Life Changing Trip To Belgium

Discussion in 'Belgium' started by Mplstim, Apr 9, 2014.

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  1. Mplstim

    Mplstim Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Minnesota

    I was fortunate this past September to be sent to Belgium for a 3-week work project. I would be working at the Florennes Air Base in the French-speaking south of Belgium. We stayed in a hotel in the small town of Ahnee' just north of Dinant on the Meuse River. This is an area with a rich tradition of Belgian Abbey Ales and we were in close proximity to the original Leffe Abbey and the Maredsous Abbey. Each morning was a beautiful drive through the Belgian forests and pastoral countryside in a zippy Renault.

    While I'm no beer expert, I've never enjoyed the mass-produced beers and always migrated toward the more interesting micro-brews, particularly ambers and wheat beers. Not a "hop-head", I prefer the maltier and richer textured beers. I would find heaven in Belgium.

    The "brasserie" next to our hotel was well-stocked with a variety of tap and bottled beers from all over Belgium and nearly all the best local Abbey Ales from that region were on tap there. Each night at dinner there, we'd sample a number of them. When asking a local which is the best beer in Belgium, the consistent response was "Chimay Bleu." I tried all the Chimay varieties, loved both Red and Blue labels but found Chimay "Blanche" (Tripel) with the white label to be perhaps my favorite beer of all time. The locals considered Stella and Hoegaarden to be their version of Miller Lite or Bud - not worth wasting your time on..

    There was a tavern next to the famous cathedral in Dinant that served all the varieties of Leffe on tap and I came to love Leffe Blonde and Leffe Tripel nearly as much as the Chimay. We toured the Maredsous Abbey and had their beers and cheese after a tour of the grounds and church there. Outstanding Blonde and Brune. The Leffe Abbey across the river from Dinant is now a hotel and we went there as well.

    Coming home to Minnesota, I was surprised to find many of my favorite Belgian beers available at local stores. I've since bought the required goblets for my favorite Leffes and Chimays and enjoy these beers with friends and family. Leffe is an affordable everyday beer and I break out the tall, corked Chimay bottles for guests and special occasions.

    Wonderful stuff..

    Tim
     
    #1 Mplstim, Apr 9, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2014
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  2. 2beerdogs

    2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds like a great "coming of age" story. I have not been to Belgium, but hope to one day. Consider yourself blessed. I rediscovered dunkels in Bavaria (with the added bonus of awesome food pairings). Gave me a new respect for German brews.
     
    #2 2beerdogs, Apr 9, 2014
  3. MarshallBirdhouse

    MarshallBirdhouse Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2013 Kentucky
    Trader

    Not one mention of Cantillon. Shame.
     
    #3 MarshallBirdhouse, Apr 9, 2014
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  4. erbu

    erbu Crusader (418) Feb 12, 2014 Belgium

    Seriously, Belgium is more than just Cantillon....
     
    #4 erbu, Apr 9, 2014
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  5. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    very true, but it is also much more than Leffe and Chimay:slight_smile:

    That is not a dig at the OP, but a retort to the above quote.


    OP if you like those, I would recommend trying Westmalle Tripel, the Rochefort lineup and for something very unique Orval, one of my all time favorite beers.
     
    #5 digita7693, Apr 9, 2014
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  6. erbu

    erbu Crusader (418) Feb 12, 2014 Belgium

    I agree. Personally I don't drink Leffe as there are much better alternatives not coming from a multinational. It's a shame you can call any beer you make an abbey beer, even if it's brewed in your mom's (abbey) basement.

    Basically, you gotta try trappists because they are easily available and after that you can start getting into more local Belgian brews.
     
