![Chimay triple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Chimay_triple.jpg)
Beer in Belgium includes
pale ales,
lambics,
Flemish red ales
Flanders red ale or Flemish red-brown, is a style of sour ale brewed in West Flanders, Belgium.
Flanders red ale is fermented with organisms other than ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'', especially ''Lactobacillus'', which produces a sour character ...
, sour
brown ale
Brown ale is a style of beer with a dark amber or brown colour. The term was first used by London brewers in the late 17th century to describe their products, such as mild ale, though the term has a rather different meaning today. 18th century br ...
s,
strong ale
Strong ale is a type of ale, usually above 5% abv and often higher, between 7% to 11% abv, which spans a number of beer styles, including old ale, barley wine and Burton ale. Strong ales are brewed throughout Europe and beyond, including in Engl ...
s and
stouts. In 2018, there were 304 active breweries in Belgium, including international companies, such as
AB InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is an American-Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. AB InBev has a global functional management office in New York City, and regional headquarters ...
, and traditional breweries including
Trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
monasteries. On average, Belgians drink 68 liters of beer each year, down from around 200 each year in 1900.
Most beers are bought or served in bottles, rather than cans, and almost every beer has its own branded, sometimes uniquely shaped, glass.
[''Michael Jackson's Great Beers of Belgium'', Michael Jackson, ] In 2016,
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
inscribed
Belgian beer culture
A Belgian shop with 250 different kinds of beer.
Belgian beer culture includes traditions of craftsmanship for brewing beer and is part of the diet and social life of Belgians. Its cultural value was formally recognised in 2016 when it was add ...
on their
list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
History
In Belgium, beer was already produced in the Roman era, as evidenced by the excavation of a brewery and malthouse from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD at
Ronchinne. During the Early and High Middle Ages, beer was produced with
gruit
Gruit (alternately grut or gruyt) is a herb mixture used for bittering and flavouring beer, popular before the extensive use of hops. The terms gruit and grut ale may also refer to the beverage produced using gruit.
Historically, gruit is the te ...
, a mix of herbs and spices that was first mentioned in 974 when the bishop of
Liège was granted the right to sell it at
Fosses-la-Ville
Fosses-la-Ville (; wa, Fosse-li-Veye) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.
On January 1, 2018, Fosses-la-Ville had a total population of 10,449. The total area is 63.24 km² which gives a popul ...
. From the 14th century onwards, gruit was replaced by
hops, after the example of imported beers from northern
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and
Holland
Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...
. After that, several Belgian towns developed their own types of beer for export to other regions, most notably the
white beer
Wheat beer is a top-fermented beer which is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley. The two main varieties are German ''Weizenbier'' and Belgian ''witbier''; other types include Lambic (made with wild ye ...
of
Leuven and
Hoegaarden
Hoegaarden () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Hoegaarden proper, Meldert and Outgaarden. On January 1, 2006, Hoegaarden had a tota ...
, the ''caves'' of
Lier and the ''uitzet'' of
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...
.
Monasteries played only a small role in beer production and mostly brewed for their own consumption and that of their guests. Monastic brewing would only receive some renown from the late 19th century onwards, when the
trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
s of
Chimay produced a brown beer that was commercially available.
In 1885, a change in legislation made brewing of German-style bottom-fermenting beers viable in Belgium, and it was only from then that large industrial-scale brewing in Belgium took off. During the 20th century the number of breweries in Belgium declined from 3223 breweries in 1900 to only 106 breweries in 1993. Yet, a number of traditional beer styles, such as white beer,
lambic and
Flemish old brown were preserved, while new local, top-fermented styles developed, such as ''spéciale belge'',
abbey beer
An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns.
The conce ...
and
Belgian strong ale
Beer in Belgium includes pale ales, lambics, Flemish red ales, sour brown ales, strong ales and stouts. In 2018, there were 304 active breweries in Belgium, including international companies, such as AB InBev, and traditional breweries inclu ...
. In 1988, the country's two biggest breweries,
Artois
Artois ( ; ; nl, Artesië; English adjective: ''Artesian'') is a region of northern France. Its territory covers an area of about 4,000 km2 and it has a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras (Dutch: ''Atrecht'') ...
and
Piedboeuf, formally merged to become
Interbrew
Interbrew is subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV is based in Breda, Netherlands. It has one subsidiary, Ambev S.A. of São Paulo, Brazil.
Brands
Interbrew brands have historically included Budweiser, Stella Artois, Boddingtons, Beck's, S ...
, then the world's 18th biggest brewer, which was to merge with AmBev in 2004 to become today's
AB InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is an American-Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. AB InBev has a global functional management office in New York City, and regional headquarters ...
, the biggest beer producing company in the world.
Methods
In Belgium, four types of
fermentation methods are used for the
brewing of beer, which is unique in the world. However, for good understanding of labels of Belgian beer and reference works about Belgian beer often use different terms for the fermentation methods based on archaic or traditional jargon:
#
Spontaneous fermentation
Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brewer, ...
with beers that are unique in Europe: "lambic" and the derived faro, gueuze and kriek beers
#
Warm fermentation
Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brewer ...
is referred to as top or high fermentation for Trappist beers, white beers, ale, most other special beers
#Mixed fermentation for "old-brown" type beers
#
Cool fermentation is referred to as low fermentation for lager or pilsner, or bottom fermentation
Belgian beer types
Belgian beers have a range of colours, brewing methods, and alcohol levels.
Trappist beers
Beers brewed in
Trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
monasteries are termed Trappist beers. For a beer to qualify for Trappist certification, the brewery must be in a monastery, the monks must play a role in its production and the policies and the profits from the sale must be used to support the monastery or social programs outside. Only twelve monasteries currently meet these qualifications, six of which are in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, one in Austria, one in the United States, one in Italy and one in England. Trappist beer is a
controlled term of origin: it tells where the beers come from, it is not the name of a beer style. Beyond their being mostly warm fermented, Trappist beers have very little in common stylistically.
The current Belgian Trappist producers are:
*
Chimay sells Red Label (dark, 7% ABV dubbel), White Label (Blonde, ABV 8%, tripel) and Blue Label (dark, 9% ABV, Christmas), Chimay dorée Gold cap (blonde, 4.8% ABV, enkel).
