What is the big deal about Belgian Beers?

[FlemingsFinest]

La Fin Du Monde
Maudite (both these two and pretty much all beers from Unibroue)
Hoegaarden
Hoegaarden Verboden Vrucht
Ommegang - pretty much any of their beers
Quintine Blonde - I've only had it in England so far, never seen it here yet
Lindeman's Framboise (raspberry lambic)
Leffe Blonde
Allagash - pretty much like all their beers


Rev.[/QUOTE


+1 to Ommegang! When it comes out this spring, try their BPA, it is incredible and can really help turn people into Belgian fans! All of their beers are phenomenal, try them all.

Leffe Blonde is also great, very smooth and excellent aromas and flavors from whatever yeast they use.

I've only had "Four Ale" by Allagash, but it was incredible! I hear only good things about their beers.

 

[coastwx]

As someone fairly new to this craft, it seems like the more I'm exposed to a certain style the more I like it. The IPA and PA were all I brewed and drank up until last fall. A beer without that hops presence was not very enjoyable, but the LHBS was limited on their dry yeast and I needed some that day, so picked up a this fruity spicy T-58. The guy said it was a Belgian like yeast, so got some special B and Crystal and made my version of a Belgian ale. I was turned off at the banana aroma and did not drink it much until the last month. It's grown on me to a point where I plan to replicate it once a year. I'm not really a stout guy either, but decided to make one back in early Dec. Over a week I tried several different craft stouts to figure out that the Left Hand Milk Stout was my favorite. After making this stout I've really found an appreciation and love for this style. Maybe it's the ability of brewing a style yourself that can actually compete with the big boys or the fact that once you make it you have to drink it eventually, or a combination of both.

 

[gr8shandini]

For me, the great thing about Belgians is that they showed me that there's a wider range of flavors than I thought was possible in beer. Like a good hefe, I don't particularly want one every day, but when I do, nothing else will fit the bill.

But I think you're right in that they're way overrated by some folks I've met. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "a well made beer, but not my style." Personally, I don't get the hype about IIPAs, RIS, fruity beers, spiced beers, or double chocolate whatever you have, but if that's someone's thing, go for it.

 

[foyboy]

I think that most Belgian beers taste too tart ,too thick ,and just not well thought out.Orval is just plain yuk! Corriander should be weedwacked.

 

[electric_beer]

I LOVE Belgian beers. But to each their own. I've converted quite a number of "non dark beer drinkers" with Dark Strongs and Trappist beers. Just because its dark, doesn't mean its roasty.

As for IPAs, not so much over here.

 

[SumnerH]

"Belgian beers" is such a huge and diverse category. That's like saying "What's the deal with American beers?" If you haven't had any you liked, you haven't tried enough of them.

That's exactly it. Like modern American craft brewing, Belgian brewing hasn't been hamstrung by a rigid code (either legal or traditional) of what is and isn't permissible in brewing. Consequently, there's a lot more diversity in Belgian beers than in German, Czech, or English brewing (though the latter in particular is moving more toward modern experimental craft brewing as well as preserving real ales and other traditional styles).

Czech beers are almost all lagers, and the vast majority are pilseners. German beers have a wide selection of lagers, but aside from a few wheat/rye offerings have no true ales (kolsches and alts being ales, but pretty lager-y and usually classified as hybrids). England traditionally had few lagers and a fairly tight spectrum of ale styles.

In Belgium, though, there's been a readiness to experiment throughout history you have varied styles from Cantillon Kriek to Stella Artois Pilsener, Dupont Saison to Leffe Blonde, Orval to Hoegaarden Wit, Petrus Oude Bruin to Westvleteren 12 Quad, etc. There are locally developed styles (lambics, wits, tripels, saisons, etc) living alongside tons of locally brewed beers in foreign styles--Belgian breweries make plenty of bitters, pilseners, stouts, Scotch ales, reds, IPAs, etc both in true-to-foreign style and locally tweaked hybrid styles.

It's a remarkably cradle of brewing diversity and innovation.

 

[jjp36]

I think that most Belgian beers taste too tart ,too thick ,and just not well thought out.Orval is just plain yuk! Corriander should be weedwacked.

