Beer E-News Archive 2009

This page is an archive of items culled from our Beer Newsletter.   For earlier issues click on 2008, 2007, 2006 or  2005
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From Issue 64 (August 2009)

1) Adur Brewery - additional website pages
We have set up lots of additional webpages for the Adur Brewery which, until they re-vamp their website, will be hosted on our site.  The main way in is
and this leads you to sections on merchandise, a pictorial history of the brewery, details of the beers, as well as the recipes which we mentioned in the last supplement.* 
*Hands up those who noticed that I was so excited I gave it the wrong issue number - the supplement should have been #63!
In the merchandise area you'll find official Adur Brewery items - caps, t-shirts, fridge magnets and soon (we hope) glasses.  All are very reasonably priced so you'll be able to show your support for your local brewery without breaking the bank. 
 
2) More Belgian Humour
(Apologies in advance for any errors in the translation.  No reponsibility accepted for the joke!)
INNER FEELINGS
On a hot summer Sunday they were walking along by the river.  He said to her:
'Ah, my dearest, I wish I could describe this feeling that I have deep inside . . .'
With a deep sigh she interrupted him:
'Yes, darling, I feel it too.  I think we shouldn't have had another beer after the dessert.'
My trusty Belgian calendar also assures me that there was an eclipse of the moon between 23.01 on Wednesday 5 and 02.17 on Thursday 6 August.  I didn't happen to look out at the time, so it's left me wondering:  Perhaps it was only visible in West Flanders?  Perhaps it was too cloudy to see?  Perhaps there is someone out there who was walking home from the pub at that time and suddenly noticed the light had gone out?  Can any beer-loving astronomer enlighten me?
 
3) Congratulations
 . . . to Dark Star for picking up the Golden Ales award in CAMRA's Champion Beers of Britain for their American Pale Ale.  Well desrved and nice to see a Sussex brewery up there at the top again.  In the Bottled Beers award, gold went to Titanic Stout, definitely a nice drop; silver to Great Gable's Yewbarrow - not come across that so must try to find some; and bronze went to Coors for White Shield.    [Thanks to Andy and Loz for the awards news hot off the press.]

Help me out here someone!  I'm looking for a suitably eulogistic write-up of White Shield to tell me what I'm missing.  I keep hearing that this is a good beer, and I keep trying it, and yes, it's certainly drinkable, but I can't see what the fuss is about - I could think of many, many beers I would rate more highly.  It's starting to make me think I've got a hole in my taste buds, and that I'm missing the feature of that beer which gives it its star quality.  So if anyone is a White Shield fan, and would be willing to tell me what they think is great about it, I will do my level best to try to find its virtues. 

And while we're on this subject, I have the same problem with Timothy Taylors Landlord.  I've tried it on draught, I've tried it bottled, I've tried it in Sussex and I've tried it in Yorkshire - but I still don't get it!  Nothing to criticise about it, but I can't see what makes it special.  But I'm willing to learn if there are any TTL fans out there.
 
4)  CAMRA's Best Kept Secret?
For some reason, it seems CAMRA doesn't want you to know about the 'Ale at Amberley' festival!  They sent out 'What's Brewing' without including in it the fliers for this great festival - and it seems that it's the second time this has happened!  Don't let them keep you in the dark - see the details in the Diary Dates section, or go to the website www.aleatamberley.co.uk/ and make sure you don't miss out on a great beer (and food) experience.

I got myself in a muddle with issue numbers and called this one 62 but it should have been 63 (August 2009)

BEER . . . FOOD . . .
. . . two of the great pleasures in life.  But put them together in the right way and you can more than double the enjoyment.
 
That's the aim of our latest project, in conjunction with the Adur Brewery.  We're working on producing a series of recipes featuring the brewery's beers.  And we're not talking about 'beer cuisine' in the sense in which it has recently been 'discovered' by 'celebrity chefs'.  Their take on it is to put a one-inch cube of indeterminate protein under a small heap of 'mixed leaves' in the middle of a huge white plate, with the rest of the blank expanse being stained with a few dribbles of 'coulis' made from some really uninspiring beer (or even lager!) - and then to charge you a small fortune for the privilege of consuming that single mouthful of rubbish!
 
Is the idea of 'beer cuisine' new?  Only in the sense that it has been made to sound more mysterious with a pretentious pseudo-French title.  Our great-grandmothers (and their great-grandmothers before them) already knew that cooking with ale was an excellent way to tenderise meats, impart delicious flavours and create good nourishing dishes.  So our aim is to find recipes, some of them dating back to the Middle Ages, to produce good old-fashioned hearty traditional English meals.  At the same time the recipes should be practical, easy enough to use at home, not requiring hours of finicky preparation yet producing results which impress by their sheer flavour. 
 
And that's where you come in!  We have collected over 160 exciting recipes featuring beer.  Over the course of the next year we shall be re-working them to include the appropriate ales from the Adur Brewery and carrying out trials.  As we get each recipe into a practical form we shall put it on our website at http://www.simpson.uk.com/AdurBrewery/Beerandfood/index.htm 
 
We'd like as many people as possible to try out the recipes, and let us know how you got on:  Did you need to modify cooking times or quantities, or substitute ingredients?  And the crucial question, did you enjoy it?  This kind of feedback will be very useful in enabling us to refine the recipes, and the most successful recipes will then find a permanent place on the Adur Brewery's website - and who knows - they may even appear in a book.
 
What's in it for you?  We hope you will get a lot of fun and pleasure from the experience.  We have found that it has encouraged us to seek out local suppliers of top-quality ingredients.  Going to the markets at Steyning (first Saturday morning in the month) and Shoreham (second Saturday morning) in order to stock up with Adur Brewery ales has led us to encounter some superb suppliers of meat, veg, cheese, bread, cooking oil etc which have become regulars on our shopping lists.  There's also the 'green' advantage that by supporting local food suppliers you are helping to save the planet - but you don't really need that argument to persuade you, just taste their products!    When you use first-class ingredients you can employ really simple recipes which let the quality show through.  This means you don't have to work so hard in the kitchen but can take the credit for a successful dish.
 
Even if you don't think of yourself as a budding chef, do have a look at the web pages, which will also include ideas on beer and food matching.
 
For those of you who don't live in West Sussex, and have not yet been convinced to move here by my panegyrics, don't despair!  It's possible to use other beers of comparable quality and you can no doubt seek out good local food suppliers in your own area.  So go ahead and try the recipes, we're just as interested in feedback on your experiences when cooking with beer.
 
Well, I hope that's inspired some of you to give it a go.  Get on down to the website, bookmark the recipe page and check it on a regular basis to see what's new.  Try the recipes and let us know how you get on.
 
Happy cooking

From Special Supplement 62A (July 2009)

This is a special supplement to advise you of the programme of beer tastings planned for 2009-2010.  We are delighted that we will again be offering them in conjunction with the Red Lion, Old Shoreham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea.  This 16th century coaching inn is a perfect venue, with great atmosphere, and an excellent reputation for food and real ales.  This enables us to start each tasting with lunch (included) and those who like to prolong the session after the tasting officially finishes could not wish for a better location.  As always, we stress that you must not drive after these sessions, and the Red Lion is well provided for public transport with a bus stop outside the door and Shoreham train station just a short walk away.

There will be three tastings plus one special event starting from this autumn, and each will run from 12.00-16.00(ish)**.   Note the earlier start time.  We had a number of suggestions that this would be more convenient, and it also fits in better with the Red Lion's arrangements.  We suggest that people arrive a few minutes early, then they can sit with a beer perusing the menu and still get their lunch order in before the main rush in the pub. 
    **If you are arranging a lift home we suggest you book your transport no earlier than 16.30.
 
In spite of increasing costs all round, we've managed to hold the price at the same level as last year, that is £30, which includes all the beer samples in the programme as well as lunch and mid-afternoon snack.  The latter was originally intended to be just nibbles, but, as those who came to the previous tastings will know, Natalie tends to be very generous in her interpretation of 'nibbles'!
 
The schedule is listed below so you can reserve the dates in your diary.  More details about the individual tastings and how to book will follow shortly.
 
Saturday 24th October 2009 SURPRISING BEERS!  That is, 'surprise' as in 'nice surprise' not 'nasty shock'!  These include surprisingly good beers from parts of the world not normally known for their brewing skills, beers including unusual ingredients, and beer styles different from what you are used to.  Approach this session with an open mind and prepare to have your beer horizons broadened!
 
Saturday 21st November 2009 MASTER BREWERS OF BELGIUM Just when you think you're getting to know Belgian beers you suddenly find that new breweries have appeared or existing breweries have brought out new beers.  For those of you who have attended Belgian tastings before we can assure you that this session will introduce you to a lot of exciting new brews.  Will any of them find a place among the Belgian classics in the future?
 
