Belgium: The Beer Trip of a Life Time

Cantillon: A Must Stop in Brussels

Now, I know our readers are well aware of our excursion to Belguim in March 2010 (I can’t believe it has already been 10 months!) but a recent article in the NY Times conjured up all those wonderful memories.

The article reviews Belgium as an educational trip abut beer. A place where you can sample endless styles, visit age old breweries and settle down at some of the best beer bars in the world. Its true. Its totally true. I have done quite a bit of travelling especially around Europe and even beer aside, Belgium stole my heart.

The article touches on the key places you should go in this tiny country. Of course, there are so many amazing places, the article couldn’t mention all of them.

IF YOU GO

In de Vrede (Donkerstraat 13, Westvleteren; 32-57-40-03-77; indevrede.be)

Moeder Lambic (Place Fontainas 8, Brussels; 32-25-03-60-68)

Cantillon (Rue Gheude Straat 56, Brussels; 32-25-21-49-28; cantillon.be)

’t Brugs Beerje (Kemelstraat 5, Bruges; 32-50-33-96-16; brugsbeertje.be)

De Dolle Brouwers (Roeselarestraat 12B, Esen; 32-51-50-27-81; dedollebrouwers.be)

Brouwershuis (Trappistenweg 23A, Watou; 32-57-38-88-60; brouwershuis.com)

We were fortunate enough to visit the top four places listed. De Dolle is one of my favorite breweries in Belgium and the 1998 Stille Nacht at the Kulminator (another amazing beer bar in Antwerp). Next time, that will be at the top of my list!

Other honorable mentions from our trip include:

Pater’s Vaetje ( Blauwmoezelstraat 1, Antwerp, http://www.patersvaetje.be/)

Kulminator (Vleminckveld 32, Antwerp)

Eetcafé de Gans (Diephuisstraat 6 (zijstraat Korreweg, bij het Noorderbad),Groningen, http://www.degans.nl/index.php?page=contact-locatie)

Brasserie Thiriez (22 rue de Wormhout, Esquelbecq, France) Although not in Belgium, it is a mere 4 miles from the boarder of Belgium and if you are in West Flanders, it is worth the trip!

For the full NY Times article, click here.

Events for Week of December 13, 2010

 

Head to Santa Monica's Library Alehouse for some amazing brews this week!

Due to my inability to post events on Sunday, I have decided to post on Mondays and give you events from Tuesday through Monday. Hope that is okay. If not, let me know!

 

This weekend, I indulged in a Black Raven Trickster, Cantillon’s Framboise, New Belgium‘ s La Folie, New Belgium’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Sah’ti, Deschutes Hop Henge and 21st Amendment’s Brew Free or Die IPA. A pretty good weekend in beer, if I say so myself.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Holiday Beer Dinner: Downingtown, Pennsylvania

6:00PM-9:00PM @ Victory Brewing Co.

Nothing like the holidays to have an excuse to splurge! Check out this menu- its simply irresistible, $50.00 per person and paired with Victory Brewing Co. beers.

Duo of Soups
Red pepper bisque and puree of spinach
Served with Prima Pils

Prosciutto wrapped beer blanched asparagus with gruyere mornay sauce
Served with Rauch Porter

Cranberry and chestnut filled turkey breast cutlets with Pursuit giblet gravy and roasted seasonal squash
Served with Pursuit Pale Ale

Cracked barley encrusted oysters with Anaheim chili risotto and saffron aioli
Served with ESB

Cinnamon nutmeg spice cake with Dark Intrigue frosting
Served with Dark Intrigue

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Bourbon County Bottle Signing: Homer Glen, Illinois

6:00PM-9:00PM @ Kenwood Liquors

Bourbon County is one of the best stouts EVER and in my opinion the best beer made by Goose Island. Tonight, stop by one of the two Kenwood Liquor locations and pick up a bottle specially signed by Goose Island Founder John Hall.

Time: 6pm-7pm

Kenwood Liquors
12037 W. 159th Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491
(708) 590-8210

Time: 8pm-9pm

Kenwood Liquors
10750 South Cicero Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453-5402
(708) 424-3580

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Dogfish Head Bash: Montpelier, Vermont

7:00PM-2:00AM @ Three Penny Taproom

This epic tap list includes Dogfish Head‘s best beers:

- Chateau Jiahu
- Theobroma
- Pangaea
- Bitch’s Brew
- My Antonia
- Red & White
- Black & Blue
- Olde School
- 90 Minute
- 60 Minute
- Indian Brown

Friday, December 17, 2010

Week of Wild Friday Tastival: Eugene, Oregon

5:00PM-10:00PM @ Sixteen Tons Beer & Wine

Hot Damn- Featured breweries will include Block 15, Upright, Hair of the Dog, De Dolle, Cantillon, Rodenbach, Russian River, The Bruery, Orval, Cascade, Deschutes, Victory, Lindemans, Oud Beersel, 3 Fonteinen, De Ranke, Haandbryggeriet, New Belgium, Avery, Mikkeller, Ommegang, and more.

Tasting tickets are $1. Beers are 1-4 tickets for 3oz tasters. No entry fee. GO TO THIS!!!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Maui Brewing Launch Party: Denver, Colorado

1:00PM-5:00PM @ Freshcraft

Finally, Maui Brewing has reached Colorado. A state full of beer lovers, it’s about time! The long-awaited time when CoCoNuT Porter, Big Swell IPA & Bikini Blonde Lager hit Colorado are now over.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Twelve Days of Barleywine: Anchorage, Alaska

11:00AM-11:00PM @ Glacier Brewhouse

Stop by Glacier Brewhouse for some barleywines. It’s impressive that a brewery makes an array of this specific style. Today is the 10th day, so time is of the essence.

