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Viewing Is Belgium boring? Nope - Not When it Comes to Beer!Is Belgium boring? Nope - Not When it Comes to Beer!
By Adam Singleton
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Everyone knows that the most important thing in life is beer, and when it comes to brewing, Belgium is anything but boring. Belgium excels at producing high quality and interesting beers that have made the country synonymous with this amber nectar. It seems a little unfair that Belgium, a small country on the northwest European mainland, has been tagged as 'boring' by her neighbors. Ok - perhaps, compared to nations nearby, it doesn't have such geological diversity. You will not find great swathes of forest like in Germany, the hot sandy beaches of Spain, or the towering Alpine mountains of France, but who cares about that? Everybody knows that the most important thing in life is beer, and when it comes to brewing, Belgium is anything but boring. While other European countries continue to churn out bland, generic lagers, Belgium has excelled at producing a massive variety of high quality and interesting beers that have made the country synonymous with this amber nectar. In terms of global popularity, the fairly ordinary, (though perfectly drinkable) lager - Stella Artois - has dominated pubs around the world and especially in the UK. When first launched, it was backed up by the ad campaign that proclaimed it to be 'reassuringly expensive'. This lead to it being seen as chic and exotic, but it has since dropped in stature somewhat. In contrast to Stella Artois, the white beer Hoegaarden is still held in high regard, and is available on tap in many pubs and bars across the UK. It possesses a cloudy nature and spicy taste (created by adding extracts of coriander and orange peel), and is usually served in the huge trademark Hoegaardeen glass. It sometimes comes with a slice of lime - though some beer purists prefer it unadulterated. Its complex and fruity taste also appeals to the female market, which tends to be less keen on traditional ales and lager. The only downside to Hoegaarden is the cost. Due to Hoegaarden being the first white beer widely available in the UK, it cornered the market early, and thus tends to be the most expensive beer in the bar. Proprietors enjoy a larger than normal markup, for no other reason than that people are willing to pay a premium for something delicious and different. Some of the best-known Belgian beers are the Trappist Ales. Trappist is an order of monks who are noted for their austerity and vow of silence. They let their beer do the talking. There are six Trappist breweries in the world, and all are in Belgium. They produce brews that are highly regarded in gourmet beer drinking circles such as Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, and Achel, which tend to be strong in flavor and in alcohol content. If you are thinking about visiting Belgium to taste their beers first hand, the Bruges Beer Festival is a great place to start. There you will find forty brewers offering over 100 different beers, including five Trappist Breweries, and you will be able to sample the best from Belgium's beer-y landscape. Go to Hotels in Bruges to get booked up quickly during the festival. Get in early if you want to sample Belgium's finest produce. Next time you hear someone say that Belgium is boring, tell him or her to put down that pint of Stella and try an Orval, Hoegaarden, or Achel, after all, there is more to Belgium than dull lager. About the Author: Adam Singleton is an online freelance journalist from Scotland. His hobbies include traveling and hiking. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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