OT: Belgian Beer

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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    Beers to match with Omloop....
    East Flanders beers I think, and my current favourite from that part of the world are beers from De Ryck. The Special is particularly fine.
    What are the characteristics of east Flandrian beers? I've never quite sorted out my Belgian geography...
    Hard to nail a characteristic as such. No Trappists here, and the excellent lambics are further south. There are some excellent ales, though. De Ryck as mentioned are good, Sint Canarus also, and Slaghmuylder are great, especially the Witkap abbey-style beers. If you like lagers more, Slaghmuylder also make some great examples.

    Cheers.

    I know the lambics are pretty localised (did my 2nd tour of the Cantillon brewery last yaer :-) )

    Where are the ouid bruins and reds found?
    Cantillon brewery tour? You lucky bugger.
    Old browns/reds can be found around E Flanders. Oodenarde area is good. Look out for Liefmans and Verhaeghe beers (ok West Flanders) are good.

    Love the Duchess de Bourgogne. Have had a couple of the Liefmans but always been slightly disappointed.
    The Cantillon tour is cracking, as is sitting in their bar making sure you've sampled the entire range :-)
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  • fosst
    fosst Posts: 45
    Oh, too many good things
    Went to the Straffe Hendrick brewery for breakfast, we were waiting outside at 9 am ( or whatever it was, been in the station cafe drinking Guinness Export since 6...) the guy opened the door and said " you must be English" ..
    Mort Subite, Girarden, Rochefort, De Koninck, Chimay Grand Prestige, St Sixtus, Leffe La Radieuse, Rodenbach Grand Cru. all good
    Bush beer , a 14% golden ale less good but it does the job
    Post Office Vaults in Brum is worth a go
  • Beers to match with Omloop....
    East Flanders beers I think, and my current favourite from that part of the world are beers from De Ryck. The Special is particularly fine.
    What are the characteristics of east Flandrian beers? I've never quite sorted out my Belgian geography...
    Hard to nail a characteristic as such. No Trappists here, and the excellent lambics are further south. There are some excellent ales, though. De Ryck as mentioned are good, Sint Canarus also, and Slaghmuylder are great, especially the Witkap abbey-style beers. If you like lagers more, Slaghmuylder also make some great examples.

    Cheers.

    I know the lambics are pretty localised (did my 2nd tour of the Cantillon brewery last yaer :-) )

    Where are the ouid bruins and reds found?
    Cantillon brewery tour? You lucky bugger.
    Old browns/reds can be found around E Flanders. Oodenarde area is good. Look out for Liefmans and Verhaeghe beers (ok West Flanders) are good.

    Love the Duchess de Bourgogne. Have had a couple of the Liefmans but always been slightly disappointed.
    The Cantillon tour is cracking, as is sitting in their bar making sure you've sampled the entire range :-)
    I think I'm preaching to the converted here! Liefmans are something of a wild card after the recent changes etc, but are I think on the way back up (Goudenband seems ok).Stick with the Cantillon and you can't do wrong.
    Went to the Brugge beer festival a few weeks ago and on the way home filled the car with lots of classics, including Cantillon. Might have one now!
    Ecrasez l’infame
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    Beers to match with Omloop....
    East Flanders beers I think, and my current favourite from that part of the world are beers from De Ryck. The Special is particularly fine.
    What are the characteristics of east Flandrian beers? I've never quite sorted out my Belgian geography...
    Hard to nail a characteristic as such. No Trappists here, and the excellent lambics are further south. There are some excellent ales, though. De Ryck as mentioned are good, Sint Canarus also, and Slaghmuylder are great, especially the Witkap abbey-style beers. If you like lagers more, Slaghmuylder also make some great examples.

    Cheers.

    I know the lambics are pretty localised (did my 2nd tour of the Cantillon brewery last yaer :-) )

    Where are the ouid bruins and reds found?
    Cantillon brewery tour? You lucky bugger.
    Old browns/reds can be found around E Flanders. Oodenarde area is good. Look out for Liefmans and Verhaeghe beers (ok West Flanders) are good.

