OT: Belgian Beer

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  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,233
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    Could have sworn I had tried the St Bernadus 12 but it's not on my Untappd so clearly not. Will have to resolve this ASAP. Potentially Saturday if I can find it.

    Woah, hang on a minute.

    Is this the St Bernardus Abt 12 we're talking about, brewed just outside Watou, got a brewery tour semi-planned for there for April (we plan to visit but don't have it booked as yet)

    or

    As per the OP talking about the In De Vrede cafe next door to the St Sixtus monastery at Westvleteren, is it the proper Trappist abbey brewed St Sixtus 12?

    Both fine beers btw. But the St Sixtus has that extra holy aura 8)

    Taking the bikes over in April and even getting Mrs O out and about for a few days pootling from bar to bar in the Westhoek including of course for definite sure a session In De Vrede.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    I have had the Westvleteren 12 - the Belgian beer bar in Aberdeen gets it in from time to time.

    Might be why I thought I had tried the St Bernardus 12. Sure I've seen it in bottles though and it's not like me to not buy a beer I haven't seen before...

    All I have in the fridge is a Franziskaner which is unfortunately not Belgian but I know if I go to the beer shop I'll spend too much money.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,233
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    I have had the Westvleteren 12 - the Belgian beer bar in Aberdeen gets it in from time to time.

    Might be why I thought I had tried the St Bernardus 12. Sure I've seen it in bottles though and it's not like me to not buy a beer I haven't seen before...

    All I have in the fridge is a Franziskaner which is unfortunately not Belgian but I know if I go to the beer shop I'll spend too much money.

    Serious respect to that Belgian beer bar. Where is it? Until my old fella passed on back end last year I was up in Aberdeenshire every month, still have a few trips planned.

    The Westvleterens are getting really difficult to get hold of. Used to be you could roll up to the abbey and see what they had on sale; now you have to pre book a time slot. Or see if In De Vrede cafe have any on sale in 6 packs. I used to have one of those old Westvleteren crates, the half height with the bottles sticking up, normally in my garage, refreshed on regular trips over. Wish I'd kept one now.

    The St Bernardus Abt, with the blue label, is the same recipe as the Westvleteren 12, but guess the end products have diverged slightly since the early 90s when the Trappists went back in house.

    Happy days.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    http://sixdnorth.co.uk/ these guys. They make their own but they have a really good range of Belgian stuff both on tap and hundreds and hundreds of bottles. Bar staff are more knowledgeable than most and the guys who run the thing are keen cyclists. They did a beer festival last year in Stonehaven with an associated sportive which was both difficult (Cairn O Mount both ways) and cheap, unlike quite a lot of other sportives... Cost £15 which included entry to the beer festival (£10 on its own) and a free beer. Was a fantastic day out.

    Their Aberdeen bar is on Littlejohn Street so just near Marischal. They've got the Marine in Stonehaven as well which I think is where they started and that's got good food too. Marine's also more of a proper pub.

    We did an Oktoberfest client event last year and i got to choose the beers - got 2 of theirs on draft, Chopper Stout and Hop Classic. Both went down well :)
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    I had the St Bernadus Christmas Ale (its basically the Abt 12 with a few extra bits)...over christmas, which was very nice :) but hadnt realised the Westvleteren thing before, St Bernadus is alot easier to source, and about a 1/5th of the current going rate for Westvleteren.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,233
    Cheers fella, I'm in there the next time I'm up :D

    And missed out on The Marine at Stonehaven a couple years back; had planned to finish up on the harbour front on a round Scotland bike holiday with the missus, but the last day had such rain bouncing off the tarmac that we gave up at Montrose and took the train into Aberdeen instead. Will make a point of visiting next time.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,719
    Abt12 is amazing. That is all.
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Abt12 is amazing. That is all.

    It's been beer of the month for the last 3 months in one of my haunts. 3 Euro for a 33cl glass on tap. Lovely stuff.

    Gulden Draak is my all time favourite, though
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    I like Gulden Draak but not the biggest fan.

    Anyone else on Untappd? Same username as here for me.
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    Anyone else on Untappd? Same username as here for me.

    No, you weirdo beer ticker :wink:

    Seriously though, beer to me is about enjoyment. I have no interest in 'rating' my enjoyment, glass by glass.

    Form filling admin has no place in my beer/pub routine.
    Canyon Endurace CF 2014 | Canyon Ultimate CF 2010
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    EKIMIKE wrote:

    Seriously though, beer to me is about enjoyment.

    Same - it's just a bit of fun :)

    The rating doesn't mean all that much because so long as it's decent and drinkable it usually gets a 3 from me (which realistically is most beers). It definitely helps me remember whether I have tried something or not and whether I thought it was cr@p, always helpful. Which is sometimes quite hard, I get the impression you won't be impressed by numbers ( ;) ) but I can't remember them all (you know that moment where you know you saw something on draft somewhere but you can't remember whether you went for that or something else).

