Belgium Beer
Belgium is an absolute beer lover's paradise, a country with more than 1500 different types of beer brands and nearly 225 distinct breweries. It all started back in the 12th century, when local French and Flemish monks were given permission by the Catholic church to brew and distribute beer to fundraise for their monasteries. At the time the quality of tap water was questionable. Beer was actually the preferred beverage and was perceived to be more nutritious. It wasn't until the late 18th century when the first recorded Trappist brewery was established and the first sale of beer was in the Belgian books.
Today there are officially twelve "trappist" monasteries in the world that continue the tradition, six of them are in Belgium. Their methods have spread beyond religious organizations to modern breweries that produce and distribute the typical Belgian 6 pack in your local store. For the sake of simplicity, we listed five varieties of beer you should try when in Belgium.
Plisner
Plisner is the most popular and most consumed beer in Belgium. Also known as a pale lager, it has a slightly sweeter taste compared to the American style plisners. ABV on average is about 5%. The most well known Belgian plisner is Stella Artois. But if your looking for something different, try Maes pils or Cristal.
Witbier
Witbier AKA white beer is a mixture of wheat and barley. It's an excellent refreshing beverage in the hot summer months, with taste notes of citrus, coriander and fruit. Average ABV is 6-7%. If you are looking for something other than the well known Hoegaarden Original White Ale, sample the Blanche de Namur or Blanche De Bruxelles.
Lambics
Lambics are probably the most unique variation of Belgian beer because of the addition of wild yeast and bacteria. Many describe it as funky, sour and mildly carbonated. Some breweries add berries and stone fruits (apricots/peaches) to introduce another level of tartness and sweetness. ABV can range from 4-6.5%. Look for Cantillon Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru or Oud Beersel Oude Gueuze Vieille when at the pubs.
Dubbels
Think darker beer with dubbels. Along with the malty sweetness, some pick out caramel and chocolate aromas and flavors. ABV is on the higher side ranging 6-9%. The preferred glassware is the chalice or goblet. Trappist Westvleteren 8 (VIII) or Grimbergen Dubbel are some excellent dubbels to try.
Tripels
A more complex, occasionally soft spicy taste, the name tripel comes from the word triple. The recipe calls for 3x the amount of malt than the other Belgian style beers. ABV is higher than the plisner and witbier, about 8-12%. Order a glass of the Brouwerij Westmalle's Trappist Tripel or Brouwerij Corsendonk's Agnus Dei (Abbey Pale Ale).