*
Orval sells a "unique" dry-hopped 6.2% amber beer.
*
Rochefort
Rochefort () may refer to:
Places France
* Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime department
** Arsenal de Rochefort, a former naval base and dockyard
* Rochefort, Savoie in the Savoie department
* Rochefort-du-Gard, in the Ga ...
sells three dark beers, "6" (7.5% ABV). "8" (9.2% ABV) and "10" (11.3% ABV) and one blonde beer "Triple Extra" (8.1% ABV)
*
Westmalle
Westmalle is a village in the Belgian province of Antwerp which is part of the municipality of Malle.
History
See history of Malle.
Tourism
Westmalle is primarily known for the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle of the Order of Cistercians of the St ...
sells Dubbel (7% ABV) and Tripel (9.5% ABV),
*
Westvleteren
Westvleteren is a village in the province of West Flanders, Belgium. It is a section of the municipality of Vleteren. The core of it is a linear settlement along the N321 road.
Westvleteren is primarily known for the Westvleteren Brewery ( nl, B ...
sells Green Cap or "Blonde", (5.8% ABV), Blue Cap (dark, 8% ABV) or "8", and Yellow Cap (dark, 10.2% ABV) or "12".
In addition to the above, a lower-strength beer is sometimes brewed for consumption by the brothers (''
patersbier
Trappist beer is brewed by Trappist monks. Thirteen Trappist monasteries—six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, and one each in Austria, Italy, England, France, and Spain—currently produce beer, but the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' label ...
'') or sold on site.
Abbey beers
![Augustijn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Augustijn.jpg)
The designation "abbey beers" (''Bières d'Abbaye'' or ''Abdijbier'') originally applied to any monastic or monastic-style beer. After introduction of an official
Trappist beer
Trappist beer is brewed by Trappist monks. Thirteen Trappist monasteries—six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, and one each in Austria, Italy, England, France, and Spain—currently produce beer, but the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' labe ...
designation by the International Trappist Association in 1997, it came to mean products similar in style or presentation to monastic beers.
[
]
In other words, an Abbey beer may be:
* produced by a non-Trappist monastery—e.g.
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
; or
* produced by a commercial brewery under commercial arrangement with an extant monastery; or
* branded with the name of a defunct abbey by a commercial brewer;
In 1999, the Union of Belgian Brewers introduced a "Certified Belgian Abbey Beer" (''Erkend Belgisch Abdijbier'') logo
to indicate beers brewed under license to an existing or abandoned abbey,
as opposed to other abbey-branded beers which the trade markets using other implied religious connections, such as a local saint.
[
] The requirements for registration under the logo include the monastery having control over certain aspects of the commercial operation, and a proportion of profits going to the abbey or to its designated charities. Monastic orders other than the Trappists can be and are included in this arrangement.
The "Abbey beer" logo and quality label is no longer used for beers given the name of a fictitious abbey, a vaguely monastic branding or a saint name without mentioning a specific monastery. Some brewers may produce abbey-style beers such as dubbel or tripel, using such names but will refrain from using the term Abbey beer in their branding.
What connoisseurs now recognize as
Trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
breweries began operations in 1838. Several monasteries, however, maintained "working" breweries for 500+ years before the
French regime disrupted religious life (1795–1799). Even then, some Abbey beers such as
Affligem Abbey
Affligem Abbey ( nl, Abdij Affligem, french: Abbaye d'Affligem) is a Benedictine abbey in the municipality of Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, to the north-west of Brussels. Dedicated in 1086, it was the most important monastery in the Du ...
,
whose name now appears on beers made by the
Heineken
Heineken Lager Beer ( nl, Heineken Pilsener), or simply Heineken () is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star.
History
On 15 Feb ...
-owned
Affligem Brewery, resumed brewing from "working" monasteries until the occupation of most of Belgium in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Commercial Abbey beers first appeared during Belgium's World War I recovery.
Although Abbey beers do not conform to rigid brewing styles, most tend to include the most recognizable and distinctive
Trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
styles of brune (Belgian
brown ale
Brown ale is a style of beer with a dark amber or brown colour. The term was first used by London brewers in the late 17th century to describe their products, such as mild ale, though the term has a rather different meaning today. 18th century br ...
, aka
dubbel
The term dubbel (also double) is a Belgian Trappist beer naming convention. The origin of the dubbel was a strong version of a brown beer brewed in Westmalle Abbey in 1856, which is known to have been on sale to the public by June 1861.Jef van de ...
),
strong pale ale
Pale ale is a golden to amber coloured beer style brewed with pale malt. The term first appeared around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with high-carbon coke, which resulted in a lighter colour than other beers popular at that time. Diff ...
or
tripel
Tripel is a term used by brewers mainly in the Low Countries, some other European countries, and the U.S. to describe a strong pale ale, loosely in the style of '' Westmalle Tripel''. The origin of the term is unknown, though the main theory i ...
, and
blonde ale or blond.
Modern abbey breweries range from
microbreweries
Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis o ...
to international giants, but at least one beer writer warns against assuming that closeness of connection with a real monastery confirms a product's quality.
[Tim Webb. ''Good Beer Guide to Belgium'', 6th edition, p 81.]
, 18 certified Abbey beers existed:
*
Achel sells Achel 5 Blonde (5% ABV, draught only), Achel 5 Brune (5% ABV, draught only), Achel 8 Blonde (8% ABV, tripel), Achel 8 Brune (8% ABV, dubbel), Extra Blonde (9.5% ABV.tripel), Extra Brune (9.5% ABV, dubbel).
* Abbaye de Cambron, brewed in
Silly by Brasserie de Silly.
# Abbaye de Bonne Espérance, previously brewed by
Lefebvre Brewery, since 2015 more locally by
La Binchoise.
* Abdij Dendermonde, brewed in
Merchtem
Merchtem () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Brussegem and Hamme, the hamlets of Ossel and Peizegem, and Merchtem proper. On July 9, 2009, Merchtem had a total popu ...
by
* Abbaye de Saint-Martin, historically referenced to 1096, is brewed near Tournai by
Brasserie Brunehaut.
*
Affligem, produced for
Affligem Abbey
Affligem Abbey ( nl, Abdij Affligem, french: Abbaye d'Affligem) is a Benedictine abbey in the municipality of Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, to the north-west of Brussels. Dedicated in 1086, it was the most important monastery in the Du ...
by a Heineken-owned brewery.