Saturday 20th February 2010 ADUR BEER LUNCH  This is an exciting new development in which we will showcase the beers of the local Adur Brewery.  We will start with a beer as we gather then the meal will consist of 5 courses - appetizer, soup, main (including vegetarian option), cheese and dessert.  Each course will be accompanied by the appropriate beer from the Adur range and/or include beer as an ingredient.  We will end with their 10.5% Trappist look-alike as a digestif.  Forget anything you've heard about expensive restaurants getting on the bandwaggon of 'beer cuisine' and offering pretentious tiny morsels with uninspiring beers at extortionate prices!  We plan to keep the price for the whole event (5 course meal plus all beers) to £30.   With the Red Lion's excellent reputation for quality and value you can anticipate that the portions will be tasty and very satisfying!   
 
Saturday 20th March 2010 VERY SPECIAL BEERS This will be a rare, possibly unrepeatable opportunity to taste beers that you may read about but seldom see.  It will include aged beers, some from limited (numbered) editions and some normally supplied only to overseas markets where they can command a high price.  These are beers of character, well-deserving their great reputation, although of widely different styles.  The one thing they have in common is that they are all very expensive, many commanding the same price as fine wines! So if you're prepared to sip slowly and appreciate the pinnacle of the brewer's art keep watching for when tickets become available - this one-off opportunity is bound to sell out very quickly!
 
The programme will appear on our website    http://www.simpson.uk.com/courses/courses.htm in the near future along with prices and details of how to book - you may want to bookmark the location as a reminder. 

From Issue 62 (July 2009)

1) A new Trappist beer  
Question: Which of the 7 monasteries authorised to use the 'Authentic Trappist' logo is not in Belgium? 
Answer: Koningshoeven, which is over the border in Holland, and which you will probably know better under the name La Trappe which appears on its beers. 
Question: Why then does it have a French name? 
Answer: Because the original monastery which founded the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance - aka Trappists - was La Trappe Abbey in Normandy, France.  We were there just last week and found out that although it doesn't have its own brewery the abbey shop does sell the products of its daughter houses.  Of course we seized the opportunity to stock up with some 75cl bottles which you don't often see in the UK . . . but I digress.  Back to the Abbey of Koningshoeven which brews the La Trappe beers.
The earth-shaking news is that they recently (Saturday 4 June) brewed the first vat of a new beer to be named La Trappe Isid'or.  The name commemorates Brother Isidorus Laaber who was the first brewer at La Trappe 125 years ago.  As well as celebrating this prestigious anniversary the profits from the new beer will go entirely to the co-friars in Uganda. Since they fled the violence in Kenya in 2008, they have had to start from scratch in Uganda. With the profit of La Trappe Isid’or, the community there will be able to build a new monastery and find a new source of income. 
The monastery's web page  www.latrappe.nl  tells us that:
La Trappe Isid’or is a lightly sweet amber beer with a hint of caramel. The beer tastes softly bitter and has a fruity aftertaste. La Trappe Isid’or is brewed with the self-cultivated Perle hop.
7,5% alcohol, pouring temperature 10-14 ºC
  >If anyone gets to taste it before we do, please let us have your opinion. 
 
2) Some Belgian Humour
Our friend Anny (owner of the best hotel in Belgium) has given us something which every home in Belgium must have.  It's a day-by-day tear-off calendar called 'De Druivelaar' and it's packed with a vast amount of information in a small pad.  It's all in Dutch (some in Flemish dialect) so it's great for a daily dose of language practice.  It gives you the saints days (I hope you remembered on 11 July to commemorate St Benedict - he laid down the monastic rules including 'Work and Pray' which eventually led to some of the best ecclesiastical brewing around!), together with sun/moon-rise/set, tells you the constellation you will see in this month's night sky and which sides of the street to park on in certain Belgian towns.  It has poems, bits of home spun philosophy, cartoons . . . and jokes.  You've probably heard of Belgian witbier - this is Belgian beer wit!  Sorry!  
(The translation and any errors are mine.  They all sound better in the original - a good reason for learning some Flemish?)
MISUNDERSTANDING
  -- Waiter, bring me a beer.  I'm waiting for a lady.
  -- Dark or blonde, sir?
  -- What's that got to do with you?!!!
 
MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
  -- Sir, I have come to request the hand of your daughter in marriage?
  -- Do you drink?
  -- Yes, gladly . . . but let's deal with our other business first.
 
EXCELLENT SERVICE
Boozy customer:  Waiter, I think I've had a bit too much.  Can you give me something to sober me up?
Waiter:  Certainly, sir, I'll bring you the bill.
 
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT . . .
  -- Why is it they can get a pizza delivery to your house quicker than an ambulance?
 --  Why do some people drink Coca Cola Light along with their double cheeseburger and huge pack of chips?
 -- Why do they sell hotdogs in packs of 10 and hotdog rolls in packs of 8?
 -- Why do women open their mouth wide while putting on mascara?
 -- Why is the word 'abbreviation' so long?
You'll probably need a drink after that!  If anyone wants to get their revenge by submitting their own beery jokes I'll consider publishing them if they're sufficiently groan-worthy!

 

3) Another good way to learn some Dutch/Flemish
Belgium's CANVAS TV recently put out a series of programmes on beer which feature a fair bit of English.  The main attraction is that the cameras get into some very interesting places.  From this page you'll see the link to Westvleteren, to get the inside story from the monks who make 'the best beer in the world' (allegedly!)
The next link is to a page which contains the video on Struise Brewers, a small brewery with a huge reputation and right up at the top of the RateBeer scores along with Westvleteren
On the same page is the video for de Kluis where they brew the (now sadly dumbed-down) Hoegaarden and the following link
is there just for completeness because you will have no doubt worked out that the buttons next to 'Pagina x van 3' will take you to the appropriate pages.  On Page 1 there are videos on Liefmans Gouden Band, a beer which the late, great Michael Jackson (no, not that one - the Beer Hunter) rated very highly but which I've never been able to get into; there is also one on Rodenbach and another on de Koninck.  There are 20 in all, and provide quite a good basic education on Belgian beers - including a couple on the so-called Belgian pils - you may remember I had to grudgingly admit there are a few decent ones! 
And while on that topic, I must include some feedback from Alastair.  You'll note he starts with a compliment - always a good way to get published!
 
Hi John
Thanks for the newsletter - very entertaining & informative as always! I thought you might be interested that Vedett have been doing a promotion around London in bars recently. A couple of their publicity people come round with a camera to take pictures of volunteers, then 10 minutes later they return with a free bottle of Vedett with the picture printed on the label! I have a bottle with my mugshot on it in the beer cupboard, but I've been reluctant to open it up to now! After your review I think I'll give it a try.
Thanks  Alastair
 
Hi Alastair
That's really interesting to know that Duvel Moortgat are pushing Vedett in the UK.  Do let me know how the beer turns out. 
One caveat - we had Duvel, their strong golden ale, in the brewery and managed to bring a bottle back with us, which we used for a comparative tasting against a Duvel bought from Sainsburys.  They seemed like different beers!  And they probably were - we found out at the brewery that they do separate batches of beers intended for supermarkets (including export) and for home consumption in the area around the brewery.  So if they do the same with Vedett, it will be interesting to see which batch you got! 
Fascinating fact - were you aware that Vedett means 'star' in the sense of filmstar etc, and they put pictures of celebs on some of their labels?  Perhaps you should keep your bottle (after drinking), get a few others with less well-known celebs on :-), display them in a row and get people to spot the real star!
Cheers!  John
 
4)  Momentous Merger in Japan?
It was announced last week that Kirin, Japan's second largest brewer, is in merger talks with Suntory (which vies for third place with Sapporo).  If the merger comes about it would make the new group bigger than Asahi, the current largest brewer, and a force to be reckoned with in the global market.  However reports may be premature, because there could be regulatory resistance to a new group which would control half of the Japanese beer market.  At this stage company spokesmen will only admit that they are discussing co-operation on 'procurement, distribution and other business activities'. 
In the past the Japanese beer scene was strangled by big company monopolies.  Since the easing of controls a host of micro-breweries have sprung up and have made the available beer range much wider and more interesting (if at times rather surprising!)  If this merger takes place, it could help to expand the overall beer market and give an impetus to the craft breweries - or the small fry could be swamped or gobbled up by the new monster.  We await developments with interest.

From Special Issue 2 (June 2009)

Free Beer in Steyning this Saturday!
 

The Adur Brewery, located in Steyning, is one year old this month, and is inviting locals to share in the celebrations. 

