Beers
Subcategories
Trappist beers
There are 12 Trappist breweries in the world. Only beers brewed in an abbey, under the supervision of a anastic community of the Cistercian tradition, have the right to this rigorously controlled label of origin. The 6 trappist beers in Belgium are Achel, Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren. Of the 6 Belgian trappist beers, 3 are brewed in Wallonia. We find the other Trappist breweries in Austria, France, Italy, USA and Holland (2). These are top fermentation beers with after-fermentation in the bottle.
Abbey beers
As the designation " bière d'Abbaye" ( abbey beer) has always been synonymous with quality and tradition, many breweries have used it. In fact these beers are not brewed by monks. Some even carry the names of abbey which have never existed. The term abbey may indicate that the beer is brewed in the way used by monks, that there is an abbey nearby or, simply, that there is a monk on the label. These beers have no specific characteristics. In the last few years, a new category of Abbey beers has appeared. These are beers produced by a private brewery, installed within the confines of a abbey deserted by the original occupants in the past ( Abbaye des Rocs, Val Dieu, Abbaye d'Aulne...)
Christmas Beers
Many breweries produce special beers during December. Some are stronger than the usual beers, others are spiced.
Flanders Red
A Flanders Red, are commonly referred to as the "red" beers of West Flanders. Belgian Red Beers are typically light-bodied brews with reddish-brown colors. They are infamous for their distinct sharp, fruity, sour and tart flavours which are created by special yeast strains. Very complex beers, they are produced under the age old tradition of long-term cask aging in oak, and the blending of young and old beers.
Geuze Lambic Fruits
At 400 years old, Lambics have been in production longer than any other commercially brewed beer. They are brewed in Brussels is much the same way as they have been since the 16th century. Lambics are unique among other beers in that they rely on spontaneous fermentation to brew. Yeasts aren't added into the kettle like other beers, the nfermented brew is instead run into an open copper tank that is stored in the attic of the brewery. The windows are left open to allow the brew to cool. This is where the wild, airborne yeasts interact with the beer. Later, it is stored for up to three years in wooden barrels, compounding the process and giving lambics their completely unique and unforgettable flavor and body. This unique brewing style also leads to a unique drinking experience. Lambic bears little resemblance to most beers you have probably tasted. Crisp, earthy, dry, tart, sometimes bordering on downright sour. Unblended lambics are a rarity. Usually, lambics are blended with fruity flavors to make them more accessible. Remember, though, not all fruit beers are lambics.
Gluten Free
Gluten-free beer is beer made from ingredients that do not contain gluten such as millet, rice, sorghum, buckwheat or corn (maize). Gluten-free beer is part of a gluten-free diet. People who have gluten intolerance (including celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis sufferers) have a reaction to certain proteins in the grains commonly used to make beer, barley and wheat. The hordein found in barley and the gliadin found in wheat are types of gluten that can trigger symptoms in sufferers of these diseases.
Low/No Alcohol
Non-alcoholic beer has become increasingly popular in recent years. Actually, 'low alcohol' is a better name, because the beer still contains alcohol, but an extremely low percentage. Non-alcoholic beers may contain up to 0.1% alcohol, which is fifty times less than the alcohol percentage of an average lager.
Pils
Pils is the all-around beer. It is the most produced and most consumed in the world and the largest international breweries are essentially based on this type of beer. Helping along its wide popularity, it is considered by a large number among us to be an excellent beer to accompany daily meals, as an alternative to wine or "table beer". But a lesser-know fact about Pils is that it is above all a "modern" beer since it is produced using techniques discovered just at the end of the XIXth century. Since then, through no real effort of its own, it has driven a series of other beers into oblivion. And althought it seems to be slowing slightly in recent times, due to specialty beers being drunk in higher quantities than ten or twenty years ago, it still leads the pack and is the preferred beer of Belgians in terms of litres consumed.
Special beers
There are many beers with different characters, whether due to their flavour, level of alcohol, region of production, colour, etc. One might think that the belong to no category. In reality, there are all placed in a category know as " Belgian Specials" , a bit of a catch-all, but distinguished by the fact that these beers are found only in Belgium.
Season beers
These beers are particularly brewed in the Hainaut province. Originally they were produced by brewer farmers during the winter months, then kept for consumption in the summer. The beer had to be robust enough to keep for several months but not too strong, as it was to serve as a thirst-quenching drink for the harvesting period. Season beers are generally orange-tinted. They are top fermented and bottled in champagne-style bottles. Their carbonisation and sharpness are very refreshing. There is an emphasis on fruitness in the flavour. They are sometimes spicy .
