300 Belgian Beers and 2009

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

John from TX

Hi John from TX,

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

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

La Rulles

Owa

Belgoo Magus

Hofnar

Bloemenbier

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

Cheers,

Andreea.

Belgian Beer no.300: St Feuillien Cuvee de Noel

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

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

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

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

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

Belgian Beer no.299: Gouden Carolus Noel

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

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

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

Just because ...

Belgian Beer no.298: Saison de Mai

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

Belgian Beer no.297: Adelardus

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

Belgian Beer no.296: Delirium Nocturnum

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

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

Great beer but not one to drink too many of.

Belgian Beer no.295: Kriek Foudroyante

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

Cherry, sweet, the like. 4%.

Belgian Beer no.294: Livinus

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

Belgian Beer no.293: Belgoo Magus

A fairly new beer (2007) on the market but I love it. Really, if you get the chance try it. It is one of those beers that is very easy to drink and simply - good!
I order it now every time I see it on the menu.
Brewed by Brasserie Belgoo, Belgoo Magus is white 4 grains beer. Really creamy, hoppy, and at 6.6% my next 'standard' drinkable very good beer. Have you tried it?
Plus I really like the modern design of the logo.
Note: In case you are 'desperate' for more Belgian Beers, I tend to be quicker uploading the photos than writing text. All on Flickr.

Belgian Beer no.35: Gouden Carolus - revisited.

Revisting Belgian Beer no.35.

Belgian Beer no.292: Lindemans Cassis

Yep, that's the second one for the non-beer drinkers.
The Lindemans Cassis (black currants) is really a Belgian classic fruit beer. Again fresh, fruity, rich aromas a sort of a juice beer. 3.5%.

Oh on a side note - it is December first, we'll probably start tasting Christmas beers soon and did you notice? Only 8 to go for the big 3-0-0.

Belgian Beer no.291: Lindemans Apple

Because there is more to Belgian Beers than the 'strong' ones. So for those who are looking for something light and fruity: today, Lindemans Apple.
Brewed by Brasserie Lindemans, a very fruity beer, refreshing, perfect for the non-beer drinkers. You know what I mean. 3.5%

Belgian Beer no.290: Grottenbier

The biere des grottes - beer of the caves. Brewed by St. Bernardus. Fermentation in the bottle, some sweet notes, a brown beer at 6.7%.

Belgian Beer no.227: Cuvée Ermesinde - revisited

Just another photo of the Cuvee Ermesinde - tried way back when.

Belgian Beer no.289: MacBen

Not one of my favorites, but a Belgian beer nevertheless - MacBen. A dark brown with red hints, this scotch ale is brewed by the Brasserie St Feuillien. 7%.
Sort of caramel and roast barley taste.

Belgian Beer no.178: Betchard - revisited.

Betchard. Just a different photo.

Belgian Beer no.288: Maes Zero

Just in case you're up for a Maes. And watch your calories as well.

Beer Bar in Brussels - Brasserie de l'Union

An old time favorite, that is always on our 'to go to' list. Ideal place after a very cold Sunday market, for a hot bowl of soup. And a Belgian beer of course. We spent almost 4h in this place - a record, I know - but it's that cozy and welcoming.

Brasserie de l'Union - Parvis de Saint Gilles 5, 1060 Brussels

Belgian Beer no.286 and no.287: Brussels Kriek and Brussels Framboos

Same fridge, still in Prague. Two fruity numbers - the Brussels Kriek and the Brussels Framboos. A cherry and a raspberry beer.

The Brussels Kriek is 3.5%.
The Brussels Framboos is 3.5%.
I would expect both to taste fairly sweet and not too unusual. Brewed by Brasserie Van Steenberge.

Belgian Beer no.285: Biere du Boucanier

There is not much I know about this beer - so please help if you do. While in Prague we saw these Belgian beers in a fridge. Perhaps only made for export? I have not seen the Biere du Boucanier yet in Belgium. 11%.

Update: according to the comments this is actually Belgian Beer no. 166 Piraat. I will however leave it as a 'new' beer as this is probably the export version. Then again, who is counting? :)

Belgian Beer no.284: Gentse Tripel

Impossible not to try the Gentse Triple when in Gent. A heavy 8% nice golden beer. Slight spices and aromas - a simple straight forward beer. Brewed by the Brasserie Van Steenberge.

Belgian Beer no.283: Gildenbier

We tried this beer while on a day trip to Gent. Funny how you leave Brussels, and there is a whole world of different Belgian beers.
The Gildenbier - guild beer - is brewed by the Brasserie Haacht. It looks like candy and it does taste a little sweet as well. At 7% a faily strong beer, but very nice.