 

At Steyning Farmers’ Market on Saturday 4 July the Brewery will have their usual stall – but this time they will be giving the beer away!  Members of the public will be able to taste the brewery’s products on the spot, or take a bottle home.  There will also be a free tombola with the chance to win more beer, or brewery merchandise.  The event starts at 09.00 - and continues until the beer runs out!

 

Director Andy Dwelly says “Our beers have been very well received by local people, so much so that our production facilities are working at full stretch and we are about to increase our brewing capacity.  We want to use this occasion to say ‘Thank you’ to all those who have supported us.”

 

Even if you miss this event, there will be another opportunity to join the celebrations later this month.  On 23 July at 7.30pm the well-known beer writer Pete Brown is giving a reading from his latest book “Hops and Glory”, which tells the story of his efforts to re-create the original India Pale Ale (IPA).  The event is sponsored by the Adur Brewery who will be providing their beers to refresh the audience.  “Pete Brown is the reason the Adur Brewery exists, as his books inspired me to turn a hobby into a business”, said Andy.  Admission is by ticket only and numbers are limited.  To get your ticket call in at the Steyning Bookshop at 106 High Street or see further details and contact the brewery through the website at www.adurbrewery.com

 

Steyning Market is great for shopping, and with free beer it's unmissable!

From Issue 61 (June 2009)

Beer newsletters must have a genetic link to buses - long gap then 3 come along at once!  Yes, 3 - there's another special issue to follow shortly.  Meanwhile improve your enjoyment of the summer with the right beer.  I've been finding that Adur Brewery's Ropetackle Golden Ale has got a lot going for it - much more than I initially realised.  We've been finding that it's a very versatile ingredient when you're cooking with beer (more on that in the next issue) but it's also one of the best thirst-quenchers going.  Lightly chilled, it's perfect on a hot day.  Brewer Andy Dwelly says he designed it to be the very beer you want to drink after mowing the lawn.  But we've got an even better suggestion - skip the mowing and just go straight to the beer!
 
1) Brouwerij Lupiline  
We have been watching with interest the development of this small Belgian brewery.  It was set up by Jan & Veerle, a couple who are members of HOP, the branch of Zythos to which we belong.  They had been hobby-brewers for many years and dreamed of setting up their own brewery, finally achieving their ambition on 1 July 2007.  Through the HOP newsletter we heard that their first beer Primula had a setback.  No fault of the beer or the brewers, but they were leaned on by the huge brewery Haacht who reckoned that the name of the beer was too close to that of their own lager brand Primus.  Primus or Primula?  I'm sure most Belgians could spot the difference even after a heavy evening's consumption of their local brews - but the lawyers thought otherwise, so Jan & Veerle renamed their beer Koriala.  It's rather frustrating that the beer is only available in a limited area of Belgium, and for a long time we were unable to try it.  However on our last trip (when the space in the car was fully allocated to a lot of beers for various tastings) we found it at Noel Cuvelier's excellent supermarket/beershop  http://www.simpson.uk.com/beers/Belgium/BeerShops.htm , and couldn't resist squeezing one bottle in.  We finally got round to tasting it this month.  Here's our review:
 
Koriala (7% ABV) from Brouwerij Lupiline  www.lupiline.be
The brewing couple both have science degrees, so as you might expect the specification for their beer is very precise.  They say it is a blond, 7%, unfiltered, bottle-fermented beer, the colour being 10 EBC and bitterness 35 EBU.  The ingredients are Pils malt, wheat malt and Munich malt (an interesting combination, because Munich malt is commonly used for German bock beers and usually results in an amber colour); the yeast is Wyeast #3522 (again an interesting choice as it is a relatively new yeast from the Belgian Ardennes, and is thought to be that used in La Chouffe brewery's beers); sugar is added (probably in the form of the candy syrup used by most Belgian brewers) as is coriander (We'll need to try it a few more times to see where the coriander fits in to the range of flavours); and of course the hops - Target, Cascade and Fuggles are used.
 
When opening the bottle, there was no violent reaction - in fact I wondered at first if it was flat.  However as it poured the clear gold beer developed a BIG dense long-lasting white head - look at the picture on their website under Producten, Koriala and you'll see how the head half fills the glass.  The hops on the label give you a clue but can't really prepare you for the wonderful fresh, floral and totally hoppy aroma - it's as if you had just rubbed a fresh hop cone between your fingers and were sniffing the oils it had released.  The mouthfeel is superb - dense and slightly oily - and the flavours are fruity, with citrus notes, delicately bitter, fading to a dry hoppy long finish.  It's tasty and refreshing, and a real treat for hop fans.  However the full hoppy flavours have been so delicately balanced that the beer could still appeal to people who get turned off by the big 'in-your-face' hoppy beers.  If this review sounds a bit over the top it's because I am so astonished that a new brewery can produce something quite so outstanding as its first commercial beer.  We gave it a high 4-ticks score with no hesitation.  Now the only problem is finding time for our next trip to Belgium so we can bring a good supply of Koriala home.
 
2) Ways to spend (loadsa) money
We recently received details on a new book scheduled to appear next October, entitled Bieren en Brouwerijen van België (Beers & Breweries of Belgium).  It will contain about 600 pages and over 3000 colour photos (that's 5 per page - small photos?  large pages?  no room for text?)  It promises to be comprehensive (although it's a brave person who suggests they can make a list of all Belgian beers) but at a massive cost of 89.50€ which is around £79 at present rates.  For that price you could buy all 3 of Pete Brown's books, a couple of Michael Jackson classics, plus the new Good Beer Guide to Belgium, and still have change to buy yourself quite a few pints!  So, only suitable for wealthy Flemish-speakers then.
 
But if you're a wealthy non-Flemish speaker, there's an even easier way to divest yourself of unwanted wealth.  Check out this video on You Tube 
then go to this page to buy this essential gadget, the beer-pouring robot!
Oh, shame . . . it's already sold out!
 
For the less well-heeled who would like to enjoy the sensation of spending money pointlessly there is a much cheaper Japanese gadget which simulates the experience of opening a beer can - but without the beer!  At first I thought that was strange, but upon reflection it's probably preferable to drinking the contents of most beer cans!  Read about it at:
 http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/26/mugen-can-beer-experience-the-feeling-of-popping-up-beer-cans-over-and-over-again/
Buy it here:
 http://www.gizmine.com/#ProductPage=CategoryCode=hgz1&productURLCode=beer_can
And if you're looking for a present for your more serious minded teetotal friends, the same company produces gadgets which simulate the sound of opening envelopes, popping the bubbles on plastic packaging - the fun never stops.

 

3) Sussex 'real ale paradise' - it's official.
Last month we spent a day playing host to an American journalist, Tom Clynes - http://www.tomclynes.com/ You'll see from his website that he has trekked through deserts, jungles, and frozen wastes, but on this occasion he was interested in Sussex, its pubs, breweries, real ales - and the people who drink them.  He was staying in Lewes where we went to collect him, meeting up in the Gardeners Arms (and trying a couple of their beers).  We headed back to Shoreham for lunch (and beers) at the Buckingham Arms, then took him to Steyning.  As he had already seen Harveys, the oldest and biggest brewery in Sussex, we took him to see the Adur Brewery - which is the newest and smallest.  He was shown around by the brewers and amply supplied with samples to take away.  Next into Steyning where we checked out the Chequer (more beer).  A brief cultural interlude going via Shoreham Airport (oldest commercial airport in the UK) and St Nicolas church (over 1000 years old - and very handily placed for the next pub!)  In the Red Lion we had an early dinner (more beer) and then brought him to our house where we gave him a crash course on the merits of aged beers (with many samples, most around 10% ABV).  We took him back to Lewes, and as we poured him into his hotel I got the impression that he had found the day somewhat more taxing than cutting his way through the jungle!  But I also felt that Sussex had lived up to his expectations that our county is "a real ale paradise". 
 
4) The Top Belgian lagers
I can't believe I just wrote that title!  My normal advice for those going to Belgium is to try all the beers you find - but avoid the ubiquitous lagers!  Belgians are arguably the best brewers of ales, but seem to have a blind spot about lagers.  And yet they drink so much of the stuff!  One of our friends over there works in a fantastic beer warehouse, surrounded by all the best that the country can offer, and when he goes out in the evening he drinks Maes Pils!!!!!  The word 'Pils', bandied about so freely by the worst of the Belgian brewers, alleges that their mildly-alcoholic golden liquid is brewed using a Pilsener malt - although I am sure that the 19th century brewers of the city of Plzeň in Bohemia must be spinning in their sepulchres.  The only thing certain about them is that they are likely to use bottom-fermenting yeast and so can be classified as lagers - though few lagers today enjoy the lagering (maturing) process which gave them their name.  (But there's even some doubt about whether one of the Rogues Gallery below actually uses lager yeast!)
 
