Ratebeer Best - Westvleteren 12 once again the best beer in the world
Unlike last year, the biggest site when it comes to rating beers, RateBeer, didn't release all their "Bests" at once. This year they chose to release a category each day. After releasing the best beer retailers the last few days, it was time for the first "big" release, the one of The Best Beer in the World.
Last year the Westvleteren 12 from the Trappist monks in Westvleteren was on top of the list, and this year they managed to extend their title for another year! Along with 9 other Belgian beers, Belgium is well represented in the top 50. De Struise Brouwers, Westvleteren, Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen are all in the top 50 with two beers, along with St. Bernardus and Rochefort, both represented by one beer.
The largest amount of beers however comes from the USA! Non less than 37 beers of the 50 best beers in the world of 2012 are from the States. With a 2nd and 3rd place for Russian River with their Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. 4th place goes to Founders with their KBS (on which you find a review in our tasting notes) and 5th place goes to the Brandy BA version of the Hunahpu's IS from Cigar City.
All information: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbeers_012013x.asp
Last year the Westvleteren 12 from the Trappist monks in Westvleteren was on top of the list, and this year they managed to extend their title for another year! Along with 9 other Belgian beers, Belgium is well represented in the top 50. De Struise Brouwers, Westvleteren, Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen are all in the top 50 with two beers, along with St. Bernardus and Rochefort, both represented by one beer.
The largest amount of beers however comes from the USA! Non less than 37 beers of the 50 best beers in the world of 2012 are from the States. With a 2nd and 3rd place for Russian River with their Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. 4th place goes to Founders with their KBS (on which you find a review in our tasting notes) and 5th place goes to the Brandy BA version of the Hunahpu's IS from Cigar City.
All information: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbeers_012013x.asp
Tournée Génerale is back
For the Belgian readers of this website we've got some good news! The program on the national television about beer, will return the 7th of february. This will be the third season allready, and the hosts will once again be Jean Blaute and the amazing Ray Cokes.
As they did in the previous two seasons there's a beer dedicated to the program. After the "Canvasbier" and the "Tripel Hop", they made a "Premium Tripel" this time. And more good news, this beer will soon be released.
The beer will be a soft, but full-bodied tripel, spiced with the Belgium Hallertau magnum and Kelt Golding hops. It wil be 8,5% ABV and it will only be sold in 75cl bottles (as were the previous ones).
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
As they did in the previous two seasons there's a beer dedicated to the program. After the "Canvasbier" and the "Tripel Hop", they made a "Premium Tripel" this time. And more good news, this beer will soon be released.
The beer will be a soft, but full-bodied tripel, spiced with the Belgium Hallertau magnum and Kelt Golding hops. It wil be 8,5% ABV and it will only be sold in 75cl bottles (as were the previous ones).
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
Vintage tasting by Belgian Beer Board @ Bruges Beer Festival
Not only will there be over 300 beers to taste at the Bruges Beer Festival, on sunday, at noon, there will also be a tasting of vintage beers, organised by Filip Geerts.
Filip is the founder of Belgian Beer Board, a website to promote Belgian beers and to bring people with the same passion together.
This year will allready be the third edition of the "Vintage tasting". Previous years they had samples of very old Westvleterens, the first ever made Kasteelbier donker (1989), old geuzes, Liefmans Kriek etc etc.
So if you would be interested, check out:http://www.belgianbeerboard.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=88888993&topic=1854.0
Just shoot Filip a message in advance!
Perhaps we'll see you there!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
Filip is the founder of Belgian Beer Board, a website to promote Belgian beers and to bring people with the same passion together.
This year will allready be the third edition of the "Vintage tasting". Previous years they had samples of very old Westvleterens, the first ever made Kasteelbier donker (1989), old geuzes, Liefmans Kriek etc etc.
So if you would be interested, check out:http://www.belgianbeerboard.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=88888993&topic=1854.0
Just shoot Filip a message in advance!
Perhaps we'll see you there!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
Toer de Geuze 2013
"The Toer de Geuze was organised for the first time in 1997. Boon, De Cam, De Troch, 3 Fonteinen, Lindemans and Timmermans opened their doors for the public. Since then the open brewery day of the Payottenland and the Valley of the Senne has become a biannual event.
The previous edition of the Toer de Geuze took place on 19th October 1997, 3rd October 1999, 22nd April 2001, 27th April 2003, 3rd April 2005, 22nd April 2007, 26th April 2009 and 1st May 2011."
And now, sunday, the 21st of April 2013, a few members of the High Counsil for Artisanal Lambic Beers (HORAL) open their doors again to the public from 10 AM till 5 PM. During this 8th edition of the Toer de Geuze there will be tours inside the different breweries, blenderies. Of course it will also be possible to taste some of the finest lambics, geuzes, krieks, framboises and other lambicbrews. You can visit either one or multiple locations. Entrance will be free and you don't need to make a reservation.
