Brouwerij Rodenbach-new US importer and photos

The first of the 24 breweries I visited in Belgium in May and June was the incomparable Rodenbach.
Rodenbach is a complex of many old historic buildings, such as a malting kiln from 1864 and a several stories tall brewery of the same age. There are also impressive new things, including a brewhouse from 2001 and a great visitor's center.

It's a world class place, and one of Belgium's national treasures.

I have a 1600 word article on the brewery coming out in the August issue of Celebrator Beer News.

Photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/belgianbeerspecialist/sets/72157605532799978/

Latis Imports has just secured the USA import rights for the Rodenbach family of beers. It will be great to have these beers easily available again here!

The big move to Baltimore

I know it's been a looong time since I posted here, however I have been incredibly busy moving to Beery Baltimore. I've always wanted to live in a great beer city, and I'm here now. It was a long and painful move. It was very much worth it, though: with places like Brewer's Art and Max's nearby, it's hard to go wrong.

I have a big feature article coming out soon on Brouwerij Rodenbach, as well as an article on SAVOR in DC. Plus, there's more.

I've also uploaded many more photos to my Flickr site-3,500 so far, mostly from my many trips to Belgium.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/belgianbeerspecialist/sets/

More later. Time to unpack some more boxes.....

Cheers,

Chuck C.

Belgium, trip 17: a short report

I returned Wednesday from my 17th trip to Belgium, a 15 day tour in both Flanders and Wallonia. I visited 24 breweries (11 in Flanders, 12 Wallonia, one in Brussels) and many, many cafes, and one excellent beer fest.
I'll be posting much more in detail as the jet lag subsides and I download photos.

I visited the following breweries in Flanders:

Brouwerij Strubbe in Ichtegem
Brouwerij Rodenbach in Roeselaere
Brouwerij Contreras in Gavere-Aspere
Brouwerij Malheur/De Landtsheer in Buggenhout, a second visit
Brouwerij Affligem in Opwijk
Brouwerij de Brouwkot in Gullegem
Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen in Beersel for a second visit
Brouwerik Kerkom in Sint-Truiden for a second visit
Brouwerij Duvel in Breendonk/Puurs for a second visit
Brouwerij De Block in Merchtem-Peizegem
Brouwerij Palm in Steenhuffel

in Wallonia:

Brasserie Silenrieux in Silenrieux
Brasserie Caracole in Falmignoul
Brasserie St-Monon in Ambly
Brasserie Rochefort/Abbaye Notre Dame de St-Remy, for a third visit
Brasserie St-Helene in Ethe-Virton
Brasserie Millevertus in Toernich
Brasserie Brunehaut in Brunehaut
Brasserie La Frasnoise in Frasnes-lez-Buissenal
Brasserie Silly in Silly
Brasserie Authentique in Blaton
Brasserie La Binchoise in Binche
Brasserie Val de Sambre/Abbaye de Aulne in Gozée

Brussels: Brasserie Cantillon, for a 5th or 6th visit.....

't Brugs Beertje is 25 years old today!

One of Belgium's-and the world's-best-loved beer cafes is 25 years old today.
't Brugs Beertje ("Brugge's Little Bear") first opened on Friday, May 13, 1983.
I interviewed owner Daisy Claeys about the history of her cafe in 2002, and have written several articles about the Little Bear in beer publications like Ale Street News and Celebrator Beer News.
So famous is 't Brugs Beertje that it is mentioned in virtually every guidebook to the beautiful medieval city of Brugge (Bruges.)
I will visit the Little Bear again on Tuesday May 20, during my 17th trip to Belgium.

New Belgian articles....Celebrator and Ale Street News

Well, it's been a while since I posted here. I have been very busy with my taxes, and also have been occupied with adding photos to my Flickr site. I now have uploaded over 2,000 images from 38 of the 60 Belgian breweries I have visited, as well as many from beer fests and beer cafes. More are on the way as time permits.

Here are the photos, organized in sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/belgianbeerspecialist/sets/

I have three new Belgian beer articles out this month (April/May issues.) Two are In Celebrator Beer News. The first is a feature, "Brouwerij Liefmans of Oudenaarde" about Liefmans. Since the article went to press, it appears more and more likely that Duvel Moortgat will indeed take control of Liefmans for the long term.

My other feature is about the famous beer cafe, 't Brugs Beertje ("Brugge's Little Bear") in Bruges, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Tuesday, May 13. The Little Bear is one of the world's great drinking establishments, with expert service from owner Daisy Claeys and her well trained staff. This classic Belgian "brown" cafe also has a very friendly atmosphere.

