JULY 22, 2000: Charlotte, NC--
From May 20th through the 29th of this year, 23 intrepid adventurers hopped on a plane and landed in the land of chocolate, lace, and, oh yes, beer! Their quest? To discover the great beers of belgium.
No other country in the world has such a vast array of beers to choose from. Within this array, there is a diversity to tantalize most any taste. And the variety of different beers is matched only by the variety of different glasses, from flutes and snifters to goblets! |
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In the weeks to come, we will be publishing articles written by some of those participants of this beer quest. We'll go deep in to the breweries that produce some of the worlds most exquisite brews. Perhaps we'll learn some trade secrets, and learn from the masters exactly how to pour a Belgian Beer. Chimay, Duvel, Boon, we'll visit them all!
To get us started, Mike Lewandowski has put together an article on the Frank Boon Brewery. Mike has been brewing since August of 1991, and all-grain brewing since 1993. He's a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of North Carolina and works as a water supply engineer at McGill Associates in Asheville. He's studied brewing water and hops at the Milwaukee Area Technical College and is presently the president of the Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters in Asheville. Click the article link below to read all the Frank Boon Brewery...
Belgium Beer Series: Click on titles to read article
The Frank Boon Brewery
by Mike Lewandowski
Traditional lambic brewing is alive and well in the Zenne River valley in Belgium! I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Frank Boon Brewery in Lembeek, Belgium. It was a relief to find out that small-scale brewing methods still have a good home.
The Chimay Brewery
by Al Clayson and Brian Smyth
Our tour group had the pleasure of making a pilgrimage by bus to the Chimay Brewery near the Ardennes forest of southern Belgium. Chimay is the world’s most recognized Trappist beer.
Plan a trip of your own!
If you plan to take a trip to Belgium, here are some tips:
Brewery visits
Many breweries have tours or open days, and some will welcome casual callers who seem genuinely interested. The smaller ones, often with traditional open vessels, offer the best insight into how beer is made - and into Belgium's very specific brewing tradition and culture. Many sell beer on the premises, often in gift-packs with appropriate glasses. Check the yellow pages, or local tourist office, or one of the detailed guides mentioned below.
Beer guidebooks
The Great Beers of Belgium, by Michael Jackson (published by Prion of London and Running Press of Philadelphia) discusses the styles and the brewers, with colour photographs, and tells you where you can continue to find Belgian beers when you get home.
The Good Beer Guide to Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, by Tim Webb (Campaign for Real Ale) is packed with practical detail. The Beers of Wallonia, by John Woods and Keith Rigley (The Artisan Press) is invaluable in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
Famous beer shops
In Brussels, Biertempel, 6 Rue du Marché aux Herbes (central) tel/fax 02-502-1906; 400 Bières Artisanales, 174 Chaussée de Wavre (central), Ixelles (closed Sun); Drink Market Delépine, 13 Rue Eugène Cattoir, Elsene/Ixelles (Closed Sundays, Mondays 1pm-6pm, Tue-Sat. 10am-6pm).
In Antwerp, Belgium Beers, 2 Reynder Straat (closed Tuesday).
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