* is located on the grounds of a former abbey.
* Bornem is brewed in Oost-Vlaanderen by
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
is a brewery in Ertvelde, East Flanders, Belgium.
Beers
* Augustijn
* Bornem Blonde
* Bornem Double
* Bornem Triple
* Celis White
* Gulden Draak (Dutch for Gilded Dragon) (10.5% ABV)
* Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple (10.70%)
* Leute Bokbier
* ...
* Ename is brewed in Oost-Vlaanderen by .
*
Floreffe
Floreffe (; wa, Florefe) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium.
On 1 January 2012 the municipality had 7,883 inhabitants. The total area is 38.89 km2, giving a population density of 203 inhabitants per km2 ...
is brewed to fund a school housed in a former monastery.
*
Grimbergen
Grimbergen () is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 km north of the capital Brussels. It comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek, and Strombeek-Bever. In 2017, it had a population of 37,030 and an are ...
, made by the large
Alken Maes brewery for an extant
Norbertine
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular of the Catholic Church ...
abbey.
* Keizersberg is brewed in Oost-Vlaanderen by Brouwerij Van Steenberge.
*
Leffe
Leffe () is a premium beer brand owned by InBev Belgium, the European operating arm of the global Anheuser–Busch InBev brewery giant. There are several beers in the range, and they are marketed as abbey beers. They are brewed in large quan ...
, the Abbey brand of
Stella Artois
Stella Artois ( ) is a pilsner beer, first brewed in 1926 by Brouwerij Artois in Leuven, Belgium. In its original form, the beer is 5.2 per cent ABV, the country's standard for pilsners. The beer is also sold in other countries like the UK, Ir ...
, itself part of the multinational
Inbev
InBev () is a brewing company that resulted from the merger between Belgium-based company Interbrew and Brazilian brewer AmBev which took place in 2004. It existed independently until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch in 2008, which formed Anheus ...
corporation, is brewed under licence from an extant brewery. It is thought to be the first such arrangement. Leffe has global distribution.
*
Maredsous, the Abbey brand of Duvel Moortgat, Belgium's second largest brewer, licensed from
Maredsous Abbey
Maredsous Abbey is a Benedictine monastery at Maredsous, in the municipality of Anhée, Wallonia, Belgium. It is a founding member of the Annunciation Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation.
The abbey was founded as a priory on 15 No ...
.
* Postel is brewed in Opwijk by .
* Ramée is brewed in Purnode by
Brasserie du Bocq.
*
St. Feuillien is a small independent brewery.
* Steenbrugge is brewed in Brugge by .
* Tongerlo is brewed in Boortmeerbeek by .
Other non-certified Abbey beers include:-
* Abbaye des Rocs, made by a farmers' co-operative and named after a local ruined abbey.
*
Corsendonk
Corsendonk is a Belgian beer brand. The brandname refers to the Priory of Corsendonk in Oud-Turnhout; which was in operation from 1398 to 1784, and was rebuilt in 1968 as a hotel complex by new owners Corsendonk Hotels. In 1982, on the 125th anni ...
, abbey beer brewed by a brewery in the name of the Corsendonk
priory
A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of ...
(monastery) in Oud-Turnhout
* Kasteelbier, monastic style beers brewed in a castle.
*
St. Bernardus brewery, based on
Watou
Watou is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and a district of the town of Poperinge. The village has a population of 1,900. It lies on the border with France. The hamlet Abele is part of Watou. Poperinge is situated on the border ...
originally brewed under contract for the abbey of
St Sixtus at
Westvleteren
Westvleteren is a village in the province of West Flanders, Belgium. It is a section of the municipality of Vleteren. The core of it is a linear settlement along the N321 road.
Westvleteren is primarily known for the Westvleteren Brewery ( nl, B ...
, but continues on an independent basis, in parallel with production at the monastery itself. Their range is considered a close match in recipe and style to the St Sixtus beers, which can be hard to obtain outside the area.
*
Tripel Karmeliet
Bosteels Brewery (Brouwerij Bosteels) is a brewery in Buggenhout, Belgium. The brewery was founded in 1791 and was owned and operated by the same family. Bosteels brew three beers: Tripel Karmeliet, DeuS, and Pauwel Kwak. In 2019 a new beer was ...
, with a three-grain recipe, is produced by
Bosteels Brewery
Bosteels Brewery (Brouwerij Bosteels) is a brewery in Buggenhout, Belgium. The brewery was founded in 1791 and was owned and operated by the same family. Bosteels brew three beers: Tripel Karmeliet, DeuS, and Pauwel Kwak. In 2019 a new beer was ...
, who also make ''
Pauwel Kwak
Bosteels Brewery (Brouwerij Bosteels) is a brewery in Buggenhout, Belgium. The brewery was founded in 1791 and was owned and operated by the same family. Bosteels brew three beers: Tripel Karmeliet, DeuS, and Pauwel Kwak. In 2019 a new beer was ...
''. Bosteels, and Tripel Karmeliet, are now part of AB InBev after a not-so-popular take-over in 2016.
*
Averbode.
*
Braxatorium Parcensis.
* Abdij van 't Park, an
Aldi
Aldi (stylised as ALDI) is the common company brand name of two German multinational family-owned discount supermarket chains operating over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The chain was founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946, when ...
house brand
A private label, also called a private brand or private-label brand, is a brand owned by a company, offered by that company alongside and competing with brands from other businesses. A private-label brand is almost always offered exclusively by th ...
abbey beer, made by Brouwerij Haacht Brasserie. Named after
the abbey in
Heverlee
Heverlee () is a town in Belgium. It is a borough of the city of Leuven. Heverlee is bordered by Herent, Bertem, Oud Heverlee and several other municipalities that are part of Leuven (including Leuven proper and Kessel-Lo).
The town is the loca ...
,
Leuven.
* Florival, a
Delheize house brand abbey beer, made by Brouwerij Affligem. Named after the abandoned abbey of Florival, in the rural municipal of
Grez-Doiceau
Grez-Doiceau (; wa, Gré; nl, Graven, ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006, Grez-Doiceau had a total population of 12,403. The total area is 55.44 km² which gives a populati ...
.