Unfortunately my nice straightforward antipathy to Belgian lager suffered a setback when we went on a tour of the Duvel Moortgat brewery.  In the tasting afterwards we were given a glass of their Vedett - and to my amazement it was really good!  My faith in my own judgement has recently been restored when researchers from HOP (the branch of Zythos, the Belgian CAMRA to which I belong) confirmed that Vedett was at the top of the Belgian lager tree.  Six public-sprited members of HOP sacrificed themselves to make a comprehensive test of their country's lagers and produce a definitive ranking.  It is reproduced below, in a free and somewhat abbreviated translation from the Flemish - I have only included the full notes for the better or more notorious ones, and just the basics with occasional remarks from the rest.  Print it out and take it on your next trip to Belgium - now you know what to try, and what to avoid! 
 
(For those too impatient to read the whole list, the top scorers were . . . you'll have to jump to the end to find out!)
 
Four years ago the intrepid researchers of HOP carried out a Pils test and concluded that some of them tasted like "kattenpis" [I left it in the original so you could see the verdict was from Belgians and not a prejudiced Brit like me!]  To check whether there had been any improvement the six tasters compared twenty lagers.
 
Vedett  Brewery: Duvel Moortgat Located in: Puurs Available in bottles of :  33 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.85 euro.
COLOUR: Golden blond, verging on yellow.
APPEARANCE: Nice lacing, strongly effervescent, abundant head.  Looks good.
TASTE: You smell fesh hops, a fresh nose.  First a sweet, floral flavour, followed by a hop bitterness which lingers and provides a pleasant finish. Elegant, refined, moreish.
VERDICT: A pils which makes you want more  8/10

Bavik  Brewery: Bavik Located in: Bavikhove Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.53 euro.
COLOUR: Golden blond.
APPEARANCE: Powerful head, nice lacing.
TASTE: Earthy aromas: floral, hoppy, rice and alcohol.  Refreshing flavour.  Changes from sweet to bitter in the mouth.  Full flavoured but not overpowering.  Good aftertaste.  Well balanced. 
VERDICT: All the elements come together nicely. 8/10

Primus  Brewery: Haacht  Located in: Haacht  Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.36 euro.
COLOUR: Yellow blond, light gold.
APPEARANCE: Nice head, fine lacing.
TASTE: A lot of malt in the nose, a little hop, violets, somewhat sweet.  The beginning of the taste is sweet, honeyed, but there follows a pleasant, quite strong hop bitterness.  Exciting finish with dry aftertaste.
VERDICT: A good all-round beer. 7.5/10

Contra Pils  Brewery: Contreras Located in: Gavere Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 4.6% Price: 0.51 euro.
COLOUR: Golden blond to gold.
TASTE: A lot of fruit in the nose, including apricots and dried fruit.  At first taste sweet, with a background of mango.  Then comes a pleasant nutty bitterness which lingers.  Full flavoured. Seems as if the alcohol level was higher.
VERDICT: Well balanced. 7/10

Maes Pils  Brewery: Alken-Maes Located in: Waarloos Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.37 euro.
COLOUR: Golden yellow to yellow.
TASTE:  Fruity, nice malt initially rounded off with strong bitterness.  Dry aftertaste, fairly dense, might be better from cask.
VERDICT: Slightly fresh. 7/10

Cristal Alken  Brewery: Alken-Maes Located in: Alken Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 4.8% Price: 0.38 euro.
VERDICT: Aperitif-beer which tickles the appetite . 6,5/10

Rédor Pils  Brewery: Dupont Located in: Tourpes Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.0% Price: 0.54 euro.
APPEARANCE: Slightly cloudy, so less filtered.  TASTE: An obvious pils aroma of hops and malt which lasts well.  You can also taste that the beer is well hopped.  The first impression is reasonably full-bodied, followed by a strong hop bitterness.  A proper pils aftertaste which lingers. 
VERDICT: Well designed and well balanced. 7/10

Verhaeghe Pils  Brewery: Verhaeghe Located in: Vichte Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.1% Price: 0.33 euro.
COLOUR: Golden blond to gold
APPEARANCE: Abundant head, fine lacing.
TASTE: Nice light malty nose, with pineapple, floral and grassy notes.  It gives a freshness to the full malt taste and a pleasant hop bitterness. A very nice aftertaste which lingers.  One of the better ones.
VERDICT: Well balanced. 7/10

Kaiser Premium  Brewed in Holland for the Carrefour supermarket Available in cans of 33 cl  ABV: 4.7% Price: 0.30 euro.
COLOUR: Light golden blond, inclining to yellow.
APPEARANCE: Head disappears quickly.
TASTE: Fruit, or rather banana aromas.  Smells fresh.  You taste a surface bitterness.  No real finesse, rather weak and thin but not too bad.  Good thirst quencher.
VERDICT: Session beer for barbecues. 6/10

Premium Pils  Brewery: Unknown Own brand of the Delhaize supermarket.  Available in cans of 33 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.47 euro.
VERDICT: Unexciting. 6/10

Bockor  Brewery: Vanderghinste Located in: Bellegem Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.40 euro.
VERDICT:  Not unpleasant but not outstanding. 5.5/10

Cara Pils  Brewery: Unknown Own brand of the Colruyt supermarket.  Available in cans of 33 cl  ABV: 4.9% Price: 0.25 euro.
COLOUR: Golden blond.
APPEARANCE: Really pale for a pils, goes flat quickly.
TASTE: Difficult to pick out specific aromas, smells a bit vegetal.  Sweet and watery. Slightly bitter finish, not really hoppy but it lingers.
VERDICT: Not a satisfying pils. 5.5/10

Cristal 1928  Brewery: Alken-Maes Available in bottles of :  33cl  ABV: 5.8% Price: 0.62 euro.
TASTE: Aroma of old bread, also somewhat peppery. Notes of bitterness but it's masked by an exaggerated roundness  This takes away the freshness and makes this pils rather boring.  The label says that the beer is brewed 'in the style of the original Pilsner flavour of the early 20th century'.
VERDICT: A bit out of balance, not a session beer. 5/10

Freedom  Brewed by Alken-Maes for the wholesaler.  Available in bottles of :  25cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.35 euro.
TASTE: Smells at first metallic, then of almonds.  Starts sweet and remains sweet, no bitter finish.  Somewhat watery. 
VERDICT: Typical example of today's style of pils. 5.5/10

Martens Pils  Brewery: Martens Located in: Bocholt.  Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.0% Price: 0.34 euro.
TASTE: Malt and hop aromas.  Initially slightly sweet, afterwards a little bitterness.  What lingers is certainly not bitter, and the slight bitterness doesn't seem to come from hops. Has more sugar than malt been used?
VERDICT: The balance is wrong.  Too ordinary.  4.5/10

Romy Pils  Brewery: Roman Located in: Oudenaarde.  Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.1% Price: 0.40 euro.
TASTE: Not much aroma detected, except perhaps rice, too superficial, too sweet.  Little or no bitterness, except in the aftertaste.
VERDICT: Mouth-filling but not thirstquenching. 5/10

Stella Artois  Brewery: Stella Artois Located in: Leuven Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.39 euro.
TASTE: Aroma sweet, like caramel, marzipan and biscuit. The initial taste doesn't contribute much, just slightly sweet.  You expect something more, but it doesn't happen.  Not much complexity.  Bitterness toward the end but not nice. No exciting finish.
VERDICT: Not exciting. 5.5/10

Lager Premium  Own-brand lager of the Carrefour supermarkets, according to the label brewed in Holland.  Available in cans of :  50 cl  ABV: 5.0% Price: 0.59 euro.
TASTE: Two aromas detected: sulphur and tobacco. Seems as if it were top-fermented.
VERDICT: You wouldn't think it was lager 5/10 

Jupiler  Brewery: Jupiler  Available in bottles of :  25 cl  ABV: 5.2% Price: 0.40 euro.
APPEARANCE: Little gas, head dissipates quickly.
TASTE: You smell the aroma of malt, and at the same time something sweet and metallic, little or no hop.  In the mouth slight fuity taste but generally sweet and flat.  Too watery.  Unpleasant bitterness in the aftertaste. 
VERDICT: 5.5/10

Schultenbrau Own-brand lager of the Aldi supermarkets, brewed by Martens.  Available in cans of :  50 cl  ABV: 4.9% Price: 0.49 euro.
TASTE: A bit medicinal
VERDICT: No real balance 5.5/10
 
They concluded that the small brewers had made their pils more bitter, which was an improvement.  The top group of three was Bavik, Primus and Vedett.  Following them were Contra, Cristal, Maes, Rédor en Verhaeghe. And then the rest of the pack [which they don't deign to mention by name!] Observation: few big brewers among the leaders and the supermarket lagers don't make the grade.  [Compare the prices with the scores - confirmation that you get what you pay for!]
 