Belgian Beer no.282: 't Kelderke

A very pleasant amber beer, served and brewed especially for the t' Kelderke restaurant in the center of Brussels.

Belgian Beer no.281: Leffe Radieuse

You know what this blog is missing? Mainstream beers. The ones you find in every bar. All the time. The standard beers.
Should we start? I would guess that somewhere somehow I touched upon standard beers, but not many.
Voila - la Leffe Radieuse. A very rich beer and also very strong at 8.2%. There is a little fruit to it, a little spice, and general hoppiness.

Belgian Beer no.280: Ronsischen Dubbel

A very dark, and very unusual beer. Lots of spices and a very strong head (does this make sense?). A strong beer at 7.4%.

Brewed somewhere in the Ronse region of Belgium.

Belgian Beer no.279: Ultra Fraiche

The sister (brother?) of 203 - the Ultra Fraiche. The super fresh.

See I like these kind of beers. Light (3.5%) and fresh, with a slice of lemon, summery. A little hoppy, perfect.

Belgian Beer no.265: Bornem Dubbel - revisited

Just because I took the photo ... Previously reviewed. I somehow liked it though. I think.

Belgian Beer no.278: Floreffe Double

Just look at the glass!

The Floreffe Double - a mix of sugar and spice. Special malts, and a slight candied taste. If that were to exist. A 6.3%

Belgian Beer no.277: De Graal Blond

We tried the triple. Now the blond. A very nice beer. It tasted somehow strong, at 6.5%. Slightly bitter and very hoppy.

I think I like hoppy blond beers.

Belgian Beer no.276: Lam Gods

No worries. It's not like we discover a new brewery and then just drink all their beers. Here it was pure coincidence.

Another beer from Brasserie Paeleman, the Lam Gods. A dark 6.8% beer. I do like dark beers.

Belgian Beer no.275: Uitzet

Seriously, there are way too many beers in Belgium!

More discoveries, this time from the Brasserie Paeleman. A small brewery somewhere in Belgium brewing their own very special beers - like the Uitzet 1730.

Why 1730? Because this type of beer was first brewed in 1730. Other than that a triple, 6.8% and fairly bitter. Coriander hints? Probably so.

Belgian Beer no.274: Biere de Miel, Bio

Back to an old favorite, the Moeder Lambic. Which reminds, I'll have to take another photo of the place and write an updated review as things changed around there.

Their beer of the week/month, a very tasty Biere de Miel. Honey beer.

Belgian Beer no.273: Park

Moving on to another supermarket beer, this time Aldi. We tried their 'local' beer (?), the Park. An abbey style beer apparently brewed by Brasserie de Haacht. But somehow linked to Abdij van 't Park.

Nothing against it as such, but there are other beers I definitely prefer over Park.

Belgian Beer no.272: Angel

Meet Angel. A beer brewed by Brasserie Affligem for Delhaize (a supermarket chain in Belgium). Ehem. Not memorable as such, drinkable though. And strong 8.5%!

Belgian Beer no.270, 110, 271: Bon Secours x 3

Back on home territory, some beer tried during and after a bbq. The quality of the photos will speak for itself. No worries :)

One was reviewed already, the Bon Secours Ambre. To be complete, we also tried the Bon Secours Brune (to the left) and the Bon Secours Blonde (to the right). The Brune is a 7.5%, malty and caramelized beer. The Blonde is a 8%, slightly fruity beer.

Belgian Beer no.269: 3 Schteng

The second beer tried at the Brasserie Grain d'Orge was the 3 Schteng. First the name: much to our amazement, there is a place in Belgium where three countries meet in one place - Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The Drielandenpunt. Thus 3 Schteng means the 3 stones, in the old dialect spoken in the region. Furthermore, if you are really into beer trivia, the 3 Schteng is brewed in memory of a fourth country that bordered the Drielandenpunt, the Neutraal-Moresnet which only existed till 1919.

Phew!

Now to the beer. A 6% dark beer, very pleasant, and surprisingly refreshing.

Belgian Beer no.268: Brice & Joup Blonde

While at the Brasserie Grain d'Orge we did get to taste two beers - the Brice & Joupe Blonde. A very clear and very pleasant blonde beer, perfect for the sunny day we had - 7%.

Another beer brewed by the Brasserie Grain d'Orge and reviewed here La Hervoise.

