My sister is in Belgium right now. Obviously the country is well known for their beer, but I'm no expert on what the top native Belgian beers are. What should I have her bring back for me? Recommendations?
Westvleteren and cantillon, but those are obvious. Their known for their sours so you can't go wrong with any of those.
Here is a good start: http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/be/ The ones on that list with more reviews will generally be easier to obtain and will provide a good introduction if you're not familiar with Belgian beer.
No point in getting beers that are readily available here. This thread may help - http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-belgian-beers-not-exported-to-the-us.143336/ Some of these beers can be easily found in the US, but most are rare or never seen. Determine what's available in your area and go for ones that aren't. http://www.belgiansmaak.com/belgian-beers/
Tut has a good point. Why have her bring back something that you could get in this country, or easily trade for? You're getting answers like Cantillon and Westvleteren because people in the states know those beers. That's also why they are rated so highly. Go for something different. Also, cruise the Belgium subforum and see what those folks are saying. And maybe post this question there.
Lol finding Drie in Belgium is pretty much not very likely. If you do it will just be normal geuze, finding seasonal or the seasons won't happen. Have your sister look for Cantillon. It's avalible, grey marketed or not, in most bottle shops.
You pretty much got lucky. Drie is really hard to find in Belgium. I know of only 2 bars in Brussels that serve it. Only one bottle shop that stocks it (but price gouges like 110€ for framboos). Hanssens, De Cam, and Fantome are other brewerys that just don't get around much
Fresh Orval. It ages well but since it's dry hopped and changes so much over time it's worth picking up a few fresh bottles for a new experience.
Speaking of which it's been a while since I last had an Orval....I think I'll pick one up on my next beer run.
Question to all: how hard is it to find the John Martin version of Guinness in Belgium? I'd recommend that.
Then you all very much for the recs. I passed some of them on to her. She'll be surprising me on Sunday with whatever she found, I'll fill you all in then.
depends what you like. if she can grab some of the hoppy belgian offerings there (e.g., De La Senne, De Ranke, Hommel Bier), they are miles ahead of what you get here. the obvious lambic/gueuze providers (don't limit yourself to cantillon or 3F) as others have noted. if she makes it to oostvleteren, de struise (or, failing that, their shop in brugges). and het anker in mechelen. again, while their stronger beers survive the trip here, their more delicate like hopsinjoor and classic are miles better there. de halve maan (also brugge) with brugse zot is also great. if she is nice in antwerp, dirk and leen (kulminator) may let her bring a rare vintage bottle or two (e.g., 1990 chimay, 1985 de dolle oerbier, late '70s st. sixtus) if they are still available. and if you do cheese, many breweries have their own versions...
Every grocery and a fair number of corner shops. Amazingly underrated. I ignored it for years until someone explained to me that it's totally unlike other bottled Guinness. That said, it's not the thing I'd suggest bringing back unless you're foremost a stout fan. Think of more prototypical Belgians: gueuzes (steering clear of the sweater ones like Mort Subite, although that has been a port in a storm for me many times), Flemish reds and browns (I'm not trying to say "sour"); saisons; and the Trappist/abbey styles. I'm not as up on what's available stateside but it depends where you are -- and where your sister is?
