Belgian Ales!!

[Brewsmith]

Just tried Affligem Blond. Mighty tasty I must say. Nice and smooth with a little twang to it, and a big creamy head. As mentioned above about Belgian beers and hefeweizen flavor, I'd have to agree, at least based on this example. Similar flavors from I'm assuming the yeast. I give it a thumbs up, now just wish I had some more. It came in an assortment from around the world at costco. Only 1 12oz bottle. On the bright side there are about twenty more that I've never tried before!

 

[McCall St. Brewer]

I tried Duvel the other day. Didn't realize until I checked out that 1. It was over $8 and 2. It came in a 4-pack, so I was mildly irritated at first. When I got it home and tried it, though, all that went away. It was definitely worth it. Made me want to try some other Belgians soon.

 

[SwAMi75]

Anyone know what style LaChouffe is? I almost picked up a bottle the other day, but passed it up because I know nothing about it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Anyone know what style LaChouffe is?

LaChouffe is a Golden Ale, strong, spicy, lightly hoppy, with evoluting taste, bottle refermented, unfiltered, not pasteurized and without any additives. Sounds like a Belgian Specialty Ale?

 

[SwAMi75]

Sounds decent to me. Might have to pick some up.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I've had most of the beers mentioned ... as I lived in Germany for 9 years and have been to most of the countries in Europe.

According to my passport I've been to the Netherlands 6 times, but it's been more than twice that.

I don't care for the Krieks. They were a novelty the first couple of times.
I've had Chimay, red, blue and gold. All great.

I had a magnum of Leffe Blond Ale that I opened at my granddaughter wedding reception that went over like gangbusters. I'd like to try to brew one of them. Any recipes out there?

I do prefer Hoegarden (as I am hooked on wheat beers).

...and cilantro tastes like soap to me too.

 

[kenmc]

LaChouffe is delicious, one of my favs. They also do a McChouffe as well which has the little gnomes dressed up in tartan trousers, ala scotland. That's harder to find, even in Holland I didn't get much of it, but remember that it's damn good. Typically I discovered most of my new beers after several familiar ones dammit!

 

[SwAMi75]

LaChouffe is delicious, one of my favs. They also do a McChouffe as well which has the little gnomes dressed up in tartan trousers, ala scotland. That's harder to find, even in Holland I didn't get much of it, but remember that it's damn good. Typically I discovered most of my new beers after several familiar ones dammit!

Hmm, they had both the last time I was at the only good beer store here. I'll be picking up some, then. Thanks!

 

[Duvel]

Found a massive off-license (liquor store) that do every belgian beer I've ever heard of. It's a bit far away but that's ok. They even do magnum sized duvel and chimay!! Over-priced however at €22.. To buy that amount in just normal bottles would be €13. So that's what I did, bought 4 bottles, which was all my poor student wallet could afford :
1 Hoegaarden Verboden Vrucht (forbidden fruit)
1 Lucifer Golden ale
1 Duvel
and 1 Chimay brown trappist.


Unfortunately the were all carried lying on their sides in my bag so I couldn't drink any of them yesterday. Thought I could drink the hoegaarden as it's a long-neck and wouldn't be bottle conditioned like the other short/stocky bottles. But sure enough when I held it up to the light there was that lump of yeast stuck to the inside of the bottle-glass..

As a homebrewer, it kind of gives you a sense of kinship with the belgians, that even professionally they do it just like you

 

[Toilet Rocker]

McChouffe's artisan brown is quite a tasty brew. Surprising spice flavor for what I knew to be a brown. Seems like it could even be a dessert beer. Went great with the Rangers' comeback last night! If only they weren't 8$ for 750mL, I'd have had enough for the shootout.

 

[Beermaker]

My 2 favorite things about Belgian beer..............Hang overs and gas!

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

My 2 favorite things about Belgian beer..............Hang overs and gas!

i always knew you where twisted!

 

[Steve973]

My top Belgians, right now, are (in no particular order):

St Bernardus 12
Unibroue Terrible
Rochefort 10
Duvel
Ommegang Hennepin

The most recent one out of those that I've had is the Terrible. I can't believe just how good that one is! What a great surprise!

Steve

 

[Toilet Rocker]

Not to resurrect the dead, but this seemed like the best spot to post this cool site. I especially like the sounds link.

http://belgianstyle.com/mmguide/

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

cool gaelone!

any had the delirium nocturnum. bought one today to try.....i need a good buzz :~)

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I bought an Ommegang Three Philosophers this week which is said to be a straightforward Belgian they brew then blend with Lindeman's Kriek. It's like a 750ml so I'll have to set aside some quality time for it!

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

I bought an Ommegang Three Philosophers this week which is said to be a straightforward Belgian they brew then blend with Lindeman's Kriek. It's like a 750ml so I'll have to set aside some quality time for it!

i need to do the same with mine. i had a few Hacker-Pschorr Munich Elerhell's,, one Aventinus, and now a Red Bird Ale....so no big belgians tonight!

 

[dammann459]

I am still learning the complexities, but just for taste I have found Piraat, Gulden Draak, and Maredsous (triple) are excellent choices. Of course, I haven't found one that I didn't like yet. Everytime I go to the local import shop I have intentions of expanding my horizons but I always wind up in front of the Belgian cooler...If it ain't broke you know.

Try the Petrus Tripel too.

 

[Jens-Kristian]

I've tried a good handful of Belgian ales. Delirium Nocturnum and Delirium Tremens were both very good beers.

If I am to point to one that simply wipes the others off the board though, it has to be "Tripel Karmeliet" which is . . just wonderful. Fruity, spicey, slightly sweet but not in an unpleasant way. It's about 8% and treacherous as all h. . . You just don't realise the percentage until you've had a few because its taste betrays nothing!