THE 10th DAY OF BARLEYWINE – DEC. 19, 2010
1. 2011 Big Woody Barleywine aged in Ukrainian Oak barrel for 10 months. (9.00% abv)
2. 2010 Eisbock aged 8 months in Makers Mark barrels. (9.00%abv)
3. Cask conditioned selection. 2008 Russian Imperial Stout aged 2.67 years in virgin Czech oak barrels. (9.00% abv)
Pay as you go

Monday, December 20, 2010

Library Alehouse Holiday Beer Fest Kickoff: Santa Monica, California

6:00PM-11:00PM @ Library Ale House

$10.00, just $10.00 gets you:

Library Logo Tasting Glass and Your First Beer
…$2.50 – $5 Refills on ALL Holiday Ale Fest Beers throughout the Fest
10% off food during the festival

Tonight is the kick-off event and this will continue for two weeks. But tonight’s tap list includes:

- Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin / Stone Special Holiday Ale
- Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza
- N’ice Chouffe
- Dogfish Head Pangea
- Dogfish Head Chicory Stout
- Sierra Nevada Celebration
- Anchor Brewing’s Merry Christmas Happy New Year Ale
- Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice
- Delirium Noel
- Gouden Carolus Noel

What is your favorite beer holiday event? Leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com!

Events for Week of October 25, 2010

photo creds: yoursforgoodfermentables.com

This weekend was pretty low key. We were able to swing by Naked City Taphouse for their 2nd Anniversary Party. They had so many of their own beers on tap, it was hard to choose. I ended up getting the Tay Yay Barrel Aged Sour- so good. We ended the night with an Imperial IPA homebrew. But now for your week in beer.

Monday, October 25, 2010

 

Jolly Pumpkin Beer Week: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11:00AM-8:00PM @ The Coffee Bar

Jolly Pumpkin, an amazing brewery out of Ann Arbor, MI arrives in Philly to showcase their amazing Belgium styled beers.

We will be pouring Jolly Pumpkin’s BAM BIERE on draft as well as bottles of LA ROJA, with another release to be determined!

And despite their name, there is no pumpkin in these beers. But we will be pouring Rock Art’s Imperial Pumpkin Spruce Stout, a unique interpretation of the seasonal pumpkin ale, to help fill your pumpkin needs.

We will also be serving hot turkey and stuffing sandwiches all week as well as pumpkin pie.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

 

Oxymoron Night with Left Hand Brewing: Arlington, Virginia

6:30PM-10:30PM @ Galaxy Hut

Left Hand Brewing teams up with Terrapin to release Oxymoron, an IPA, is the third in a series of one-time releases between these two breweries. Tonight celebrate the release and enjoy brews from both breweries: Oxymoron, Terrapin Hopzilla, Terrapin So Fresh and So Green, Green, Left Hand Warrior IPA and Left Hand Twin Sisters.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

 

Hop Harvest 2010: Greenville, South Carolina

6:00PM-10:00PM @ Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria

This is Barley’s 4th Annual Hopfest and they are bringing the fury:
-Great Divide Fresh Hop
-Harpoon Glacier Harvest
-Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale
-Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest
-Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest
-Southern Tier Harvest
-Terrapin So Fresh & So Green, Green
-Victory Braumeister Harvest Ale
-Victory Braumeister Harvest Pils
-Weyerbacher Harvest

Plus these hoptastic bonus brews…
-Bell’s Hopslam Ale
-Mikkeller Green Gold IPA
-Stone San Diego County Session Ale
-”Randal the Enamel Animal”: Fresh-Citra-Hopped Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Thursday, October 28, 2010

 

Pumpkin Beer Tasting: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6:30PM-8:30PM @ Hudson Beach Glass

Art and Beer together for one night.

Hudson Beach Glass presents an exciting evening of beer tasting and glass making. Coordinated with Triumph Brewing, pumpkin ales and appetizers will abound. All guests will be using their own crafted pint glasses (with a new pumpkin stamp) to try the delicious brews. Also, Sean will be in the studio showing how the Pint Glasses are made and everyone gets to take one home at the end of the night!

Friday, October 29, 2010

 

Flying Dog’s Halloween Bash and Smash: Frederick, Maryland

7:00PM-11:00PM @ Flying Dog Brewery

Are you looking for something to do this weekend for Halloween? Do you want to drink tasty brews while doing it? I suggest stopping by Flying Dog Brewing Co. to celebrate the pagan holiday. 12 Flying Dog brews will be on tap. Get to work on your costume, as there is a $500 cash prize for the best costume.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Halloween Ale Fest: Grand Rapids, Michigan

1:00PM-1:00AM @ HopCat

Enjoy the best of Halloween with seasonal ales such as Nosferatu, Hobgoblin, Wild Devil & Screaming Pumpkin! Prepare for a costume contest.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

 

De Dolle Beer Tasting: Louisville, Kentucky

De Dolle, a small brewery from Essen Belgium is a personal favorite. Today, for $12, you get to taste several beers from De Dolle.

Beers to be tasted:
De Dolle Dulle Teve 10
De Dolle Extra Export Stout
De Dolle Oerbier
De Dolle Arabier
De Dolle Boskeun

If you have an event that you went to, want us to post an event or just speak your mind, then leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com. Cheers!