    Love the Duchess de Bourgogne. Have had a couple of the Liefmans but always been slightly disappointed.
    The Cantillon tour is cracking, as is sitting in their bar making sure you've sampled the entire range :-)
    I think I'm preaching to the converted here! Liefmans are something of a wild card after the recent changes etc, but are I think on the way back up (Goudenband seems ok).Stick with the Cantillon and you can't do wrong.
    Went to the Brugge beer festival a few weeks ago and on the way home filled the car with lots of classics, including Cantillon. Might have one now!

    I'm going to have to visit my specialist offy... Nothing Belgian in the house at all, not even a Leffe.
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  • blim
    blim Posts: 333
    Verboden Vrucht and Affligem if available but around Edinburgh they usually aren't, so Duvel and Leffe are my regular tipples. A Chimay blue for special occasions.

    Also Tripel Karmeliet and oh god, too many to remember. Brugse Zot, Vedett, a nice Kriek (which is odd, given that i don't like cherries)...

    Never got into Orval, and I find Kwak a little too sweet. Great glass though.

    Can anyone tell me, are Jupiler or Primus Haacht any good? You always see them advertised or sponsoring, but I've never tried either. (I have a souvenir can of Haacht with the 2010 Ronde route on it, but i never planned on opening it and it's 3 years old now.)
    kop van de wedstrijd
  • I just bought a magnum of Chimay Blue, I will be saving it for the Tour of Flanders
    "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
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    Jupiler is just lager. You'd do better with something Czech or German. Don't know the Primus Haacht.

    My favourites of the stronger ales are the blondes - Westmalle Trippel was created by God to remind us that the absolute best things in life should be enjoyed in moderation. I love Duvel as well, and almost burst into tears in a Brussels supermarket when they wouldn't let me buy a special edition Duvel trippel (it was part of some sort of special offer). I don't make a big distinction between trappist and non-trappist, as these don't really reflect actual beer styles.

    For the darker ales, then the Rochefort 10 and the very hard to find Westvleteren are the kings.

    But as the years go by I'm more and more drawn to the lambics and old reds and browns, which I can drink all night without falling over.
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  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    Jupiler is just lager.
    Certainly is and quite refreshing while driving around the Flanders races in the afternoon.
    A copper in Belgium and another in France told me I should be safe (within their limit) with 3 of those little .25l glasses of standard Blond beers from the pump.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    Not sure if it's been mentioned but Leffe make one called Royale. Had one a few weeks ago and it was very pleasant...
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • blim
    blim Posts: 333
    pottssteve wrote:
    Not sure if it's been mentioned but Leffe make one called Royale. Had one a few weeks ago and it was very pleasant...

    +1
    kop van de wedstrijd
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Apologies if this has been covered earlier, but can you get Leffe Ruby in the UK?


    It's for the wife, honest!
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • blim
    blim Posts: 333
    Nothing wrong with Leffe Ruby. Never seen it in the UK though.
    kop van de wedstrijd
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    Been shopping.

    Cantillon Gueuze and Grand Cru Bruoscella
    Giradin black label
    Boon Mariage Parfait anf Mariage Parfait Kriek
    De Oude Cam Oude Gueuze
    Driefontein Oude Gueuze and...

    drumroll.....



    Driefontein Oude Gueuze Gloden Blend.


    Rationing starts today.
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  • Been shopping.

    Cantillon Gueuze and Grand Cru Bruoscella
    Giradin black label
    Boon Mariage Parfait anf Mariage Parfait Kriek
    De Oude Cam Oude Gueuze
    Driefontein Oude Gueuze and...

    drumroll.....



    Driefontein Oude Gueuze Gloden Blend.


    Rationing starts today.

    Mmmm...where the blimmin' heck have you been shopping?
    Ecrasez l’infame
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    Been shopping.

