Belgium has cultivated an unsurpassed reputation for its specialty beers, beginning with the home brews of the Middle Ages and growing into the favorites found on tap today. Everything from microbrews to major exports reflect an unequivocal craftsmanship that makes Belgian beer-tasting an exciting tour of complex and varied flavors.
During a visit to Flanders — the northern Dutch-speaking part of Belgium — appreciate the art of beer making with our how-to guide to enjoying this staple beverage. Here are some tips to “Enjoying Beer in Belgium.”
HOW TO CHOOSE BELGIAN BEER
Belgian beer comes in a range of styles and colors, so understanding the general classifications will help ensure you receive your drink of choice. If you simply ask for a pintje (pint), you’ll be served a ubiquitous pils, such as Stella Artois, an easy-to-drink low-fermentation brew. But if you prefer the familiar perfume of an IPA, cloudy wheat beers like Hoegaarden or the more filling stouts, it’s the top-fermented varieties you’re craving, which steep for a short time at high temperatures. Some bold Belgian brews also fall under spiritual classifications, since monasteries and abbeys surprisingly double as breweries. Westmalle is among six labels actually brewed within or nearby a Trappist monastery and offers a full range of colors and styles. Beware of beers with ominous names, like the popular blonde beer Duvel, named for the Flemish translation of “devil,” with a deceptively high alcohol content. For something a little lighter, Lambic beers like Oude Kriek offer Champagne-like effervescence that occurs during the brewing process when introducing fruit into the mix.
HOW TO SAVOR
Belgian beers go beyond a pub’s pint glass — with over 700 taste profiles; specialty glassware accentuates the unique traits of each brew. A wide-mouth snifter highlights the aroma of Belgian Pale Ale, while Red Ale is best suited to a flute to enhance the crisp carbonation.
Sip the spoils at Kulminator, a café tucked onto a side street in Antwerp. Considered a beer enthusiasts’ utopia, the menu vaunts some 600 varieties and a selection of very special “old” beers ripening in reserve. At nearby De Groote Witte Arend, rare beers are served alongside a “beerstronomy” menu, featuring traditional Flemish dishes such as rabbit or roast imbued with beer ingredients. Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant in Ghent will reinvent your notion of romance — drink a Dubbel by candlelight on the River Leie terrace, or opt for a selection of the tavern’s own ale.
HOW TO TOAST
Salute your newfound expertise with the hearty Flemish cry of “gezondheid,” or say “santé” among French-speakers — both meaning “health.” The Flemish customarily raise their glass twice: first to hear the toast, and again in warm agreement with its sentiment.
Ready to start planning a tour to the Netherlands so that you can start enjoying the beers of the region?
