{"id":2790,"date":"2016-08-22T14:46:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-22T14:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.routeperfect.com\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2022-12-12T13:09:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T13:09:56","slug":"belgian-beer-drink-way-belgium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/belgian-beer-drink-way-belgium\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian Beer &#8211; Drink Your Way Around Belgium!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Like many of our cultural icons, Belgian beer is a leader, and an advocate for beer&#8217;s very existence. Those who waste no time telling you it&#8217;s the best are people who take their beer seriously. The best way to get to know this magical craft is to try them all, and the best way to try them all is &#8211; you guessed it &#8211; by visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Belgium<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>It should come as no surprise that it is common for cities in Belgium to have an official city beer. With your thirst for beer and appetite for adventure in mind, we&#8217;ve designed this delicious trip around Belgium for you. With this tour, you can take on the best of Belgium\u2019s major attractions and irresistible brews in one trip! Enjoy the perfect combination of historical significance and entertainment as you take on Belgium&#8217;s coolest cities and stop to have an authentic Belgian beer from the past in between at our favorite abbeys.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;Some of the key places we recommend that you should try to include in your trip are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/brussels-capital\/brussels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brussels<\/a> &#8211; blanche des bruxelles (Brasserie Lef\u00e8bvre)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/flemish\/antwerp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Antwerp<\/a> &#8211; CuveeAntwerpen &#8217;93, the De Koninck brewery<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/flemish\/bruges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bruges<\/a> &#8211; Brugse Zot and Brugse Straffe Hendrik (still locally brewed at the Halve Maan Brewery.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/flemish\/ghent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ghent<\/a> &#8211; Gentse Strop, or the local Gruut Brewery<\/p>\n<p>So what are you waiting for? Start tasting and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/?cc=be&amp;type=romantic&amp;title=Plan%20your%20perfect%20trip%20in%20Belgium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">planning your trip!<\/a><br \/>\n<!-- Start RoutePerfect embedded trip code --><iframe style=\"border: none; width: 100%; height: 360px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/embedded.php?id=eeff89c8\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"float-right\"><a title=\"Belgian Beer Tour\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/itineraries\/10-day-romantic-trip-bruges-to-antwerp-belgium.html?id=eeff89c8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Beer Tour<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2795\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2795\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/flemish\/bruges\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2795 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shutterstock_234380947.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset in the historic city of Bruges, Belgium\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-wp-pid=\"2795\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sunset in the historic city of Bruges, Belgium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2801\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/brussels-capital\/brussels\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2801 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shutterstock_199987595.jpg\" alt=\"View of Brussels city center in the evening\" width=\"1000\" height=\"839\" data-wp-pid=\"2799\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View of Brussels city centre in the evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2802\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2802\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/belgium\/flemish\/antwerp\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2802 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shutterstock_110237210-1.jpg\" alt=\"Old town in Antwerp, Belgium\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" data-wp-pid=\"2802\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2802\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Old town in Antwerp, Belgium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr>\n<h3>Monastic Breweries<\/h3>\n<p>Belgian beer has as rich a history as it does a taste. Thousands of years ago, Belgium was included in the European \u201cBeer Belt,\u201d when civilization was brewing beer for both pleasure and precaution; before water filters, alcohol such as beer was the most sanitary beverage humans could consume.<\/p>\n<p>During the Middle Ages, Christian monasteries lived in a commune style, housing and nourishing travelers, pilgrims, and the needy. Because of their societal role, monasteries became major beer producers, which is why you see many beers named after them and even after particular saints still to this day. Some notable monastic breweries include:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/chimay.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chimay Brewery, Chimay (Chimay Blue)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/sintsixtus.