Belgian Beer Open Thread
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 8:12 PM EDT
in Cafe Happy Hour!
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I would be remiss if I did not give folks an opportunity to talk about the other half of the coming week's celebration and Belgium's other great contribution to mankind: beer. Yes, actually operating a bicycle is not especially compatible with any form of alcohol, particularly one as filling and effervescent as a nice Belgian ale, but the Cafe is a place for fans, first and foremost, and from what I understand fans of the classics celebrate. Sometimes with beer.
I am perhaps not as discriminating as I would like to be, but if I have had trouble finding a Belgian beer not to like, then life could be worse. I am not brand-loyal; prefer to try new things. This week's special, currently chilling in the fridge, is Kasteel. You could do worse than to click here, btw.
So, please do share your Belgian beer knowledge and tips. And get ready to crack open your favorite when the Tour of Flanders hits the slopes of the Koppenberg... a soon-to-be enduring Podium Cafe tradition, if I have any say in the matter.
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Yes! Triple Reserve, no less.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
by Cyclingrush on Mar 24, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Bavik
is a nice Belgian “white” beer in a 11.5 oz can. I bought it at first after I saw its name plastered all over the Ghent Wevelgem barriers, and it turned out to be a nice, refreshing brew. Probably better for warm weather drinking. Think of a Bud on EPO. Stella Artois is similar, but a bit more refined.
Duvel is certainly a classic and widely distributed, its got more of the richness that I think many people usually associate with Belgian beers. Leffe and Chimay are also classics.
My wife is a big La Chouffe fan, after she read that Tommeke had a soft spot for it. It comes in many styles and is recognizable by a Gnome on their bottles.
Personally, I have not met a Belgian beer that I didn’t enjoy.
Recently a place called the Trappist opened in Oakland. It is a must do for Belgian beer fans. They have about 12 beers on tap (Mostly Belgian or Belgian style) 150 beers by the bottle (mostly Belgian or Belgian style) and about 60 different glasses from various breweries. Fully authentic.
My most memorable Belgian beer was the one Grahm Watson bought me in Kortrik on the eve of Ghent Wevelgem 2007. But I’m not braggin or anything;)
Flahutes: Harden the F--k Up!
Someone mentioned that place here before
John maybe? Last classics season we tossed around the idea of getting them to open early so we could have a proper race viewing. Any interest in talking to them about actually doing that?
More Muur...
Heh
I tried that at a pub here, no dice. Good luck though.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Too lazy to dig it out
but my recollection is that whoever it was that mentioned it last year had already broached the subject with the owners, who are not cycling fans so much, but who seemed willing to do it. Probably one of those things that sounds nice in theory, but would suck in reality. Kind of like meeting Sui.
More Muur...
Tell me. Sui. An Eagles fan, right?
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
I mean
if you want me to be honest, I’ll just go ahead and say it – Jimbo was mad that I wouldn’t give him any Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers (I’d been saving them for Nikki). Now, I was trying to save your rep – what with the crocs, Trek hybrid, and your thing for Furries – but sure, I’ll just lay it all out there, if that’s what you want.
So, you know, thank you for your support.
Those were my favorite back in high school.
So where did they go? Did Jimbo steal them anyway?
No wonder he was trying to ride home in the dark that night.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
MMMmmmmm
Duvel, like it. I’m actually not a huge white ale fan. Also, can’t help tweaking you: too busy bragging to tell us what the beer was!
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Just found a local place over the weekend that has an
impressive range of taps and bottles. It’s called the Flying Saucer and it has locations in Texas, Tennessee and the Carolina’s
Here is a list of some of their beers.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
Wait? You were in TX, TN, or one of the Carolinas?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
St. Bernardus
is good.
Westmalle is really good (dubbel and trippel). Orval is weird—with a finish vaguely reminiscent of a locker room.
All the Chimay’s are pretty good. West Vleteren is almost unobtainable and legendary.
It’s maybe a little heretical, but Ommegang is REALLY good (and Belgian-owned).
And, for a desserty sort of beer: Floreffe is a nice chewy sort of beer.
West Vleteren
I like a challenge…
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Had the..
Westmalle dubbel last night. Very tasty. Also tried the St. Bernardus Trappist 6 and enjoyed that. This thread has inspired me to try a bunch of different Belgians. We are fortunate to have a few restaurants in the Twin Cities that have tons of Belgian’s on tap and in bottle.
Ditto on the various Chimays being good.
