320 ...

Well it seems that somehow 2009 has come to an end, without us realizing it. Or drinking that much beer. Last year around this time we had high hopes for making it to 400 by the end of this year ... We still have quite the backlog on beers and beer festivals, but those will have to wait for 2010.

However, this year we spent more time building and painting and moving than drinking. No worries though, we'll be back to normal drinking (counting!) our way through the Belgian Beers on offer in the numerous Belgian Bars around.

And if you are still looking for that last Christmas / New Year beer related gift - why not give these a chance?

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year.

See you all in 2010. Cheers,

Andreea

Beer News

An interesting article on Brussels and Beer. Beer and Brussels.
Cheers,
Andreea.

Beer News

I am SO far behind in my beer reviews ... !!!
If you are interested though to see the beers we have been tasting lately (well, so far in 2009), they are all up on Flickr. And if you have a Belgian Beer you tasted and would like to review, don't forget the Guest Reviews.
Cheers and a good weekend.

Andreea

Froth!

Remember way back when (oh-ho-ho) I told you about a book which will use some of my beer photos? Well, two years later - voila!

The book Froth! The Science of Beer is written by Mark Denny. And somewhere in the book - after a lot of very scientific and intelligent beer stuff - is also a photo from this very blog. The Steendonk beer made it into the book. Ha!

Autographs, anyone?

Beer Bar in Brugge

... I don't remember the name ... anyone?

Brasserie Abbaye Val Dieu

Yes, yes, yes. Another archived photo - the Abbaye Val Dieu. A great brewery to visit, as they have the most fun restaurant/ beer bar (?!) where you can try their beer and cheese. Delicious!

Belgian Beer no.320: Patrasche

You did not think I'd leave you with Nello without Patrasche? Patrasche Dubble is a dark 8% beer, high yeast, malts and hops, and somewhere some caramel as well. Almost a Trappist style beer.

Belgian Beer no.319: Nello's Blond

Why Nello? Well, it seems that Nello and Patrasche are two characters of the 'A Dog of Flanders'. Written in 1872, seems the book was a hit in Japan. Go figure!

And the beer? Well the beer is named after Nello, is brewed by De Arend, is blond and light and soft and is 7%.

Belgian Beer no.318: Black Jack

We are still around, in case you wondered. Not that life is in any way back to normal ... but we are surviving.

Still from the archives (before you ask: yes, we are still drinking beer, but given that we are mostly on the run, we tend to go for old tried and tested favorites!) - the Black Jack beer.

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers, this 7% beer was brewed in collaboration with some Swedish brewers as the label reads 'Motverkar Tristess'. Prevent boredom. Dark and malted.

Belgian Beer no.317: Malheur Cuvee Royale

This was a fantastic beer. First off, I had no idea Malheur was also brewing bubble-beers. We tried the Malheur 6° way back when. And then this!

Absolutely great beer. I probably liked it so much as it kind of tasted like a beery champagne. Probably not what you would like from either a beer. Or a champagne. But it really works. (Remember the Deus?)

We tried the Malheur Cuvee Royale. A blond and sparkly beer, brewed according to traditional methods and at 9.2% close to ... well, champagne. Now all I have to do is try and locate the other Malheur bubbles, the Brut and the Dark Brut.

Belgian Beer no.314, no.315, no.316: Leireken Blond, Leireken Brown, Leireken Wild Berries

Continuing the bio-beer discovery, the other 3 Leireken beers we tried. From left to right the blond 6%, the brown 6% and the wild berries 5.2%. The blond is yeasty, hoppy and rich. The brown is toasted and caramelized. The wild berries is fruity and red, sort of a bio-Kriek.

Belgian Beer no.313: Leireken Witte Spelt

Enter the world of bio-beers. First one up the Leireken Witte Spelt.

I love white beers. This is no different. At 5% easy to drink. Very refreshing. Summer in a glass. Brewed by Guldenboot.

Belgian Beer no.312: Kartuizer

OK ... So I do remember this beer. But if I tell you we tried it sometimes at the beginning of the year, you'll wonder what we have been up to since?

Well, not much except building. Deciding on wall paint colours. Tile colours. And who knew there are so many types of radiators and boilers out there? Anyway ...

We have been honestly too busy to drink new beers, so I will slowly make my way through the 'saved' beers, and hopefully come the autumn beer festivals we'll be up and drinking again.

De Kartuizer. Brewed by De Graal, at 8.5% a strong beer. Malt and fruits, somewhat spicy and sweet at the same time.

Brewery Visit: Brasserie d'Achouffe

Been there. Done that.

Session 29: Will Travel for Beer

I am pretty sure the last Session www.belgian-beers.eu took part in was Session 16. Now that is a LONG time ago!

