A sampling of my sampling of beers from Belgium’s best local (and large) breweries.
Seef Bootje’s Bier of Antwerp
Enjoying a local Seef Bootje Bier in Antwerp at the Red Star Line museum cafe.
Seef Bootje Bier
Leffe Royale
The warm and welcoming representatives of Leffe pour you a pint and slide over a tray with creamy cheese and prosciutto or salami to make it just that much better! They made me a big fan of Leffe Royale at Taste of Paris food festival.
Leffe Royale
Gouden Carolus Classic Bier of Mechelen
So many beer styles to try in Belgium – I’d be here for years to get through them all. Gouden Carolus Classic by Het Anker in Mechelen is a deep ruby colour and has caramel notes. Paired nicely with a chocolate mousse dessert in Ghent.
Gouden Carolus Classic
Straffe Hendrick Quadruple (11%) Bier of Bruges
A strong dark beer, Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel (11%), can be enjoyed on an outdoor patio at Browerji brewery De Halve Mann in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium . Would have been great with a cheese fondue, but alas, the kitchen was closed.
Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel
Rodenbach Grand Cru of Roeselare
When it poured rain outside, I ducked into a local spot with a view of the town square to wait it out and to try the Grand Cru from Browerji Rodenbach, a brewer local to Roeselare. The local beer in is a sour red Grand Cru beer which unexpectedly puckered my mouth. Truly unique!
I appreciated most labels having dark versions of beer available rather than just the lighter or fashionable IPAs.
Rodenbach Grand Cru Bier
Belle-Vue Kriek in Brussels
Another surprise! Belle-Vue Kriek, or Cherry, beer is an explosion of cherries with bubbles.
Belle-Vue Kriek