Belgium

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Beers 1 - 20 of 57:

Bocq, Brasserie du, Applebocq (Belgium) This for me is an entirely successful flavoured beer, which is not something I can say about many examples of this style. It is a live wheat beer, very subtley flavoured and sweetened with apple juice, that pours a cloudy yellow with a high-rise white head. The nose blends clove and spicy notes with with some sour lemon and a lovely apple fruit character. On the palate it is quiet full-bodied and creamy, and the spicy wheat beer character comes through, with just that subtle, tart, green apple flavour and a pinch of sweetness that is nicely balanced by fresh, citrussy acidity. 3.1% ABV, 33cl, £1.39, Sainsbury's.

Bosteels, Pauwel Kwak (Belgium) Bottled in 75cl with a Champagne cork, Kwak also comes in 33cl bottles. This strong Belgian beer pours a ruby / dark amber colour, with a tight, persistent white head. The nose has wheaty aromas with clove and spices, but also a toffeed note and hints of estery banana. In the mouth it is medium-bodied but smooth, with a nice lightness of touch and a racy lemon fruit quality giving and initial impression of crispness, then the subtle toffee and malty notes come through, with a biscuity richness and some cherry fruit. Despite the high alcohol, this does retain a sense of freshness and the dry, quite bitter finish also keeps it clean and dangerously drinkable. 8.0% ABV, 75cl, £4.15, Euro-beer, Onlyfinebeer, Beerritz, Sainsbury's.

Caulier, Bon Secours Blonde (Belgium) This blonde beer from Caulier is a bottle-conditioned, strong ale that pours a hazy yellow with a hint of orange, with a high-rise white head. It has quite an attractive nose, with a big hit of toasty, sweet malt and barley sugar, before a herbal character really pushes through, with notes of aniseed, and eucalyptus. On the palate this beer is thick-textured, sweet and unctuous, with a chewy, dry malty character. A core of lemony, tangy fruit tugs away, giving this a sensation of brightness through the mid-palate, and adding a welcome acidity to to the rich, sweetish finish. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, £2.39, Beersofeurope, Onlyfinebeer, Pierhead, Surf4beer.

Caulier, Bon Secours Brune (Belgium) In a swing-top bottle like all of the Bon Secours beers, this brown beer pours a very dark, opaque, chocolaty colour with a thick, cappuccino-coloured head. The nose is immediately spicy and fruit-cakey, with a 'Victory V' menthol note, and herbal qualities over sweet, dark malt that almost suggests some floral character. There is lots of complexity here. On the palate there's a real burnt, toasty, chocolate malt character: the burnt toast dryness of a good Stout comes to mind immediately. A juicy, citrussy lift perks it up, and a background sweetness emerges too. This thickly-textured, rich and powerful beer has a long finish, and is unusual, intriguing and enjoyable stuff. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, £2.39, Beersofeurope, Onlyfinebeer, Pierhead, Surf4beer.

Caulier, Bon Secours Framboise (Belgium) Not a typical sweet and light fruit beer, but a heady 7% ABV brew on a base of brown ale. It pours a hazy dark tan colour with a creamy, persistent off-white head. On the nose there's a big hit of rasberry jam and confectionery, with some sweet malt and a sharp, wheaty clove and spice note. On the palate this is really quite dry and lemony, with much more of a tangy, citrussy character and only a lingering suggestion of the raspberry fruit. Long and spicy, this is certainly unusual, but is a good beer. 7.0% ABV, 33cl, Pierhead.

Caulier, Saaz (Belgium) Bottled in a swing-top bottle, this is a top-fermented live beer brewed with Saaz hops, that pours a cloudy pale yellow with plenty of swirling sediment, and a thinish white head. The immediate aroma is gently wheat-beer-like, with lemon and some floral aspects showing through, and just a hint of cloves. On the palate it has a chalky, dry quality, with more lemon and sour apple fruit, and plenty of acidity. There's a little biscuitty hint, but the floral, citrus and dry mineral qualities carry on into the finish. Quite an unusual style, and went well with some Chinese food. 5.5% ABV, 50cl, £2.65, Beersofeurope, Onlyfinebeer, Pierhead, Surf4beer.

Chimay, Red Label Trappist Beer (Belgium) The Trappist monastary at Chimay in the south west of Belgium has been brewing its beers and making its cheeses since 1862. Red label, at 7% ABV, is the least alcoholic of the three beers they produce. It pours with a lovely deep red colour, and tall, foaming head that is very persistent. The nose is intensely fruity, with notes of dried apricots and fig and a chocolaty background. On the palate it is smooth and silky-textured, with a luxurious mouthfeel. There is plenty of nutty, dry, but concentrated fruit character and a spicy, malty finish with plenty of bit. A great beer. 7.0% ABV, 33cl, £1.69, Asda, Booth's, Luvians, Majestic, Peckhams, Pierhead, Sainsbury's.

