Belgian Beer 196: Waterloo Tripel Blond

A blond beer we tried recently, the Waterloo Tripel Blond. At 7% quite a strong afternoon beer. The glass was pretty cool though (unusual and not ensured!) - the beer slightly bitter, but smooth and round with a generous head.

Brewed by the Brasserie du Bocq.

(Still going through my archives)

Belgian Beer no.195 : 621

This was a very unusual beer. Never seen it before, nor did we hear about the brewery - Brasserie Authentique. The 621.

A very dark, malt beer, quite bitter and at 7.5% a very interesting beer.

I think a visit to this particular brewery will be in order soon as they seem to have quite a few beers we have never seen.

(Again, one of the archive beers.)

Belgian Beer no.194: Palm Royale

And we're back!

First one up this year (194 in the total count of Belgian Beers tried so far) the Palm Royale. The beer is obviously tried last year - I have quite a few in my archives I need to go through - and a classic one on top.

The Palm Royale, is a 7.5% blond beer. Quite nice, pleasant beer. Nothing too unusual. Brewed by the Palm Brewery.

Beer Bar in Brussels - The Guardian Selection

Currently I am pretty busy with my non-beer-blogging life so apologies for the sudden silence. Any guest bloggers ready to review some Belgian Beers?

In the meantime, The Guardian wrote an interesting piece on Brussels Beer Bars. Some classics (Monk) made it to the list. Others, surprisingly, not. Do you agree with the top 10 selection? What are your favorite beers bars in Brussels?

Great Beers of Belgium

To kick-start this year's Belgian Beers, a first book review by A Brussels Nostalgic.

Text and Photo: ABN

Website/blog:

Why does Belgium, of all countries in the world, have such a vast and high quality beer industry and culture? How come so many of Belgium’s beers have monastic origins? Where, if not in Belgium, would kids sometimes get light table beer for lunch? You’ll find the answer to these and many more issues revolving around Belgian beer in Michael Jackson’s Great Beers of Belgium, a fantastic book which has been in print since 1991 and in 2006 came out with a brand new look together with lots of new pictures and updates.

For those of you who don’t know, Michael Jackson (no relation with the other guy) was probably the world’s best beer critic. He recently passed away on August 30th 2007, leaving behind several books on beer, but also whiskey, and lots of fans of his Beer Hunter tv series. He won countless awards and was always highly regarded by brewers worldwide, particularly in Belgium, who often invited him to tastings. The book is a tribute to Belgian beers, which, it is said, were his favorite.

While reading it, you quickly grasp the idea that Belgian Beer is all about culture, tradition, craftsmanship, history and geography, all of which, combined, bring a product of very high quality. Structured around 22 different chapters, Jackson’s book covers the whole spectrum of beermaking in this country, from the growing of grain and hops, as well as the importance of water and yeast, to a review of more than 300 different beers classified by type, among which you will of course find pils, white, red, brown, fruit, abbey, Trappist but also saison and brut as well as some other interesting categories I presume he coined himself such as “wicked beers”or “passionate pints”. The last two chapters include a long list of addresses of shops, cafes, restaurants and inns around the world that serve Belgian beer.

The book is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all beers in Belgium, like the book by Hilde Deweer All Belgian Beers reviewed earlier in this blog, but covers nevertheless a very wide range of different beers as to get a great idea of the variety and art of Belgian beer brewing.

It is a very interesting work that often makes you think you are reading a travel guide of Belgium rather than a book on beers. His experience, authority, popularity among Belgian brewers and knowledge of the country’s history and geography radiate throughout the pages.

A definite must for anyone who loves not only Belgian beers, but Belgium itself as well.

Michael Jackson’s Great Beers of Belgium – available at www.lannoo.com

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.