When one thinks of Belgium, they usually think of chocolate. For many, finding impeccably brewed beer, worthy of a return trip, is a pleasant surprise.
Perhaps it's not the beer itself (yeah, right), rather than the profound attention to detail involved in how each individual brew is to be enjoyed.
Everything from the temperature of the beer, to the type of glass it's served in, has been considered.
To be a bartender in Belgium, not only means memorizing cocktail recipes, it also requires one to know which glass goes with any given beer.
When settling in for your first brew in Belgium, don't make the same mistake we did and ask what's on tap. You will quickly receive a shake of the head and a brief lecture on quality beer. To receive the best, always order a bottle.
One recommendation you will often hear, is to try the beer brewed by monks. It's called Trappist beer and comes in your choice of Enkel (single), Dubbel (double), Tripel (Triple) and Quadrupel (Quadruple).
To put it simply, the higher the number, the stronger the beer. Try all four and you will be hard pressed in choosing a favourite. Each offers their own unique aroma, but all leave an impossibly smooth finish, even the darkest of the four.
If you would like to immerse yourself in everything beer, take a trip to the Bruges Beer Experience located in, you guessed it, Bruges, Belgium.
You have the option of going through the whole museum, or, if you're like us, skip right to the bar upstairs, oozing with rustic elegance, which does not require admission.
This is a great place to try a variety of beer, trading in wooden tokens you purchase for a flight sized glass of whatever your heart desires.
Upon every table sits a description of each beer they offer, shellacked onto a huge glass bottle.
Although this is a great place to begin your relationship with Belgium beer, keep in mind, it is a tourist attraction.
If you would like a more authentic pub-like experience, try making your way to 't Brugs Beertje, a 5 minute walk from the Bruges Beer Experience.
Here you will find tourists and locals enjoying beer in tandem, having animated conversations with the very knowledgeable beer masters, otherwise known as bartenders.
Staring at a menu of over 300 different beers is overwhelming and by some miracle, if you ask for advice, your bartender will quiz you on your preferences and produce your perfect match, having detailed knowledge of every brew they offer.
What's more, all 300 beers require their own unique glass to be properly enjoyed, hitting your palate at the precise point needed for optimal flavour.
The amount of pride reserved for the beer here translates to a phenomenal experience, both for your senses as well as your intellect. The passion you feel from the people you interact with will leave you with the burning desire to do it all over again.
Please share with us your thoughts when it comes to the best destination for the perfect beer. Where did you find your favourite? Leave us a comment!
