OT: Belgian Beer

ddraver

One way to make it more emotional...

EKIMIKE

Rick Chasey wrote:

I hear plenty of chat about 'non-hoppy craft beers' in London, (usually after I've been moaning how rubbish they all are for being all hops and bitterness and nothing else), but I've yet to drink one.

Where are they? It's not like i'm down the local spoons.

UK craft brewers are still obsessed with hops. High-aroma hops - mainly grown in the US and New Zealand - are really in demand right now (the likes of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Nelson Sauvin). Less aromatic and bittering hops are not what the cool kids are using.

That will probably change in the next year or two; it's these aroma hops that are really in short supply and prices are going through the roof, so the smaller brewers that buy hops on the spot market will pay through the nose or get nothing at all. The bigger fish have secured supply with futures contracts. So maybe we'll see smaller brewers using the subtler noble hops of Europe and English hops that we're used to finding in classic Belgian and German styles and traditional English bitters.

I don't think you'll see any newer, craft outfits with an entire line-up of bitters, milds, pales and porters. Those breweries already exist - they've just been in existence for far longer than this new wave of 'craft' cool kids. Otherwise there are plenty of really good craft brewers that make nicely balanced beers that sit alongside their double IPA's and Imperial Barrel-Aged whatever's. I'm thinking the likes of Cloudwater, Tiny Rebel, Thornbridge, Moor, Bristol Beer Factory, Arbor - all outside of London. Then some slightly older ones like Dark Star and Marble.

ddraver

When I was having my off-summer 2 years back an d working behind a bar we had a guest beer in which was supposed to be an IPA but tasted like soap. We eventually sent it back to the brewery who replied that they'd obviously screwed up something in that barrel and the beer was ruined...

We sold a good half of it to young hipsters (many of them American it must be said) who came in giving it all "Oh yeah I love IPAs man etc..."

rick_chasey

Meh.

I'll stick to German beer for now then.

ddraver

A proper barrel was acceptable - forgettable but...

milemuncher1

EKIMIKE wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I hear plenty of chat about 'non-hoppy craft beers' in London, (usually after I've been moaning how rubbish they all are for being all hops and bitterness and nothing else), but I've yet to drink one.

Where are they? It's not like i'm down the local spoons.

UK craft brewers are still obsessed with hops. High-aroma hops - mainly grown in the US and New Zealand - are really in demand right now (the likes of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Nelson Sauvin). Less aromatic and bittering hops are not what the cool kids are using.

That will probably change in the next year or two; it's these aroma hops that are really in short supply and prices are going through the roof, so the smaller brewers that buy hops on the spot market will pay through the nose or get nothing at all. The bigger fish have secured supply with futures contracts. So maybe we'll see smaller brewers using the subtler noble hops of Europe and English hops that we're used to finding in classic Belgian and German styles and traditional English bitters.

I don't think you'll see any newer, craft outfits with an entire line-up of bitters, milds, pales and porters. Those breweries already exist - they've just been in existence for far longer than this new wave of 'craft' cool kids. Otherwise there are plenty of really good craft brewers that make nicely balanced beers that sit alongside their double IPA's and Imperial Barrel-Aged whatever's. I'm thinking the likes of Cloudwater, Tiny Rebel, Thornbridge, Moor, Bristol Beer Factory, Arbor - all outside of London. Then some slightly older ones like Dark Star and Marble.

There's a craft beer micro brewery / tap place, right on my doorstep, that opened up about a year ago, and the chief brewer makes some exceptional craft brews. He used to make a brew with mosaic hops. Normally there's too much going on for my liking, with these types of crafts, but this one was very well balanced, and very enjoyable. Unfortunately, he had Buckley's chance of getting another batch made, because of the supply / demand / price issues of the Mosaic and Citral hops. I developed a penchant for Delirium brews, particularly Delirium Tremens, and the Chimay brews, in place of the Mosaic type brews. This particular brewery also does some cracking IPA's, porters, stouts, and beers made with Rye. So it's not all bad.

Dodger747

Tremens on tap is really good - just don't go to their Hoppy Loft bar in Bxls, it's full of US tourists.

bobmcstuff

EKIMIKE wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I'm thinking the likes of Cloudwater, Tiny Rebel, Thornbridge, Moor, Bristol Beer Factory, Arbor - all outside of London. Then some slightly older ones like Dark Star and Marble.

Marble do make some proper bitters.

I went to the Moor brewery and tap room last time I was down in Bristol and they're a really nice bunch. Definitely recommend stopping by!

disgruntledgoat

Dodger747 wrote:

Tremens on tap is really good - just don't go to their Hoppy Loft bar in Bxls, it's full of US tourists.

It's not their bar. It's just a tourist trap named after a famous beer. The top floor where they have lots of US, British and German stuff is pretty cool though. Moeder Lambic down the road is really good n'all.