Pils or pale lager
This style makes up the bulk of beer production and consumption in Belgium. Belgian
Pilsner
Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň (german: Pilsen), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Bre ...
s are not particularly distinctive or renowned by connoisseurs. The top brands include Jupiler (within Belgium) and Stella Artois (both brewed by
Inbev
InBev () is a brewing company that resulted from the merger between Belgium-based company Interbrew and Brazilian brewer AmBev which took place in 2004. It existed independently until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch in 2008, which formed Anheus ...
), Maes pils and Cristal (both brewed by the
Alken Maes branch of
Heineken
Heineken Lager Beer ( nl, Heineken Pilsener), or simply Heineken () is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star.
History
On 15 Feb ...
). Stella Artois, originating in Belgium, is distributed globally.
The Pilsnerbeer is which is popularly called "''pintje''" (in Flemish, from English "pint" but in volume only 1/2 pint) or "''choppe''" (in French) in Belgium, was the basis of the "''fluitjesbier''" distributed during the German occupation in WWII and under rationing. This "''fluitjesbier''" was watered down to about 0.8° (compared to fruitjuice which can have up to 1.5° due to natural fermentation).
Bock
Bock is a strong lager of
German origin. Some Belgian brewers have produced bock-style beers what makes it a style applicable to Belgium.
White or wheat beer
![Vlaamsche Bandiet](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Vlaamsche_Bandiet.jpg)
This type of beer, commonly called ''witbier'' in Dutch, ''bière blanche'' in French and ''wheat beer'' in English, originated in the Flemish part of Belgium in the Middle Ages. Traditionally, it is made with a mixture of wheat and barley. Before
hops became widely available in Europe, beers were flavoured with a mixture of herbs called
gruit
Gruit (alternately grut or gruyt) is a herb mixture used for bittering and flavouring beer, popular before the extensive use of hops. The terms gruit and grut ale may also refer to the beverage produced using gruit.
Historically, gruit is the te ...
. In the later years of the Middle Ages, hops were added to the gruit. That mixture continues today in most Belgian white beers.
The production of this type of beer in Belgium had nearly ended by the late 1950s. In the town of
Hoegaarden
Hoegaarden () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Hoegaarden proper, Meldert and Outgaarden. On January 1, 2006, Hoegaarden had a tota ...
, the last ''witbier'' brewery, Tomsin, closed its doors in 1955. However, ten years later, a young farmer by the name of
Pierre Celis
Pierre Celis (, 21 March 1925 – 9 April 2011) was a Belgian brewer who opened his first brewery in 1966 to revive the wit beer style in his hometown of Hoegaarden.
Early life
Celis was born on 21 March 1925 in his family home on the edge o ...
in the same village decided to try reviving the beer. In 1966, Celis began brewing a wit beer in his farm house. Ultimately, his beer took the name of the village and became very successful and famous.
Some notable current examples are Celis White, Blanche de Namur and Watou's Wit. Their alcohol strength is about 5–6 percent ABV, and these beers can be quite refreshing, especially during the warm summer months. The herb mixture traditionally includes coriander and bitter orange peel, among other herbs. White beers also have a moderate light grain sweetness from the wheat used. In recent times, brewers have been making fruit flavoured wheat beers.
Blonde or golden ale
![Duvel and glass sunday](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Duvel_and_glass_sunday.jpg)
These are a light variation on
pale ale, often made with
pilsner
Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň (german: Pilsen), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Bre ...
malt.
Some beer writers regard blonde and golden ales as distinct styles, while others do not.
Duvel
Duvel Moortgat Brewery (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat) is a Flemish family-controlled brewery founded in 1871 in the Antwerp Province (Belgium). Its strong golden pale ale, Duvel, is exported to more than forty countries. Duvel is Brabantian, Ghent a ...
is the archetypal Belgian blonde ale, and one of the most popular bottled beers in the country as well as being well known internationally. Its name means "Devil" and some other blonde beers follow the theme—Satan, Lucifer and Judas for example. The style is popular with Walloon brewers, the slightly hazy Moinette being the best-known example. Chouffe can be considered a spiced version (with coriander).
Hop-accentuated beers and India pale ale
A few Belgian beers are pale and assertively hopped. 's has a British-style name. 's , another example, hails from Belgium's hop-growing district.
Lambic beers (including gueuze and fruit lambics)
![Timmermans](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Timmermans.jpg)
Lambic is a
wheat beer
Wheat beer is a top-fermented beer which is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley. The two main varieties are German ''Weizenbier'' and Belgian ''witbier''; other types include Lambic (made with wild ye ...
brewed in the
Pajottenland
The Pajottenland (in English occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the Flemish Brabant province and the south-western part of the Brussels Region of Belgium. The region is located west-southwest of Brussels. The Pajottenland is pre ...
region of Belgium (southwest of
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
) by spontaneous fermentation. Most modern beers are
fermented
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food p ...
by carefully cultivated strains of brewer's
yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constit ...
s; Lambic's fermentation, however, is produced by exposure to the wild yeasts and bacteria that are said to be native to the
Zenne
The Senne () or Zenne () is a small river that flows through Brussels, left tributary of the Dijle/Dyle.
Its source is in the village of Naast near the municipality of Soignies. It is an indirect tributary of the Scheldt, through the Dijle ...
valley, in which Brussels lies. The beer then undergoes a long aging period ranging from three to six months (considered "young") to two or three years for mature. It is this unusual process which gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry,
vinous, and cidery, with a slightly sour aftertaste.
From Lambic four kinds of beer are produced: Lambic,
Gueuze
Gueuze (Dutch ''geuze'', ; French ''gueuze'', ) is a type of lambic, a Belgian beer. It is made by blending young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics, which is bottled for a second fermentation. Because the young lambics are no ...
,
Fruit Lambic
Lambic () is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels and in Brussels itself since the 13th century. Types of lambic beers include gueuze, kriek lambic and framboise. Lambic differs from most other bee ...
, and
Faro.
![Bottleskriek](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Bottleskriek.jpg)
* The first of these, Lambic, is the unblended basic brew (young) or the refermented basic brew (old). Lambic is a draught beer which is rarely bottled, and thus only available in its area of production and a few cafes in and around Brussels.
* The youngest of the Lambic brews, Faro, which is lambic just after the first fermentation is sometimes served with sugar or caramel added to make it palatable for consumption.