We also have a Belgian restaurant/brew pub in town that makes its own Belgian-style beers. Yummy. And frites.
One of the sweetest things today was seeing Tom Boonen go past me backwards on the climbs. .--Mark Cavendish, MSR
+101
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Hoegaarden or Leffe
are what I’ve been mostly drinking. I’m pretty new to the witbiers, but I’m enjoying them a lot.
I will be trying as many as i can
im hoping they will help with my riding the cobbles, my head will be that sore i won’t feel my legs!
Although i always have stella in the fridge !
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Stellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
by Cyclingrush on Mar 24, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I must say I don't really care for Stella.
When pilsner enters my diet, it’s usually Budweiser.
by brunopitton on Mar 24, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh so many to choose from
With the topic of belgian beer and cycling I must jump in.
A Westmalle Trippel is hard to beat but recently a good Farmhouse Saison is to my liking. I’ve been reaching for a Saison Dupont most frequently. And an Ommegang Hennepin is tops too even though it from the states.
As described at Beeradvocate.com “Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Not so long ago it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years there’s been a massive revival; especially in the US.”
Nothing better than enjoying a fine belgian ale while watching the cobbled classics. If I could only be in Belgium for the real deal.
Leffe is my race viewing choice
Not too heavy, not too strong, perfect amount of that unique Belgian zing. Stella is growing on me, but only because as the “Coors Light” of Belgian beer, I can drink a lot of them without speaking Flemish… Chimay blue is just wonderful stuff. And not to go all negative, but Piraat tastes like a pirate’s ass.
More Muur...
Leffe
Available in the aero cans, no? I got into it at a place called Bistrot du Coin in DC.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Leffe dark is good but hard to come by.
The blonde is much more prevalent.
by brunopitton on Mar 24, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't even know they had anything besides the blonde
There are five types. Check out the Leffe.com link below…
More Muur...
brain fahrt
was thinking of Boddingtons. Mea culpa…
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 25, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions
The new thing in California are well-hopped belgian ales.
My understanding is the use of a belgian yeast with lots of west-coast hops. I’ve had a few with the most recent being a new one from Stone called, “Super-cali-belgo-istic” (if I got that right?)
I like a good wit beer too, but hate the sour stuff.
See, this is what makes me hate American craft brewers.
They think the solution to all brewing problems is “add more hops.” Apparently balanced never actually occurred to any of them as a desirable quality in beer. Thank God for European brewers who know better.
Those monks turn out quite the website.
by brunopitton on Mar 24, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome
Is WIRED on this?
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 25, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Leffe is no longer brewed by monks.
They’re owned by InBev.
Who owns Budweiser.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
I only drink Hoegaarden lately.
Call me mundane, but it is just so damn good.
Only better when served by some Belgian cutie from the tap at a cafe in the shadow of the Cathedral in Geraardsbergen.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
I almost found religion
Brussels was the first place I lived when I moved to Europe.
And I lived for weekend drives to beautiful trappist monasteries (monastery is Belgium coe for Brewery).
I still may end up retiring at one.
Wake up, pray, brew, pray, drink some beer, rinse and repeat.
The most amazing thing in Belgium is that even the smallest bar has a matching glass (branded and unique shape) for every single beer on offer.
Belgium beer = flavour
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Limited experience of Belgian beer.
Extremely limited. Limited to Delirium Tremens.
DT was… a surprise, LOL. Now, I must confess that in general I like my beer to be black. Or at least dark. This preference probably contributed to my surprise when drinking DT. “WTF? – Pale beer should behave like that!”. Still – enjoyable, if somewhat strange :-).
I may have to broaden my experience of Belgian beer next week ;-). Any recommendations, for someone who like their beer on the dark side?
Had two new ones last night
Tried some Ichtegam’s Oud Bruin and Houton Kop last night. Ichtegam’s is a brown ale and Houton Kop is an amber. They were both very good, albeit in different styles. Probably preferred the Houton Kop a little bit more. The Ichtegam’s Grand Cru (a completely different beer than the above) is really interesting and a different sort of way. It has a distinct fruitiness to it.
Never had them
so, thanks for the review. Their names are actually ‘Ichtegems Oud Bruin’ (Old Brown from Ichtegem; according to Dutch spelling rules it shouldn’t really have an apostrophe …) and ‘Houten Kop’ (Wooden Head). All three are from the same brewery, the first 2:
http://www.brouwerij-strubbe.be/start/pagina/ichtegem/en
http://www.brouwerij-strubbe.be/start/pagina/houtenkop/en
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