Belgian Beer Specialist

The Payottenland-Belgium’s lambic country, to the southwest of Brussels-is full of atmospheric cafes, serving up great brews. Some stock a hundred beers, and others, just a handful. Perhaps variety is the area’s greatest asset. One of these places is Café De Welkom, located at a crossroads between Schepdaal and Dilbeek. There are only 17 beers…

Not every beer bar has to have loads of great beer on its menu to make it a worthwhile stop. Sometimes, just a few will do. One, even. That’s the case with La Nouvelle Hostellerie d’Orval, which is the “other” café/restaurant near the famous Trappist abbey. While many tourists who visit the Orval abbey only…

I have an article in the October/November issue of Celebrator Beer News called “Five Fabulous Meals with Belgian Beer” which you can read for free here Photo, above: a superb meal at Improvisio, Leuven. Paired with Vicaris Winter ale 2012. The Oct/Nov issue of Celebrator is always the “Beer and Food” issue. White Asparagus topped…

When you visit Trappist abbeys and breweries, eating and drinking must be on your agenda. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be taking a drive out to Bourlers, Hamont-Achel, Villers-devant-Orval, Westmalle, or Westvleteren, would you? All of the Trappist abbeys with breweries in Belgium, except Brasserie Rochefort/Abbaye Notre Dame de St-Remy, have one café/restaurant that is owned by…

There has been a wave of new cafes opening in Belgium in the last several years. It’s clear that young, enthusiastic, energetic Belgians have decided that the future is now, and the time is theirs to promote and enjoy Belgium’s great beer heritage, while educating their countrymen at the same time. One of these great…