The Belgian Beer Thread

[SimonSays]

my mom just got back from Belgium and look what she got me:


im saving them for special occassions aka passing an exam

i also found this bar/pub that has all sorts of imported beers. So i had myself a nice Palm today. not too bad, has a nice bubbly sort of aftertaste.
i could definitely dig being a Beer connoisseur

cool gift! I guess you'll enjoy the Duvel (which came in the box) more than the Palm.

Checking this thread again makes me feel like doing another presentation Let's see what i can dig up for tomorrow night...

Well, Palm is more mainstream, let's say a daily drinker
Duvel is awesome. Do make sure your glasses are well cleaned and rinsed before putting the beer in.
Duvel is poured at almost 90°, pretty slow, because it foams up quick... So put the bulk of the bottle in first, then use the last bit to foam up, by holding your glass at 30° and lifting the bottle... The trick is to get your foam up to the rim, and halfway through the word DUVEL, as you can see in this pic:

[Thieu]

Well, Palm is more mainstream, let's say a daily drinker
Duvel is awesome.

Daily drinker, Lol!!! When I came back to belgium in '04 after living a year in Finland Duvel was my daily drinker It's still my beer of choice for a night on the town since i'm no Jupiler guy (for all you non-Belgians, Jupiler is the cat p*ss everybody drinks all the time).

Tonight I'd go for something different: let me present you "Tripel Karmeliet".



It has 8,4% of alcohol but nevertheless i find it a very easy going and soft beer. The taste is very rich and complex, rather soft sweet tastes with just a hint of bitterness at the end. I think this beer can be enjoyed by a lot of people compared to some other beers that have very specific tastes. Best served in its original glass decorated with fleurs de lis.
The Tripel Karmeliet was voted best beer of the world in 2008, so definitely worth giving it a try.

I drank most of it before i realized i should take a pic and post it here, sorry about that, i guess you understand

[SimonSays]

Daily drinker, Lol!!! When I came back to belgium in '04 after living a year in Finland Duvel was my daily drinker It's still my beer of choice for a night on the town since i'm no Jupiler guy (for all you non-Belgians, Jupiler is the cat p*ss everybody drinks all the time).

Tonight I'd go for something different: let me present you "Tripel Karmeliet".



It has 8,4% of alcohol but nevertheless i find it a very easy going and soft beer. The taste is very rich and complex, rather soft sweet tastes with just a hint of bitterness at the end. I think this beer can be enjoyed by a lot of people compared to some other beers that have very specific tastes. Best served in its original glass decorated with fleurs de lis.
The Tripel Karmeliet was voted best beer of the world in 2008, so definitely worth giving it a try.

I drank most of it before i realized i should take a pic and post it here, sorry about that, i guess you understand

Sheesh... You should put things more into perspective Thieu...
Jupiler is just fine for a Pils beer, compared to what other countries come up with... (not to mention that little country up north that likes cheese so much ) I prefer Jupiler over Stella, though hardly ever drink any of those...

I have a big bottle of Trippel Karmeliet in the fridge, can't wait to have a go

Duvel is a must in everyone's beer-portfolio. Period.

[Thieu]

Sheesh... You should put things more into perspective Thieu...
Jupiler is just fine for a Pils beer, compared to what other countries come up with... (not to mention that little country up north that likes cheese so much ) I prefer Jupiler over Stella, though hardly ever drink any of those...

I have a big bottle of Trippel Karmeliet in the fridge, can't wait to have a go

Duvel is a must in everyone's beer-portfolio. Period.

ok, here's a little perspective: I like an ice cold Jupiler after a day of backbreaking gardening or some construction work with friends on their house. Still, if there is a chance AND i don't have to drive no more i'd go for a Duvel on those occasions too.
It definitely is better pils than most countries come up with, i remember the days when Lapin Kuhlta and Karhu were all we had in Finland. That other country you were referring to, is it the one where they wear clogs to work (= watching tulips grow while sitting in front of the mill) ?
My adversity with it stems from the fact that Jupiler is apparently something lots of people seem to live for and that they give me a strange look when i pass on a beer and prefer water or a soft drink most of the time, like i'm supposed to drink beer...

[SimonSays]

OK, here's another review...


This is Bush beer... Nothing to do with some politicians in the US, but marketed as Belgium's strongest beer.
At 12%, it sure is a strong one Fairly full taste, slightly sharp, but full body and proper after taste... Recommended

[Thieu]

done for the day and almost bedtime, so I'll play again

here's a "Bourgogne des Flandres"



If I don't have the right glass I always use a Duvel glass...

a little info: It's a beer that finds his origins in the Van Houtryve brewery Brugge, a beautiful medieval city near the coast. Since the 90's the original brewery is closed and the beer gets made in a factory near Brussels owned by the John Martin group (a sad reality for so many small breweries,because it is a part of our cultural inheritance we lose... yep, beer is culture overhere ).

Anyway, the one i had tonight was the dark version, which has a very typical sweet sour taste to it with a sharp edge. a little too fruity for me, but if you enjoy "kriek" (the cherry beer that SimonSays presented at the beginning of this thread) i guess you will find this one very interesting. Apparently lots of wine connaisseurs like this beer very much. It only has 5% of alcohol, so it won't knock you out after a couple.

[SimonSays]

Hmmm haven't tried that one

[SimonSays]

This is one of the most unknown beers in the world, i'm sure... It's local to the region I live in, brewed in a microbrewery... Often used in local dishes (yes beer can be used to cook food, just like wine).

I got a bottle to try. It's called CHOKIER, named after the first Regent of Belgium, the guy that ruled Belgium before our first King (Leopold I) was crowned...



It's not bad, but a weird taste, rather bitter, and I won't try it again for drinking, maybe in a beef stew

[Thieu]

^I've never heard of that one, love the small, local specialties. I got some more from my region in the fridge, so entries to this thread are ensured

[SimonSays]

I can always bring you a few bottles if we ever meet up