* Gueuze blends old and young brews to stimulate a final fermentation, sometimes from three consecutive years (cfr sherry-method). Gueuze is the finished product, the beer that is commercialised. Top quality Geuze is bottled in large bottles (75cl) with a champagne-like cork, that require delicate handling, and controlled environmental conditions much like wine.
* Fruit beers are made by adding fruit or fruit concentrate to Lambic or a mixture of Lambic brews before the final refermenting stage. The most common type is Kriek, made with
sour cherries.
Amber ales
These are beers similar to the traditional
pale ales of England, although less bitterly hopped.
[Tim Webb. ''Good Beer Guide to Belgium'', 6th edition, p 84.] A notable example is the 5% ABV
De Koninck brand, with its distinctive half-spherical glasses (called 'bollekes'). It is popular in its native city of
Antwerp. Another is
Palm Speciale. Some, such as , were based on British styles to please troops stationed in Belgium during World War I. Others were introduced by the UK-born brewer George Maw Johnson in the late 19th century.
A very strong ''ambrée'' is brewed by "Bush" (''
Dubuisson''), another brewery influenced by British styles.
Walloon amber or ''ambrée'' ale, such a , is considered to be somewhat distinct by some beer writers, and to be influenced by the
French version of the ''ambrée'' style.
Tripel
Tripel is a term used originally by brewers in the
Low Countries
The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
to describe a
strong pale ale
Pale ale is a golden to amber coloured beer style brewed with pale malt. The term first appeared around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with high-carbon coke, which resulted in a lighter colour than other beers popular at that time. Diff ...
, and became associated with ''
Westmalle Tripel
Westmalle Brewery (Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle) is a Trappist brewery in the Westmalle Abbey, Belgium. It produces three beers, designated as Trappist beer by the International Trappist Association. Westmalle Tripel is credited with b ...
''. The style of Westmalle's ''Tripel'' and the name was widely copied by the breweries of Belgium, then the term spread to the US and other countries. ''
Gulden Draak
Gulden Draak (Dutch for ''Golden Dragon'') is a dark Belgian beer with high alcohol by volume (10.5%), brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, East Flanders. It is named after the golden dragon at the top of the belfry in Ghent.
There ...
'' was awarded the best-tasting beer in the world in 1998 by the ''American Tasting Institute'' (now
ChefsBest).
[Van Steenberge Brewery – Gulden Draak]
/ref>[
]
Dubbel
Dubbel (''double'') has a characteristic brown colour. It is one of the classic Abbey/Trappist types, having been developed in the 19th century at the Trappist monastery in Westmalle. Today, some commercial brewers using abbey names call their strong brown beers "Dubbel". Typically, a dubbel is between 6 and 8% abv. In addition to the dubbels made by most Trappist breweries, examples include St. Bernardus Pater, Adelardus Dubbel, Maredsous 8 and Witkap Dubbel.
Dubbels are characteristically bottle conditioned
Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brew ...
.
Flemish Red
Typified by Rodenbach Rodenbach may refer to:
* Rodenbach Brewery, a brewery from Roeselare, Belgium
Places
* Rodenbach, Hesse, in the Main-Kinzig district, Hesse, Germany
* Rodenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate, G ...
, the eponymous brand that started this type over a century ago, this beer's distinguishing features from a technical viewpoint are a specially roasted malt, fermentation by a mixture of several 'ordinary' top-fermenting yeasts and a lactobacillus culture (the same type of bacteria yoghurt is made with) and maturation in oak. The result is a mildly strong 'drinking' beer with a deep reddish-brown colour and a distinctly acidic, sour yet fruity and mouthy taste. This style is closely related to Oud bruin.
Oud bruin, or Flemish sour brown ale
This style, aged in wooden casks, is a cousin to the sour "Flemish Red" style. Examples include Goudenband and Petrus.
Brown ale
Regular bruin or brune beers such as are darker than amber ales, less sour than Flemish brown ale, and less strong than dubbel
The term dubbel (also double) is a Belgian Trappist beer naming convention. The origin of the dubbel was a strong version of a brown beer brewed in Westmalle Abbey in 1856, which is known to have been on sale to the public by June 1861.Jef van de ...
.
Scotch ales
These sweet, heavy-bodied brown ales represent a style which originated in the British Isles. The Caledonian theme is usually heavily emphasized with tartan and thistles appearing on labels. Examples include Gordon's, Scotch de Silly and La Chouffe Mc Chouffe.
Stout
Belgian stouts subdivide into sweeter and drier, and stronger and weaker versions.
Examples include Callewaerts and Ellezelloise Hercule. The sweeter versions resemble the almost-defunct British style "milk stout
Stout is a dark, top-fermented beer with a number of variations, including dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout, and imperial stout.
The first known use of the word ''stout'' for beer, in a document dated 1677 found in the Egerton Manuscri ...
", while the stronger ones are sometimes described as Imperial stout
Stout is a dark, top-fermented beer with a number of variations, including dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout, and imperial stout.
The first known use of the word ''stout'' for beer, in a document dated 1677 found in the Egerton Manuscript ...
s.
Champagne beers
Champagne style beers are generally ales that are finished "à la méthode originale" for champagne. Examples include Grottenbier, DeuS and . They receive a second fermentation much like Champagne
Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...
does and are stored for several months "sûr lie" while the fermentation lasts. This creates the smaller, softer bubbles that we know from Champagne, but maintains the beer flavour and style.
Quadrupel or Grand Cru
In Belgium "Grand Cru" is more often used than "Quadrupel", these beers are a mostly a blend of brews, which is often refermented as a blend.
Saison
Saison (French for "season") is the name originally given to refreshing, low-alcohol beers brewed seasonally in Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...
, the French-speaking region of Belgium. First seen in early 19th century Liège, saisons gained notoriety as a luxury beer in 20th century Hainaut brewed by city and countryside brewers alike. By the 1980s, they were only produced on the countryside. Modern-day saisons are also brewed in other countries, particularly USA, and are generally bottle conditioned
Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brew ...
, with an average range of 5 to 8% ABV, though saisons at the more traditional 3.5% strength can still be found.
