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

2. Why are we not drinking beer now?

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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. History of Belgian beer
Before World War I: 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

7. 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

8. A love story…

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

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

11. 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

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

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

14. 2000: La Trappe (NL)
2012: Engelszell (AU)
2013: Zundert (NL)
2013: Spencer (USA)
2015: Tre Fontane (IT)

15. 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?

16. 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

17. 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?

18. Cheers!