White beers
This is a category of beers based on wheat, which are very refreshing, generally flavoured ( coriander, orange peel, etc..). Specialities of the Louvain region, the white beers, which are so called because their pale colour, were originally made from barley ( about 45%), wheat ( 45 %) and oats ( 10%). After the First World War production was stopped, following restrictions on oats and wheat. Since then production has started up again in the region, but only with barley and wheat. Hoegaarden is the beer mainly concerned.
There are 202 products.
Abbaye d'Aulne Premier Cru 9° - 1/3L
Abbaye des Rocs 9°-1/3L
The beer has a dark majestic ruby colour and has a rich and refined taste. It develops a powerful aroma of sweet overtones. The first taste in the mouth is a bit fruity and the aftertaste is creamy and very prolonged. It is a beer that is profound and extremely mature.
Abbaye des Rocs Triple Impériale 10° - 1/3L
Abbaye Moinette blond 8.5°-1/3L
Abdij Averbode 7.5° - 1/3L
The 'new' beer of the Averbode Abbey is a tribute and a revaluation of history. The beer business of the Abbey, going back to the 14th century, continued until the early 20th century and produced different beers i.e. Camerbeer and Cleynbeer.
Achel Blond 8° - 33cl
Compared to other trappist beers, the taste of the blonde Achel is more simple and has less temperament but is still fully appreciated.
In the mouth, the first taste is pleasant with a sweet hint of bitterness. The aroma perception in the mouth is long and solid and the aftertaste is not too dry. The whole taste is dominated by the malty sweetness.
Achel Bruin 8° - 33cl
The existing beers of Achel are the result of the hard work of brother Thomas (brewer of Westmalle) and brother Antony (ancient brewer of Rochefort). As you can see, the Achel beers are big beers but still a bit unknown. This beer must be tasted as fast as possible!
The brown malty taste with a light aroma of roasting reveals a vanilla flavour.
Adriaen Brouwer OAKED 10° - 1/3L
Alfred 7.8° - 1/3L
It has a light fruity aroma, a subtile malty taste and a pronounced hoppy character
Arabier 8°C - 33Cl
This beer, which is one of Dolle Brouwers most important beers can be tasted quite fast after it’s been bought, because the hop bitterness tends to decline with age. It is a craft beer fermented in the bottle.
The blonde head of this beer is seductive. Its hop aromas are clearly perceivable.
Similarly, the taste clearly reveals hops that will be caught up by floral and fruity notes. The aftertaste, slightly alcoholic, is long, and delectable.
Artevelde Grand Cru 7.3° - 1/3L
Smell: malt, caramel and fruity sweetness of the alcohol gives this beer the perfect aroma
Taste: caramel, fruity sweetness and much predominate bitterness. In the aftertaste we perceive an allusion of "toffee" and date.
Augustijn Grand Cru 9°-1/3L
The Augustijn Grand Cru present has an amber and cloudy body head topped with a consistent foam head that slowly falls along the walls. In the nose, the aroma of this Belgian beer is very sweet with hints of spices, citrus and yeast.
The taste is too soft at the beginning and marries a mixture of spices evoking coriander. In the middle, the alcohol starts to tingle your tongue to remember its actually in the beer. The spicy aspect is then replaced by a hoppy bitterness and ends with some persistence.
Barbar 8° - 1/3L
Barbar Bok 8° - 33cl
Belfort Blond 8° - 1/3L
Belgenius Belgian Haze IPA 6.5° - 1/3L
Belgenius Citrus Strong Golden Ale 7.5° - 1/3L
Belgoo Bio Amber 7.8° - 1/3L
Bertinchamps Hiver 8° - 1/5L
Bière du Corsaire 9.4°-1/3L
Bobeline Blonde 8,5° 1/3L
Bockor Brasserie LeFort 8.5° -1/3L
On the European Beer Star (2014), LeFort wins a silver medal in the category Belgian Style Strong Ale & a gold medal at the World Beer Awards (2017).
