Belgian Beer Travel Guide

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Brewing's place in Belgium's cultural pantheon can't be overstated. No other country offers so many distinct and sophisticated styles of beer, each suited to a particular taste, occasion, or meal. Belgian brewing took off in the early Middle Ages, when hops cultivation was introduced and monasteries got in on the act. Today some of the country's top beers are still produced by monasteries, the best known being the Trappist beers, and the Leuven-based company Inbev has become the world's number-one brewer with a yearly production of 161 million barrels. Lambics, fruit beers,"white" or wheat beers, dark brown ales, seasonal beers—a plain lager will never seem so drab as it does in such company. In addition to such large industrial breweries, plenty of small artisanal factories still excel in creating special brands. Beer lists in pubs and restaurants run from the dozens into the hundreds. Some breweries have guided tours and tastings; at the smaller, family-run operations you'll generally get the best sense of the local traditions and taste some truly unique beers to boot.

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Things To Do in Belgian Beer

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Belgian Beer Experiences

  • Brewery Visits

    Brewers are proud to have visitors witness their craftsmanship and experience the magic of the intricate brewing process. Except for the Trappists... Read more

  • Stocking Up

    Want to bring some of your favorite brews home? Beer Mania (chaussée de Wavre 174-176, Brussels, B1050. 02/512-1788. www.beermania.be)... Read more

  • How Beer Is Made

    Although much attention is given to the subtle intricacies of wine production, the beer-making process is actually just as complex and nuanced... Read more

  • Hainaut Festivals

    In addition to its heavenly Trappist beers, the Botte du Hainaut, the boot-shaped region south of Charleroi, is known for its extravagant annual... Read more

  • Helpful Beer Web Sites

    www.beerparadise.be. The Association of Belgian Brewers' web site contains an interactive map of Belgium pointing out the location of beers and... Read more

  • History of Beer in Belgium

    Though its origins lay in the Middle East 10,000 years ago, it was the Romans who introduced the art of beer making to Western Europe. Its success... Read more

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