I visited the much-loved lambic brewery and blendery, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, during two brew days in 2017. My visits in early February and late November of last year were superb, as I was able to talk with most of the 3 Fonteinen team, and see the small brewhouse in action through the two long days.…

I have some exciting news for those who enjoy lambic and geuze/gueuze, Belgium’s spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged masterpieces that set the worldwide standard for tart, funky, complex brews. “The Beer Country” has not one, but two new lambic makers. I visited both during a recent trip in November-December. These lambic producers work together, so I will…

Toer de Geuze, the biennial event that is quickly becoming the epicenter of the lambic beer world every odd-numbered year, is quickly approaching. The 2017 tour now is now officially two days instead one. Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, 2017, will see lambic beer lovers descend upon Belgium’s Payottenland and Zenne (Senne) Valley,…

Belgium, like the USA, is awash in new breweries these days. The craft beer trend is alive and well, and the only real problem is identifying the breweries that are routinely making very interesting beers from those producing what might be considered good, but not great, brews. After all, Belgium has plenty of average to…

The town of Lot, Belgium, is sure to become famous in the near future. At least among lambic beer lovers. On September 1st, what is likely to become one of Belgium’s top beer tourism attractions will open to the public. Legendary 3 Fonteinen brewer/blender Armand Debelder, protege Michael Blancquaert, business manager Werner van Obberghen, and…

For the lovers of lambic, the spontaneously fermented beer produced mainly in the regions of the Payottenland and Zenne Valley, in and around the Belgian capital of Brussels, there is great news. The much-beloved lambic brewery, 3 Fonteinen (“Three Fountains”) recently purchased a warehouse in the city of Lot, which is already being transformed into…

De Struise Brouwers, the West Flanders brewers with great beers and a world-wide cult following, have started filling growers to go at their brewery/taproom in Oostvleteren. “The idea is to offer special beers only, ones that either we do not bottle, or which you’d have difficulty finding in bottles,” Urbain Cotteau, one of the several…

Anyone who has tasted the Het Nest beers, such as the excellent, brett-infused De SchuppenAas (Ace of Spades) should know how superb these beers can be. Brouwerij Het Nest now has their own brewery on the outskirts of Turnhout, Antwerp Province. Expect big things in the future, such a tasting room with six to ten…

Millennium Geuze is widely considered one of the best Oude Geuze blends in the last twenty years or so. Millennium Geuze was a collaboration between Armand Debelder of 3 Fonteinen and Willem van Herreweghen, founder of Geuzestekerij De Cam. 75 cl bottles sold for only 300 Belgian francs when it was released in 1998. 8,000…