First, I know blogs about food and drinks are awkward, especially when they’re in another country and you can’t just go out and try all my awesome recs…so, just remember what sounds good for your future visit 😬.

Second, I’ve titled this post “Belgian Beer: Part 1” because undoubtedly there will need to be a follow up to this soon.

So, I went to the doctor yesterday to “establish” myself as a patient since I have never been seen at a military treatment facility before. Like all doctor’s offices, the nurse asked me “do you drink alcohol?” and “how often do you drink? daily/weekly/monthly?”. My usual response to this is “once a week or so”. But after I left, I thought about it and realized, I’m in Belgium, beer capital of the world, and I’m drinking much more than that 😳…and when I went to look for pictures, I have more than enough to prove it.

So, we’ve been here 3 months and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to test the waters of Belgian beers. Justin has books on books on books about Belgian beers and has probably already tried every one and can describe each in detail.  But…this is not about him, it is about me. I’m a beer amateur, and I’ve only barely gotten my feet wet.

In my mind, I like blond beer. I think its subconscious (or totally a conscious effort) since I’m a blondie. I order one and then gasp in disgust. Yuck. These two below sounded good – extra blond? Well obviously! And then a cool nun, Helkaise, on a Belgian blond? MUST be for me! GROSS! I shudder thinking back to that first and only sip.

(Vedett Extra blond beer not enjoyed 😂 In Ghent, Belgium)

(Helkaise, blond beer from Hôpital notre-dame à la rose, Lessines, Belgium)

I think I have gone in with an open mind. I mean, fresh off the boat, our amazing host family treated us to some fabulous beers at their house. Not sure if I was just delirious or dehydrated from traveling, but they were great. Fast forward a few days or weeks and I tried some of the same type – nope, not for me.

But what is “Belgian beer”? I guess there are 3 main types – pale lager, lambics, and Flemish Red. I believe the pale lagers were NOT my type.

Lambics – now these AND the Flemish Reds (slurp, slurp) are my favorite. Wikipedia describes Lambics as follows: “Unlike most beers, which are fermented with carefully cultivated strains of brewer’s yeast, lambic is fermented spontaneously by being exposed to wild yeasts and bacteria native to the Zenne valley in which Brussels lies. This process gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry, vinous, and cidery, usually with a sour aftertaste.”

The next Belgian specialty is the Flemish/Flanders (northern area of Belgium) red ale, which Wikipedia describes as follows: “Flanders red ales have a strong fruit flavour similar to the aroma, but more intense. Plum, prune, raisin and raspberry are the most common flavours, followed by orange and some spiciness. The sour or acidic taste can range from moderate to strong. There is no hop bitterness, but tannins are common. Consequently, Flanders red ales are often described as the most wine-like of all beers.

So maybe those describe me better than ‘blonde’? I mean, dry and sour? Perfect!

(Leffe Flemish red enjoyed in beautiful Dinant, Belgium, with The Collegiate Church of Our Lady (Collegiale Notre-Dame) In the background)

(Ginette, just an organic Belgian fruit beer enjoyed in Waterloo, Belgium)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(This was a red-brown beer at Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres, Bruges, Belgium. Apparently they blend old beer with young beer to get the ‘perfect’ balance. Pretty sure this one was decent 👌🏻)

(Villers La ville Abbaye, Belgium – the monks brew 4 types at their microbreweries in the monastery, but of course I didn’t write down what type this was, but it was more pale ale-ish)

So what have I learned so far? No blonds for this blonde! And that sour, fruity beers are (so far) the ones for me (which I’m sure means I should not be recommending beers to people 😂).

But the best part about ALL of these beers? The amazing backdrops with with which I get to enjoy (or not enjoy) them.

(Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres, Bruges, Belgium)

(The view from Panorama restaurant, Namur, Belgium at the top of the citadel.  I don’t have a picture of my beer, but it was a fruit beer and delish. Below is Justin’s with the incredible view!)