Although saison has been described as an endangered style, there has been a rise in interest in this style in recent years, with Saison Dupont
Dupont Brewery (in French: ''Brasserie Dupont'') is a brewery in Tourpes (Leuze-en-Hainaut), in western Hainaut, Belgium. Founded in 1950, it is on a working farm which dates back to 1759 and has significant brewing history. In the 1990s, a bre ...
being named "the Best Beer in the World" by the magazine '' Men's Journal'' in July 2005.
A related style known as a grisette was brewed with a lower ABV and with wheat added.
Winter or Christmas beers
Many breweries produce special beers during December. Most contain more alcohol than the brewery's other types of beer and may also contain spicing. An annual beer festival in Essen near Antwerp focuses on this type of beer with over 190 beers available for tasting in 2014.
Fruit beers (non-Lambic)
Some brewers that are not Lambic-brewers make fruit beers in a similar process as the Fruit Lambic beers.
All brewers of this style make fruit lambic. Many brewers of top fermentation beers such as Belgian golden ales, ambers and Flemish old brown beers, that produce beers that usually go through a multiple stage fermentation process, are catching on to the trend to make fruit beers. The process starts after the first fermentation of the wort
Wort () is the liquid extracted from the mashing process during the brewing of beer or whisky. Wort contains the sugars, the most important being maltose and maltotriose, that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to produce alcohol. Wort als ...
, when sometimes sugar is added to referment the beer on wooden casks. To make fruit beer the fruit, juice or syrup is added (instead of sugar) to the first brew and refermented, these may be termed fruit lambics or fruit beers, depending on the type of first brew.
Beer that has fruit syrup or fruit lemonade added after (the final stage of) fermentation, in other words as a flavouring, are termed "Radlers" ("Shandy" in the UK) definitely not fruit beer.
Unused styles
Sometimes the following styles are referred to as a type/style of Belgian Beer, however these are not because they cover multiple styles :
Strong ale
Beers above 7%, such as tripel
Tripel is a term used by brewers mainly in the Low Countries, some other European countries, and the U.S. to describe a strong pale ale, loosely in the style of '' Westmalle Tripel''. The origin of the term is unknown, though the main theory i ...
s or strong dubbel
The term dubbel (also double) is a Belgian Trappist beer naming convention. The origin of the dubbel was a strong version of a brown beer brewed in Westmalle Abbey in 1856, which is known to have been on sale to the public by June 1861.Jef van de ...
s, are referred to in some sources as Belgian strong ale
Strong ale is a type of ale, usually above 5% abv and often higher, between 7% to 11% abv, which spans a number of beer styles, including old ale, barley wine and Burton ale. Strong ales are brewed throughout Europe and beyond, including in Engl ...
, although this is not a name used by Belgian brewers.
Table beer
'' Table beer'' (tafelbier, bière de table) is a low-alcohol (typically not over 1.5%) brew sold in large bottles to be enjoyed with meals. The last decade it has gradually lost popularity due to the growing consumption of soft drinks and bottled water
Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...
. It comes in blonde or brown versions. Table beer used to be served in school refectories until the 1980s; in the early 21st century, several organizations made proposals to reinstate this custom as the table beer is considered more healthy than soft drinks. Some bars serve a glass of draft lager with a small amount of table beer added, to take away the fizziness and act as a sweetener, in Limburg it is referred to as a "half om".
Archaic styles
These include
* ''Arge'': A sour beer from Antwerp
* ''Faro'': A beer that was drunk sweetened. Not necessarily the same as the modern Faro.
* '' Grisette'' ("little gray"): A lower-alcohol Saison drunk originally by miners in Hainaut.
* ''Happe'': A predecessor of wheat beer, made with wheat and oats.
* ''Hoppe'': An early hopped beer, from the mid-1500s when gruit
Gruit (alternately grut or gruyt) is a herb mixture used for bittering and flavouring beer, popular before the extensive use of hops. The terms gruit and grut ale may also refer to the beverage produced using gruit.
Historically, gruit is the te ...
was widely used.
* ''Kuyte'': also called Cuyte, a strong beer originating in 16th century France, as ''Quente'', before becoming established in Belgium. Popular with the upper classes.
* ''Pecce'': A cheap beer.
* ''Roedbier'': Literally, red beer. It is not clear if this was a single style.
* ''Uitzet'': A sour beer.
* ''Walgbaert'' or ''Waegebaert'': Similar to Happe.
* ''Zwaartbier'': Literally, black beer. It is not clear whether this was a single style.
Glassware
Belgian "special" beers (stronger or bottled beers) are often served in elaborate branded beer glassware
Beer glassware comprise vessels made of glass, designed or commonly used for serving and drinking beer. Styles of glassware vary in accord with national or regional traditions; legal or customary requirements regarding serving measures and fill ...
. Unless the bar is out of the specific glass that goes with that beer it is more often than not served in its own glass. Most bartenders or waitresses will apologize if the beer comes in a different glass.
One of the more common types is the tulip glass.
A tulip glass not only helps trap the aroma, but also aids in maintaining large heads, creating a visual and olfactory sensation. The body is bulbous, but the top flares out to form a lip which helps head retention.
A vessel similar to a champagne flute
A champagne glass is stemware designed for champagne and other sparkling wines. The two most common forms are the flute and coupe, both stemmed; holding the glass by the stem prevents warming the drink. Champagne can also be drunk from a normal ...
is the preferred serving vessel for Belgian lambics
Lambic () is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels and in Brussels itself since the 13th century. Types of lambic beers include gueuze, kriek lambic and framboise. Lambic differs from most other beers ...
and fruit beer
Fruit beer is beer made with fruit added as an adjunct or flavouring.
Fruit beer is a beer made from malt-scented strawberries, plums, raspberries, and cherries. It's an additive- or flavoring-containing form. Initially manufactured in Belgium, f ...
s. The narrow shape helps maintain carbonation, while providing a strong aromatic front. Flute glasses display the lively carbonation, sparkling colour, and soft lacing of this distinct style.
Chalices and goblet
A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning.
R ...
s are large, stemmed, bowl-shaped glasses mainly associated with Trappist and Abbey ales. The distinction between goblet and chalice is typically in the glass thickness. Goblets tend to be more delicate and thin, while the chalice is heavy and thick walled. Some chalices are even etched on the bottom to nucleate a stream of bubbles for maintaining a nice head.
