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Belgian Drinks
Beer is without a doubt the most popular drink in Belgium. It comes in various colours and tastes. There's the sparkling Geuze, also called the champagne of Brussels, Faro with its sweet taste of caramel, Kriek as Belgium's most popular fruit beer and Red beer, which is more acidic and sour than other kinds. Especially famous are the so-called Trappist beers, produced by monks in their monasteries according to formulas dating back to the 11th Century. Jenever is an example of the stronger Belgian alcohols. It’s a Flemish version of gin produced around Hasselt, in the Flemish province of Limburg.
Jenever, also known under the names of Genever or Jeniever, is a Flemish version of gin. This strong liquor coming from the Flanders region is also common in the Netherlands. Invented by a Dutch alchemist, Sylvius de Bouve , it derives its name from...
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Tripel or triple ale is the strongest out of all the Trappist beers. Along with the other two, Enkel and Dubbel, they form a trio that has its roots in the Christian tradition of the Holy Trinity. Primarily light and rather sweet, Trippel is then...
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Saison is a sort of Belgian pale ale typical for the Wallonia region. It was originally brewed in farmhouses to fulfil the needs of the farm workers, but today it is a widely known beer. The name Saison comes from the French name for season, since...
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Flanders red ale can also be found as Flanders brown or Sour brown. This sour ale derives from the British porters of the 17th century, however its production is slightly different. After the fermentation, it sits for a year or more in oak barrels,...
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Dubbel is a stronger version of traditional Trappist beer. This popular, bottled, brown ale has developed from Westmalle Dubbel that was originally brewed by the monks of Westmalle Abbey. The beer-brewing gave financial support to the Abbey, which...
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Duvel is the flagship product of a small family-run brewery, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat. This strong golden ale has been produced since 1871 by Jan-Leonard Moortgat, who inherited the family brewery in Steenhuffel and started with a beer of his own....
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Amber is a type of beer that derives from British ale, which was extremely popular in Belgium in the 20th century. The leading brand is the world-famous Palm, which has a specific deep, mouthy taste. Another important producer is De Koninck, based...
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Bush Ambrée is one of Belgium’s strongest beers and the flagship product of Brasserie Dubuisson Frères. The production was started in the 18th century by Joseph Leroy, who owned a small brewery in the town of Pipaix and sold only to farmers from the...
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