Belgian Beer no.255: Deux Nigauds

You will not believe this. But it is SO hot in Brussels at the moment, that drinking (Belgian!) beer is not really on our mind. Problem with the Belgian beer, besides being plenty of, is that it tends to be on the heavy side. Hops and alcohol don't mix well with the heat.

We haven’t been going out much trying new beers. Instead bought a decent stock of untried beer which we sip at ease at home. In the garden. Something I advise, if you don’t have the time to go to a specialized beer shop, try one of the local supermarkets. Not only do the big chains stock a very decent amount of beers, the local ones (outside Brussels) tend to also sell local beers … which we do not find in the Brussels’ supermarkets.

Our latest discovery in supermarkets selling beer is Cora, which has an impressive and unusual offer. We bought one of each and are now drinking our way through them. The first one up was the Deux Nigauds. A brown beer, brewed using two type of cereals and two type of hops. At 8% a fairly strong beer, which we enjoyed very much. Brewed by Brasserie de la Botteresse de Sur-les-Bois.

Beer Bar in Turnhout - In Den Spytighen Duvel

A series of beers and beer bars reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

Text and photo: Michael
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Turnhout is about a 50 minute train ride from Antwerp, and almost the same by car. The Spytighen Duvel (Mournful Dead) is situated a short walk from the Market place.
Once it opened ( it opened an hour later than listed), the range of beers on offer was, at a guess into the hundreds. Ample seating space, and a friendly atmosphere, it is well worth going to if you are in that neck of the woods.

Belgian Beer no.254: Antiek Bruin

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

Text and photo: Michael
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Last one tried at the Spytighen Duvel, Antiek Bruin is brewed by Deca Services – the same place where De Struise Brouwers brew their beers. As the name suggests, this is a dark 8% beer, sweet ,with hints of spices and hops.

Belgian Beer no.253: Flodder

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

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From the label, one would think that this was another offering from De Dolle Brouwers, but this beer is also brewed by De Proefbrouwerij. Similar in colour, and head to the Slaapmutske, Flodder is also a very pleasant 8% beer, with a slightly more citrus taste.

Beer Bar in Antwerp - Paters Vaetje

A series of beers and beer bars reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

Text and photo: Michael
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This is a very pleasant bar situated in the heart of the old town in Antwerp, at the foot of the cathedral. It has a beer menu of around 100, with all styles catered for.
Service here is very quick and friendly, and the setting, with outside seats and tables ideal on a warm spring afternoon. The only downside is the toilets which are communal.

Belgian Beer no.252: Slaapmutske Tripel

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

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Tried this one at “in den Spytighen Duvel” in Turnhout. It is brewed by De Proefbrouwerij, (see Slaapmutske Blond beer no .186) It poured a golden colour with the most weird head I have ever seen. At 8.1% it is a very pleasant beer, with a nice balance of hops and fruit.

Belgian Beer no.251 and no.155 revisited: Boerken and Boerinneken

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

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Still at Paters Vaetje, but on a different day I hasten to add (!), we tried two beers – Boerinneken (beer no. 155) and Boerken, which thanks to Andreea’s translation is “the farmer”.Uniquely, one glass serves both of these beers, with the picture of the Boerinneken on one side, and the Boerken on the other. Whilst both are 9.5% beers, the Boerinneken pours an amber colour, with a hoppy fruity taste, and the Boerken a dark brown colour with a more malty taste. Not exceptional beers by any account, but still worth trying.

Belgian Beer no.250: De Dolle Dulle Teve

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

Text and photo: Michael
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Having tried De Dolle Brouwers Oerbier (beer no. 32), and the Arabier (beer no. 33) at Paters Vaetje, the next one on the list was Dulle Teve. This translates to “Mad Bitch”. I have to say, whether intentional or not, just the name of this beer emits a sense of fun. It poured an Amber colour with quite a large head (although this could have been as a result of the previous two beers!). It is a very fruity and mildly sweet drink, whose 10% abv does not really hit you until to you stand up. An Excellent beer.

Beer Bar in Antwerp - Kulminator

A series of beers and beer bars reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

Text and photo: Michael
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For beer selection, this is probably the second best pub in Belgium (after Delirium Cafe). The selection is vast, and covers new as well as very, very old beers.
Location wise, it is about a 15 minute walk from the main old town centre, and pretty hard to find without a decent large scale map.
Whilst the beer list is massive, and the cellar awash with beers from the past, the downside is the total lack of enthusiasm from the owners. If a beer that you want is in the cellar, be prepared for a long wait as they motivate themselves to take the five metre walk to the cellar. The pub is small, with room for perhaps only 30 sitting customers, and is well decorated with Belgian beer memorabilia. A small smile would have been great, but one does come away thinking that they have done US a favour rather than the other way round. That aside, it is still well worth a visit.

