OT: Belgian Beer
Comments
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PS CGRenn, hope you have a great birthday in Bruges. Drink your tits off!0
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God, I love Prizemart: http://www.prizemart.com/index.php/ct/
The shops make Lidl look like Fortnum and Mason's but I was in there last week and they are knocking out Duvel, Chimay red and blue and 3 kinds of Leffe for about 1 Euro 50 - in Hong Kong!
God, I love international free trade......Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs0 -
Best place to buy 95% of Belgian beer is a supermarket.
Carrefour or Delhaize have the best selection, they may all be packaged into 4s but just take what you want, they're all individually priced too. Colruyt is sort of a discount supermarket, they'll have the cheapest per bottle prices but you can't split the packages there so you'll have to buy either a crate (Duvel or Westmalle) or a six pack of 330mls. Their selection is a bit more limited.
For the very small local brewers, the best bet is a local drink merchant, as discussed. But for Westmalle, Duvel, Chouffe etc (basically anything you've heard of) you'll get a better deal on buying a bottle or two at a supermarket."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
A question goat: has living in Belgium diminished the Belgian beer experience for you?
I get pretty excited at the prospect of going over there and behaving like a kid in a sweet shop, but is it all a bit 'meh' when you live there?0 -
Good question! Never really thought of it like that. I suppose I have become a little spoilt, if I go into a place and they've only got 3 or 4 decent beers in feel a bit like they're not trying. My search for a good beer has changed into a search for the perfect bar now too...
Overall I still love the beer and I love talking to the bar staff about it as they usually really know their stuff. Finding something you've never tried before or a bar man's favourite is cool too.
Sometimes however, you do just want a pint of jennings..."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Oooh, I like a Jennings..
As an exile in Copenhagen, I've just found a Camra cask marked pub local to me. It's only the 7th outside the British Isles (3 are in Denmark, I think the rest are in the US). St Austell Big Job (Proper Job's big brother, apparently), served from a cask sitting on top of the bar. Mmmmm.
And it is pretty much the perfect bar. Great beer, a bar owner who has made his passion his livelihood, and no bloody hipsters drinking gooseberry and kumquat trippel hopped IPA from a wine glass.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
I grew up in the town where Jennings is brewed. I also met my wife on their brewery tour.
The only (commonly sold in the) UK beer I've found in Gent is Guinness. They tend to have a good selection of Gin & Whisky though. Just after I arrived, one of my Belgian friends invited me round to his house to watch Paris Roubaix and his dad was extremely disparaging of British beer, i do think there's a gap in the market for a place to sell proper British ale though...
Incidentally, it cracks me up that all the small batch, hand crafted Belgian ales made by a collective of renegade brewers that Brew Dog charge £7 a bottle for are just completely unheard of even in the specialist bars here. They just dont see the point when you can get such amazing beer that's relatively mass produced."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
I notice the same with friends from Holland visiting here; very few of them appreciate British real ales (let alone mass produced bitters); Belgian beer remains the pinnacle (and Dutch pilsners as session beer). I think British ales are just too weak and flat for lowland tastes. I'd seriously doubt there'd be much of a demand in Belgium for them (apart from Brussels expat circles). That being said, I think craft IPAs are making some waves in Amsterdam hipster circles. Brouwerij 't IJ's own IPA for instance. But then, Belgian tastes tend to be a bit more conservative...disgruntledgoat wrote:The only (commonly sold in the) UK beer I've found in Gent is Guinness. They tend to have a good selection of Gin & Whisky though. Just after I arrived, one of my Belgian friends invited me round to his house to watch Paris Roubaix and his dad was extremely disparaging of British beer, i do think there's a gap in the market for a place to sell proper British ale though...0 -
FJS wrote:
I notice the same with friends from Holland visiting here; very few of them appreciate British real ales (let alone mass produced bitters); Belgian beer remains the pinnacle (and Dutch pilsners as session beer). I think British ales are just too weak and flat for lowland tastes. I'd seriously doubt there'd be much of a demand in Belgium for them (apart from Brussels expat circles). That being said, I think craft IPAs are making some waves in Amsterdam hipster circles. Brouwerij 't IJ's own IPA for instance. But then, Belgian tastes tend to be a bit more conservative...disgruntledgoat wrote:The only (commonly sold in the) UK beer I've found in Gent is Guinness. They tend to have a good selection of Gin & Whisky though. Just after I arrived, one of my Belgian friends invited me round to his house to watch Paris Roubaix and his dad was extremely disparaging of British beer, i do think there's a gap in the market for a place to sell proper British ale though...
in so many things..."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Jimmy and Jamie want to see if they can beat the Belgians at their own game, by making a better beer.