In addition to the profusion of glasses provided by brewers, some Belgian beer cafés serve beer in their own "house" glassware. An example is ''La Lunette'' in Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
.
File:Cuvee_Rene_Gueuze.jpg, Geuze
Gueuze (Dutch ''geuze'', ; French ''gueuze'', ) is a type of lambic, a Belgian beer. It is made by blending young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics, which is bottled for a second fermentation. Because the young lambics are n ...
lambic beer
Lambic () is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels and in Brussels itself since the 13th century. Types of lambic beers include gueuze, kriek lambic and framboise. Lambic differs from most other bee ...
in a flute glass
File:Beerglass orval.jpg, Orval beer
Orval Brewery (french: Brasserie d'Orval) is a Trappist brewery within the walls of the Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval in the Gaume region of Belgium.
The brewery produces two Trappist beers, ''Orval'' and ''Orval Vert''.
History
Evidence of bre ...
in its "chalice" glass
File:Beerglass trappiste rochefort.jpg, Rochefort beer
Rochefort Brewery (Brasserie de Rochefort) is a Belgian brewery which produces four beers designated as Trappist beers. The brewery is associated with the Rochefort Abbey, a Trappist monastery which originated in the 13th century. The current br ...
in its "goblet" glass
Image:Duvel2018.jpg, Duvel
Duvel Moortgat Brewery (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat) is a Flemish family-controlled brewery founded in 1871 in the Antwerp Province (Belgium). Its strong golden pale ale, Duvel, is exported to more than forty countries. Duvel is Brabantian, Ghent a ...
's tulip glass
File:Kwak.jpg, Kwak Kwak or KWAK may refer to:
*Kwak (surname), a Korean surname (郭, 霍)
*KWAK (AM), a radio station (1240 AM) licensed to serve Stuttgart, Arkansas, United States
*KWAK-FM, a radio station (105.5 FM), licensed to serve Stuttgart, Arkansas
*KWAK-LP, ...
beer with its unusual glass and stand
File:AlgiersNOLAVineDineHoegaardenGlass.JPG, Hoegaarden Brewery
Hoegaarden Brewery (, ) is a brewery in Hoegaarden, Belgium, and the producer of a witbeir, which is different from a wheat beer. Hoegaarden de-emphasizes hops, and is unfiltered, giving it the hazy, or milky, appearance--which makes it a wit ...
wheat beer
Wheat beer is a top-fermented beer which is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley. The two main varieties are German ''Weizenbier'' and Belgian ''witbier''; other types include Lambic (made with wild ye ...
in its characteristic hexagonal glass
File:Gilladebier.JPG, , a with bottle and glass
Distribution
The majority of Belgian beer brands are sold in bottles. Draught beer
Draught beer, also spelt draft, is beer served from a cask or keg rather than from a bottle or can. Draught beer served from a pressurised keg is also known as
Name
Until Joseph Bramah patented the beer engine in 1785, beer was served dir ...
s tend mostly to be pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale-to- golden-colored lager beer with a well- attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness.
The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid-19th century, when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brew ...
s, wheat beers, regional favourites such as kriek in Brussels or De Koninck in Antwerp; and the occasional one-off. Customers who purchase a bottled beer (often called a "special" beer) can expect the beers to be served ceremoniously, often with a free snack.
These days, Belgian beers are sold in brown- (or sometimes dark green-) tinted glass bottles (to avoid negative effects of light on the beverage) and sealed with a cork, a metal crown cap, or sometimes both. Some beers are bottle conditioned
Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with yeast. It may be done in a brewery by a commercial brew ...
, meaning reseeded with yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constit ...
so that an additional fermentation may take place. Different bottle sizes exist: 25 cl, 33 cl, 37.5 cl, 75 cl and multiples of 75. (8, 12, 24 or multiples of 24 fl. oz.) The 37.5 cl size is usually for lambics. Other beers are generally bottled in 25 or 33 cl format (depending on brands). The bigger bottles (75 cl) are sold almost in every food shop but customers do not always have an extensive choice. Bottles larger than 75 cl are named following the terminology used for champagne
Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...
and are limited in quantity. In Belgian cafés, when someone orders a ''demi'' (English: "half"), he receives a 50 cl (half liter) glass (with beer from the tap, or from 2 bottles of 25 cl).
Virtually every Belgian beer has a branded glass imprinted with a logo or name.
Belgium contains thousands of cafés that offer a wide selection of beers, ranging from perhaps 10 (including bottles) in a neighborhood café, to over 1000 in a specialist beer café. Among the most famous are "Beer Circus," "Chez Moeder Lambic," and "Delirium Café" in Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
; "de Kulminator" and "Oud Arsenaal" in Antwerp, "Barnabeer" in Namur, "De Garre" and "'t Brugs Beertje" in Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population.
The area of the whole city a ...
, "Het Botteltje" in Ostend
Ostend ( nl, Oostende, ; french: link=no, Ostende ; german: link=no, Ostende ; vls, Ostende) is a coastal city and municipality, located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerk ...
, "Het Hemelrijk" in Hasselt, "Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant", "De Dulle Griet" and "Trappistenhuis" in Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...
, "De Blauwe Kater" in Leuven, the Vaudrées in Liège and the "Stillen Genieter" in Mechelen. Although many major brands of beer are available at most supermarkets, off-licences located throughout the country generally offer a far wider selection, albeit at somewhat higher prices.
International distribution
Belgium exports almost 80% of its bee
Some draught-beer brands produced by AB InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is an American-Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. AB InBev has a global functional management office in New York City, and regional headquarters ...
– Stella Artois
Stella Artois ( ) is a pilsner beer, first brewed in 1926 by Brouwerij Artois in Leuven, Belgium. In its original form, the beer is 5.2 per cent ABV, the country's standard for pilsners. The beer is also sold in other countries like the UK, Ir ...
, Hoegaarden Brewery, Hoegaarden and Leffe
Leffe () is a premium beer brand owned by InBev Belgium, the European operating arm of the global Anheuser–Busch InBev brewery giant. There are several beers in the range, and they are marketed as abbey beers. They are brewed in large quan ...