Chimay, Tripel Trappist Beer (Belgium) Also known as Chimay "white" (because of the label), this is another live beer from Chimay, that pours a hazy golden brown colour with a dense, high-rise off-white head. The nose is dramatic and powerful, with a darkness of raisins and demerara sugar playing against much higher, almost floral notes, masses of clove and pepper, and a core of nettly hops. On the palate it is dense, thick and full-bodied, with an immediately sharp, bitter chicory and endive flavour. There's a caramel in the background, but it is no match for these aggressive and pungent green flavours that leave this beer very crisp and clean despite the weight and richness. Excellent stuff. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, £1.99, Booth's, Luvians, Peckhams, Pierhead, Surf4beer.

Daas, Blond (Belgium) Daas' organic blond beer is brewed from all-barley malt, and is a live beer that pours a pale, hazy golden colour with a thinnish white head. It has a nicely aromatic hint of toffee and honey on the nose, with a touch of spice and lively banana fruit esters. On the palate it is quite full and richly-textured, with coriander spice and cool lemony fruit. It seems to have a lot of wheat beer character, with freshness and a bit of dry, hoppy bite in the finish. 6.5% ABV, 33cl, Fabulouslygreen.

Daas, Witte (Belgium) Daas produce certified organic beers in Hainaut, in the Walloon region. Witte uses organic wheat and malted barley and pours a cloudy, pale putty colour with a white head. The nose is extremely aromatic, with masses of clove and star anise spice, floral notes and a tangy orange character. On the palate this quite full-bodied beer has a cool, lemon and apple fruitiness, with a hint of toasted grains and plenty of hoppy bite in a balanced, quite straightforward, but very drinkable format. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, Fabulouslygreen.

Dupont, Moinette Blonde (Belgium) This blonde beer packs a hefty 8.5% ABV into a deceptively light frame. It is a live beer that pours a very hazy light yellow/gold, with a white head that is as thick as shaving foam. On the nose it has a wheatbeer character, with clove, orange peel and lemon notes, and a funky, slightly rubbery note that adds to the complexity. On the palate it is creamy and rich, but not heavy. There is a big clove-tinted lemon and crisp apple core, and a green, nettly stripe running through it. There's a hint of malt, and a very fresh, crisp finish on a distinctive and complex beer of great quality. 8.5% ABV, 33cl, £1.89, Beersofeurope, Euro-beer, Onlyfinebeer, Sainsbury's.

Duvel, Golden Ale (Belgium) This was the big 75cl, Champagne-style corked bottle of Duvel. It pours a bright gold with a steady stream of bubbles. Thanks to secondary fermentation in the bottle, it has one of the most dense, lathering white heads of any beer. The nose is lovely: a crisp and fruity melange of Asian pear, cloves and wheatbeer-like yeastiness with a hint of caramel and some floral aspects. On the palate it is dense and creamy, with a strapping, hoppy bitterness and a full-bodied, chewy complexity. It has sweetness, but it does not cloy, as the full, ripe pear fruit and green streak of hops dominates. Long and carrying it's heady 8.5% ABV well, this is a delightful beer. This big bottle is £3.55 from Sainsbury's, but the 33cl size is widely available. 8.5% ABV, 33cl, £1.50 - £1.90, Asda, Booth's, Luvians, Majestic, Sainsbury's, Surf4beer, Waitrose.

Duvel, Triple Hop (Belgium) This 9.5% ABV limited edition is a high-hopped variant of Duvel’s regular 8.5% brew. It is available only from Sainsbury's in the UK from November 2007, whilst stocks last. Presented in a very smart box as a 75cl Champagne-style bottle, the beer bears a 'best before' date of June 2010. Hops, added at different stages of the brew, are Czech Saaz, Styrian Golding and American Amarillo. The beer is very much being touted as a collector's item, and I see there's already one on ebay with bids standing at £22! And the beer? It pours a fairly light golden colour with a huge, high rise white head. The nose is extremely powerful, soaring from the glass with plenty of clove and coriander seed spice, touches of banana and spearmint, and a grassy background note. It strikes the palate in a thick, creamy stream, with an initial burst of sweetness quickly swept aside by a powerful, bitter hop presence. On the mid-palate this is really chewy and dense, with citrus and spice notes and that sweetness lying just beneath. This is a very substantial beer, but the hops regain control of the finish adding a cleansing bitterness. Very fine stuff this, and worth seeking out. 9.5% ABV, 75cl, £12.99, Sainsbury's.