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Abbey of Saint Sixtus Brewery, Westvlenteren<\/a> (Westvlenteren 12)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.affligembeer.com\/Age%20Gateway\/Age%20Gateway?returnurl=%2f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Affligem Brewery, Affligen<\/a> (Afligem Dubbel)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sintbernardus.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brewery of St. Bernard, Watou <\/a>(St. Bernardus Abt 12)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.trappistwestmalle.be\/en\/page\/gastenverblijf.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Westmalle, nearby Antwerp <\/a>(Westmalle Tripel)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.orval.be\/en\/8\/Brewery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Orval, nearby Dinant<\/a> (Get the Orval!)<\/p>\n<p>Fun fact! A select few abbey breweries today get to boast the \u201cTrappist\u201d label, which means their profits from beer sales are strictly spent on the maintenance of these self-sustaining monasteries. Don&#8217;t you just love drinking for a cause?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2797 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shutterstock_339721367.jpg\" alt=\"clinking belgian beer glasses \" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-wp-pid=\"2793\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Types of Belgian Beer<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cBut why does this Belgian beer&nbsp;taste so GOOD,\u201d you may be wondering! Well, Roughly five hundred years ago in nearby Bavaria, a beer purification law was passed which required almost all beer around Europe to be made with a select few ingredients, including hops. Belgium was among the first to rebel against this strict regulation and expand their sphere of ingredients to various flavors, colors, and consistencies. Be sure to check out this variety of Belgian beer styles:<\/p>\n<p>Lambic \/ Gueuze (Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze)<br \/>\nWitbier \/ Wheat Beer (Hoegaarden)<br \/>\nFlemish Red and Brown Sour Beer (Rodenbach Grand Cru, or Liefmans Oud Bruin)<br \/>\nBlond Pale Ale (Stella Artois)<br \/>\nBrun Brown Ale (Leffe Brun)<br \/>\nGolden Ale, often called Tripels (Golden Carolus)<br \/>\nBelgian-style Saison (Saison Dupont)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2794 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shutterstock_270707918.jpg\" alt=\"friends drinking\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-wp-pid=\"2794\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>The Kwak<\/h3>\n<p>Remember as you&#8217;re making your way around Belgium, and quite literally drinking in your surroundings, that it is custom for brewers to design a signature glass for each and every kind of beer as well as to drink your beer out of its designated glass. All around the country you will see the bar walls lined with seemingly hazardous amounts of glass, wondering just what world of flavor the glass will bring to your lips.<\/p>\n<p>The most notable beer vessel in Belgium is less a glass and more a work of art, and it&#8217;s called The Kwak, named after the beer which you drink from it. With a tall voluptuous body and a long wooden handle, you\u2019ll never want to put it down &#8211; but you\u2019ll have to eventually! In some parts of the country, the bars take your shoes before letting you drink from The Kwak, and you won\u2019t get them back until you give up the cup.<\/p>\n<p>Visit the \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/bestbelgianspecialbeers.be\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brouwerij Bosteels<\/a>\u201d (The Bosteels Brewery) to try it yourself!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3404\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3404\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/belgian-kwak-mug.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3404 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-654234-3125347.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/belgian-kwak-mug.jpg\" alt=\"Belgian beer \" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" data-wp-pid=\"3404\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3404\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Kwak Glass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So if you manage to survive this Belgian beer drinking episode, let us know &#8211; we want to hear all about your favorite&nbsp;beers&nbsp;and quaint Belgian towns!&nbsp;And in case you&#8217;re struggling and know nothing on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routeperfect.com\/trip-planner\/\">how to plan a European vacation<\/a><\/strong>, let us guide you through that, we promise it&#8217;s really easy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like many of our cultural icons, Belgian beer is a leader, and an advocate for beer&#8217;s very existence. Those who waste no time telling you it&#8217;s the best are people who take their beer seriously. The best way to get to know this magical craft is to try them all, and the best way to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[262,261,37],"tags":[44,295,283,305,139,146,89,161,307,16,52,145],"class_list":["post-2790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belgium-travel","category-europe-travel","category-travel-tips","tag-adventure","tag-beer","tag-belgium","tag-euro-trip","tag-europe","tag-eurotrip","tag-food","tag-history","tag-holiday","tag-travel","tag-wanderlust","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2790"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9376,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790\/revisions\/9376"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/route.hostingwp.co.il\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}