About The Beer
The brewing traditions of Belgium are without doubt the most idiosyncratic in the world. Many of these traditions are ancient and it is a point of national pride that the Belgians have kept them alive to this day. Yeast is perhaps the most defining aspect of Belgian beer, often imparting uniquely spicy, fruity and complex flavours. They are also traditionally bottle conditioned, meaning the beers are alive and ever changing in flavour. Many have an evolution of flavour that can span years, but some can even span decades. This sixteenth edition of our Best of Belgium pack contains some of the most famous Belgian breweries that have all influenced thousands of brewers around the world.
Here's the line-up:
1. Hoegaarden Wit Blanche 330ml Bottle
500 years of hard work went into making this beer that features the aroma of orange peel, coriander and herbs that the merry monks imported from sunny Curacao. Speaking of which: pouring Hoegaarden is just like letting the sun fall into your glass: light yellow and naturally murky. And the soft foam adds a cloudy finish. And then there’s the soft taste, light and slightly sweet and sour and with subtle citrus notes… ah, just go ahead and taste it instead of reading about it! ABV 4.9%
2. Leffe Blonde 330ml Bottle
Leffe Blond is the flagship of Leffe. The unique recipe is the fruit of centuries of experience in the art of brewing, which brings a broad palette of aromas into balance. It is elegant, smooth and fruity, and it has a spicy aftertaste with a hint of bitter orange. Its light, sunny colour is due to the use of pale malt. Leffe Blond contains 6.6 % alcohol and fits excellently with a wide variety of dishes. It is best at a temperature of 5° to 6° Celsius. A thirst-quenching aperitif, for those relaxing moments with friends and family.. ABV 6.6%
3. Blanche De Namur 330ml Bottle
Cloudy, smooth and mellow, the Blanche de Namur is a very high-quality wheatbeer. From the first sip, you will feel all its roundness and its delicacy that make it an outstanding wheatbeer. ABV 4.5%
4. Pauwel Kwak 330ml Bottle
In Napoleon's time Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and the owner of the 'De Hoorn' inn in Dendermonde. Mail coaches stopped there every day. But at that time coachmen were not allowed to leave their coach and horses in order to have their thirst quenched along with their passengers. As a result, the inventive innkeeper had a special Kwak glass blown that could be hung on the coach. In this way the coachman had his Kwak beer safely at hand. ABV 8.4%
5. Delirium Argentum 330ml Bottle
Colour and appearance: red amber, very dense fine white head. Fragrance: spicy, citrus, grapefruit, a hint of caramel in the nose. Flavour: full-bodied, intense and a touch of caramel. Together with the spicy, citrus-like bitterness, they give this beer a complex and very pleasant fresh, full and bitter aftertaste. ABV 7%
6. Westmalle Extra Patersbier 330ml Bottle
This is one of the oldest beers of Westmalle Abbey, with a tradition that dates back to the start of our brewery. It was created to drink with meals in the abbey, something the monks still do today. As a top fermented golden yellow Trappist beer, the Extra is unique in combining a low alcohol content (4.8%) with a rich flavour. Enjoy its fruity notes and its refreshing, thirst-quenching character. ABV 4.8%
7. Chimay Red 330ml Bottle
Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance. Its taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavor qualities of this beer very harmoniously. This top-fermented Trappist beer, re fermented in the bottle, is not pasteurized. ABV 7%
8. Tripel Karmeliet 330ml Bottle
Tripel Karmeliet is still brewed to an authentic beer recipe from 1679 originating in the former Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde. Written over 300 years ago, this recipe describes the use of three kinds of grain: wheat, oats and barley. The name Tripel karmeliet thus refers both to its origin and its in-bottle refermentation. From many trial brews of multigrain tripels carried out at our brewery in the 90s, it appears that the particular historic combination of the 3 kinds of grain still remains the ideal blend. ABV 8.4%
9. Rochefort 6 330ml Bottle
Rochefort 6 (red cap, brown beer, 7.5% ABV). Reddish colour, brewed only about once per year, representing approximately 1% of total beer production. This beer begins with a density of 16.5º Plato is 7.5% ABV. “Rochefort 6” is the oldest Rochefort Trappist beer, and was brewed empirically until the end of the Second World War. Until 1958, this was the only Rochefort beer that was bottled in both 33 cc bottles and 75 cc bottles. It has a strong malt taste and is slightly bitter. ABV 7.5%
10. Gulden Draak 9000 330ml Bottle
The particularly rich and complex taste palette and the full head are also found in the Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple. The sweet notes of caramel are, however, reserved for the Gulden Draak Classic. The new recipe based on 4 different malt varieties gives the Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple a deep golden amber color and a slightly fruity aroma. Together with the soft and slightly sweet taste, this provides a beautifully rounded bouquet with notes of dried fruit. Just like the other specialty beers from Brewery Van Steenberge, Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple is a high fermentation beer with secondary fermentation. For the secondary fermentation use is made of a wine yeast that not only contributes to the unparalleled taste but also ensures a long-term shelf life with taste evolution. ABV 10.5%
11. St Bernardus 12 330ml Bottle
St.Bernardus Abt 12 is widely regarded as one of the best beers in the world and therefore also the real flagship of our brewery. It is brewed in the classic quadrupel style and adheres to the original 1946 recipe. Did you know that the St.Bernardus on every thousandth label of a 33-centilitre bottle is winking? St.Bernardus Abt 12 is a dark beer of top fermentation with a robust head that is ivory in colour. It has a very fruity aroma that is the result of using our own unique yeast. It brims over with different, complex tastes and stands out through its long, bittersweet finish. It is an ideal partner for rich beef dishes and recipes with game. It also forms a perfect match with blue cheese and chocolate. ABV 10%
12. De Dolle Arabier 330ml Bottle
An arabier is a pure malt beer 8°vol/alc brewed with flower Nugget-hops from Poperinge. It has the special dry-hopping taste and aroma, so appreciated by beer lovers all over the world. It is one of the two main beers from De Dolle Brouwers throughout the year. Aging time is limited due to the fact that hop bitterness is declining with the time. Store arabier cool and dark and serve cool at 10°C. Cheers! ABV 8%
Image Disclaimer: Supplementary product images have been sourced directly from brewery website or as original content through the brewery's social media accounts. Please get in contact if we are using your image improperly or without due consent.