I can see the tart argument, but i think they are anything but thick. Most usually seem to me to finish pretty dry between the low finishing gravities and the high carbonation levels.

But then again I love orval and i put coriander in my tripel so what do i know...

 

[tjp68]

I have yet to have a Belgian that I really enjoyed. It seems like everybody on here and most of my beer drinking friends rave about Belgian ales. I know everybody has their own personal tastes and opinions, but it seems like I am totally in the minority among real beer drinkers with my opinion of Belgians.

For me, Belgian styles were the gateway. Before the American craft brewing explosion, I could basically buy BMC, Sam Adams and Corona.

Sometimes you just don't like the same things other people do. I'm not a huge Dogfish Head fan, although I admire what they are doing and how they are doing it.

 

[TheSeether]

I used to really dig Belgian (esp Trappist) beer then my tastes changed. I can still drink Orval and blue Chimay as well as a few Allagash brews that escape me (Black and Four are def good). I also like the Victory Golden Monkey. The rest have devolved to yeast bombs for me. I will still try anything I watch you drink and not die, though. I never completely close my mind.

The recent move towards Belgian/Cali style beers is just noxious to me, though. I haven't met one yet I wasn't completely repulsed by. Also, the brettanomyces thing is gross to me, I've gotten to where I will refuse to even try those anymore (Bruery = blech)

 

[SumnerH]

The recent move towards Belgian/Cali style beers is just noxious to me, though

I don't like most of them, but Lost Abbey Inferno is definitely worth a try.

 

[two_hearted]

For me, the great thing about Belgians is that they showed me that there's a wider range of flavors than I thought was possible in beer. Like a good hefe, I don't particularly want one every day, but when I do, nothing else will fit the bill.

Hefe = Bavarian, not Belgian.

 

[Nateo]

Hefe = Bavarian, not Belgian.

I'm sure he knew that. From the context, he was describing a similar relationship to a different type of beer, one that he appreciates sometimes, but does not desire all of the time.

 

[-TPM-]

One thing no one has mentioned is ABV, Belgian beers tend to be on the stronger side. Lets be honest one of the reasons people drink beer is for the alcohol.

 

[SumnerH]

One thing no one has mentioned is ABV, Belgian beers tend to be on the stronger side.

The strong ales and quads certainly are, but pales, lambics, wits, Flanders reds, and lots of others are easily found in sub-5.5% or lower ABVs.

 

[-TPM-]

The strong ales and quads certainly are, but pales, lambics, wits, Flanders reds, and lots of others are easily found in sub-5.5% or lower ABVs.

I guess that depends on your view point. In the UK 5.5% is fairly high. (I got a pack of 4 different beers for Christmas and not 1 was above 4%). But I think as far as the hype goes it is the big Belgians people tent to rave about.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Its kinda the same thing as all the ipa hype. I absolutely hate ipas, but alot of people like them so I chalk it up to alot of people have different tastes. That and there are many different flavors of Belgian beers, allowing for a broader fan base.

+1. I can't stand IPAs either, and don't really care for sours for that matter. But a good Trappist like Rochefort? Liquid heaven, IMHO.

 

[gr8shandini]

Hefe = Bavarian, not Belgian.

Hmmm. You must either live next to a State Farm agent or get really confused by the commercials. Seriously though, I was just comparing Belgians to another type of beer that I seldom order, but do have the occasional craving for.

As for the ABV, I tend to shy away from the monsters. I'm not going to say I don't enjoy alcohol, but since they normally come in 750ml bottles, I don't want to feel like I have to drink that much of a 10%er in one sitting. There's plenty of good saisons and abbey styles at 6% or below.

 

[Homebrewtastic]

I dig Belgian Ales and Belgian styles for the complexity. I'm tired of getting hit over the head with hops. IPAs are great and all but they're kind of like @$$holes... everybody's got one.

Maybe you just haven't tried enough to find one that you like.

La Fin Du Monde = Awesome and a half.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Right. Most saisons, some Bieres de Garge, all witbiers, and most sours have pretty low to moderate alcohol content. There are a few Belgian lagers, most of which are pretty small. Hell, there are even small Trappist beers. No, they don't usually make their way to the US, but they are brewed.