Jamie and Jimmy set off to find a new generation of artisan beer makers who are making British beer cool again. They visit a brewery in Camden and make their own beer. And they meet beer expert Rupert Ponsonby, who started the academy for beer sommeliers, who in turn help select the perfect beer for any dish, palette or occasion.
The boys then head to Belgium for the booze-off. But can they win over the locals to the joys of British beer? Gary Barlow pops in to the caff to cook steak and ale pie.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-jimmys-food-fight-club/on-demand0 -
I was just sick in mouth"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
I watched Micky Flanagan's Detour de France last night. (This coming Monday, Sky 1)
While he's not my cup of tea, the show had some highlights.
First off was the trip to Dunkerque for the opening stage of the 4 days.
Then, it was off to Roubaix velodrome via a section of pave.
Best of all though, was the trip to Watou and the St Bernardus brewery.
After chugging down a trippel they then sampled a glass of St. Bernardus Abt 12.
The effect was obvious!
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
St Bernardus Abt 12 is truly an awesome beer, and one to be respected. I have always seen it as one for the fireside on a wintry evening, to be sipped and savoured (much the same as Rochefort 10).
This summer I saw it on tap, with people merrily quaffing it by the glass at 2 in the afternoon. OK it was a Belgian public holiday but that seems a bit too much for me. So I settled for the "weaker" beer: Tripel Karmeliet :PEcrasez l’infame0 -
Last week i saw a bloke come into a cafe, buy an abt 12 and a coffee, quaf the beer and them await his wife's arrival. Then he ordered a second one when she turned up. The sly old dog."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Never mind stupid stories about ordering pizzas with funny messages on them, THAT is True "Lad" behaviour0
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Abt 12 is a lovely beer. Definitely agree with the 'fireside on a winter evening, sipped and savoured' notion.
However, contrary to that, i've recently developed a terrible habit for using it in Flemish stews. I know, it seems a waste but it tastes seriously delicious and at just over a Euro a bottle I'd argue it's a worthwhile use
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9 days till I go now @markwb79 0
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OFF TOPIC here, but there was a story from Australia about Victoria Bitter - one of the best selling mass produced beers down there - being sneaked into a craft beer competition with a suitable BS hipster story attached and winning first prize. There's some funny quotes in the report.disgruntledgoat wrote:Incidentally, it cracks me up that all the small batch, hand crafted Belgian ales made by a collective of renegade brewers that Brew Dog charge £7 a bottle for are just completely unheard of even in the specialist bars here. They just dont see the point when you can get such amazing beer that's relatively mass produced.
http://www.betootaadvocate.com/uncatego ... -festival/Twitter: @RichN950 -
I remember watching that series. In the segment mentioned they took on the Euros at their specialities - Germans with sausages, Italians with deserts, French with cheese, if I remember correctly. And they were all very close with UK even winning some of them. The exception was the Belgian beer one - it was 5-0 to the Belgians.SpecialGuestStar wrote:Jimmy and Jamie want to see if they can beat the Belgians at their own game, by making a better beer.
Jamie and Jimmy set off to find a new generation of artisan beer makers who are making British beer cool again. They visit a brewery in Camden and make their own beer. And they meet beer expert Rupert Ponsonby, who started the academy for beer sommeliers, who in turn help select the perfect beer for any dish, palette or occasion.
The boys then head to Belgium for the booze-off. But can they win over the locals to the joys of British beer? Gary Barlow pops in to the caff to cook steak and ale pie.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-jimmys-food-fight-club/on-demandTwitter: @RichN950 -
As much as I love to see someone get one over on hipsters, how the hell did that tripe win a beer festival!?RichN95 wrote:
OFF TOPIC here, but there was a story from Australia about Victoria Bitter - one of the best selling mass produced beers down there - being sneaked into a craft beer competition with a suitable BS hipster story attached and winning first prize. There's some funny quotes in the report.disgruntledgoat wrote:Incidentally, it cracks me up that all the small batch, hand crafted Belgian ales made by a collective of renegade brewers that Brew Dog charge £7 a bottle for are just completely unheard of even in the specialist bars here. They just dont see the point when you can get such amazing beer that's relatively mass produced.