It's possible to visit the different location by car, but there's also a nice biking route that you can find on the HORAL-website, so you can visit all 10 location by making a 90k bike-trip! Transport by bus will also be arranged, reservations will be possible from februar 2013!
The breweries that are participating:
- Boon: Fonteinstraat 65, 1502 Lembeek
- De Oude Cam: Dorpstraat 67A, 1755 Gooik
- De Troch: Langestraat 20, 1741 Wambeek
- 3 Fonteinen: Hoogstraat 2A, 1650 Beersel
- Hanssens: Vroenenbosstraat 15/1, 1653 Dworp
- Oud Beersel: Laarheidestraat 230, 1650 Beersel
- Tilquin: Chaussée Maïeur Habils 110, 1430 Bierghes (Rebecq)
- Timmermans: Kerkstraat 11, 1701 Itterbeek
- visitor centre De Lambiek, Gemeenveldstraat 1, 1652 Alsemberg (Beersel)
More info: http://horal.be/en/toer-de-geuze
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
The previous edition of the Toer de Geuze took place on 19th October 1997, 3rd October 1999, 22nd April 2001, 27th April 2003, 3rd April 2005, 22nd April 2007, 26th April 2009 and 1st May 2011."
And now, sunday, the 21st of April 2013, a few members of the High Counsil for Artisanal Lambic Beers (HORAL) open their doors again to the public from 10 AM till 5 PM. During this 8th edition of the Toer de Geuze there will be tours inside the different breweries, blenderies. Of course it will also be possible to taste some of the finest lambics, geuzes, krieks, framboises and other lambicbrews. You can visit either one or multiple locations. Entrance will be free and you don't need to make a reservation.
It's possible to visit the different location by car, but there's also a nice biking route that you can find on the HORAL-website, so you can visit all 10 location by making a 90k bike-trip! Transport by bus will also be arranged, reservations will be possible from februar 2013!
The breweries that are participating:
- Boon: Fonteinstraat 65, 1502 Lembeek
- De Oude Cam: Dorpstraat 67A, 1755 Gooik
- De Troch: Langestraat 20, 1741 Wambeek
- 3 Fonteinen: Hoogstraat 2A, 1650 Beersel
- Hanssens: Vroenenbosstraat 15/1, 1653 Dworp
- Oud Beersel: Laarheidestraat 230, 1650 Beersel
- Tilquin: Chaussée Maïeur Habils 110, 1430 Bierghes (Rebecq)
- Timmermans: Kerkstraat 11, 1701 Itterbeek
- visitor centre De Lambiek, Gemeenveldstraat 1, 1652 Alsemberg (Beersel)
More info: http://horal.be/en/toer-de-geuze
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze available again
We had to wait a little longer then last year (2009 version), but this year's Lou Pepe Gueuze 2010 is available again at the Cantillon Brewery. Some info on the Lou Pepe from their website http://www.cantillon.be/br/3_1
"The Gueuze Lou Pepe is made with two years old lambic beers with a mellow taste, often coming from barrels in which only wine has been kept before. In July, the same kind of beer is used to make the Lou Pepe Kriek and Framboise. With these beers too, the fruits are soaked in barrels coming directly from Bordeaux.
The second fermentation of these particular beers is not caused by the addition of young lambic but of a sweet liquor. The yeast will transform the sugar in carbon dioxide.
The particular name of these beers comes from the south-west of France, a region the Cantillon family is very fond of. In this beautiful region, the grandfather is called Lou Pepe. To his grandchildren Florian, Simon, Louis and Sylvain, the master-brewer is the Lou Pepe of the North."
The Lou Pepe Kriek 2010 was allready available at the brewery, to drink on the premises, but will not be bottled for sales (see - poor cellphone - picture). And for the Lou Pepe Framboise 2010, they just added the berries to the lambic, so this will be out when Jean says it's ready to go.
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, Cantillon Sint Lamvinus will be released in about one week!
"The Gueuze Lou Pepe is made with two years old lambic beers with a mellow taste, often coming from barrels in which only wine has been kept before. In July, the same kind of beer is used to make the Lou Pepe Kriek and Framboise. With these beers too, the fruits are soaked in barrels coming directly from Bordeaux.
The second fermentation of these particular beers is not caused by the addition of young lambic but of a sweet liquor. The yeast will transform the sugar in carbon dioxide.
The particular name of these beers comes from the south-west of France, a region the Cantillon family is very fond of. In this beautiful region, the grandfather is called Lou Pepe. To his grandchildren Florian, Simon, Louis and Sylvain, the master-brewer is the Lou Pepe of the North."