    Cantillon Gueuze and Grand Cru Bruoscella
    Giradin black label
    Boon Mariage Parfait anf Mariage Parfait Kriek
    De Oude Cam Oude Gueuze
    Driefontein Oude Gueuze and...

    drumroll.....



    Driefontein Oude Gueuze Gloden Blend.


    Rationing starts today.

    Mmmm...where the blimmin' heck have you been shopping?

    A semi-local wine merchants in Copenhagen :-)
    http://www.toftvin.dk/index.php?itemsearch=beer%20Belgien

    It's like walking into Aladdin's cave.
    I spent a small fortune, it's a rare pleasure.

    The Giradin is slipping down a treat, as always. :-)
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    Yesterday I had a bottle of Tripel Karmeliet - the alcoholic equivalent of being kicked in the nuts.

    Fantastic
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • There's not much Belgian beer out here in Asia but I've just got back from Hong Kong where there is a chain of three Belgian themed bars where I could sample my adopted hometown tipple De Konink as well as De Konink Triple D'anvers. Splendid!
    Nil Points
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,200
    The 3fontein Oude Gueuze Golden Blend was truly exceptional. As it should have been at the price...
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • RichN95 wrote:
    Yesterday I had a bottle of Tripel Karmeliet - the alcoholic equivalent of being kicked in the nuts.

    Fantastic

    The pub over the road from my office stocks that. One of my favourites.

    My beer guy offered the chance to upgrade my magnum to a jereboum. I took it with both hands.
    "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
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    There's not much Belgian beer out here in Asia but I've just got back from Hong Kong where there is a chain of three Belgian themed bars where I could sample my adopted hometown tipple De Konink as well as De Konink Triple D'anvers. Splendid!

    There used to be a small shop behind the Central Post Office that sold Kwak - nice!

    My local supermarket had 25% off Belgian beers last week so picked up several bottles of Chimmay Blue, Leffe Blonde, Westmalle Trappist and La Chouffe for around 50p a bottle. Happy days!
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    I'm a big Chimay bleu fan.

    Looks like Sagan is too:
    tumblr_m9xh2sW5jG1rv9k8ho1_500.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 4,993
    ^^That picture is making me very thirsty.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    I've just had lunch and had to stop myself bringing a beer back to the office.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    I've just had lunch and had to stop myself bringing a beer back to the office.
    You have to work as well. :?: :?:
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    deejay wrote:
    I've just had lunch and had to stop myself bringing a beer back to the office.
    You have to work as well. :?: :?:

    As well as what?!

    Got two bottles of Leffe in the end.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • 5 hours RvV coverage on Eurosport! Have I enough bottles?
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    5 hours RvV coverage on Eurosport! Have I enough bottles?

    You need to work out a strategy as well, too many too early and you'll be asleep by the time they get onto the final circuit!
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    I'm a big Chimay bleu fan.

    Looks like Sagan is too:
    tumblr_m9xh2sW5jG1rv9k8ho1_500.jpg


    Somewhat to my chagrin I now have to unconditionally like both Sagan and FF. How can you not like someone who likes Chimay?

    Speaking of tactics I'm going to get some hard Leffe miles in the legs in the next few days so I'm not undercooked for Sunday PM.

    I am still undecided on whether the Orval or Duvel gets the not for the Koppenburg
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • craigenty
    craigenty Posts: 960
    BigMat wrote:
    Best beer in the world in my opinion. Seek out West Vleteren (sic) for rarity value - brewed by monks but only officially sold direct from the Abbey I think.

    Awesome stuff and I agree best beer in the world. There's a beer shop just off the main square in Bruges called The Bier Tempel - on Philipstock Straat. They carry a few bottles if the monks are brewing but you need to ask for it because it isn't usually on display. Not cheap - around 7€ a bottle. Ask for the one with the yellow bottle top - Westvleteren 12.
  • Im about to go and pick up my mammoth Chimay bottle. Anyone want pictures?
    "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