You'll see that most were distinctly average (and you also have to bear in mind that patriotic Belgians may be kinder to their regional brews than we might).   So a simple formula for your next trip to Belgium is:  If you want lager, look for Vedett, Bavik or possibly Primus - and avoid the rest! 
 
5) Drink-a Belgian Beer-a Week
You've got to admit that sounds more interesting than the old exhortation to drinka pinta milka day!  And if you go to the website for The Greys www.greyspub.com/index.html  and click on the link to Events you'll see that as well as their Belgian Festival at the end of August (see Diary Dates) every Tuesday night they feature beers from a different Belgian brewery.  They suggest you have dinner there too and make a night of it - sounds good to me, as they are well-known for their food.  (Thanks to Dave for the headsup.)   The Greys, 105 Southover Street, Brighton BN2 9UA  Tel: 01273 680734
 
6) Berlin International Beer Festival 7 - 9 August
We recently found details of this major event.  If you have the time and funds to spare, get a ticket on one of the low cost airlines and jet off to Berlin.  It looks as though it will be a great chance to find beers from lesser known German breweries, but if you're worried that Germany can't produce enough good beers to keep you happy for the weekend you've can try lots of Belgian ones too - a win/win situation???  Here's the official announcement:

From 7th to 9th August 2009 the 13th International Berlin Beer Festival is taking place and for the second time the festival is putting a special country into the focus of its attention.  The Berlin “Beer Mile” which is directly located in the city centre is 2.2 km long.  This “longest beer garden of the world” reaches from Frankfurter Tor to Strausberger Platz stretching along Karl-Marx-Allee in Berlin Friedrichshain.  This year the traditional beer mile in the centre of Berlin is going to have "beer land Belgium offers the very best" as its motto.  [Wonder what the German brewers think of that sentiment?]
Belgian people are beer lovers and they are brilliant at connecting this pleasure with the superb Belgian cuisine.  [Wouldn't argue with that!]

800,000 visitors from all over the world are expected to this year's beer festival. 260 breweries from 86 countries are going to present more than 1800 beer specialities. The special thing about this mega-event is its unique blend of culture and entertainment. There will be 18 stages with live music and 20 beer regions selling culinary specialities on the festival ground.  And all this at free admittance !  Both young and old meet to enjoy this unique variety of beer in the beautiful summer of Berlin. The Berlin Beer Festival is a tourist attraction surrounded by the unique architecture of Karl-Marx-Allee.
Visitors can buy the official Pro(Bier)Krug (Pro(Beer) Mug) at the information points along the Beer Mile. The beer mug with the festival logo is a very special item for collectors and costs 3.50 Euro. It can contain 0.2 litres which can be filled for only 1.50 Euro at all stalls which participate in this trying-out-action. There is no deposit, no hassle! It just means to enjoy the party and to get a pleasant memory of it.  [Try all those beers and you'll have no memory at all!]

Opening hours :  Friday 7th August: 12 to 24 hours   Saturday 8th August: 10 to 24 hours   Sunday 9th August: 10 to 22 hours
infohotline: 030 -65 76 35 60    www.bierfestival-berlin.de   

But after all the Germans' hard work, are the Belgians grateful?  Check out http://www.beercapital.be/ where they have devoted a whole website to insist that Brussels is the beer capital of the world!

From Special Issue (June 2009)

Meet a famous author - and get free beer!
 
You may already be familiar with the name of Pete Brown, who is a journalist and broadcaster and the author of Three Sheets to the Wind: One Man's Quest for the Meaning of Beer and Man Walks into a Pub: A Sociable History of Beer.  Pete is coming to Steyning on Thursday 23 July to help the Adur Brewery celebrate their first birthday.  He will be giving a reading and talking about the adventures described in his latest book Hops and Glory: One Man's Search for the Beer That Built the British Empire and this exclusive event will be refreshed with free beer provided by the brewery.  It will all happen at 19.30 at the Steyning Bookshop. 
 
Space is very limited, so entry will be by ticket only.
 
If you'd like to come along to what promises to be a fun evening, don't delay, apply for your ticket immediately, because they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. 
 
Email Andy Dwelly at Adur Brewery  andy.dwelly@adurbrewery.com  Put 'Pete Brown Tickets' as the message subject, and be sure to include your name, full postal address and telephone number (stating day or evening). 
 
You could also write to Andy Dwelly, Adur Brewery Ltd., Adur Business Centre, Little High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex  BN43 5EG making sure you include all the relevant details as above.
 
Please, only apply for a ticket if you're sure you will be able to come.  If later you find that you're unable to make it, please do the decent thing and let the brewery know at once, so they can make the place available for someone else. 
 
Pete Brown's Books
 You can get full details (and order them) at the following links:

From Issue 60 (May 2009)

A fairly thin issue this time, and barely in time to qualify as the May issue, as I've spent much of the intervening time laid low by a pernicious virus.
The NHS Help Line assured me that I didn't have the right symptoms for swine flu even though I kept getting visions of snouts in troughs; however, Jeannette assured me that was just the news coverage of the MPs expenses scandal. 
The next few weeks are a busy time for beer festivals, so check the Diary Dates and get to as many as you can. [The rest of the issue consisted of Diary Dates.]

From Issue 59 (April 2009)

A fairly short one this time - it's been a busy month, although not everything was beer-related.  However we did make time to get to the excellent Adur Beer Festival at the Red Lion on a couple of days.  The weather was much kinder this year, and it was very successful and enjoyable.  Having had a lengthy session at the Red Lion on Good Friday, we didn't make it to the Cricketers Festival at Worthing that evening, where our local Adur Brewery was being presented with the Beer of the Festival - Runner Up award for last October's Worthing Beer Festival.  We have however been to support the Adur Brewery at the Farmers' Markets at Steyning and Shoreham, in time for the official launch of their strong Belgian abbey-style St Cuthman's Red Wheelbarrow (10.5%).  This is an excellent beer now, but promises to develop even greater complexities with ageing, so we have laid down a quantity for maturing. 

Another beer-related outing was when we managed to get to the Red Lion during one of their monthly Celtic music sessions (3rd Tuesday of the month, 8.30pm).  Having enjoyed the excellent 'specials' on offer - bangers and mash, and fish and chips, at prices lower than you could do it at home - we spent the evening quaffing Boggarts Dark Mild (4%) www.boggart-brewery.co.uk and listening to the music of Slip Jig.  The latter were most entertaining - especially when a whole group of Portuguese tourists arrived and most of them spoke very little English.  The group tried to welcome them with appropriate Portuguese music, but concluded that their repertoire was a bit light on fado.  So the nearest they could come up with was 'Down Mexico Way'!  Nevertheless the visitors seemed to enjoy it immensely and joined in enthusiastically with the 'Ay Ay Ay Ay' choruses.  They probably thought that this was how English folk spend every evening and one wonders about the tales of 'traditional English pubs' they will tell when they get home!

This issue is mainly Belgian news, but the summer programme of beer festivals is starting to appear, so get out your diary and make a note of the dates in section 4.
 
1) A Trappist Witbier
 
I was rather surprised recently to see in the Duke of Wellington's fridge a bottle of witbier which I didn't recognise - these days I can spot most Belgian beers from 50 paces!  It turned out to be Witte Trappist 5.5%  from the Abdij OLV Koningshoeven.   I thought I knew the beers of La Trappe, including their Quadruple, but I'd never seen this one before.  We took a bottle home to try, and got a very pleasant surprise.  It's a classic wheat beer, very tasty, with citrus notes and is guaranteed to produce a wave of nostalgia, because it recalls the glory days of Hoegaarden, when it was still brewed by the master of witbier, Pierre Celis, and before it was dumbed down by Interbrew/Inbev who took over the brewery.  We enjoyed it very much, and rated it on a par with (or even surpassing?) St Bernardus Wit, which is our current favourite witbier.  I've not seen this beer on sale anywhere else in the UK yet, although it seems it's pretty widely available in the US - perhaps La Trappe are concentrating their marketing efforts there, and just supplying the odd few bottles of La Trappe Dubbel to UK supermarkets.  Do let me know if you come across a reliable supplier for the whole La Trappe range.
 
2)  More Trappist News
 
What is allegedly the world's best beer, the Westvleteren 12 from the Abbey of St Sixtus in West Flanders, is only available from the abbey itself.  We have reported in this newsletter how the new procedure requires you to phone up and make an appointment to collect your maximum allocation of two crates.  The price is still very reasonable - even with the deposit on bottles and crate, a crate of 24 bottles of the most expensive beer is €48 - around £42.80 or less than £1.80 per bottle.  When you get your invoice, it clearly states the abbey's policy that they only sell to individuals and do not allow retail sales. 
You can see the prices and confirm this policy on the abbey website at www.sintsixtus.be/eng/brouwerij.htm 
 
So how come a US website is offering mixed packs of 8 of each of the three Westvleteren beers, supplied in the original crates? 
And they only want a mere $450 each (plus $40 shipping)!  (Around $20 - £13.50 - a bottle!)  Perhaps they send a 'personal shopper' over to Belgium to get it for you??? 
 