Belgian Beer no.249: Westmalle Extra

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.
Text and photo: Michael

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You will not find this in any shop anywhere – apparently this beer is only for sale at the Westmalle Abbey itself. Having heard of its existence, I was keen to try it. Like the Westvleteren beers, the bottle comes without label – apparently the beer is intended only for the monks. I can only say that I was very disappointed with this beer. At 5%, I didn’t expect the same experience as a Westmalle Tripel, but certainly didn’t expect such a bland offering – perhaps I should have tried this one before the two fantastic Struise Brouwers beers. Personally, I could find little difference in this “special” beer to a Stella, with the exception perhaps of tiny hint of spice.

Belgian Beer no.248: Mikkeller

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.

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The Kulminator Beer cellar is a mass with bottles. Amongst them, I spotted another bottle with the unmistakable De Struise Brouwers logo. It turns out that this beer is the joint effort ofDe Struise Brouwers and a Danish brewer Mikkeller. It pours a dark golden colour with creamy head, and smells immediately citrus. Taste is almost medicinal with caramel or honey, rather like a Locket.At 9%, again it is a strong beer, but like all De Struise Brouwers beers I have tried, the alcohol is very well disguised.

Belgian Beer no.247: Aardmonnik

Thank God for guest writers/ readers of Belgian-Beers.EU - otherwise I am not sure we'll ever get through all the Belgian beers. Problem with Belgium? They don't exactly stop inventing beers so we can go through all of them...

A series of beers reviewed by Michael follows for the next couple of days. This will give us the chance to try and drink some more for you.
Text and photo: Michael
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Sampled this wonderful beer in Kulminator in Antwerp. Brewed by De Struise Brouwers, expectations were high following the Pannepot tried on previous visit. Not realising it was a Flemish Sour Ale, (and not being a particular lover of Sour Ales), I was pleasantly surprised by both the aroma and taste. It poured pretty much the sameas Pannepot, but with an almost cider like aroma. At 8%, the taste was, as the style suggests, sour, but also fruity and sweet, but smooth on the back of the throat. A brilliant beer if you can find it.

Villaggio della Birra - Italian Beer Festival

Villaggio della Birra. Ok, it's Italian. And it's in Tuscany (I wish!). But here's the deal: the festival is sort of a Brassigaume or a Zythos Italian style. And the breweries present, or at least some of them: Achilles, Boelens, Blaugies, Cazeau, Den Hopperd... and the Italians, Olmaia, Petrognola, Lambrate, Montegioco.

All you have to do is:

- be in Bibbiano-Buonconvento on the 6/7 September 2008;

- like beer;

- purchase your tokens, get a glass and visit the various stands;

- drink and meet the Master-Brewers;

- taste their products.

Personally, if I would be in the area I'll go. OR if I would plane a Tuscan holiday. Or really if I would have enough money for a round trip ticket Brussels/Siena. However none of the above apply. So if you do go, or happen to be an Italian reader (ciao!) and go - could you let us know? Take some photos, taste, write a review or two?

Grazie and Cheers!

Belgian Beer no.166, no.165, no.246: revisited + Augustijn Ale

And last ones up at the Zythos, besides the Piraat and the Gulden Draak Ale - a new one, the Augustijn Ale. An abbey style beer, second fermentation in the bottle, at 8% fairly strong. A soft beer if you know what I mean, but very tasty. Hoppy and malty, and rich. Am also curious about their Augustijn Grand Cru.

Belgian Beer no.245: Toria

And last but not least, their third beer, Toria. A blond beer, at 6.5% which was probably my favorite from the three tried out. Then again I am quite partial to blond beers.

Belgian Beer no.244: Koekelaring

Sticking with the same brewers as for no. 243 De Hoevebrouwers, the Koekelaring beer a 6.5% red/brown beer. Some malty touch to it, slightly sweet.

Belgian Beer no.243: Nen Uts

Nen Uts. A good 7% amber beer from De Hoevebrouwers. A nicely bitter beer. Good to discover a small brewer too.

Belgian Beer no.242: 't Smisje Fiori

You see what the 10% did to us? :)

The next beer from De Regenboog, the 't Smisje Fiori a 7% blond, high yeasty beer. A peachy, slightly sweet tasting beer.

Belgian Beer no.241: 't Smisje Catherine

Another beer, still at Zythos (I promise, we'll be done soon with the Zythos reporting!)

This is the 't Smisje Catherine, otherwise in translation Catherine the Great. The stout is brewed with 7 different malts, 4 hop varieties, and is a whopping 10%. I am not particularly a stout lover, but this was a good beer. The label? Well.

Brewed by De Regenboog Brewery, over at Astridlaan 134 B-8310 in Brugge.