foam goes extremely quickly, due to their dishwashers and lack of water. :mad2: When you tell them (my husband actually tried), they look at you with big eyes of astonishment and tell you they can't do that because it's against the rules.

I guess that is why Belgian cafés seem to be the only ones left with sinks to wash their glasses (all glasses) and only small dishwashers (at best) for coffee cups and the like. Actually this is against European rules of health and safety, but no-one cares :D.

Where in Belgium have you been? In my neck of the woods most people still know how to pour beer and if you ask them about rules, they'll probably tell you that you need the right type of glass and it should be clean (otherwise, indeed, the foam will disappear too quickly). I disagree that the glass should be wet (on the outside), although this is certainly the case in many pubs. With a nice cold lager, it'll get wet from condensation anyway. I know a place where the barkeep (an old timer) pours perfect beers, but after rinsing his glasses with water, he'll dry the outside of the glass.

And other European pubs don't use sinks to wash their glasses?

[kiki1982]

I meant the UK pub chain 'Belgo's' or whatever they're called now. Maybe only in London. They serve Belgian beer as a trade mark, but their staff doesn't know how. If that has changed over the years, then please excuse.

Ok, you can dry the glass on the outside, but most Belgian pubs don't go through the trouble, because it gets wet on the outside through condensation and 'de-foaming' (running a beer-mat or straight metal ruler type thing over the top to confine the foam to exactly the top of the glass; how Stella and consorts are served usually).

I suppose the reason why British pubs can do without the de-foaming is that their beer comes out at less pressure.

Really busy pubs wash their glasses in dishwashers. As far as I have seen.

And I am Belgian by the way.

[Propter W.]

I meant the UK pub chain 'Belgo's' or whatever they're called now. Maybe only in London. They serve Belgian beer as a trade mark, but their staff doesn't know how. If that has changed over the years, then please excuse.

Ok, you can dry the glass on the outside, but most Belgian pubs don't go through the trouble, because it gets wet on the outside through condensation and 'de-foaming' (running a beer-mat or straight metal ruler type thing over the top to confine the foam to exactly the top of the glass; how Stella and consorts are served usually).

I suppose the reason why British pubs can do without the de-foaming is that their beer comes out at less pressure.

Really busy pubs wash their glasses in dishwashers. As far as I have seen.

And I am Belgian by the way.

Ah, sorry, my mistake. I thought Belgo's was some hip nickname for Belgians I had not heard yet :)

edit: and you're right, in most pubs the staff won't bother to dry the glass on the outside. I don't mind. I actually like having a fresh, wet glass of Jupiler after a long day.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Bump.

I'm bumping this one up because it is one of the best threads on Litnet simply because it features the best beers.:thumbsup:

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Neely, you'll appreciate this; I got the old lady trained pretty well.
She made a stop at the store the other day and came home with six pack of that Leffe you've been singing the praises over.

.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Neely, you'll appreciate this; I got the old lady trained pretty well.
She made a stop at the store the other day and came home with six pack of that Leffe you've been singing the praises over.


Well done, that's the way to do it!

I had some Leffe last night as well, after the Goose Island beers, the red wine at the Italian and the red wine at home...:hat: A rest day today I think.

[Emil Miller]

The recent unusually prolonged and warm sunshine we are experiencing, means that it's drinking weather once again and has brought this thread to mind.

There is a beer brewed in London that has won many prizes over the years and, even though averaging £4 per pint, is well worth seeking out.
I don't know what the bottled beer is like as I prefer to drink it on draught but if the description given below doesn't turn people on, I don't know what will.

http://imageshack.us/a/img801/6707/y8qk.jpg


Bottle & keg (USA); Pasteurised.
First brewed in 1971. Ingredients: Pale Ale malt, Crystal malt and Maize; Target, Challenger, Northdown and Goldings hops.
Brewed at 5.5% ABV in cask and 5.9% ABV in bottle, ESB is a true liquid legend, and should be savoured as such.
ESB has a wonderful rich mahogany appearance. Taking in the nose, the beer is bursting with cherry and orange, balanced by soft malty toffee and caramel notes. The flavour delivers everything you would expect from such a full-bodied ale. The unique blend of Northdown, Target, Challenger and Goldings hops imparts grassy, peppery notes on the tongue along with intense citrus fruit characters of grapefruits, oranges and lemons. The blend of Pale Ale and Crystal malts in the brew give a biscuity, toffee element to the beer. A smooth, mellow bitterness lingers on the palate to give a superbly satisfying finish.