Alternatively, you could just sign up for our next 'Heavenly Beers' tasting and you'll get to try beers from all the Trappist monasteries for much less cost and effort!  Watch this space for dates for the next series of tastings starting autumn 2009.
 
3) Gruut News!
 
The new Ghent-based brewery (mentioned in the last issue) launched officially on 4 April, and the attractive and informative website is up and running.  It's in English as well as Dutch and French, and describes all four of the beers, together with some fascinating facts and a couple of beer-cuisine recipes.  Click to www.gruut.be

From Issue 58 (March 2009)

Looks like I might just be in time to call this the March issue!  It's been an exciting time since the last newsletter with two tastings to set up and run, and prior to that we were in Belgium seeking out the beers.  More news on that below.
 
1) Plans for Easter
 
If you're booked on a luxury cruise round the world for the Easter period, you've probably just got time to cancel it so that you can be at the Adur Beer Festival at the Red Lion, which runs from Good Friday (10 April) to Easter Monday (13 April) noon - 11.00 pm daily.  We always enjoy this one, even last year when an early Easter meant that the weather was decidedly wintry - the home-made burgers and vegetable soup kept us going as we worked through an excellent beer list.  www.theredlionshoreham.co.uk
 
2) Beer Tastings
 
We had two great beer tastings this month.  For the "Heavenly Beers" (Abbey & Trappist) we laid on extra places to cope with the demand and were able to produce at least one beer, and sometimes more, from all seven Trappist breweries, as well as a representative range of Abbey beers.  Last weekend this year's programme ended with the "Beer Mystery Tasting"  where people had to blind taste the beers, and assess the style, quality, and origin, before getting the detailed notes on each beer - the tasters did very well on some really challenging tasks.  As usual, we enjoyed the excellent hospitality and pleasant surroundings of the Red Lion.  
 
We have already received enquiries about when the next tastings would be, so we had a word with Natalie and she wasn't too horrified at the idea of hosting a new series in autumn/winter 2009/20010.  We shall be discussing dates and themes for the tastings fairly soon.  We shall probably offer four tastings in the period from October to March and these could include: 
  • Belgian Beers (with a different range of breweries from those featured in the last programme)
  • UK Regional Beers (again with a different range of breweries from those featured in the last programme)
  • World Beers (a virtual world tour)
  • German Beers
  • A Tasting Challenge on the lines of the Beer Mystery Tasting
  • Heavenly Beers (if there are enough people who missed out on this before - or who want to come back again because they love Trappist beers!)
  • The Best Beers for Particular Occasions (people often ask which are our favourite beers and the answer is a huge list, because particular beers are 'best' in particular circumstances, whether it's a quaffing beer for a refreshment on a hot day, or a big powerful brew for a nightcap on a winter evening)
 We shall also be reviewing the format and arrangements: one suggestion has been to start at 12.00 instead of 13.00, which will make it easier to get our lunch orders in ahead of the rush and be able to let Natalie have her pub back before it gets too busy in the evening.  So if there's anything you would particularly like to see included in the programme, or any comments or suggestions about the format, please let me know by replying to this email.
 
3) Trappist News part 1
 
Follow up on the article on Westvleteren in the February issue:  In recent visits to St Sixtus Abbey at Westvletern we had noticed that one of the perimeter walls (just opposite the entrance to In de Vrede) had partly collapsed and it seemed to be taking a long time for repairs to get started.  Dave Harrison was kind enough to send us a weblink which revealed that the monks had found cracks in the walls of the monastery buildings too, and planned a massive rebuilding project.  Last month we were able to see that there had been extensive demolition of the old cloister and a huge crane was towering over the site.  The monks' own quarters have gone and the brothers are living in what was the former guesthouse - which is why you won't be able to go on a spiritual retreat (with beer!) at the abbey for some time to come.  We have some photographs of the work in progress which I'll add to the website asap.
 
4)  Trappist News part 2
 
If you're thinking of visiting the abbey of Westmalle you'll be interested to learn that the bar outside the gates which serves as the brewery tap has been rebuilt.  You can see the changes (and the menu) at the website www.trappisten.be I found the most interesting part was the history of the bar.  Originally there was a grocery shop in front of the abbey which was partially converted in 1923 to house a bar. The owners Jef and Amelie Vinck-Wens leased the shop from the Trappists. They paid the monks a small sum of money, 2 loads of manure and one bottle of gin.  Brewers and pub landlords take note - when re-negotiating your rent in these times of recession you may wish to try making similar proposals !  (I find myself speculating on how the lease specifies that the rent should be delivered and whether it lays down the quality and type of . . . no, I don't want to continue!)
5) News from Het Anker
 
We were very pleased to be in Mechelen on 24 February when the Het Anker Brewery held their annual Open Day.  It takes place on the birthday of Emperor Charles V - Keizer Carolus - in whose honour the wonderful Gouden Carolus beers are named.  He was born in Ghent in 1500, and to celebrate the occasion every year Het Anker brews a magnificent (11%) beer called 'Cuvee van de Keizer' (Emperor's vat).
 
We had taken the precaution of booking in to the Hotel Carolus which is on the brewery premises.  Registration for the Open Day (which is free) starts at 5.45 a.m. and we had only a short walk along the dark street to the main brewery buildings, where the gates were lit by big flaring candles.  We were amazed how many other dark shapes were hurrying through the gloom alongside us, guided by more candles to a narrow stone staircase on the outside of one of the old buildings. Climbing up there with the gathering crowd took us into a large assembly room, with old beams in the ceiling and dark panelling covered with brewery relics.  In the light at last we could see that there must have been around 100 beer fans there.
 
All the proceedings were conducted in Flemish but it wasn't too difficult to understand what was going on - and anyway, you could just follow the crowd.  We started with a tour of the brewery, which uses the classic copper vessels favoured by Belgian brewers.  A chart on the wall in the fermentation room showed how the production process took 44 days - confirmation that a decent beer needs an extra ingredient, Time!  Back in the assembly room breakfast was served - coffee, pancakes made with beer and a beer sauce, and huge, constantly replenished, trays of excellent Danish pastries - as much as you liked and all free!  By then the wort was filtered and cooled, so back into the brewery to see that and - if you wished - get a taste of the wort.  (Malty and sickly sweet as you might expect - best to wait for the finished beer!)
 
Back to the assembly room again and this time it was an opportunity to sample some beers.  There was the 'Cuvee van de Keizer' from 2008 in both the Blue (classic) and new Red versions.  The Red is a blond beer and I didn't expect too much from that, but if you had tasted it blindfold you would have thought that you were drinking a dark beer - it was very good.  The Blue is a big, full-bodied, dark beer, with hints of cognac, and its strength means that it can be laid down to mature further.  This was the 11th year when the brewery has produced this special beer and they had a treat in store - supplies of the Blue from the 2001 vintage.  It was fascinating to compare them - the 2001 was less full-bodied but had some interesting herby notes.  We highly recommend both! 
 
Although we were given cards which the serving staff occasionally remembered to stamp when we had a sample, there was plenty of room on the cards - and plenty of blank cards lying around!  So with unlimited supplies of excellent 11% beer those present were suitably euphoric.  We found ourselves at a table with a Yank from the Bronx, three Belgians, one Czech and two Dutch, in a state of perfect international harmony.  We concluded that the answer to the world's problems and the best way of ensuring world peace was to get everyone around a table with a good beer!
 
We picked up a lot more news from Het Anker.  I previously thought that Troubadour beers were produced by Brouwerij De Musketiers in Ursel but seeing stacks of full Troubadour crates in the bottling rooms showed that Het Anker at least does the bottling, if not some of the brewing, for them. 
 
As reported in the last issue, the brewery is taking over the production of 'Lucifer'.  This devilish brew was created by Liefmans but when they went bankrupt they were bought up by Moortgat, who brew the well-known strong golden ale Duvel.  It seems that Moortgat have decided to concentrate on marketing the Liefmans fruit beer brands and sold the rights to Lucifer to Het Anker.  The latter are currently doing test brews with a view to re-launching Lucifer in the autumn.
 
