Belgian Beer – History & Background

by Patrick Anthony

In Belgium today there are 125 breweries which are able to produce 500 different kinds of Belgian Beer. Beer has been brewed in Belgium since the Middle Ages when originally it was produced in monasteries only. However today this is a country where the most varieties of beer are brewed and can be drunk.

The alcohol content of these beers is much higher than many other varieties from around Europe and some have a content as high as between 6 and 8 per cent. The reason for this being that a law was brought into force which prohibited the sales of spirits in public houses. At the time beer was classified as being a spirit and to get round this law breweries increased the alcohol content in them. However, this law was then lifted in 1983.

As previously mentioned Belgium now produces around 500 different types of Belgian beer and they fall into one of several different categories. Below we take a look at just what these different categories of beer are.

Trappist Beer – Only a beer where the brewing process has been overseen or carried out by the Trappist monks living in one of 6 monasteries in Belgium can be classified as this type of beer. Each bottle of beer after it has been produced will carry on it the Trappist Product label that clearly identifies that the monastery where it has been brewed have complied with particular laws that are laid down by the International Trappist Association.

Lambic Beer – This beer is unique to Belgium and produced through the spontaneous fermentation of wild yeasts and which grows in abundance near the country?s capital Brussels. The actual fermentation process of this particular form of Belgian beer can take a considerable period of time. Some beers their fermentation period is 3 to 6 months, and for others the period is between 2 and 3 years.

Because of the fermentation process used which is quite unusual the flavor of the beer is very distinctive. It is dry, cider and vinous and will have an aftertaste that some people dislike because it is sour.

Fruit Beers – These beers are a variation of the Lambic beers and are made through adding either fresh fruit or fruit concentrate to the Lambic. The most commonly produced one is known as Kriek which is made using cherries but there are plenty of others made using fruits such as peaches, blackcurrants or raspberries. The fruit when added to the Lambic beer causes a second fermentation process to take place in the beer.

White Beers – These Belgian beers are very popular in Belgium and the main ingredients used in them are wheat hops and spices along with orange peel and coriander. But there are many different varieties of this beer, each with their own distinctive flavor which comes from the various different brewing methods and ingredients used by the breweries in its manufacture.

About the Author:

It is quite easy to see how belgian beer is so popular amongst beer and ale lovers throughout the world. Belgian fruit beer as mentioned above is also popular however it can be a very distinctive taste.

Thanks for visiting our Qivana site.