Belgian beers are not like any other beer in the world. They have a unique flavor that is unlike anything you’ve ever had before. But what makes Belgian beers so special? The answer is variety.
There are over 1000 different beers brewed in Belgium, and there’s no way to know them all. Some of these flavors include fruit, spices, honey, chocolate, and more. Read on for some interesting facts about this popular drink.
Belgian Beers: The Explosion of Flavors
Belgian beers often contain fruit and spices such as oranges, blackberries, coriander, and more. Some varieties may even have chocolate in them.
12th century – The earliest reference to a beer brewed with herbs other than hops can be found in the writings of Abbess Hildegard von Bingen. Monks created this brew for medicinal purposes.
1500 years ago – The tradition of lambics beer making began here during this period. It is still brewed today and enjoyed all over Belgium.
1000+ years ago – Lambic is an old style of Belgian ale that isn’t filtered or boiled but allowed to ferment spontaneously in open vats. This process produces a dry, sour beer with unique flavor profiles that are unlike anything else.
750 years ago – When brewing first started to become popular in Belgium during the Late Middle Ages. Monasteries often controlled it, and breweries were built around them throughout Europe during this period.
500 years ago – When John IV opened the first Brussels brewery, Duke of Brabant. There were hundreds more to open in just a few decades after that point.
50 years ago – In 1959, Pierre Celis opened his first brewery, which sold mainly white-colored ales marked by their distinctive taste. He eventually went on to create Hoegaarden – one of our favorite wheat beers.
Not only can you taste the wide variety of flavors present in these drinks, but they come in many different colors as well. The three main types are blonde, brown/red, and pale.
Each one is typically made from barley or wheat malts with hops added for bitterness and aroma.
Many monks took their talents for creating good-tasting drinks with yeast into entrepreneurship when they founded many successful commercial breweries after leaving their orders behind.
Brewing was also popular with peasants because it provided a way for people to avoid drinking impure water.
Today: Nowadays, Beer is an integral part of Belgian culture and society. It has become so common that the average person drinks 156 liters (about 40 gallons) of Beer each year. That’s about four times as much per capita than in the US.
Most Belgians drink their beers from small glasses or mugs called “chalices.” The specific chalice size depends on what type of Beer you’re having.
Traditional lagers are usually enjoyed out of smaller glasses while fruit lambics should be consumed from larger ones.
There are over 1000 different types of beers brewed in Belgium. These range from your standard pilsner to the more obscure fruit lambics.
Some examples include Witbier, Tripel Karmeliet, Fruitesse De Namur, and many others. There’s no way you could try every single one unless you lived here for at least ten years, which is exactly what some people have decided to do.
They formed an organization called “The Order Of The Beer Glass” in 2003 to help them with their research.
It’s now up to almost 100 members dedicated to trying as many brews as possible each year. This may seem like a fun hobby, but it does require quite a bit of dedication.
75 types: Varieties of fruit-flavored beers that can be found throughout Belgium today, including cherry, raspberry, and peach.
100+ types: Amount of beers that can be found throughout Belgium today, including a special beer brewed with seaweed.
50-75% percent – Percentage of people who drink their beers by mixing them with a soft drink like Coca-Cola rather than drinking it straight.
500,000 – The number of beers that are brewed in Belgium each year. $11 billion – Amount spent on Belgian Beer annually by the country’s residents.
50+% percent – Percentage of beer drinkers who prefer drinking local beers instead of other brands worldwide.
These brews can now be found in almost every bar or restaurant in town, whether it’s a huge hotspot like Brussels or your local pub down the street from where you live. Make sure to get an order of fries on the side to enjoy your favorite Beer with.
Many different breweries in the world produce Belgian-style brews, but these products are often labeled as something else to avoid paying higher taxes on imported goods.
You might even find some locally made versions at your local supermarket. In any case, you choose to enjoy this beverage, make sure you do so responsibly and take advantage of Uber’s safe ride home option when needed.
Now go out there and try one for yourself.