Bockor Omer Traditional Blond 8° - 1/3L
Boerken 9,5° - 1/3L
Bon Secours Amber 8° - 33 Cl
Bon Secours Blond 8° C - 33 Cl
Botteresse Amber 8,5° - 1/3L
Botteresse Bruin 9° - 1/3L
Brice 7.5° - 1/3L
Brigand 9°-1/3L
Brussels Beer Project Delta IPA 6.5° - 1/3L
Buffalo Bitter Belgian Ale 8.5° - 1/3L
Bush Amber 12°- 1/3L
The pronounced bitter-sweet taste of this beer, its gentle taste structure and characteristic amber colour are all due to the caramel malts used and the expertise and patience of the master brewer (the beer rests for four to six weeks). The high density – the proportion of malt – and the active house yeast make for one of the strongest Belgian beers, with an alcohol volume of 12%.
Bush Amber Triple 12° - 3/4L
The in-bottle re-fermentation produces an extraordinarily gentle and rounded beer with a natural yeast cloud. It has the characteristic taste and aromas of the Bush Amber mother beer. Both the splendid screen-printed bottle and the champagne-style cork contribute to Bush Amber Triple’s prestigious image.
Bush de Nuits 13° - 3/4L
The final result is utterly surprising. This is a beer with plenty of character, a clear colour, vinous aromas and a taste profile that leans towards wine…
A real discovery and highly recommended!
Bush Prestige 13° - 3/4L
During the bottling process, small amounts of sugar and yeast are added to the beer so it re-ferments in the bottle during its stay in the brewery’s warm room. This develops the natural yeast cloud and gives the beer its exceptionally high alcohol volume of 13%.
Reviving the traditional use of oak barrels has introduced aromas and tannins that haven’t been experienced in beer for many years. Even the most demanding beer lover will be bowled over by these qualities. Think of the aromas of whisky and other spirits matured on oak coupled with an extraordinarily rounded character.
César 8.5° - 1/3L
The tripels are usually blonde or slightly amber.
The CESAR TRIPEL is beautiful blonde and has a hoppy and full taste with an excellent balance between sweet and bitter.
Its pleasant scent and beautiful head make this beer a top of its kind.
Charles Quint Gouden Blond 8,5° - 1/3L
A blond special beer that is top fermented and has a spicy aroma of hops.
It has an extremely pleasant bitter, dry aftertaste. For people who enjoy life to the full.
Charles Quint Ommegang 8° - 1/3L
OMMEGANG. NOT THE FIRST, BUT THE BEST!
Re-fermented in the bottle. A straw-coloured ale with a dry and robust character, a complex bitter and a delicate citrus aroma. Brewed with Belgian hops.
Charles Quint Rood 8,5° - 1/3L
A rich, ruby red special beer that is top fermented and has a mildly sweet aroma of hops.
Chimay "Grande Réserve" French-American OAK 2019 - 37,5cL
Chimay 150 10° - 1/3L
An authentic trappist beer
Chimay 150 is a strong, blond beer that is refreshing and fruity, tasty and intense. Its mint, bergamot, lime and eucalyptus aromas will take you on a surprising journey. Its delicate hints of rosemary and clove go perfectly with the subtle floral notes, enhanced by a touch of invigorating ginger. Its mellow, rounded body and smoky, spicy flavour are typical of Chimay beers, and will leave you with an exquisitely sophisticated aftertaste.
Chimay 150 was brewed for the first time in 2012, as a limited edition (150,000 bottles), for the brewery’s 150th anniversary.
Chimay Bleue 9°-1/3L
The Chimay Blue is a dark ale with a powerful aroma. Its complex flavor improves with passing time.
CHIMAY BLUE IS AN AUTHENTIC TRAPPIST PRODUCT
This means that it is brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, under the control and responsibility of the community of monks, who are involved through the process of making and marketing the beer.
Most of the income generated by this activity is devoted to the needs of the community and social works.
Chimay Grande Réserve 9° - 3/4L
The Chimay Blue is a dark ale with a powerful aroma. Its complex flavor improves with passing time.
CHIMAY BLUE IS AN AUTHENTIC TRAPPIST PRODUCT
This means that it is brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, under the control and responsibility of the community of monks, who are involved through the process of making and marketing the beer.
Most of the income generated by this activity is devoted to the needs of the community and social works.
Chimay Grande Réserve Oak aged (2022) Whisky 75cl
"Grande Réserve" is an exceptional beer that is fermented in barrels. The beer enjoys a triple fermentation and a long maturation in barrels. Grande Réserve is neither filtered nor pasteurised and has an inimitable round and woody taste.