The Lou Pepe Kriek 2010 was allready available at the brewery, to drink on the premises, but will not be bottled for sales (see - poor cellphone - picture). And for the Lou Pepe Framboise 2010, they just added the berries to the lambic, so this will be out when Jean says it's ready to go.
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, Cantillon Sint Lamvinus will be released in about one week!
Big Rodenbach Tasting
As you might have read on trading fora - because of my desperate search for a few beers - we are putting together a Rodenbach tasting. No small tasting to compare the regular Rodenbach with the Grand Cru, no, we're trying to assemble all the Rodenbach beers ever made!
A little research taught us that there are no less then 8 different Rodenbach beers, of which 3 are retired and 1 isn't bottled: the regular version, the Grand Cru, Vintage, Redbach (R), Alexander (R), Vin de Céréale (R), Foederbier (not bottled) and the Caractère Rouge.
We've come to the point we found 7 of them, but we're still looking for the Alexander. So if any of you guys can help us out, send us e-mail or contact us on FaceBook! Also older vintages are more then welcome!
Anyway, you'll hear everything about the tasting (which will hopefully take place at "Au Saumon", located on the Grote Markt of Roeselare).
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, for more info on the beers, go to www.rodenbach.be
A little research taught us that there are no less then 8 different Rodenbach beers, of which 3 are retired and 1 isn't bottled: the regular version, the Grand Cru, Vintage, Redbach (R), Alexander (R), Vin de Céréale (R), Foederbier (not bottled) and the Caractère Rouge.
We've come to the point we found 7 of them, but we're still looking for the Alexander. So if any of you guys can help us out, send us e-mail or contact us on FaceBook! Also older vintages are more then welcome!
Anyway, you'll hear everything about the tasting (which will hopefully take place at "Au Saumon", located on the Grote Markt of Roeselare).
Santé!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, for more info on the beers, go to www.rodenbach.be
6th Bruges Beer Festival
Only 20 days away from now, the 6th Bruges Beer Festival, organised by the Bruges' Autonomous Beertaster VZW will take place. The location will once again be the beautiful Belfort, centrally located in Bruges.
The concept stays pretty much the same: They put over 70 brewers, who all together bring over 300 beers under the same roof, they provide glasses, tokens and seatings and you spend a lovely afternoon/evening of tasting beers. And between all those tastings you can attend some of the cooking-with-beer classes at the cooking theatre!
You'll find all the information you need on: http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/en/
See you there!!
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, it's good to be back ;)
The concept stays pretty much the same: They put over 70 brewers, who all together bring over 300 beers under the same roof, they provide glasses, tokens and seatings and you spend a lovely afternoon/evening of tasting beers. And between all those tastings you can attend some of the cooking-with-beer classes at the cooking theatre!
You'll find all the information you need on: http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/en/
See you there!!
Santé!!
The Beer Apprentices
PS, it's good to be back ;)
New Trappist Brewery in Austria
"More and more rumors spread up that a new 8th Trappist Beer is coming. This time not from France (Mont des cats) but from a Trappist monastery in Austria. The Engelszell Stift is a beautiful Monastery 200 km east of Munich/Munchen in Germany. It has been founded in 1293 and needs financial input to recover the old paintings, fresco’s and paintings.
For that reason the Trappist Monks of Engelszell Still decided to start a small brewery. The monastery asked to the Trappist Organisation in Belgium for recognition of the official Trappist label.
In a few days, a decision should be made for becoming the 8th Trappist Beer in the world.
You can find more information in the press release on the website of the monastery of Engelszell Stift."
Source: http://trappist-beers.com/8th-trappist-beer-coming-from-austria/
For that reason the Trappist Monks of Engelszell Still decided to start a small brewery. The monastery asked to the Trappist Organisation in Belgium for recognition of the official Trappist label.
In a few days, a decision should be made for becoming the 8th Trappist Beer in the world.
You can find more information in the press release on the website of the monastery of Engelszell Stift."
Source: http://trappist-beers.com/8th-trappist-beer-coming-from-austria/
5th Bruges Beer Festival - Complete Brewer- and Beer-lists
Reminder!! This weekend, in Bruges, the biggest Beer Festival in Belgium!!
Here's their list with the brewers (74!!):
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/nl/brouwers-160.html
And here's their list with the beer (322!!):
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/nl/bieren-232.html
See you there!!
Afterwards you'll a review on the festival, the beers I've tasted etc etc.
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Here's their list with the brewers (74!!):
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/nl/brouwers-160.html
And here's their list with the beer (322!!):
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/nl/bieren-232.html
See you there!!
Afterwards you'll a review on the festival, the beers I've tasted etc etc.
