Hi guys,

I'm more than happy to chip in financially if necessary too.

But I think the smaller FB page might be the solution. Although I
have no idea what that will look like.

Having not had any alcohol for over 3 months, I rekindled my
enthusiasm a few weeks ago and as such am tasting a few beers a week
although most have been German both new and old so far. If you think
Belgian beers are difficult to source you should try sourcing Germans
especially away from the main breweries that dominate, ie Spaten,
Paulaner, Erdinger, and Ayinger to name but a few! Many breweries
have up to 20 different brews many of which are seasonal and locally
distributed only. I remember when I spent a lot of time in Germany
almost 50 years ago most supermarkets and shops only sold their local
brews! Imagine walking down very long aisles with thousands of bottles
but only maybe 5 different brews!  ( Jay, imagine your sweetshop beershop
with only 5 different Belgians beers, and nothing else either! )

Anyway, let's keep looking at the options available.

Cheers!



Viv


   



 

Hi guys,

Wow, great write up as ever Jay!

And that handbag scare must have really tested your resolve!

At least your tests have now shown what the problem is so it could be relatively
straightforward to resolve, maybe with just some diet changes to start.


Sorry to hear about Katrien's ankle Filip. Looks like you'll be busy taking care of her
for a few weeks until she's fully recovered.
 
Cheers,


Viv

Hey guys,

I suppose its not really out of the blue as you can tell by the number
of postings that the four of us ( Filip, Jay, John and myself ) are currently
making.

For my part I have really enjoyed the searching and tasting of nearly 2,000
Belgian beers, carried out over the last 26 years.

We have all played a great part in the journey shared on this website, each
one of bringing something different. Filip's research and updates of local
breweries and beers, new releases, etc. And obviously facilitating this
website! Jay's tastings and travels seeking out not only Belgian beer but
local beer too. John's american input, research and viewpoint from across
the pond. My tastings ( you guys have done this too ).

I have become less interested in chasing down and finding new brews as well as
sourcing them, especially after Covid and Brexit which provided restrictions
and added tax import duties. I rarely drink alcohol these days as the joy of
doing so has naturally been lowered.

The four of us created a bond and friendship far beyond what would seem possible
by online media alone ( apart from Filip and Jay who did meet up and fairly
regularly). I for one will miss this but as you say there's the FB site. Although
I tend to stay well away from FB, TikTok and Instagram.

Maybe we should start a Whatsapp group for the four of us to keep that intimate
shared bond we have enjoyed.

Wouldn't it be just great to actually one day meet up and have a beer or two
in Belgium???!!!

I will add further thoughts as they come to me! Lots more could be added yet!

So, it's a big CHEERS guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Viv

   

   

Hi Filip,

Your English is very good but there will always be a few small mistakes
now and again.

Don't worry about it!

The worst thing is that another top brewer has gone bust which is very
bad and sad news indeed.

Peak "craft beer" has long since passed taking casualties including
quality Belgian brewers with it.

We all need a beer!!!


Cheers!


Viv
 


 

Hi Filip,

Surely that warrants being a major note.

What a great brewery they have been and for many years too.
I have enjoyed many of their beers over a long period.


Very sad news.



Cheers!



Viv

ST.MONON TRIPLE AU MIEL       

Triple Ale with Honey from St.Monon, with an ABV of 8.0%. Last tasted in 2005, when it
was simply known as St Monon au Miel, and with an ABV of 7.0%.

Pours a golden blonde with a bubbly head. Good lacing.

Aroma of honey, demerara sugar, hops, malts, and spices.

It's medium bodied, and nicely carbonated. Good depth of flavour and quite complex. It's
fruity, hoppy, with caramel, honey, spices, malts, herbals and florals, all delivered
fresh crisp and refreshing, with a bittersweet interplay.  This is very good, and a huge
improvement since I last tasted when I was pretty unimpressed. Another brewery that's
upped its quality level substantially.

Cheers!

Viv

ST.MONON BRUNE       

Dark/Brune Ale from St.Monon with an ABV of 7.5%. Last tasted in 2009.

Pours a dark ruby burgundy with a frothy bubbly head. Good lacing.

Herbal floral hoppy malty aroma.

It's medium bodied, and nicely carbonated. Good depth of flavour and complexity, with lots
of malts, caramel, toffee, plain chocolate, fruits, figs, dates, mocha, raisins, sultanas.
Smooth and creamy yet crisp and sharp. This is very good, and a huge improvement since I
last tasted when I was pretty unimpressed. Another brewery that's upped its quality level
substantially.

Cheers!


Viv

DE RANKE SAN FRANCISCO PORTER   

New Porter from de Ranke, with an ABV of 5.5%. New brew for me too.

Pours a deep dark jet black, with a huge tan rocky head. Great lacing. 

Aroma of malts and hops.

Thick, slick and oily so full bodied, and nicely carbonated, with a very filling mouthfeel.
Dry and bitter throughout, with malts, hops, coffee, mocha, plain chocolate, toffee and
caramel. Smooth and easy drinking, but not enough complexity for me, as per the style,
but nice to try anyway.