    It's also meant I've tried beers I probably wouldn't have otherwise which has led to finding some great beers and breweries.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,719
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Abt12 is amazing. That is all.

    It's been beer of the month for the last 3 months in one of my haunts. 3 Euro for a 33cl glass on tap. Lovely stuff.

    Gulden Draak is my all time favourite, though

    Had some of that last week.

    Piraat as well.

    where are you with Kwak? Fan or not?
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Abt12 is amazing. That is all.

    It's been beer of the month for the last 3 months in one of my haunts. 3 Euro for a 33cl glass on tap. Lovely stuff.

    Gulden Draak is my all time favourite, though

    Had some of that last week.

    Piraat as well.

    where are you with Kwak? Fan or not?

    Piraat and Draak are the samebrewer. They also do Augustijn and Brigand.

    I'll be honest, I haven't had a Kwak in about 15 years. Don't recall being bowled over by it
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,233
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    where are you with Kwak? Fan or not?

    Hmm. So so. I actually have one of those presentation boxes with the glass, the stand and a couple of bottles sitting unopened since Christmas 2014, so can't be that impressed with it.

    Bit faddy with the wooden stand and the round bottomed glass as well. Have you been to the Dulle Griet bar in Vrijdagmarket in Ghent where they hoist one of your shoes in a cage up to the ceiling as a way of ensuring you don't nick the glass?
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    Chimay Trapiste. Just exceptional. Mentally strong, but so tasty.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    So the six degrees north place I mentioned in aberdeen currently has gulden draak on tap.

    Along with Duchesse du Bourgogne and the St Bernardus wit plus many more.

    A good second leaving do for me :)
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    If I could figure out how to add photos directly to the post I would but I can't
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    https://twitter.com/daniellloyd1 got pretty heavily spammed with all sorts of good brew pics this evening, but he was asking for it!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,698
    orraloon wrote:
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    where are you with Kwak? Fan or not?

    Hmm. So so. I actually have one of those presentation boxes with the glass, the stand and a couple of bottles sitting unopened since Christmas 2014, so can't be that impressed with it.

    Bit faddy with the wooden stand and the round bottomed glass as well. Have you been to the Dulle Griet bar in Vrijdagmarket in Ghent where they hoist one of your shoes in a cage up to the ceiling as a way of ensuring you don't nick the glass?

    I dig a good Kwak...

    and yes that is a fun bar. Mr Goat knows better though
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    DDRavers favourite is Gitane, just round the corner from there where they kept giving him free booze until 0400.
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • ducknumber1
    ducknumber1 Posts: 1,172
    I'm sure this is covered back in the thread, but in a rush this morning.

    Are there any beers from the Omloop route to go with the race? I believe Buffalo Stout may be local?
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    ducknumber1 wrote:
    I'm sure this is covered back in the thread, but in a rush this morning.

    Are there any beers from the Omloop route to go with the race? I believe Buffalo Stout may be local?

    Gruut
    Ename
    Gentse Strop
    Sloeber

    Are all brewed on the route

    The aforementioned Gulden Draak, Piraat, Delerium, Gentse Tripel and Augustij are all from Gent
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,719
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    https://twitter.com/daniellloyd1 got pretty heavily spammed with all sorts of good brew pics this evening, but he was asking for it!

    Including mine :)
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    ducknumber1 wrote:
    I'm sure this is covered back in the thread, but in a rush this morning.

    Are there any beers from the Omloop route to go with the race? I believe Buffalo Stout may be local?

    There are a bucketful of breweries in the area, take your pick and fill your boots!

    http://www.belgium-mapped-out.com/breweries.html
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,698
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    DDRavers favourite is Gitane, just round the corner from there where they kept giving him free booze until 0400.

    *Nods sagely*

    Take RR there... ;)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    ddraver wrote:
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    DDRavers favourite is Gitane, just round the corner from there where they kept giving him free booze until 0400.

    *Nods sagely*

    Take RR there... ;)

    I think tongues will start a wagging if I'm there with a woman who isn't my wife.
    "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'"

    @gietvangent
  • ducknumber1
    ducknumber1 Posts: 1,172
    Thanks for the suggestions, managed to pick up a few this morning.

    CcN9Tq1XIAA9lGE.jpg

    Not sure if I'll see much of the Rhinos game this evening though.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Kwak, Orval, Westmalle Dubbel and Saison Dupont for Omloop.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    Ooooh is this one of these threads where people try to 'out obscure' each other. Deep joy.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    Ooooh is this one of these threads where people try to 'out obscure' each other. Deep joy.
    Don't read it then?

    Just had a leffe nectar (not obscure). Way too sweet.

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