Thread: Belgian Beer

Never noticed this thread before but had the good fortune to be introduced to Belgian beer quite a few years ago by a friend in Holland. Drank a few Duvel, Leffe and Palm with him. That is some of the best beer I have tasted and the real pity is that I can't find locally over here.

Bob

Nothing beats Hoegaarden, Or Mill street belgian wit. These 2 are my favorite Belgian style beers. I find myself coming back to them all the time.

Recently I've been into local craft brewery's. Especially ones brewing beer the right way. The way its suppose to be. The beer market is very close to how shaving has been changed. Its all marketing. Most guys don't know how beer is suppose to taste. All they know are these crappy corn sodas that all the big names market the crap out of.

A lot of these craft brewery's are bringing back how the different styles of beer are suppose to taste. In Ontario here, the craft brewery's are taking off big time. Flying monkeys, Nickel Brook, Muskoka brewery, Mill street brewery, Lake of bays. These are just a few of my favorites.

Do yourself a favor and try a local craft brewery. You may never go back to conventional beer.

That is all well and good to try local craft beers but we are 800 miles away from southern Ontario and the choice is limited to one micro brewery. Still SOL for Belgian beers here or any similar brew.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

That is all well and good to try local craft beers but we are 800 miles away from southern Ontario and the choice is limited to one micro brewery. Still SOL for Belgian beers here or any similar brew.

Bob

You don't have a beer store or lcbo close to you? There are Belgian style beers there.

Here this might help. This is down town Thunder bay 417 Edward st. Just ask for Mill street Belgian wit.

EDWARD ST. N.: Inventory | The Beer Store

Well I'll be damned, I have never seen it in the store when I have been in there looking specifically for Palm. Still not Palm but we will have to try that, better than nothing. Thanks.

Bob

One of my favorite Belgian style beers is Monk's Blood. It is brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery based out of San Francisco. They infuse figs, vanilla, cinnimon, and oak chips. Brilliant IMO. Good luck finding it outside of SF though. I'm from New York and I've only been able to find it twice. Once at a bar on tap (initial discovery) and another at a distributer. I literally grabbed everything they had... which was about 8 4-packs. It barely lasted me a week. There was a 2 year gap between initial discovery and that fateful day at the distributer.

I loved it so much I even tried to replicate the recipe (I homebrew). It came close. IBU, smell, alcohol content. The taste was slightly different, a bit more rich.. which IMO was not a good thing. If you can find it i HIGHLY recommend it.

Originally Posted by Powerhouse

One of my favorite Belgian style beers is Monk's Blood. It is brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery based out of San Francisco. They infuse figs, vanilla, cinnimon, and oak chips. Brilliant IMO. Good luck finding it outside of SF though. I'm from New York and I've only been able to find it twice. Once at a bar on tap (initial discovery) and another at a distributer. I literally grabbed everything they had... which was about 8 4-packs. It barely lasted me a week. There was a 2 year gap between initial discovery and that fateful day at the distributer.

I loved it so much I even tried to replicate the recipe (I homebrew). It came close. IBU, smell, alcohol content. The taste was slightly different, a bit more rich.. which IMO was not a good thing. If you can find it i HIGHLY recommend it.

I second this. I tried Monks Blood last winter and was very impressed. It has a nice complex flavor without being too sweet. Great beer to enjoy during the holidays. I actually have a can in my beer fridge that has been aging since last December. I plan to open it up and try it along with a new one this Christmas.

Orval is my all time favorite. But there are too many great Belgian beers to list. If your into saisons give DuPont and Fantôme a try.

I'm a fan of St. Bernardus and Scaldis. A local bar was able to pick up a 2011 keg of Scaldis Noel. It was amazing. I also enjoy American Belgian-style ales, like Ommegang.