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A Beer Lover's Guide to BelgiumJanuary 27, 2016

From lights and darks to classics and microbrews, travelers can experience beer in Belgium likeexperts with this handy guide

By: Melissa Karlin

Belgium takes its beer seriously. Take, for instance, Delirium Cafein Brussels, which had more than 2,000 different brews upon counta few years ago. Belgium is a paradise for brewski­loving visitorsthanks to the strong beer culture that thrives in the diverse smallnation. Though brewers in the Western U.S. have adopted someBelgian brewing practices, the experience is a bit different inBelgium itself. Here’s our guide to drinking beer in Belgium,including where to stay and an introduction to a new comer in thesaturated brewing market.

What to Expect Beer made in Belgium runs the gamut, from light to dark andeverything in between. The varietals tend to be sold in 330 mlbottles (about 11 ounces) and have a higher alcohol percentagethan American brews. Taps aren’t as common, and most beers willbe served from their bottle, poured into a glass specific to thatparticular beer — and not just specific to that type of beer, but

Brasserie C in Liege serves threedifferent versions of Torpah, aBelgian ale. // © 2016 Brasserie C

Feature image (above): Thebrewing room at Brasserie C, amicrobrewery located in a conventbuilding that was first constructedin 1611 // © 2016 Melissa Karlin

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specific to that one beer. Breweries make individual glassesdesigned with the best drinking experience in mind, brand themwith their logo and provide instructions for how to pour.

What to Try With so many varieties, it can be hard to decide what to have.Saying something is “Belgian style” isn’t a definitive term. Everykind of beer is made in Belgium: wit, stouts, sours, light ales, darkales and more. Additionally, each city or region has its own localbreweries and varietals, though regional beers are servedthroughout the country.

Here’s just a brief showcase of the diversity of Belgian brewingpractices, starting from light brews to dark. The wit­style Blanchede Namur is a refreshing brew from Namur with a scent of orangeblossoms. In Bruges, there’s the slightly hoppy but refreshingblond Brugse Zot. Duchesse de Bourgogne, with its wine­like,cherry­pie flavor, is a sour brewed in Vichte. Stouterik is a rich,bitter, brunt chocolatey stout brewed in Brussels.

But perhaps the most interesting concoction brewed in the countryis Trappist beer. This old style of ale, similar to an abbey ale, is still made by strict rules inaccordance to those first laid out by monks in monasteries — and it is still made by monks. Only sixbreweries in Belgium can be labeled Trappist, and two great iterations are made by Chimay andTrappistes Rochefort.

Microbreweries A new generation of beer­making is beginning to put its mark on this vast playing field. Microbrewingmay be taking America by storm, but it has been slow in coming to Belgium. In Liege, Brasserie C,at the foot of the stunning Mount Bueren stairs, aims to change that. Its brewery and brewpub,located in a convent building first constructed in 1611, is looking to grab hold of the competitiveBelgian market and beyond.

Brasserie C’s creative and meticulous attention to detail led to the creation of its award­winningCurtius blond beer. The drink’s light, refreshing flavors are created by combining different malts ofbarley and wheat with a touch of a fruity hop to create an aromatic, flowery and slightly bitter taste.

The company’s second offering is a concept beer with tasting in mind, drawing inspiration from theIPAs taking hold of the American craft­beer market. Essentially, it’s three beers; three differentversions of Torpah (30, 60 and 90) are crafted with different mixtures of hops. The different tastesare measured by the International Bitterness Unit level, making each one more bitter than the next.Miraculously, though, this three­bitter tasting isn’t overwhelming in the way that many AmericanIPAs are. Even the 90 is balanced and clean in flavor.

Where to Stay Zoom Hotel in the posh Louise district of Brussels is a not only a great place to stay, but also a

RelatedContentWhat better way to fight abeer gut than by pedalingaway the pounds inbetween breweries? Hereare seven biking trips forbeer lovers in Belgium,Cape Town and more.

The DetailsBrasserie C www.brasseriec.com

Zoom Hotel www.zoomhotel.be

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wonderful spot to enjoy an extensive beer list in the stylish common area. When the staff hands overnearly a bible of beer choices, it may seem overwhelming. But don’t worry — simply explain whatyou like or are in the mood for, and the team at Zoom will recommend exactly what you’re craving.

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