Recommended Belgian Beers to not miss.

Great list!

I have to say that Avril really impressed me and I wish I had bought more before it disappeared.

 

I'll be in Belgium within a month. I'm taking notes!

But seriously, great read. Belgium beer is something I don't try often, although I tend to enjoy what I have tried quite a bit.

 

I'd tack on Pannepot, Piraat, Tripel Karmeliet, Saison Dupont, Fantome Saison, St. Bernardus Abt 12, and Gulden Draak...

 

In terms of a "tour of Belgians" easily found in the US, I'd start with...

Duvel
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Westmalle Dubbel
Triple Karmeliet
Rochefort 10
Gueuze Tilquin
Delirium Noel

A bit harder to find here, but still not that hard, I've enjoyed everything I've tried from Alvinne and De Struise. Of course, Cantillon, 3F and Westvleteren are great if you can get your hands on them.

 

Sometimes it's good to have a reminder.

 

Nice read. Very surprised nobody picked one of my favorite Belgians, St. Bernardus Abt 12.

 

Choosing one Belgian beer is like choosing one American beer. Maybe even harder. That said, if someone was only gonna try one Beglian, I'd probably recommend Duvel.

Forgot to add Saison Dupont to my list above.

 

Everything from Brasserie d'Achouffe.

 

I'd go with the St. Bernardus 12...

 

OP thank you for sharing this article. Such an enjoyable read. I've had maybe 30-50% of the beers on this list, and seeing the obscure ones, makes the thought of travel to Belgium so much on my mind. I so hope European countries like Belgium England and Germany stick to their roots, and don't bastardize their brewing with American craft culture influence just to make a buck. The alure of each isolated beer culture and heritage is what makes them so incredible. I don't want a homogenized globalist beer culture. That will become boring IMO.

 

Mine would be Triple Karmeleit.

 

Another vote for St. Bernardus 12 to be added to that list.

FWIW the beer that I drank the most during one visit I made to Brussels was Duvel.

Cheers!

 

Do you get it in France or is this something you need to find in Belgium?

 

Its Duvel. Everyone else is playing for silver...

 

Some of my favorite spots...

Brussels
Cantillon, obviously. Great little self-guided tour. World class beer at the lowest prices you'll ever find it.

Le Piechenellekelder. Right across street from Mannekin Pis. Sit outside, eat some cheese, drink some good beer. The signs mentioning rare Cantillon bottles aren't necessarily accurate, but still plenty to choose from.

Nuetnigenough. Small restaurant with great beer near all the touristy stuff. Lots of Alvinne.

Moeder Lambic. Lambic bar(s) if you don't get your fill everywhere else. I've never been to 3F, but it seems awesome, too.

Les Brassins. Great old school Belgian food down an alley in old building with great charm. Small beer list, but they have good stuff. Near birthplace of Audrey Hepburn of you're with anyone who gives a damn about that.

Bruges
De Struise. They have a tiny bottle shop, with a two or three seat bar, right next to the church that has the Blood of Christ. Cantillon was a pilgrimage for me, but this was otherwise my favorite spot in Belgium, shooting the shit with the guy working there, drinking a few beers I could never find stateside. They have limited hours.

Cambrinus. Just off main square. Hearty Belgian food and great beer. Get reservations if you want dinner there. I got in for lunch without one.

Ghent
Waterhuis. There are lots of bars that are pretty similar in Ghent. I liked sitting outside on the water at this one. They also have a restaurant right next door with traditional Belgian food that let's you order off the Waterhuis beer menu. I had a couple different Gueuze with my massive pot of waterzooi. There's also a place right there that has some traditional Ghent spirit whose name I'm forgetting.