Het Anker have also branched out into distilling whisky.  It's whisky, Jim, but not as we know it!  We didn't get a chance to taste that as it was only available from the brewery shop in gift packs containing a large bottle, a miniature and a glass,  at a price which was a bit high for an unknown quantity.  And we were not encouraged to experiment by the fact that the whisky was colourless, unlike the mellow gold of a single malt.  The brewery yard was piled high with oak barrels which we were told had been specially imported form the UK to mature the whisky, so perhaps it will look a bit more like 'proper' whisky in the future.
 
In case you're heading for Mechelen this summer, and had ideas about visiting Het Anker's famous brewery tap, next door to the brewery itself - sorry!  Het Anker have closed that bar while they are working out how they can expand the brewing facility within the confines of their restricted plot of land.  They may re-open a smaller bar, or use it as a tasting room, but things were still uncertain.  If you arrive at the brewery, you can visit the shop, but be aware they don't normally run tours.  However you can still taste Gouden Carolus beers just across the road at the 'Snooker' bar, Rode Kruisplein 15.  http://www.bcesnookercenter.be/welkom/welkom.html You won't be too surprised that they have a lot of snooker tables, but they also have a seating area near the front windows where you can try all the Carolus beers and get some basic snacks to soak up the ABV.  In the centre of Mechelen, some of the bars on the main square (Grote Markt) have Het Anker beers (cask or bottle) and there is also the alternative brewery tap, 't Ankertje on the Vismarkt down by the river.
 
6) Ghent's dearth of breweries solved!
 
Gent (Flemish) Gand (French) Ghent (English) is an attractive town and a great place for a city-break holiday, whether at the time of the Christmas markets or in the spring or summer.  However, it was sadly lacking in one respect - for many years there was no brewery in the town.  That problem has now been solved by a lady called Annick de Splenter who has bought the old Flor brewery premises which she remembered from her childhood and intends to start brewing there.  She already has experience as a brewster - her family brewed Straffe Hendrik and Dentergems (both well-known brands on the Belgian beer scene) and she also worked for Liefmans in Oudenarde (now taken over by Moortgat). 
 
Annick wants to brew an interesting and unusual beer.  She tells how Ghent was divided along the line of the River Leie in the Middle Ages.  On the right bank the brewers under German control used hops in their beer, but those under the French on the left bank used gruit.  This is a mixture of herbs which was also used in English brewing before the advent of hops, and Annick says that her recipe, which will also use gruit, goes back to the time of Keizer Karel (Carolus - yes, it's him again!).  The exact mix of herbs was a secret and she has done a lot of research with the Ka-Ho brewing school to create the right blend.  With a 500 litre brewing capacity and 5,000 litre fermentation tanks she intends to produce Gruut, a 5.5% beer which may one day become the flagship beer of Ghent.
 
7) New beer from Tongerlo
 
Tongerlo is a range of abbey beers brewed for the abbey by Haacht since 1990.  You may well have tried their Dubbel Bruin (6%), their Dubbel Blond (6%) or, my favourite, Tongerlo Christmas (7%).  As its name implies, you're likely to find it towards the end of the year, and the experience is enhanced by the brewer supplying a free slice of Tongerlo cheese to enjoy with it.  Haacht have just launched a Tripel under the name Tongerlo Prior at 9% - can't wait to try it!  As well as a 'sell by' date, the label will also bear the bottling date, which is good news for those of us interested in laying down stronger beers to see how the taste evolves.
 
8) Drinka Pinta Bilka Day!

Anyone who remembers the old Milk Marketing Board slogan may be interested in a new take on the idea.  The Abashiri brewery in Hokkaido (Japan's most northerly island) has succeeded in producing a low-malt beer with milk, after the drink was suggested as a product that would help use up surplus milk.  The drink, called “Bilk” went on sale on February 1st, with a 330 ml bottle costing 380 yen (about £2.40 at current exchange rates).  The idea for the drink was conceived after dairy firms threw out a huge amount of surplus milk in March last year.

The son of the manager of a liquor store in Nakashibetsu, whose main industry is dairy farming, suggested the idea of producing the milk beer to his local brewery.  For the time being sales will be restricted to Nakashibetsu, with six liquor stores selling the drink - that's probably just as well!  If breweries over here got the idea of using unwanted fluids to make beer . . . I just don't want to think about it! 
  
(Although I must confess that when I was a sweet little child - yes, I was once! - my granny would give me a small glass with some of her stout diluted with milk.  It made a coffee coloured drink which I found quite tasty at the time.  It may also explain why I've found real coffee a disappointment ever since!) 
 
9) Beer Tours

Three years ago we ran a beer tasting excursion to Belgium, and we were recently asked if we had plans for another.  At the moment we wouldn't be able to do so, but in any case it would mean re-inventing the wheel, as there are some very good trips operated on a regular basis by Chris Pollard (Podge).  Chris is a well known beer writer - his book 'Around Bruges in 80 Beers' is highly recommended - and he is also famous for having one of Alvinne brewery's beers named after him (Podge Stout).  You can get details of the books and the tours on his website:

From Issue 57 (February 2009)

1) Beer Takeaways
 
In the last Beer E-News we suggested that even if you wanted to drink at home, you could support your local pub by asking for a takeaway.  Many thanks to Ruth for her feedback which suggests a brilliant extension of the concept:
 
"My husband (fiance at the time) and I completed the Brighton CAMRA ale trail in 2007.  There were many pubs on the list that we could only get to by car, and I don't drive (ha!).  So he drove and we took our containers to fill.  Some of the staff were quite bemused, never having poured real ale into a "milk bottle", and in one pub we got a couple of funny looks from the locals.
 
But we persuaded all the non-town pubs to serve us take-away and we got the rubber stamp for the ale trail and I'm pleased to say completed it.
 
So even if pub staff have never even heard of the concept and never seen you before, they can be persuaded to sell you take-away!"
 
Having narrowly failed to complete the Trail over the last two years, I am now administering a thorough self-kicking for not having thought of this myself! 

Ruth also added the following sensible suggestion: "If you're going to several pubs with containers take a pen and a sheet of labels so that you can write the pub and beer on each one, as it can all get a bit confusing when you get home, especially after the first couple."
 
 
2) Ground-shaking events at Westvleteren
 
In recent visits to St Sixtus Abbey at Westvletern we noticed that one of the perimeter walls (just opposite the entrance to In de Vrede) had partly collapsed and it seemed to be taking a long time for repairs to get started.  Dave Harrison was kind enough to send us this link
(If you get an advert coming up just click on it and it will let you through to a short article in Flemish and a photograph.  Click on the link marked video, and even if you don't understand the language, you'll get an idea what's happening. 
 
It turns out that they had found cracks in the walls of the monastery buildings too, and they have planned a massive rebuilding project including a more compact new cloister, affording more privacy for the fathers, but it's rather surprising that they're going to relocate the graveyard as part of the work.  We had heard that they would not be taking guests to stay at the abbey for the foreseeable future but hadn't realised just how extensive the works would be. 
 
We will be in Belgium at the end of February to buy additionals beers for the next tasting, so we'll call in to St Sixtus to check on progress and do a follow-up in a later newsletter.
 
 
3) Satanic Brews
 
As some of you will know, there are Belgian beers with a devilish reputation having names like Biere du Demon (Demon Beer) and Satan. Perhaps best known is Duvel (Devil), from the Moortgat brewery, which is not a beer to be taken lightly.   Liefmans Brewery used to brew their own hellish concoction called Lucifer, but the brewery went bust and was bought up by Moortgat.  Understandably, they thought they were already producing enough fiendish beer, so did not take on the production of Lucifer.  It was recently announced that Moortgat had come to an agreement with Het Anker brewery of Mechelen that they could produce this brand.  Coincidentally we'll be in Mechelen shortly so we expect to have a hell of a good time!
 
Of course, the Belgian brand names are just a joke, and the beers don't really deserve their diabolical reputation - unless you over-indulge!  However one Belgian beer which we felt deserved a fiendish reputation is not named appropriately.  If you come across the Florisgaarden range of fruit beers, do give them a try.  Most of them are quite pleasant beers with fruit juices such as apple, strawberry, even passion fruit added.  But there is also a chocolate beer in the range, which we tried - just once!  When you open it, the aroma is perfect, just like sniffing a bar of good quality chocolate.  However the taste is . . . just imagine the worst medicines you have ever been forced to swallow, and they would probably seem quite nice by comparison. 
 
Why (you may ask) should I risk traumatising myself by dredging up the recollection of that most unpleasant experience?  It's because I've just seen a press release from the Japanese Sapporo brewery (who normally produce decent beers) announcing to the world that they are to market a chocolate beer!  It will contain roasted malt and cocoa which may mean it's OK but I shan't be joining the queue to find out just yet.  In the same press release they also announced they were making a 'space beer'.  This uses barley produced from seeds which spent 5 months in the Russian part of the International Space Station in 2006.  Do you fancy a pint which has been zapped by cosmic rays?
 
