OK I need some help here! My husband and I are going to Belgium this summer and he is totally uninterested in the whole trip because he thinks he will not find any beers he will enjoy. He is a hop-head here in the U.S. I understand things will be different in Belgium, but can anyone recommend some beers I can steer him toward that he may enjoy more than others??? Is ANYTHING hoppy in Belgium? I feel like I may be able to get him interested in something new, but if I have some ideas for some "bridge" beers that would be great! Any suggestions very appreciated!
Start with Brasserie de la Senne, then probably Brasserie d'Achouffe and maybe Poperings Hommel Bier. Not IPA hop bombs, but all with a nice hop character.
Fresh Belgian IPAs, Orval, and Duvel Triple Hop are some options. De Struise also makes some tasty hoppy beers (and other American-style beers), but availability will vary depending on where you are. I'm not familiar enough with the newer craft breweries in Belgium, but I believe some of them are making American-style hoppy beers as well.
Some of the best Belgian IPA's are from brewery viven , " viven IPA " and the new viven " master IPA "
+1 for De La Senne. They make some great beers with good hop character. Duvel has a brand Vedett, under that brand is a beer called Extra IPA. While not American IPA worthy it fits the bill and fills the bitter craving. Also at places like Moeder and the other big beer bars they have beers from all over the world. Plenty of Spanish, British, Italian Brewers trying to make hoppy styles that are fun to try. Belgium is a beautiful Country enjoy!
+1 De La Senne. Try Taras Boulba, every American I've let it taste loved it. It's not exotic fruit, citrus IPA-style kind of beer. But it is very hoppy and bitter, low ABV, and thus very sessionable. After that, just let him drink Geuze.
XX Bitter (more bitter than hoppy...), Dochter van de Korenaar Extase and Belle Fleur, Struise Elliot Brew, Alvinne Mad Tom and Gaspar + Viven imperial ipa + Taras Boulba as said before
Belgium has some of the best beers in the world, hopefully he can open his mind and palate to enjoy some.
Look for Brasserie du Brabant. Their Origame 4 is a session IPA at 3.8%ABV and very hoppy with a lingering bitter. One of the better hoppy beers I've tasted here in Belgium. Brouwers Verzet with Super Noah and Golden Tricky. Brussels Beer Project with Delta and Dark Sister(more a bipa) Brouwerij De Plukker with Keikoppenbier or All Inclusive IPA(if still available) if he want's to know how earthy and spicy European hops can smell La Rulles with their Estivale ....
Viven Master IPA and IIPA. And btw, don't come to Belgium to drink whatever you have at home, come to Belgium to enjoy some typical Belgian stuff! I'm not complaining about not having lambic when I visit the US neither
Just come to Holland as well, we've got plenty of Hop bombs! Brewery's like De Molen, Two Chefs, 't IJ, Emelisse, Rooie Dop, Maximus, Het Uiltje.. just to name a frew breweries who have pleny of IPA's, DIPA's, Black IPA's etc etc.
Troubadour Magma was one beer I had that pretty much tastes like a US IPA. De La Senne have a couple too. Enjoy Belgiun, amazing country.
A lot of the better shops in Belgium also carry beers from the UK (such as Thornbridge, BBN and Kernel). If he absolutely must drink IPAs, each of those breweries makes IPAs worth trying. But I do agree with the overall sentiment in this thread — tell him to have fun exploring the various Belgian styles. He'll surely find something he likes.