Cheers!

Viv

TRIPORTEUR NIPPLE TRIPLE     

New Triple from BOM, with an ABV of 8.5%. New brew for me. Brewed with 4 grains
( oatmalt, barleymalt, wheatmalt and ryemalt )

Pours a golden blonde, with a frothy head. Good lacing.

Aromas of fruit, hops, herbals, and florals.

Fresh crisp and sharp it's medium to full bodied, nicely carbonated with a slightly syrupy
mouthfeel, and with great depth of flavour. Complex, with lots of hops, malts, fruit
especially peach and apricot, herbals, florals, caramel, honey, with even a hint of strange
coughsweets/candy. Quite sweetish throughout but there's a subtle bitterness at the finish.
Nice brew, but only a very average Triple for the style. ( I was expecting better )     

Cheers!

Viv

DUVEL IMPERIAL BLOND         

New Strong Blonde Ale from Duvel-Moortgat, with an ABV of 10.0%. Based on the well-known
and loved Duvel.

Pours a golden blonde, with a huge rocky frothy head. Great lacing.

Aromas of florals, herbals, hops, malts, fruit, and spices.
It's full bodied as you'd expect, with beautiful refinement of carbonation and mouthfeel,
and great depth of flavour and complexity. Smooth and velvety, very easy drinking, sweet
yet dry and bitter, crisp and sharp, with lots of hops, honey, caramel, florals, herbals,
and spices. Fantastic brew!!! Is it better than Duvel though? having only tasted 2 bottles
so far I couldn't possibly judge it higher, but it's certainly a TOP100 brew! Amazing
stuff! Simply outstanding! 

Cheers!

Viv

GRUUT DARK AMBER     

Amber ale from Gentse Stadsbrouwerij, a new version of the original Amber, so a new brew
for me too. ABV of 6.0%. A massive improvement on the original brew!

Pours a deep ruby burgundy, with a bubbly frothy head. Some lacing.

Malty, hoppy, airy, herbal floral aroma.
It's surprisingly full bodied, with a fizzy yet light mouthfeel, with enough depth of
flavour and complexity with hops, malts, florals, caramel, herbals, cola, milk chocolate,
cocoa powder, Ovaltine, chocolate orange, plum, greengage and jam. Howver, it just has
the profile and mouthfeel of a summer beer, in other words a Saison. Indeed it is nice
and refreshing.

Cheers,

Viv

FAGNES BLOOD ORANGE       

New Fruitbeer from Fagnes, with an ABV of 7.0%. New brew for me.

Pours an orangey amber with a good sized bubbly frothy head. Some lacing.

Aroma of orange, sugar, malts and caramel.

It's thin to medium bodied, nicely carbonated with a slightly fizzy mouthfeel, and with a
great depth of flavour right from the first sip, and some complexity. Fresh, fruity and
crisp start with the really full on flavour. Sweetish, very fruity especially oranges,
sherbet, grains, spices. Sharp sweet and bitter right through to the strong finish.
Great brew, one of the best fruitbeers!

Cheers!

Viv

1545. EGGENBERG WEISSE (MAY 2026)
EGGENBERG WEISSE     

Wheat beer from Austrian Eggenberg, with an ABV of 5.0%. New brew for me.

Pours a cloudy murky golden blonde, with a huge frothy creamy head. Excellent lacing.

Aromas of spices, wheat, hops, malts, and it's earthy too.

It's thin to medium bodied, perfectly carbonated, with a good depth of flavour and enough
complexity for the style. Creamy, hoppy, malty, spicy, and smooth and easy drinking. With
citrus fruits, berry fruits, caramel and wheat. Bittersweet background.  Good for the
style, but not really as good as most German wheatbeers. 

Cheers!

Viv

JOUP (MARCH 2026)       

Dark Ale from Grain d'Orge, last tasted once in 2006, now with an ABV of 6.8%
( was 7.5% ).

Pours a deep ruby burgundy, with a rocky frothy head. Good lacing.

Fresh airy aroma of hops, malts and caramel.

It's thin bodied, nicely carbonated, with great complexity and good depth of flavour.
Smooth and very easy drinking, there's plenty of caramel, honey, malts, fruits especially
plum, maple and fig, fruit gums, cough candy, grass, gingerbread, pepper, ginger,
baking powder, florals, and herbals. Every mouthful is different. All those flavours
really do work together in this pretty unique brew. The first time I tasted it back in
2006 I wasn't impressed but I am glad that I have tried it again and this time I am
greatly impressed! Excellent brew!

Cheers!

Viv

HOVELS ORIGINAL     

Alt beer from Hovels, in Germany, and last tasted in 2004. 5.5% ABV.

Pours a golden amber, with a huge rocky frothy bubble head, Excellent lacing.

Malty, floral, hoppy aroma.

It's thin to medium bodied, nicely carbonated, smooth but not very complex, but
it does have good depth of flavour. Easy drinking, refreshing, with lots of
caramel, toffee, florals, dark chocolate, berry fruits, and a long dry bitter
finish. Nice brew. 

Cheers,

Viv