Some Belgian Beer History

[Trappist]

Hi folks,
Quite some intriguing picture I found on Facebook 



This picture was taken in 1918, at the end of world war I.
It shows people having a drink outside "Café De L'embouteillage du Port". (transl.: Port Bottling Pub" ?)
We see some sailors, and on the right side four Canadian soldiers.



Actually, they sure are Canadians. They are wearing hats with the maple leaf on it.
Source: https://nl.frwiki.wiki/wiki/Histoire_militaire_du_Canada_pendant_la_Premi%C3%A8re_Guerre_mondiale

I presume, people were celebrating the end of WWI, and having some great stuff, incl. Champagne! (I think)



Port Wine (I also think, because the glasses are so small) and Bass Pale Ale!
It seems to get a bit off topic, but it's a damn important picture, showing the history of Belgian beer in the period that alot of British beers were imported to Belgium, which were an inspiration to make something similar here in Belgium, ie SPECIAL BELGE! Examples: Palm, De Koninck, Ginder-Ale, Vieux-Temps, etc...
The Bass Pale Ale looks very dark, and one would think it is a stout, also availabe over there, as can be seen on the boards.
The board on the right side also shows cramique, which is sweet raisin bread. It's also a tearoom, hence.



The fact that I think the beer is a pale ale is because the triangle on the bottle was done for the Bass pale ale only.
The picture clearly shows the red colored (yes, should be) triangle.
The stronger beers from Bass OTOH, ie Imperial Stout, Strong Ale, and their Barley Wine got a red colored square emblem, as can be seen on the picture here above.
I think that the heavy contrast on the picture makes the amber beer much more darker.



With zooming in, I was extremely intrigued with the bottle the waitress is holding there.
What on earth is that
It looks like a beer bottle to me. Also, a strange cap on top of the bottle is noticed. Cork ??
Ofcourse, it could be wine, port wine too 

I think the time is right to invent that precious time machine

Cheers,
Filip

[Viv]

Hi Filip,

Some interesting pictures there........

You are right about the Bass Pale Ale logo, etc.

It reminded me of when I lived in Nottingham when I was
studying at the Polytechnic ( now University ) over
40 years ago! I used to regularly meet up with some
very hardened middle aged or older pub boozers. One
of the frequented pubs had Draught Bass on tap which
was only c5.0% ABV. But no-one could ever manage to
taste more than 5 pints without being too drunk! No-one
could understand this strange phenomenon!!!


Cheers!



Viv

 





   

[Trappist]

One of the frequented pubs had Draught Bass on tap which
was only c5.0% ABV. But no-one could ever manage to
taste more than 5 pints without being too drunk! No-one
could understand this strange phenomenon!!!

Viv,
That's indeed a very strange phenomenon 
Maybe the beer was more than 5 vol% ?? Frankly, I don't have any clue.
But I also have some similar experiences with Bush beer from Dubuisson.
It's a 12 vol% beer, and personally I experience that this beer is such a deadly drink.
I simply can't drink more of two of them without getting that hammer on my head.
I don't have this with other 12 vol% beers   

BTW, I am struggling with the name of that café on the picture.
It's called "Café de l'Embouteillage du Port".
I simply can not understand the meaning of it, because it has 2 different meanings.
You could say: The pub of the Port(the portwine to be precise) bottling.
But it actually can also mean: The pub of the traffic jam at the (sea)port of Zeebrugge.
I think I go for the latter.
See also: https://www.sincfala.be/107-museumcollectie/beeldbank/64338-avmpkze00399?tmpl=component
It's actually mentioned on that postcard and translated in Dutch ===>> The blockade of the seaport!

Cheers,
Filip

[John B]

Wonderful bit of history there. Thanks for sharing that Filip! 

It's funny that you mention the effect Bush beers have on you. The same for me. They really seem to hit me much harder than other beers with a similar abv. Don't know why that is, but I'm not complaining   

Cheers! - John

[Trappist]

It's funny that you mention the effect Bush beers have on you. The same for me. They really seem to hit me much harder than other beers with a similar abv. Don't know why that is, but I'm not complaining   

Yes John,
Other 12 vol% beers can be dangerous drinkable and do not give that alcohol, even afterwards 
But in case of Bush, one can clearly taste the alcohol. It even gets you some whiskey flavors too 
Already with the first sip, you are notified that you drink some strong booz
But indeed, who's to complain, isn't it
Cheers,
Filip

[Viv]

Hi Filip and John,

Bush Amber used to be known as the strongest Belgian beer a few
years ago, at 12.0%, but now there are many of the same strength
or even stronger.

Dubuisson is still one of my favourite breweries and they have
many great brews!

However, I have never felt the effects more from their brews as
you guys have.

Cheers!



Viv