Belgian beer - the drink of the gods

[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.



So feel free to record your quality drinking experiences here.

[kiki1982]

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

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 ).

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”. 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:



Oh yes!!!

[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 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!