Dodger747

Ah right, I always thought they had some sort of arrangement/deal with the brewery!

disgruntledgoat

Dodger747 wrote:

Ah right, I always thought they had some sort of arrangement/deal with the brewery!

I stand to be corrected, but I don't think they do. The brewery is in Melle, just outside Gent, some 70km away.

bigmat

Is the Delirium Tremens bar on Overpoort their bar? I always assumed it was, given its a Gent brewery. Aah, happy days!

disgruntledgoat

BigMat wrote:

Is the Delirium Tremens bar on Overpoort their bar? I always assumed it was, given its a Gent brewery. Aah, happy days!

They have a bar opposite the brewery in Melle. It's called The Pink Elephant

milemuncher1

disgruntledgoat wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Is the Delirium Tremens bar on Overpoort their bar? I always assumed it was, given its a Gent brewery. Aah, happy days!

They have a bar opposite the brewery in Melle. It's called The Pink Elephant

The 'marketing' glasses, that some bars who stock D.T. have, have little pink elephants on them. I thought I was having the D.Ts with my D.T.

disgruntledgoat

If you look closely at the glasses, the little elephant is etched into the bottom of the (technical term ahead!) bit the beer goes in.

rick_chasey

Only pink elephant I know is pink elephant parking.

bobmcstuff

If anyone's lucky enough to be going to the Olympics, there's a Delirium bar in Rio

No_Ta_Doctor

For OCD.
Cantillon Gueuze x2
Duvel x2
Liefmans Goudenband 75cl

EKIMIKE

I wanted some Goudenband for my Flemish stew, damn it. None in Bristol and I didn't bring any back with my on my last trip to Belgium. :-(

Anyway, two bottles of Rochefort 6 have just gone in the pot and here are my chosen ones for tomorrow:

Mad_Malx

Good ingredients for good food and all that, but I'm not happy about putting 2 bottles in my snap.

EKIMIKE

At the price they sell beer in Belgium itself, it's like pouring in a 4 pack of Fosters.

Actually, cheaper.

ocdupalais

Thanks for that, No tA Doc. As a result of a clerical error, my current sole option for tomorrow is a 4-pack of Stella - as that is the only Belgian beer in the local supermarket here in North Somerset. Therefore, I shall invoke an ancient Flanders clause that states "in the advent of any Anheuser-Busch InBev beer being the only fukcing option then you're allowed to go local..."

Butcombe Bitter with a few Brunel IPA chasers it is, then...

Mad_Malx

^is definately the right answer

Mad_Malx

EKIMIKE wrote:

At the price they sell beer in Belgium itself, it's like pouring in a 4 pack of Fosters.

Actually, cheaper.

Ah, thought you were talking Brizzle prices

prawny

I'm having to avoid all international and radio until Monday evening when the wifeedback goes out. I've got a couple of bottles of Duvel, chips, mayo and stroopwafels and I'm going to watch the whole live broadcast just 30 odd hours behind.

It's going to be tough not looking online for the day, hopefully it'll be a decent race.

RichN95.

OCDuPalais wrote:

Thanks for that, No tA Doc. As a result of a clerical error, my current sole option for tomorrow is a 4-pack of Stella - as that is the only Belgian beer in the local supermarket here in North Somerset. Therefore, I shall invoke an ancient Flanders clause that states "in the advent of any Anheuser-Busch InBev beer being the only fukcing option then you're allowed to go local..."

The Stella in our shops hasn't been anywhere near Belgium - it's made in Gwent.

BelgianBeerGeek

Hello All
EKIMIKE - quite jealous there. Not traced the latest Hommelbier Fresh Harvest. Love the Bons Voeux, though. Possibly one of the best beers ever made.
I am quite enjoying Gueuze from Lindeman's now. Not so cool, I know, but the Cuvée Rene is really rather pleasant.

blazing_saddles

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Hello All
EKIMIKE - quite jealous there. Not traced the latest Hommelbier Fresh Harvest. Love the Bons Voeux, though. Possibly one of the best beers ever made.
I am quite enjoying Gueuze from Lindeman's now. Not so cool, I know, but the Cuvée Rene is really rather pleasant.

Not that he should be able to tell the difference after a pint and a half of St Bernie 12. 8)

RichN95.

This was the bounty from yesterday's trip to Discount Supermarket (Cardiff's best beer shop)



I posted it on twitter and the Oude Geuze Boon garnered the most interest (from people who frequent here). I will open it when Boon(en) reaches the Oude (Kwaremont)

I bought all that lot and had it packed up in a rucksack and a cardboard box and walked out the door straight into someone I know. He thought I was having a party he hadn't been invited to (he's a guy I would invite).

bobmcstuff

I find gueze boon unpalatable, I'm embarrassed to say.

I'm assuming the place I'll be watching it in bristol doesn't have any Belgian beers...

The shops in this part of North Somerset seem to have plenty of Belgian beers, although I'm currently drinking a pint of my dad's homebrew.