It seems that Belgians love beer even more that we
Australians. I’m a bit miffed at that, of course, as drinking beer is one of
the few arts in which we truly excel. According to the Global Market
Information Database, our average annual per capita beer consumption in litres stands
at 89. The Belgians have as beaten at 98. We’re both in the top ten, but that’s
hardly the point. By my calculations, Les Belges drink us under the annual
table at the rate of exactly one slab per patriot.
It’s time we all took one for the country and bought a case.
Of Belgian beer, of course. Not only do we need to conquer this tiny country’s
drinking record, we must dig the dirt on our competition. If they’re drinking
so much of it, it must be good, right?
Right. In fact, it’s not too shabby at all.
The brewing heritage of Belgium puts us to shame. Then
again, they did have a millennium as a head start. After centuries of judicious
research, Belgian brewers know a thing or two about how to turn out a top drop.
If you’re prepared to pay the import excise, you can enjoy history in a glass.
Chimay Grand Reserve, in an ornate 750ml bottle, is a dense
coppery brew with a thick creamy head. It’s basically a meal. It’s somewhat
sweet yet ultimately bears an elegant smoothness.
More widely available here is the even bolder Duvel. Named
for Satan himself, this potent devil clocks in with an alcohol content of 8 per cent.
Some smaller boutique bottle shops carry the cider-noted
Liefmans Goudenband, creamy Corsendonk and the pious Orval Trappist Ale. They’re
all drops worthy of wine style pontificating. It seems the monastic approach to
the pursuit of fine libations makes for a curious success. Go, you drunk men of
religion, go.
I’d love to tell you about Leffe, but Partner drank my
entire research six pack. Amid belches, it was described thusly, “Ooo err,
thick cream-coloured head.”
Or, “Hoppy tang. And chocolate.”
And, finally, “Will you go the bottle-o for me, love? I need some more.”
Apparently, Leffe is rather good.
There’s a healthy handful of hard-to-find Belgian tipples
that will reward any search. Limburgse Witte, a wheat beer, is seasoned with
Curaçao, orange peels and coriander. In what seems a sacrilege to the humble
workman’s brew, Grottenbier, a rich, dark brew, is made using Champagne
techniques. Blanche de Bruges Belgian Wheat Beer is citrusy and dry with a
sweet face.
Belgian brews reward with their complexity. It’s no surprise that a culture so enamoured
of nuanced beer is heavily ritualised. Drink the stuff in Belgium and you’ll be handed a
glass that specifically matches the beer. A glass shaped like a chalice is said
to enhance the rich monastic ales, whereas a slender vessel is said to accommodate
light lager. You can test this theory out at the vertiginous Eureka Tower. The Belgian Beer Cafe offers courses in beer appreciation.
It’s all part of the war effort, fellow Australians. I’m doing my bit to reclaim our title as the beer drinking nation. Are you?
Take the taste testLooking for somewhere to sample a fine Belgian beer? MCV recommends these fine Melbourne venues:
TRANSPORT
Take the TRANSPORT Public Bar challenge...
Aussie True Blue: Eight blond Aussie microbrews for $60
Ridgy Didge: Eight swilling Aussie microbrews for $60
Fair Dinkum Humdinger: Seven very special Aussie microbrews $60
Belgium Mission: Seven great Belgium Ales for $70
German Mission: Eight awesome German Weisse beers for $70
World Party Mission: 14 Beers from around the world for $100
TRANSPORT Federation Square Melbourne
9654 8808
EUROPEAN BIER CAFE
The European Bier Café offers tradition and Old World style
over three levels in the heart of Melbourne.
With 14 international biers on tap, including Belle-Vue
Kriek, Chimay Red, and Biere Du Boucanier, you can sample the best that Europe
has to offer without leaving your bar stool!
Now, new $10 Bier Tasting Cards are available: sample of
some of our best tap biers so you can work out which ones are your favourites!
EUROPEAN BIER CAFÉ 120 Exhibition St Melbourne
9663 1222
BELGIAN BEER
GARDEN
Choose from either a Soiree,
Tasting or Banquet menu at these unofficial Belgian embassies, and enjoy a
celebration with a difference. Hosted by beer expert Charles Coll, BeerFun
events offer an innovative alternative for corporate and social groups seeking
a fun, educational and interactive experience. You’ll learn about and
enjoy beer with food to match.
Under the banner of BeerFun we
offer groups three event types to choose from:
Soiree: A beer ‘cocktail’ party
Tastings: The original beer course; and
Banquet: A three-course beer feast
Belgian Beer Café
Bluestone: 557 St Kilda Road
Melbourne 9529 2899
Belgian Beer Café
Eureka: 5 Riverside Quay Southbank 9690
5777
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