Cheers

Cheers and a Happy New Year. I did not fall off the face of the earth. Nor did we get lost in Brazil (I wish ... the sun, the sea, the beaches ...)
Back for another year of Belgian beers. There will be book reviews. There will be beer shops. There will beguest writers. And of course a lot of beer. Shall we start? Oh and before we start, thank you all for all your visits and the time spent here on www.belgian-beers.eu in 2007.

Session 10 and Belgian Beer no.193: Plaizierke by Gordon Xmas

I thought this might be a good 'session' to introduce the official 2007 Christmas Market beer. And to celebrate almost 200 Belgian Beers.

This year's beer seems to be sponsored by Gordon. Last year the official Christmas Market beer was a Delirium Christmas, this year it is a Gordon's Xmas. As long as everyone is happy. Why I chose it? Well, because it is this year's official beer, and everyone going to the Christmas Market in Brussels will come across it. This and a very interesting mulled Kriek. Which I admit I didn't have the guts to try (Kriek. And mulled?)

There is very little else to say except that the Plaizierke 2007 is not as strong as Christmas beers usually tend to be. 8.8%. Enjoy it if you come across it.

Probably also a good moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from www.belgian-beers.eu We will be spending winter down south (Brazil to be exact) so Belgian Beers will resume in January 2008. Thank you all for reading and contributing to Belgian Beers. Here is to 200 more :) At least!

Belgian Beer no.192: Cuvee du Grand Georges

I remember where we had this beer ... but not much else about it. Again an alias for a 'traditional' beer. Brewed for the Grand Georges (a brasserie in the south of Belgium), here the Cuvee du Grand Georges.

Belgian Beer no.191: Bon Secours Bien Etre

I simply had to buy and try this one. Apparently a 'diet' beer with no sugar added. The Bon Secours Bien Etre (which sort of means 'feel good')

The beer is brewed with the diet/health (and diabetics) conscientious in mind. No added sugar. Hm. A little skeptical on this beer at first, but you know what? I really enjoyed it. Because of the lack of sugar it is a very clear and crisp, clean blonde. Really pleasant. And pretty light at 5.5%. Brewed by the Brasserie Caulier.

Belgian Beer no.190: Equinox

We are slowly getting closer to Christmas. Which in beer terms means stronger beers, Christmas beers, and generally more alcohol.

Over the next couple of posts you'll have the one or the other beer tried in no particular order in the regular Brussels beer bars, at tastings or visits to different breweries.

Here the Equinox. Brewed by the Brasserie de la Senne, it is a winter beer with heavy malt and chocolate taste. At 8% a solid winter beer.

La Taybeh - A First in Belgium

Hot off the press so to speak. La Taybeh, the first Palestinian beer, will be (is?) available on the Brussels market. The beer is produced under the licence of Ichtegem, by the Brasserie Strubbe. I will try to get my hands on one for the sake of www.belgian-beers.eu

By the way, Taybeh means excellent in Palestinian.

Belgian Beer no.189: Bloemenbier

Same lovely, sunny terrace in De Haan. And another beer: the Bloemenbier. Very much 'the flower beer'. Loved this one as well. Probably a little too sweet for the usual beer palate. Hints of honey and flowers (sort of). Quite spicy. Loved the presentation, with the white paper wrapped around the bottle.

A 7% blond from the Brasserie De Proef.

(Just in case, the beer bar where we tried these beers is Café de Torre. I understand a well known beer bar for those in the know.)

Belgian Beer no.188: Haanse Witte

Getting closer to the coast. We stopped in De Haan. (A very scenic coast city if you get the chance to visit!) And guess what? They have their own city beer, so to speak. The Haanse Witte (the white from de Haan?)

A little confused on who is brewing this one, as it seems to be Den Haene, on the other hand could it be Brasserie Strubbe? Nevermind this though. It was a great beer, light at 5.5% , and a perfect seaside white beer. Loved it.

Belgian Beer no.187: Lamoral Tripel

Still in Bruges, in the same bar, another beer. The Lamoral Tripel. Taking its name from a Flemish patriot during the Spanish rule of Belgium. At 8% it is a quite strong dark beer. More so and so.

From Brasserie van den Bossche.

Belgian Beer no.186: Slaapmutske Blond

I was sure I wrote about the beers we recently tried at the coast. Then again I might be mixing it up with this.

Beers at the coast. And in Bruges. First one up the Slaapmutske. Tried in a very nice bar in Bruges, which I will have to write about at a later date. I think the waiter thought I'm nuts aiming to blog about all the Belgian Beers. But let's try to make it to 200 by the end of this year!

Slaapmutske means more or less night cap (not my thing!). Brewed by the Slaapmutske Brewery, it is a blond 6.4% beer. Actually a nice beer.