A lot of those superstrong Belgian beers, especially the ones with comedy names, aren't all that great really, they can be kinda sickly.
If you ever happen to spy Orval beer for sale, then be sure to get some, because that's great. Chimay Bleue is even better though.
I think the famous Westvleteren has become a bit of an Antarean Parakeet Gland On A Stick, and you're never going to find it at a reasonable price outside Benelux, but it's extremely good.
I think my favourite of all Belgian beers is probably a really good kriek (sour cherry lambic), like this one. The words "NIET ZOET" at the top mean "NOT SWEET" in Dutch, because a proper kriek should be fruity and dry, but not sweet-tasting at all. I don't know how easy it is to get a good artisanal kriek in the US though - Bellevue and Lindemans are not the right thing at all.
The thing that I love about beer, as opposed to wine, is that you can drink outstandingly good beer for a relatively small capital outlay.
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branchandroot
Oooh, Belgian beer!
Date: 2008-05-21 02:58 pm (UTC)If you ever happen to spy Orval beer for sale, then be sure to get some, because that's great. Chimay Bleue is even better though.
I think the famous Westvleteren has become a bit of an Antarean Parakeet Gland On A Stick, and you're never going to find it at a reasonable price outside Benelux, but it's extremely good.
I think my favourite of all Belgian beers is probably a really good kriek (sour cherry lambic), like this one. The words "NIET ZOET" at the top mean "NOT SWEET" in Dutch, because a proper kriek should be fruity and dry, but not sweet-tasting at all. I don't know how easy it is to get a good artisanal kriek in the US though - Bellevue and Lindemans are not the right thing at all.
The thing that I love about beer, as opposed to wine, is that you can drink outstandingly good beer for a relatively small capital outlay.