In Ale Street News, I cover a number of subjects in my Belgian news column, "Belgian Babble."
Included are info about cafe 't Brugs Beertje; Belgian breweries Liefmans, De Graal, Nieuwhuys, and Het Anker; as well as stateside breweries Clipper City and Russian River, and Max's 24 Hours of Belgian beer fest in Baltimore.

Today is the 75th Anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition in the USA, and I think I'll celebrate with a hoppy American IPA!

Cheers!

Ale Street News and Belgium

I have been writing for U.S.A. “brewspaper” Ale Street News for several years. ASN has a circulation of 90,000 copies every issue, six times a year. Ale Street is based in the New York City area, and has regional and International coverage on a variety of beery subjects.
Editor Tony Forder leads a group of stalwart beer lovers to Belgium every year, for a tour based around the Zythos beer fest in early March. Hence, the February/March issue is always a special one, with lots of Belgian coverage.

Tony and co-editor Jack Babin also organize a very special beer tasting event in Manhattan every year in the Spring. I attended the first “Ultimate Belgian Tasting” in 2006, and had a great time! I recommend this event.

The next “UBT” will be held Thursday April 10. Here is more info:

http://alestreetonline.com/content/view/41/45/

I wrote a two part story on the Belgian Trappist Abbey breweries in 2005-2006, which are on-line here:

http://www.alestreetnews.com/articles/14_6_16.htm

http://www.alestreetnews.com/articles/15_1_14.htm

I have also written about beer cafes and breweries in Brugge and Brussels, small Belgian breweries, the Zythos Beer Fest, and more.

I am happy to say that Tony asked me to start writing a Belgian news column, called Belgian Babble, for every issue of ASN, beginning with the February/March 2008 edition.
I wrote about Brouwerij Liefmans, the OBER Christmas beer fest, Chez Moeder Lambic, Cantillon and Brasserie de la Senne in this issue.

I also have a feature on Amsterdam’s breweries and cafes, on-line here:

http://alestreetonline.com/content/view/26/45/

I will cover an even greater range of Belgian and Belgian-inspired breweries and cafes in the April/May issue.

Kudos to Tony Forder and the Ale Street News team for their appreciation and promotion of Belgium’s artisanal beers and beer culture, and Belgian-inspired brews, breweries and beer bars in the USA and elsewhere.

Beers of the World Magazine and Belgium

Beers of the World magazine is the premier beer publication in the United Kingdom. Since its first issue in September/October 2005, Beers of the World has been on the forefront of promoting beers from, as its title suggests, all over the world-to a discerning audience of beer lovers.
In issue 1, there was an article about Brasserie Cantillon in Brussels. While I did not write the article, four of the five photos used with it were ones I took on a 2003 visit to the brewery.
Fast forward to Spring 2007 with issue 11, and Editor Sally Toms published an article I wrote about the famous Bierhuis Kulminator in Antwerp-perhaps the most famous beer cafe in the world-especially in regards to aged beers.
The first part of the article is on-line here: http://www.beers-of-the-world.com/magazine/issue11/12007772.html

Sally also asked I have a look at beery Brussels, the capitol of Belgium and the E.U.
I relished the chance to cover all my favorite beery spots in Brussels, and the article
"The heart of Europe: Charles D. Cook discovers the beers and bars of the Belgian capital" was published in issue 14.
See the first part of the article here: http://www.beers-of-the-world.com/magazine/issue14/12008189.html

I also suggested to Sally that an article on Belgium's female brewmasters might be of interest, as some very fine brews are crafted at Brasserie de l' Abbaye de Rocs in Montignies-sur-Roc; Brouwerij De Ryck in Herzele; Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke in Stasegem; and Brouwerij Urthel. Fortunately she agreed, and "The Beer Women of Belgium" was published in issue 15.

The beginning of the article is here: http://www.beers-of-the-world.com/magazine/issue15/12008291.html

I was even more pleased when Sally, who has a very light editing touch (the best kind!) asked if I could do a feature on Belgian brewing. I happily agreed, and the current issue, #16, has my 1650 word article, in which I write about 35 Belgian breweries. There is also a sidebar about ten great Belgian beer festivals, and quite a few photos.
Here is the start of the article: http://www.beers-of-the-world.com/magazine/issue16/12008416.html

While published in the U.K., Beers of the World magazine can often be found in Barnes and Noble stores in larger U.S. cities, as well as bookstores with a good selection of International magazines.

I should also point out that there have been many other articles on the subject of Belgium and beer written by other authors for BOTW.

Thanks to Sally Toms and the Beers of the World team for giving Belgium such fine exposure.