Brewery Visit: Grain d'Orge

It was a sunny day, and there are plenty more beers to drink once you get out of Brussels. Here a quick tour of the Brasserie Grain d'Orge. If we would have been more organized, then indeed a lot more could have been seen and tasted. Next time.

Belgian Beer no.267: Caracole

Moving on to one of our favorite bars in Brussels, the highly difficult to pronounce, let alone spell ... Poe-che-ne-lle-kel-der, drinking beers on their terrace. The Caracole. Brewed by the Brasserie Caracole, this beer is their 'flag' beer so to speak. A somewhat orangey beer, wheat, and spicy sweet aromas, the beer is a very pleasant beer - although fairly strong at 8%.

Previous beers reviewed from this brewery, the Troublette and the Forestine.

Belgian Beer no.62: Steendonk - Revisited

Just because we had a fun time trying to capture the moving Vedett coaster.

Steendonk.

No one said this would be a serious blog :)

Beer Bar in Brussels - Maison du Peuple

A great, and recently redone bar ... not far from the classic Bar de l'Union which I still have to write about. Here La Maison du Peuple. We really enjoyed the new brick look, the open space, the laid back atmosphere and of course the decent choice of beers. More of a Sunday after market beer bar, worth a stop though if around.

Belgian Beer no.266: Kastaar

While walking down town Brussels, we decided it was time to stop for a beer. This Kastaar, by Brasserie de Block, was tried just next to Jeu de Balle (the flea market). A nice afternoon beer, sort of amber/blond at 5.5% not too heavy. There were hints of spices, I'd say coriander.

Belgian Beer no.265: Bornem Dubbel

This time a beer review from a fellow Brussels beer blogger, Andrew, over at 40 Beers at 40. That's a good goal, no?

Text and photo: Andrew

Website/ blog: 40 Beers at 40

Here’s an abbey beer from the Van Steenberge group for damp Thursday. It’s wonderfully dark, and it has an absurdly thick head -- you could build a wall out of it.

The taste is burnt oak and “sour molasses”. The 8% alcohol doesn’t overwhelm. Overall, however, I’d say it’s not complex enough. A beer this dark with a head this thick promises more flavour than this brew delivers.

I was hoping for something deeper and richer.It’s drinkable, of course, but I probably wouldn’t buy this one again. Maybe no beer can brighten up a damp Thursday.

If you feel like guest blogging a Belgian Beer on Belgian Beers, drop me a line at andreeainbxl [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Belgian Beer no.264: Titje

Still at home, the Titje, a white beer brewed by Brasserie de Silly. The usual fresh, white, coriander tasting beer, 4.7%. Very pleasant. Nothing unusual.

Anyone know what Titje means?

Belgian Beer no.263: Super des Fagnes Griottes

So so so very sweet! 4.8 cherry beer brewed by Brasserie des Fagnes.

Belgian Beer no.262: Hoegaarden Citron

Yeah, ok, I know it is mass produced and I know a lot of you go 'hrumph' but there are mass produced beers I like. And then there are others I don't.

Hoegaarden brought out summer versions, one of which is Hoegaarden Citron (lemon). And when it's hot and sunny, I think this is the perfect 3% beer. Voila!

Belgian Beer no.261: Joseph

OK, I know the photo is all fuzzy - it was also almost dark! Meet Joseph, the spelt beer.

Now I do like my seazonal, organic food but I am by no means a purist. So a bio and spelt beer, all a little too 'hype' for me. We tried it, and there is something nice about it. Low in alcohol 5.4% and very yeasty.

Somehow I don't think I am into 'special' beers. Remember this one? But what I am really happy about is to discover Brasserie de Silenrieux. Just look at all those beers they brew, waiting to be discovered. Hopefully not all made with spelt...

Belgian Beer no.260: Val Dieu Blonde

Still at home; still going through the beers stored in our cellar. This time around the Val Dieu Blonde. A real marathon of Belgian beers don't you think?

This is a high fermentation, real abbey style blonde beer. Slightly spicy, at 6% very pleasant beer. Brewed of course by the Abbaye Val-Dieu.

I do like blonde beers!

Belgian Beer no.259: Bruegel

I know, I know, but at 5% a fairly 'weak' Belgian beer. Very nice amber beer though. And as it is light, it does go down very well and is pleasant to drink.

Brewed by Brasserie van Steenberge.

Belgian Beer no.258: Abbaye Val Dieu Noel

I guess we tried this one of fear it might be off. It is a Val Dieu Noel/ Christmas beer. Of course it wasn't off!

At 7% a pleasant beer, highly yeasty and malty, fairly balanced beer. Brewed by the Abbaye du Val Dieu.