As to why the big ones seem to get the hype - that's only partly true. The big beer lovers of the Belgian style are no different than ones of any other style of big beer. Count the number of times we have threads with people waxing poetic about barleywines, RISs, IIPAs, and the like. Now compare that to people doing the same about small beers (light lagers, cream ales, milds, etc.). The small beers may be what we drink the most of, but when we're in the mood for something huge, those big beers deliver in such a marvelous way, it's tough not to get stoked about it.

 

[Apendecto]

I guess that depends on your view point. In the UK 5.5% is fairly high. (I got a pack of 4 different beers for Christmas and not 1 was above 4%). But I think as far as the hype goes it is the big Belgians people tent to rave about.

Doesn't the UK do alcohol by weight vs. ABV? I really have no clue though.

As for beer, I'm starting to find that even though I claim to love beer, I think I don't like more styles than find enjoyable. Weats, Belgians, Sours, Pumpkin, Christmas, Wild brews, most lagers, etc. So what's that mean?!?

 

[TheSeether]

The important thing to keep in mind is that Belgian beer, like most any style of beer represents a long and colorful history and culture. Without it the beer world is less rich and diverse and wonderful. Beerlanthropists I should hope we all are. Even if we turn up our nose at a beer we have to respect that our brethren may take delight in it and that some culture is communicated through it. The fact that some cross section of society enjoys a style lends credence to its' existence.

 

[Daver77]

It's actually a good thing not to like every single beer there is. I'm not a big fan of Belgian Ales but my wife likes them.

 

[Bobby_M]

I've tried quite a wide range of Belgian beers.

I do not like the flavors of brett, lacto, or wild yeast for sure.

And I've yet to have a Trappist/Abbey ale or a Wit or a Golden Ale or a Saison that I liked.

Have you tried Saison Dupont?

 

[ArcaneXor]

Have you tried Saison Dupont?

The only beer that can give me a multi-day hangover.

 

[two_hearted]

Hmmm. You must either live next to a State Farm agent or get really confused by the commercials. Seriously though, I was just comparing Belgians to another type of beer that I seldom order, but do have the occasional craving for.

Gotcha. Though, I don't get your state farm reference...

Anyways, a lot of people interchange hefe, wit, weiss, white and wheat without understanding the style differences. Just sayin. Should have read more into what you were trying to say.

 

[gr8shandini]

Gotcha. Though, I don't get your state farm reference...

Anyways, a lot of people interchange hefe, wit, weiss, white and wheat without understanding the style differences. Just sayin. Should have read more into what you were trying to say.

Just an attempt at humor. You misread my sentence that started with "like a good hefe" and the first thing I thought of when I re-read it was the "like a good neighbor" jingle.

 

[pjj2ba]

I think what attracts people to Belgians is a bit of adventure. It is Novel (although less so than it was). It is different than what many are used to so they want to try it. There are a bunch of Belgian beers, of all styles, that I like, and then there are a bunch of Belgian beers, of all styles, that I hate. Just like examples for every other style. There are IPA's I love, and some I hate.

I think what happens is that as soon as hints of a fad develop, every Tom, Dick and Harry craft brewer (and homebrewer) has to jump on the band wagon and brew that style. This results in a bunch of bad examples out there (strictly a numbers game, not everyone can brew every style well). Add on top of that a bit of an arms race, where every brewer tries to "out flavor" the others resulting in things like wheat beers that taste like yeast bombs (thankfully that trend seems to have subsided a bit). There are still plenty of good examples out there, you just have to search for them. I'm very fussy about the wheat beers I like. Maybe only 1/3 or less of the ones I try do I really like, and there are only a couple that I love.

 

[stjackson]

While I certainly haven't tried every "official" style out there, I do find that if a beer is well-made, I enjoy it.

 

[Beer:30]

I have tried many Belgian ales and I continue to brew several; I love them. But yes, as a style they tend to be distinct, and due to the broad spectrum of beer drinkers out there, they aren't for everybody. I personally think that they are not over-hyped and they deserve much praise. But to each his own.