Belgium Beer – A Heady Mix of Centuries Old Culture & Passion
Belgium, a small yet enthralling European country, is renowned for drawing a million of travel enthusiasts every year. People visit this beguiling European gem to adore the beauty of vintage mansions & castles, astounding architecture, alluring galleries & exquisite canals.
In addition to being home to the myriad of the spectacular crowd-pleasers, Belgium is often quoted to have one of the best cuisines in Europe. Belgium is famed for chocolates, waffles, French fries with mayonnaise & last, but not the least, Belgium Beer.
Belgium is globally acclaimed for producing a large number of world’s rarest, tastiest & the most interesting beers to the extraordinary standards. This country is an inescapable part of the carousing life-style.
If you are a casual beer drinker or a home-brewing or bottle-cellaring enthusiast, probably Belgium is the ideal destination for you. To relish the incomparable oomph of the Belgian beer brands, all you need is an Online Belgium Visa. Fill the Visa Application form to apply for a Visa for Belgium.
Fascinating History of Belgium Beer
Belgium holds the tradition of beer-brewing long before it became an independent country. This ancient brewing practice dates back to around 12th century, when local French & Flemish cloisters, under the permission of the Catholic Church, used to raise funds to brew & distribute beer. The availability of unhygienic drinking water paved a way to the intake of relatively low-alcoholic beer by the people.
The present traditional & artisanal beer-brewing methods evolved for over the seven centuries under the supervision of the abbey.
Then in the late 18th Century, some monks, fleeing the French Revolution, occupied the Trappist monasteries of Belgium that are today known for brewing some of the best Belgian beer. Monks would use local herbals such as fruits or hops to preserve the beer in the adverse climatic conditions. It is evident that Belgium Beer & its traditional brewing methods evolved from a domestic activity to an artisanal pursuit.
And finally, after 50 years after the French Revolution, the first Trappist brewery of Belgium began its operation on 10th December 1836. The beer was exclusively brewed for the monks & named as Westmalle.
Remarkably, the Belgium Beers are the heady mix of the centuries old brewing tradition & passionate brewers of the new generation.
Type of Belgium Beers
Belgium holds the greatest diversity of authentic & extraordinary beer styles on the planet. Over 1100 varieties of beer are brewed in about 230 Active Belgian Breweries that vary on the grounds of color, alcohol levels & brewing methods.
Two of the renowned Belgium Beers are Trappist Beers & Abbey Beers.
1). Trappist Beers – The Beers brewed in the Trappist Belgian monasteries are known as Trappist beers. Out of the 10 Trappist Abbeys in the World, six are situated in Belgium.
In year 1997, a collaboration of eight Trappist abbeys from Belgium, Netherlands & Germany formed the International Trappist Association & issued a logo to the Trappist Beers in order to ensure the authenticity of the beer to the customers.
Certain rules that qualify a beer to be a Trappist Beer are as follows-
- The Brewery should be situated in a monastery.
- The beer should be brewed under the control & strict supervision of Monks.
- The profit earned from the sale of the Beer should be spent to support abbeys or used in other social services.
Some of the renowned Trappist Beers include- Achel, Chimay Bleu, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren.
2). Abbey Beers – Abbey Beers are referred to as basically any monastic or monastic-style beers that were officially introduced in year 1991. Since then, Abbey Beers have become the most award-winning beers because of its generous standards of Brewing. The main ingredients used in the brewing include definitive Belgian Yeast, a rich blend of caramel & chocolate, dried cherries, burnt sugar & figs.
Abbey Beers may be-
- Produced by a non-Trappist monastery & has a historic connection with the abbey site that beer refers to.
- Produced by a marketable brewery.
The Abbey Brewery created a legitimacy logo to ensure authenticity of the beer to the customers. The logo reads as “Erkend Belgisch Abdijber” (Belgian Abbey Beers) & applies to Belgium Beers only.
Some of the renowned Abbey Belgium Beers include La Rulles Triple, De Dolle Oeral, De Ranke Gludenberg & De Ryck Arend Dubbel.
Methods of Brewing of Belgium Beers
The various methods using for the brewing of Belgian Beers include-
1). Spontaneous Fermentation
2). Warm Fermentation
3). Mixed Fermentation
4). Cool Fermentation
Most popular Belgian beers
Here is a list of hand-picked Belgian Beers that you shouldn’t miss carousing on your tour to Belgium with a Visa for Belgium-
- Duchesse De Bourgogne
- Rodenbach Grand Cru
- Orval Trappist Ale
- Westmalle Tripel
- Bernadus Wit
Get your Online Belgium Visa Appointment materialized by filling the Visa Application form & grab the opportunity to savor from the globally recognized Belgium Beers.