4) Did I miss something?
 
Perhaps the way I studiously ignore most of the outpourings of the gutter press, and change channels rapidly when the news is on, has meant that I have missed details of the national celebrations, street parties and firework displays?  Surely some such events must have been planned to accompany this momentous event which is almost on a par with VE Day, the Coronation, the moon landing or England winning the World Cup? 
 
I refer of course to the news that our masters in Europe have finally conceded and removed the legislation which would have compelled us to do away with the pint and the mile in favour of their metric equivalents.  I saw this news in a tiny, almost apologetic, paragraph in 'Beers of the World' magazine.  Seeking to check it online the main reference I found was an article in the 'Irish Times' dated December 17th 2008. 
 
Can you imagine what would have happened if this country had succumbed to tyranny and been overwhelmed by the invading hordes of metrication inspectors? 
"Hi Bill, fancy popping into the local for a 568 millilitres?"  "Yes Fred, I think I've got time for a swift 28.4 centilitres." 
And of course all you frequent fliers would have to re-apply if you want to remain members of the 1.60934 kilometer-high club . . .
 
5)  Planning your summer hols?
 
With all the doom and gloom about the recession, and an appalling exchange rate, many people are hesitating to book their usual getaways to exotic climes.  But there's a great domestic substitute - which you'll probably enjoy more than sitting by the pool of a hotel which is still being built, and trying to force down what the locals pass off as beer! 
Have a look at this website:
and plan yourself a train trip through the glorious West of England, visiting delightful pubs, drinking proper beer, and eating good solid pub food.  No worries about drink driving, as all the trails are planned around local stations.  If you ask nicely at your local station when things are quiet, they can fix you some bargain fares to get to, and around, Devon or Cornwall. 

From Issue 56 (January 2009)

CAMPAIGNING ISSUE
READ THIS NOW AND READ IT CAREFULLY -
YOUR (WAY OF) LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
 
1) No Room for Complacency
 
You may not be interested in politics, and you may generally avoid filling your head with the nonsense peddled by the media, but there are current issues which you ignore at your peril. 
Can you imagine an England without pubs?  No cosy place for a tasty real ale or hearty pub meal, no point of focus for the community, no meaningful destination for walking the dog, no haven for quiet contemplation over a pint?  This could be the reality in the very near future. 
Pubs are closing at a rate of 5 per day, beer festivals are being cancelled and there is no sign of any let-up in this bleak scenario.  Many causes are being cited for this situation, but probably the most dire blow has been struck by the Chancellor, who seems to have very little grasp of the most elementary economics. 
In order to fund his temporary reduction in the basic rate of VAT (which anyone with more than two brain cells could have told him would have a negligible effect on stimulating the economy) he is permanently increasing the tax on other items, including beer.  The rate of pub closure, coupled with the higher price of a pint, will result in lower beer sales (some experts estimate 13 million barrels less).  Take into account the estimated 43,000 job losses, and the net result is expected to be a net reduction in tax revenue of £120 million.  Can this government really consist of such total morons?  The only other explanation would be that they are conspiring to destroy this country's traditional way of life.
 
2) YOU can do something about it! 
Look around your town.  Imagine it with no pubs.  Which one(s) would you most regret losing?  Now get in there and support them in any way you can - there are a few suggestions below, and we'd be interested to hear if you have any other ideas which could help your local.
 
  • Support your local pub! 
  • Attend any festivals in your area
  • A pub's not just a place for beer
  • Have a meal in a pub
  • Get a beer take-away from your local
  • Support the Axe the Beer Tax campaign
  • Join CAMRA
 
3) Support your local pub! 
 
We agree with the concept of responsible drinking, so we're not suggesting that you should drink twice as much on each visit.  But on a cold winter evening, when you think it's too much trouble to go out to the pub, make the effort anyway.  At the end of your walk you'll find a bright cosy haven which will make you glad you came. 
Try any guest ales on offer - the landlord has taken the trouble to source interesting beers for you, so make sure they are not wasted.  Some may complain that these are too expensive, but today we found the excellent Goddards Winter Warmer 5.2% and prize-winning Old Growler Porter 5.0% at the Buckingham Arms, Shoreham at £3 per pint.  We didn't think that was a lot to pay for the privilege of trying two superb beers, one from the Isle of Wight and the other from Suffolk. 
    For websites see www.goddards-brewery.co.uk and  www.nethergate.co.uk
However, if you feel times are too hard and you can't afford £3 for your pint, look out for bargains - the 'Sussex Drinker' usually features a section on low-priced pints and drew attention to the Selden Arms in Worthing offering Dark Star beers from £2.50 a pint.  We noticed that the Buckingham Arms had Sharp's Doombar at £2.40 and Old Speckled Hen cost just £2.20 per pint.
Talk to your landlord.  Showing that there are customers who like the pub and want it to survive can boost flagging morale and even just offering a sympathetic ear is appreciated in these troubled times.  Perhaps the discussion may lead to ideas to promote the pub locally and improve business.
 
4) Attend any festivals in your area
 
We were disturbed to learn that some local festivals, which we had regarded as annual fixtures, were being cancelled or were under review.  Landlords are having to take a hard look at the investment involved in the range of beers for the festival and the potentially large loss if the turnout is poor and beer is wasted.  If you hear there's going to be a festival at a pub in your area, put a note in your diary and go along.  They are always great events, and with the opportunity to try many different and unusual beers it's the best way to extend your beer knowledge.  If you've never been to a festival before, don't be put off by the idea that they are drunken orgies; they are civilised events where like-minded people taste beers in a controlled environment, so make 2009 the year of your first festival.
 
5) A pub's not just a place for beer
 
If you don't feel like a beer, or you're in the company of someone who doesn't share your love of real ale, remember that many pubs serve coffee or tea, as well as soft drinks.  Some town centre pubs have a special deal for shoppers in the morning, for example the Marlipins in Shoreham High Street which offers a coffee and a scone at a very reasonable price.  Another good reason to give your custom to your local hostelry!
 
6) Have a meal in a pub
 
Many people who occasionally go out for a meal at a restaurant are cutting back as the recession bites.  But why cancel the occasion?  Why not try your local pub instead?  Most pubs offer excellent food at very reasonable prices, and the opportunity to have a good real ale with your food (instead of the fizzy, tasteless bottles served as 'beer' in many restaurants).  Beer (proper beer that is!) can be a far better accompaniment to food than wine and the pub is the place to try it.  And before you say you can't afford meals out these days, check your local pub's menu and do the maths.  If you take into account the cost of the ingredients and all the extras, such as fuel for cooking, heating and lighting, and preparation time, a pub meal need cost little if any more than eating at home - and you escape the washing up too! 
The Red Lion, Old Shoreham, has a great restaurant and gives incredible value with their week-evening specials.  We particularly like their Monday evening 'Pie and a Pint' at just £5.95!  There's a range of really good pies to choose from (including a vegetarian option) and they come with a choice of potatoes, several nicely cooked veg, and lovely gravy.  Bear in mind that a pint can be around £3, then that means you're paying just £2.95 for a hearty and very tasty meal!  Compare that with the price of a frozen ready-meal from a supermarket - and don't forget to add in the cost of thawing/heating it - and the washing up!!!
 
7) Get a beer take-away from your local
 
With cold weather, stringent drink-drive laws, and (for some people) the ban on smoking in public places, there is a temptation to sit at home in front of the telly with your beer.  Fair enough - but don't buy supermarket rubbish, or even their premium priced real ales in a bottle.  Instead ask your landlord about takeaways.  Many pubs offer the facility of containers which can be filled with 4 pints of choice real ales from the pumps.  There may be a small charge for the container, but you can then re-use it.  The containers are made of food-quality plastic, similar to those used for milk (and if you cleaned it thoroughly beforehand, you could use a plastic milk container to carry home your pints.)  Even where pubs offer this facility, they may not advertise it very prominently, so do ask the landlord.  And if they haven't thought of offering the service before, take along your own container and they should be happy to fill it for you. 
 
8) Support the Axe the Beer Tax campaign
 
The full title of this campaign is 'Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub'.  Go the the website www.axethebeertax.com/ and sign to show your support.  Better still, follow their instructions on how to send a message to your local MP to urge support for the campaign.  It will only take a few moments of your time, but it will show Parliament the strength of feeling on this issue, and the need to help pubs by removing this unfair handicap to their business.
 
9) Join CAMRA
 
Remember that the name of the organisation is the CAMPAIGN for Real Ale.  As well as providing information about beer, they lobby the government on your behalf on issues like the current ones.  The bigger CAMRA is, the more their representations are heeded by politicians.  So if you're not already a member, sign up now - you'll be doing yourself more favours than you realise.   http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=joinus
 
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