http://www.betootaadvocate.com/uncatego ... -festival/0 -
RichN95 wrote:
OFF TOPIC here, but there was a story from Australia about Victoria Bitter - one of the best selling mass produced beers down there - being sneaked into a craft beer competition with a suitable BS hipster story attached and winning first prize. There's some funny quotes in the report.disgruntledgoat wrote:Incidentally, it cracks me up that all the small batch, hand crafted Belgian ales made by a collective of renegade brewers that Brew Dog charge £7 a bottle for are just completely unheard of even in the specialist bars here. They just dont see the point when you can get such amazing beer that's relatively mass produced.
http://www.betootaadvocate.com/uncatego ... -festival/
lol... if only... I'm lovin their story on ISIS wanting a place at the 2015 Cricket World Cup as well.0 -
Had a great time and enjoyed Steen Brugg and Abt12 the most.
"Tired" today though.0 -
EKIMIKE wrote:Average bottle price is a difficult one. It sort of depends on what the beer is and where you get it. For a 33cl bottle of a well known brand it was generally anything between €1.00 - €2.30.
For the well known brands I went to a border town (Adinkerke) which is well known for its tabacco shops and conveniently close to the main road that takes you on to Bruges. One of the tabacco shops has a self-styled 'Palais des Bieres' that has a pretty good selection of well known brands (Duvel and it's subsidiary breweries like D'Achouffe, St. Bernardus, Corsendonk, Gouden Carolus, Westmalle, La Trappe etc). This is where I got the bulk of my haul and 33cl bottles are for the most part €1.30 max and often slightly less. Here is the shop in Adinkerke - I don't recommend spending much time in the village though, it's pretty uninspiring:
Real Tabac XL
For the less well known, smaller volume brands I went to Dranken Vande Woude in Pervijze. For these (De Dolle, Struise etc) you're looking at nearer €1.50 - 2.40 a bottle. I didn't actually check their prices for the well known brands but when I went to a warehouse outside Bruges last time (Drankcentrale Rotsaert, Zedelgem) the average for a well know 33cl bottle was nearer €1.40-€1.50 - so more expensive than Adinkerke.
As for tips for finding Staminee De Garre, it is down the narrow alley under the cookie's sign, on the street (Breidelstraat) that links the main square (Markt) with the town hall square (Burg). It's sort of opposite the beer museum too:
Also, a little OT - I would really recommend the restaurant Gruuthuse Hof. The food is delicious - simple and traditional Flemish and French food - and it's reasonably priced (unlike many Bruges restaurants). Book early in the day though as it only seats around 25 people.
So been back from Brugge about a week or so now and my god what a place. Loved it to bits, The Staminee De Garre is an absolute Gem of a place. Really Authentic, and there house beer is amazing!
Went to Gruuthuse Hof on are 1st night, and was Fabulous. Wasn't let down at all. and Finished off the Evening in Staminee. Was in there for about 4 hours, and got Rat Arsed. Woke up the next morning to be told that I got chatting to the Barman and he offered a Magnum of the House beer for 20 Euros or so. All corked and lovely. Saving it for Christmas Day but ill upload a Picture of it.
Also The Bottle Shop on The Wollestraat does and will sell all different verities of Westveltern.
Thanks Again EKIMIKE for all the help!
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Here is a brief summary of my trip...
http://road.cc/content/blog/136590-trip ... ics-closer
And a cheeky mention for a fellow BR forumite in the piece 0 -
Has anybody ordered of Belgium Beer Factory order at all? Whats the service like, and how long did it take to get to your house?0
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I used to use Beer Ritz, they had a next day delivery service via Fed Ex, easy to contact and knowledgeable too."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Tucking into this. Nice blond but nothing spesh...
Got a 75cl N'Ice Chouffe lined up for x-mas along with a magnum of Tripel Karmeliet, some Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Keizer (Blue & Red) and Hommelbier. I plan on having a good time!
PS. Never used any of the online stores.0 -
If you like your Hommelbier (and who doesn't?), try the 2014 Fresh Hop Harvest. Outstanding.
Can't believe I only bought the one bottle.
Ecrasez l’infame0 -
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