Belgian beer - the drink of the gods

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Neely

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Neely

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

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.

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The first one doesn't sound so bad actually.

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Originally Posted by Propter W.

The first one doesn't sound so bad actually.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Neely

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

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

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

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And what about this little gem?

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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!!

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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?

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.