Which is why, with a very sunny weekend coming up I thought it might be a good idea to share with you our (beer) travel destinations. Do we travel for beer? Honestly, no. Why? Because we have more beer than we can handle in Belgium. Our twist on the Session 29, hosted by Beer by Bart is thus ‘Will Travel for Beer to … Belgium’. There are a couple of must-beers (?) while in Belgium so if you do travel to Belgium for beer here goes top 3:

• Try to visit Belgium during one of the following beer festivals: Zythos (usually in March); Brussels Beer Festival (usually beginning September); Bruxellensis (usually mid-September).
• Stop at the Chez Moeder Lambic and ask one of the waiters to guide you through a selection of Belgian beers. They know what they are talking about and they are completely against ‘industrial’ beers, think Leffe and the like. Doesn’t mean I necessarily agree, as I do like a Leffe once in a while, but you’ll get to try some unique beers. (Note: there is a second Chez Moeder Lambic opening this year!)
• If you want to take beer back home, either go to one of the bigger supermarkets – trust me, they stock a fair amount of beers at decent prices, or head to Delices et Caprices or Beer Mania.

And if none of these works then just drop me an email :)
Cheers!

(Beer) News

Well, it's more 'news' than 'beer news'. Reason for our very long blog silence? We bought an apartment recently and all our energy goes into it. As you can see. Eventually, that will be our new kitchen.

Is there time for beer? Yes. So stayed tuned, we'll be back.

Belgian Beer no.311: Bles Herbie

Not sure I even mentioned we went to the Bles Beer Festival. This was the Herbie beer voucher for the festival beer. Nothing memorable, but still deserving a number on the blog.

Belgian Beer no.310: Oude Kriek

A 6% lambic fruity old cherry beer. Quite sour for a cherry beer, but a very pleasant discovery from 3 Fonteinen.

Belgian Beer no.309: Jules de Kriek

By no means as bad as the bananas one. A nice Kriek. A fruity 4.9% number.

Brewed by De Ryck in case you wonder.

Brewery Visit: Affligem

Just some impressions from a recent visit to the Affligem Brewery. Good fun and good beer. Love the glass.

Belgian Beer no.308: Jules de Bananes

Just no. As simple as that. No. No. No.
Bananas - yes.
Beer - yes.
Beer and bananas - no.

Belgian Beer no.307: Gueuze Foudroyante

I am not a big gueuze fun as such - I am sure an acquired taste - but this is a refreshing one. Touches of sugar and some wood, a dessert beer. On the other hand I understand that gueuze lovers don't actually like this one brewed by Brasserie Lindemans. 4.5%

Beer Bar in Brussels: La Fleur en Papier Doré

Although we regularly got to La Porte Noire (more about that another time) ... we never actually went into La Fleur en Papier Doré. And such a pleasant surprise.
Don't get me wrong. It's not hip. It's not young. It's not trendy. But it's all about old Brussels atmosphere. Apparently La Fleur en Papier Dore is the oldest bistro in Brussels. Lovely on a Sunday afternoon, for a couple of beers and a quick bite. We'll definitely go back as there is so much more to take in.

La Fleur en Papier Dore - Rue des Alexiens 55, 1000 BXL

Belgian Beer no.306: St. Bernardus Witbier

A great white beer, refreshing and easy to drink. The St. Bernardus Witbier.
Here on a somewhat mild night sometimes last year.

At 5.5% one of the easy ones to drink.

Belgian Beer no.305: St. Bernardus Pater 6

We tried the St. Bernardus Abt 12 already. It was time for the Pater 6.

A dark beer, almost red, with a very specific taste. There is enough fruit, but also hops to make it a 'grown up' beer. Some really love it!

At 6.7% very easy to drink.

Belgian Beer no.304: Poperings Hommelbier

I was sure we had reviewed this beer long time ago. But seems not. It's such a usual beer, that I am surprised we missed it.

The Poperings Hommebier. Brewed by the same people as Belgian Beer no.40.

Three varieties of hops are used in this beer. Fermentation in the bottle.

Due to the hops it does have a very rich taste to it. At 7.5% a fairly heavy beer as well.

A nice change from the usual beers.

Belgian Beer no.53, no.42 and no.303: Timmermans Beers

One tasted already.
The other as well.
The other Timmermans Kriek. Very fruity, very cherry, very Kriek.

(And yes, you've guessed it these are all beers tasted still in 2008 - I have a backlog of about 50 beers to go through ...)

Belgian Beer no.302: 'n Maurootje

This review comes from William Roelens, a Belgian beer blogger who also brews his own beer. The 'N Maurootje.

Life being life, I just read his wife passed away. My sincere condolences.

Below, his own beer review:
A dark blond beer with a white fine full.
The nose is spicy and hoppy.
Light predominating flavour of junipers
Also complete deeply a fragrant bread aroma.
The taste is bitter hopps.
Leading spicy
A good and nicely dry beer with a beautiful dry aftertaste. A thirst-quenching beer.

Belgian Beer no.301 and 2009

And here we go again :)
Sorry for the long silence, there will be more to follow as I am WAY busy ... but didn't stop drinking beer. Yet!

In the meantime, if you have some reviews you'd like me to post till I get back to normal - they'd be more than welcome.

Oh, and everyone knows beer no.301, no?