    #6 erbu, Apr 9, 2014
  7. Mplstim

    Mplstim Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Minnesota

    There were many, many more that I enjoyed while I was there. I can't remember them all.. In fact, I had a physical not long after that trip and my doctor noticed my liver counts were high!! I told him I was drinking 2-4 beers a night in Belgium for 3 weeks straight! The standouts I can recall:

    Maredsous Blonde and Brune
    Rochefort
    La Chouffe
    Gauloise
    Delerium Tremons
    Duvel
    There was a local one they served in a ceramic chalice but I can't recall the name..

    Like I said, I'm no expert and had no prior knowledge of what I "should" like in a beer, Belgian or otherwise. I just really liked the Leffes and Chimays.
     
    #7 Mplstim, Apr 9, 2014
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  8. trevorjk

    trevorjk Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2009 Netherlands

    It is a start. And that is all that counts :slight_smile: Now come back and have one of us point you into the right direction for all the crazy good beers we offer over here :slight_smile:
     
    #8 trevorjk, Apr 9, 2014
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  9. barrybeerdog

    barrybeerdog Pundit (941) Aug 17, 2012 South Dakota

    Take it easy Francis, did you not read the description of the type of beer this man enjoys? Not everyone is a wild/sour fan. Give the guy a break, obviously he's new to the craft world and found a few beers that he really enjoys, so lighten up, would ya!?
     
    #9 barrybeerdog, May 8, 2014
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  10. Brabander

    Brabander Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2009 Netherlands

    Sour beers are only there for one sole purpose and that is to clean the toilets.....
     
    #10 Brabander, May 8, 2014
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  11. Stevenwings

    Stevenwings Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2014 Belgium

    Hmmm i know we flush it with heineken :stuck_out_tongue: :wink:
     
    #11 Stevenwings, May 8, 2014
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  12. Brabander

    Brabander Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2009 Netherlands

    No, Heineken is horses piss....
     
    #12 Brabander, May 8, 2014
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  13. ManforallSaisons

    ManforallSaisons Pooh-Bah (1,554) Mar 20, 2008 Belgium
    Pooh-Bah

    That's a solid, representative lineup of brews, there. Glad you enjoyed. (And enjoyed before the hop wave crashes over us here... it's coming.)
     
    #13 ManforallSaisons, May 8, 2014
  14. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll be in Belgium in 3 weeks.. Beyond excited, but trying to figure out the best way to visit all of these places!
     
    #14 StoutSnob40, Jun 22, 2014
  15. SStein

    SStein Initiate (0) Dec 26, 2012 Colorado

    I believe that is unfair to horse piss. Throw then some hops, a little malt and ferment it and it has to be better than Heineken.
     
    #15 SStein, Jun 23, 2014
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  16. patre_tim

    patre_tim Pooh-Bah (2,661) Mar 29, 2012 Thailand
    Pooh-Bah

    How was your time? I went to Belgium in Nov/ Dec 2013. Had an awesome time!
     
    #16 patre_tim, Jun 24, 2014
  17. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I actually leave in about 3 weeks, but I'll post about it when I get back.
     
    #17 StoutSnob40, Jun 24, 2014
  18. patre_tim

    patre_tim Pooh-Bah (2,661) Mar 29, 2012 Thailand
    Pooh-Bah

    ok, awesome! Where do you plan on going?
     
    #18 patre_tim, Jun 24, 2014
  19. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Visiting Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, hitting up Cantillon, St. Bernardus, In de Vrede, De Halve Maan, Staminee de Garre and tons of other bars and shops. Fortunately, I have an amazingly cool fiance who is just as excited as I am. And all of that before we go to the German Grand Prix, Munich and Switzerland!
     
    #19 StoutSnob40, Jun 24, 2014
  20. patre_tim

    patre_tim Pooh-Bah (2,661) Mar 29, 2012 Thailand
    Pooh-Bah

    You'll have a great trip then! Cantillon is awesome as I'm sure everyone has said. There's a Bed and Breakfast at St Bernardus I stayed at that I totally recommend. Its not overly publicized but combined with the tour of the brewery it was a highlight of Belgium for me.
     
    #20 patre_tim, Jun 24, 2014
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