Official Belgian Beer Review

Okay... Just before we go down to the foamy news, let me check on a few things:

1. Mind well rested - check!

2. Photos up loaded to faceboook - done!

3. Hot bath - done!

4. Note on beer tasting experience - here!

I am sad to say that I haven't tasted 300+ beers... I just didn't have five stomachs, the ability of rock stars to drown themselves with barrels of alcohol, nor the money to finish my beer tasting scheme everynight whilst in Brussels. I am sure I have tasted less than 20 (including the fruit beers -- which to me are awful! -- see pic here!), and although I think I could have done more, I have to limit myself to 3 pints a night. And come to think of it, I don't know if there is anybody (including Belgians, themselves) who have tasted 300 varieties of brew.. The first beer I tasted was a Kapittel tripel. I was "hit" immediately seconds after I tasted it. But my taste changed as the days went on (and on and on).

So how did I fare? I think I handled the pallettes (a tray of 5 varieties of beer) very well, though I enjoyed the taps (draught beer) very much. Beer price ranges from 1,20 euro to 7 euros, depending on the size and type of beer. And like I said, I hated the pinkish fruit beers because they taste like cough syrups! I like anything with a double or a triple blonde or anything that is dark amber in color.

And what are my favorite Belgian beers? Here is my official list, un-prejudiced and based entirely on palatal gustations. Here it is in a very particular order:

1. Dubbels -- examples are the Westmalle trappist and Witkap. They are amber in color and alcohol content ranges from 6-8%.

2. Abbey beers - Grimbergen is on top two of my list, and this is followed by Leffe.

3. Trappist beer -- (probably because they were brewed in Trappist monasteries???) like Chimay and Westmalle (again)... Also Orval, Rochefort and Achel.

4. The blondes -- not all blonds are fun... but Duvel is worthy mentioning here. Brigand is also nice - after meals.

5. Trippel (3x the % alcohol) -- includes Rochefort which is nice if you don't walk 20 minutes in freezing snow after.

6. The etcetera -- I didn't really like them but I tasted them nevertheless. These are Kriek (made from cherries -- I remember what you said Greetje!!!), Palm (which is a ladies' beer, but I liked it because it doesn't taste fruity), Brugs (common but nice!), Adler (also common), Lindemans.

Well... have you counted how many I have tried?

5. Beer in hand -- this I forgot.

Gotta go. Writing made me thirsty.