Duvel, Vedett Extra Blond (Belgium) The little brother of Duvel, brewed at the Moortgat brewery, this is a pale gold beer that retains its thin, white head to the bottom of the glass. There's a little clove-like, spicy, wheat beer aroma, but otherwise it is fresh lemon and some crunchy apple fruit that dominates, with a higher note of hoppiness kicking in. On the palate this has quite a thick, rich texture, a certain sweetness of the malt and plentiful fruit character nicely offset by a big, tangy lemon acidity and a good level of hopping. Not so complex as Duvel, but at a moderate 5.2% ABV this is both refreshingly easy to drink and tasty. Mostly in the on-trade - pubs and restaurants. 5.2% ABV, 33cl, On-trade only..

Grimbergen, Bière d'Abbaye Double (Belgium) A beer once brewed at the Abbey of Grimbergen, now at the Alken-Maes Brewery. It pours a dark ruby/brown colour with a cream-coloured head that is quite thick. On the nose it is filled with spiced plum pie aromas that are both fruity and malty. On the palate it is decidedly sweet, with a rather sugary character, though darker, roasted nut and chocolate notes begin to bring it back into balance. There's quite a refreshing character here, with quite lively carbonation though a full texture. Not a patch on the best Trappist doubles, and very commercial, but a decent dark beer. 6.5% ABV, 33cl, £1.85, Euro-beer, Luvians, Pitfield Beer Shop, Beerritz.

Haacht, (for Marks & Spencer) Etoile d'Or (Belgium) Brewed for M&S by the Haacht brewery in Belgium, this is a premium lager that pours a bright, quite light gold, with a moderate white head that is quite lacy on the glass. The nose is quite clean and lemony, with just a touch of starchy character and a nice note of green, leafy hops. On the palate this is a rich, full, and really quite sweet beer, with a mouthfilling fruitiness that for me is just a touch cloying. The finish does have a little bite of hop bitterness and quite clean acidity, but the mid-palate is just a touch too sweet. Decent stuff, and some may like it more than me. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 12 @ £9.99, Marks & Spencer.

Hoegaarden, Forbidden Fruit (Belgium) Widely regarded as Hoegaarden's best beer, this is a red ale somewhat in the style of a Trappist beer, with a sourness too. It is brewed with coriander and dried orange peel, and is a live beer. The colour is a deep, vibrant ruby, with a high-rise off-white head. On the nose it has lovely complexity, with spices and dried herbs, hints of tree bark and mossy undergrowth. There is malt too, and a marmalade fruit quality. In the mouth it is soft and foaming, with an immediate sweetness and rich, chocolaty malt. A tang of citrus and caramelised orange fills out on the mid-palate, before that lovely Christmas cake spice and sour cherry bite warms the long, savoury finish. Terrific stuff. 8.5% ABV, 33cl, £1.79, Beersofeurope, Fabeers, Luvians, Peckhams.

Hoegaarden, Grand Cru (Belgium) With a similar high ABV as "Tripel" belgian ales, this "big brother" to the regular Hoegaarden wheat beer pours a light-to-medium hazy gold, with a high rise, dense head. The nose is similar to the regular bottling, with cloves and spices, lemon and a slightly malty richness. There's a hint of very ripe, even over-ripe fruit, in quite a complex profile. On the palate it is yeasty and rich, with a smooth white-chocolate note, plenty of racy citrus fruit and an underlying bitterness that adds a grippy edge. It remains a full style of beer, though it has very good balance and acidity. 8.5% ABV, 33cl, £1.60, Euro-beer, Luvians, Beerritz, Sainsbury's, Surf4beer, Tesco.

Hoegaarden, Witbier (Belgium) This was the big 75cl Hoegaarden, a beer from the giant Interbrew, and one of the most popular wheat beers in the UK. Subtly flavoured with Coriander and Curaçao, it pours in a swirling cloud of yeast with a pale yellow, almost putty colour and strong white head. It is intensely aromatic, with lots of lemony fruit, spices and a hint of white chocolate. There is plenty of yeasty aroma, that's quite high and floral. On the palate it is very easy-drinking, with not a lot of hop flavour, but plenty of spicebox nuances, a vaguely medicinal hint and a crisp, fruity, refreshing style. 5.0% ABV, 75cl, £2.99, Asda, Majestic, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, widely available.

Huyghe, Bengal Tiger Premium Indian Lager (Belgium) I struggled over where to place this beer, having tracked down that despite being a "premium Indian lager", it is in fact brewed in Belgium by Brouwerij Huyghe, the people who bring us Delerium Tremens. Pouring a pale yellow/gold with a thick white head, it has a fairly grainy, corny nose, with quite a lot of straw-like character. On the palate there's a definite Belgian beer-like sweet edge here, and a fairly rich, full texture. Carbonation is moderate, and it is fairly chewy and dense through the mid-palate. The sweetness and malty fullness remains, though there is decent acidity and bitterness. Not a fantastic beer, but I can see its appeal with Indian food. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, Pierhead.