– are available in several European countries. Aside from these, mostly bottled beer is exported across Europe. Cafés, exclusively or primarily offering Belgian beers, exist beyond Belgium in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, amongst others. Some beer festivals outside Belgium have a Belgian beer bar as an alternative to local products. In North America, a growing number of draught Belgian beer brands have started to become available, often at "Belgian Bars". Such brands include Brasserie Brunehaut, Karmeliet, Kwak, Maredsous, Mont Saint-Aubert, Palm
Palm most commonly refers to:
* Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand
* Palm plants, of family Arecaceae
**List of Arecaceae genera
* Several other plants known as "palm"
Palm or Palms may also refer to:
Music
* Palm (ba ...
, Rodenbach Rodenbach may refer to:
* Rodenbach Brewery, a brewery from Roeselare, Belgium
Places
* Rodenbach, Hesse, in the Main-Kinzig district, Hesse, Germany
* Rodenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate, G ...
and St. Feuillien.
Beer festivals
Belgium has a number of beer festival
A beer festival is an event at which a variety of beers are available for purchase. There may be a theme, for instance beers from a particular area, or a particular brewing style such as winter ales.
Asia
* Singapore holds an annual Beer Festiva ...
s including:
* The BAB-bierfestival, held every year in February in Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population.
The area of the whole city a ...
* Zythos Beer Festival or ZBF. The festival held every spring in Leuven (previously in Sint Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas (; french: Saint-Nicolas, ) is a Belgium, Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of East Flanders. The municipality comp ...
and Antwerp) organized by the consumer group Zythos.
* The Belgian Beer Weekend held in Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
, Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, organized by the Brewer's association.
* Karakterbieren Festival in Poperinge
Poperinge (; french: Poperinghe, ; vls, Poperienge) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge pr ...
, Belgium's hop-growing capital.
* The Beer Passion weekend held each July in Antwerp, organized by Beer passion magazine,
* The Modeste Bier Festival held the 1st Weekend of Oct in Antwerp, Run by Antwerps Bier College.
* The Christmas beer festival Essen
* Alvinne Craft Beer Festival, at Picobrouwerij Alvinne, Zwevegem
Zwevegem () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Heestert, Moen, Otegem, Sint-Denijs and Zwevegem. On January 1, 2019, Zwevegem had a total population of 24,648. The total ...
(Moen)
* "La Géroublonnade", beer and gourmet event in a village in , region of southern Belgium, during second Sunday of July.
* The Weekend of Belgian Beers, held in Hasselt in November, organized by the Limburgse Biervrienden
* The Weekend of Special Beer in Sohier in February – all informations : http://Www.sohier-village.be
* Since 2017 Billie's Bier Kafétaria and Hop is Hop organises Billie's Craft Beer Fest. A unique formula for Belgium (all in formula) with 50 of the very best (Inter)national craft breweries. Annually half of November
Beer cuisine
A number of traditional Belgian dishes use beer as an ingredient. One is ''carbonade'' (French) or ''stoverij'' or ''stoofvlees'' (Dutch), a stew of beef cooked in beer, similar to Boeuf bourguignon
Beef bourguignon () or bœuf bourguignon (; ), also called beef Burgundy, and ''bœuf à la Bourguignonne'',''Random House Dictionary'online at dictionary.com/ref> is a French beef stew braised in red wine, often red Burgundy, and beef stock, ...
. The beer used is typically the regional speciality— lambic in Brussels, De Koninck in Antwerp, and so on—so that the taste of the dish varies. Another is rabbit in gueuze
Gueuze (Dutch ''geuze'', ; French ''gueuze'', ) is a type of lambic, a Belgian beer. It is made by blending young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics, which is bottled for a second fermentation. Because the young lambics are no ...
. ''In't Spinnekopke'', Brussels, and ''Den Dyver'', Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population.
The area of the whole city a ...
are famed for their beer cookery. In 1998 Anheuser-Busch InBev started a worldwide chain of bars/restaurants, Belgian Beer Cafe, serving typical Belgian dishes combined with Belgian Beer.
The varied nature of Belgian beers makes it possible to match them against each course of a meal, for instance:
* Wheat beer with seafood or fish.
* Blond beers or tripel with chicken or white meat
* Dubbel or other dark beers with dark meat
* Fruit lambics with dessert
Appreciation and organizations
"Beer Passion" is a magazine, which also organizes a beer festival.
"Zythos" is the name of the main consumer's organization, successor to the earlier OBP (Objectieve Bierproevers).
The Belgian Brewers' Association represents breweries. It organizes beer festivals and an open breweries day.
The Knighthood of the Mashstaff honours individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to brewing, and pays tribute to Gambrinus
Gambrinus ( ) is a legendary European culture hero celebrated as an icon of beer, brewing, joviality, and ''joie de vivre''. Typical representations in the visual arts depict him as a rotund, bearded duke or king, holding a tankard or mug, ...
and Saint Arnold.
Beer writers who have written extensively on Belgian beer include Belgians Peter Crombeq, Gert van Lierde and Erik Verdonck, and Britons Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
and Tim Webb.
On 1 December 2016, in the eleventh session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, as an appreciation towards the beer culture in Belgium, it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Belgian beer brands
The following list contains beers that are brewed in Belgium. Not to be confused with "Belgian style" beers that are produced in other countries, and may or may not resemble a style that is specific to Belgium.
See also
* Beer and breweries by region
*High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers __NOTOC__
The High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers ( Dutch: ''Hoge Raad voor Ambachtelijke Lambiekbieren'', HORAL) is a non-profit organisation that brings together the gueuze brewers and blenders of the Pajottenland and Zenne Valley in Belgiu ...
*Méthode Champenoise
Sparkling wine production is the method of winemaking used to produce sparkling wine. The oldest known production of sparkling wine took place in 1531 with the ''ancestral method''.
Pressure and terminology
In popular parlance and also in the ...
References
;Bibliography
*''Good Beer Guide to Belgium'', Tim Webb, CAMRA Books,
*''Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition'', Phil Marowski, Brewers Publications (2004),
*''Great Beers of Belgium'', Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
,
*''Lambicland: Lambikland'', Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Joris Pattyn, Cogan and Mater Ltd,
*''Alle Belgische Bieren'', Ed. Hilde Deweer, Stichting Kunstboek Oostkamp, 2015
External links
All About Belgian Beer in English Language
Belgian Beer Map – Distribution of Belgian breweries by provinces
All About Belgian Beer and Beer Tourism in Belgium
from ''BeerTourism.com''
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beer in Belgium