an introduction to Belgian beer culture Tim De Roeck – 2016©

Why are we not drinking beer now?

Why are we not drinking beer now? Knowledge leads to appreciation Music, painting, architecture, … Focus Make decisions Drinking vs. tasting

Who is that guy? Tim De Roeck (°1983) Drinking beer since 1997 Appreciating beer since 2000 Foodie Former president of Ghent Beer Society (4y) Beer rater (+7000 entries) ratebeer.com administrator for Belgian beers

Beer in Belgium 168 breweries 100 to 200 “client brewers” 2500 different beers at any given moment every week around 10 to 20 new beers historic beer styles: Abbey Double, Abbey Tripel, Quadrupel, Witbier, Lambic, Oud Bruin, Saison, Spéciale Belge, … Impressive?

History of Belgian beer Before World War I: +3000 breweries Between two WWs: 1500 breweries Most overtaken by big compagnies 198ies: less than 50 left Since 80ies/90ies: small one-man businesses, passionate brewers, craft vs. industrial

Authentic beer styles in Belgium Beer style = discussion topic Why so many left? What is the rest of the world drinking? Lager = cooling, cooling = expensive Only big breweries or cooperative Small breweries kept brewing old school, traditional beer styles

A love story…

A little love story… But no happy ending… Pierre Celis (°1925, Hoegaarden)

neighbour Tomsin last brewer of witbier milkman to brewer 1966: De Kluis (Hoegaards Witbier) 1985: fire > hostile take over by AB InBev

startup Celis brewery 1991 in Austin (TX, USA) partial take over by Miller (1995) complete take over (1998) and closure (2000) died in 2011 in Belgium

Are we going to drink this beer tonight? No! Available anywhere in Belgium or abroad…

Trappist What is a trappist ale? Originally only Belgian ones:

2000: La Trappe (NL) 2012: Engelszell (AU) 2013: Zundert (NL) 2013: Spencer (USA) 2015: Tre Fontane (IT)

Why are trappist ales famous? Quality first Romantic character / authenticity 2006: Westvleteren announced “best beer in the world” (ratebeer.com) Are we going to drink any trappist beer?

But what are we going to drink then? Beer of the month (Gentse Biervereniging) Selected through blind tasting Diversity in beer style, alc %, color, brewery

Before you run out… General tips Take your time to enjoy each beer! Try different things, new things Work your way up in alc% Share bottles Any more questions?

Cheers!