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
New brewery in Bruges! First to be discovered at The Bruges Beer Festival!
http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/en/brouwers/fort_lapin/fort_lapin_8-1184.html
A new brewery has been founded in Bruges, Brewery Fort Lapin.
For many years, Brewery De Halve Maan was the most important brewery in Bruges.
Will Fort Lapin be able to change this?
You can taste their first beer: Fort Lapin 8, at the Bruges Beer Festival, the 4th and 5th of februar.
Santé!
the Beer Apprentice
A new brewery has been founded in Bruges, Brewery Fort Lapin.
For many years, Brewery De Halve Maan was the most important brewery in Bruges.
Will Fort Lapin be able to change this?
You can taste their first beer: Fort Lapin 8, at the Bruges Beer Festival, the 4th and 5th of februar.
Santé!
the Beer Apprentice
RateBeer 2012 Best: Award Results.
Ever since 2002, in januar, the biggest website around beer on the world wide web makes an annual summary of what's been going on in the world of beer.
Who brewed the greatest beer? Who are the greatest brewers? Which is the coolest bar to have a drink? Which is the coolest restaurant to have dinner?
This year's winners are respectively: Westvleteren 12, Three Floyds, Kulminator and De Heeren van Liederkercke.
First determination: Belgium kicks ass!!
A few suprises where found: Westvleteren 12 beats Narke Kaggen Stormaktsporter again (because it's retired?), Kulminator is still in charge when it come to beer pubs, De Bistronoom loses it's first place to another Belgian restaurant... Struise who were the best brewers in 2008, 63th last year, and now finishing 8th, as first non-American brewery. De Molen drops 7 places but still holds a nice 12th place and second non-American brewery.
You can see all the categories and full list here: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Who brewed the greatest beer? Who are the greatest brewers? Which is the coolest bar to have a drink? Which is the coolest restaurant to have dinner?
This year's winners are respectively: Westvleteren 12, Three Floyds, Kulminator and De Heeren van Liederkercke.
First determination: Belgium kicks ass!!
A few suprises where found: Westvleteren 12 beats Narke Kaggen Stormaktsporter again (because it's retired?), Kulminator is still in charge when it come to beer pubs, De Bistronoom loses it's first place to another Belgian restaurant... Struise who were the best brewers in 2008, 63th last year, and now finishing 8th, as first non-American brewery. De Molen drops 7 places but still holds a nice 12th place and second non-American brewery.
You can see all the categories and full list here: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Brewery De Graal making their own whisky! Whisky San Graal 63% ABV.
http://www.degraal.be/nl/San%20Graal.html
Unfortunatly in Dutch. (You can always translate with specialized website)
It's about a small brewery in Flanders, specialized in brewing recipies for other people, organisations etc.
The brewer is a very smart, friendly guy. He gots a PhD in Chemistry, so the guys knows what he's doing!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Unfortunatly in Dutch. (You can always translate with specialized website)
It's about a small brewery in Flanders, specialized in brewing recipies for other people, organisations etc.
The brewer is a very smart, friendly guy. He gots a PhD in Chemistry, so the guys knows what he's doing!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Video article on "De Bistronoom", the best beer-restaurant in the world.
http://youtu.be/8vmMn3ytNaM
According to the website: "De Bistronoom is famous for his regional
bistronomy, prepared and served with care and of course... his rage of Belgian
beers."
A must go for everyone who enjoys a good beer and loves to pair it with some great food!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
According to the website: "De Bistronoom is famous for his regional
bistronomy, prepared and served with care and of course... his rage of Belgian
beers."
A must go for everyone who enjoys a good beer and loves to pair it with some great food!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
"Woman named Beer barred from New Zealand brewing competition because she's female."
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/12/woman-named-beer-barred-from-new-zealand-brewing-competition-because-shes/#ixzz1jKZZZj2J
Again: Hmmm..
Afraid of a little competition maybe?
What a cool name she has btw!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
Again: Hmmm..
Afraid of a little competition maybe?
What a cool name she has btw!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
5th Bruges Beer Festival
Only one more month to go till the greatest and definitely one of the coolest beer festivals in Belgium.
For the 5th time allready, the "Brugse Autonome Bierproevers" planned a huge weekend, filled with the finest beers, great food and lots of ambience!
So saturday the 4th and sunday the 5th of februar, 2012, in Bruges, in the "Halletoren", which is a great historic place.
See you all there!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice
For the 5th time allready, the "Brugse Autonome Bierproevers" planned a huge weekend, filled with the finest beers, great food and lots of ambience!
So saturday the 4th and sunday the 5th of februar, 2012, in Bruges, in the "Halletoren", which is a great historic place.
See you all there!
Santé!
The Beer Apprentice