Belgian Beer

Six weeks ago, New Jersey craft beer drinkers were introduced to one of the most eclectic and exciting breweries in the United States – The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing. For those of you that aren’t aware, the same brewers package all of their “American style” beers under Port Brewing, while the “Belgian-styles” are packaged under The Lost Abbey. While the Port side of the brewery is equally as amazing, I’d like to shift focus to the Belgian-inspired side.

Over in Belgium beer isn’t just a commodity or beverage, it’s a culture. With dozens of different styles that range from dark fruit driven 11% ABV quads, to funky and woody sours, to light and champagne-like saisons, there is literally something there for every beer drinker. You won’t (normally) find the hop bombs you’ll find over here in the States, but will you find painstakingly handcrafted brews that can be enjoyed by beer novices or the most experienced craft fanatic. There is absolutely nothing better than pairing a Belgian stout (Allagash Black is a great domestic interpretation) with dark chocolate or black forest cake. Well, maybe there is, like pairing a spritzy saison (i.e. the classic Saison Dupont) with mussels and spicy sausage.

Aside from some of our top selling Belgians or Belgian-inspired beers like the Chimays, Allagashs, Ommegangs, and Lindemans, there is a whole world of fantastic beer that unfortunately goes unnoticed far too often. The price tags may turn some folks off (like a $20 Gueuze) but these beers are well worth the money spent and will offer flavors and aromas never experienced before. Here are some hidden gems you will find at either of our locations, starting with the domestic side:

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja – This is easily one of my favorite beers of all time. Brewed in the Flanders tradition, this amber-bodied brew will offer aromas and flavors of earth, oak, and sour cherries and apples with that unmistakable Jolly Pumpkin yeast strain. Given the acidity, it shares many traits with an earthy Barbera d’Alba and can be paired with anything from buttery cheeses to traditional pork chops.

Weyerbacher Tiny – Tiny is not tiny. An 11% imperial stout brewed with an Abbey yeast strain, this beer showcases the traditional stout flavors of chocolate and vanilla with the Belgian yeast completely eliminating any harshness from the alcohol. It is often hard to find extremely complex beers that are perfect balanced, and Tiny pulls it off while pulling no punches.To be honest, for the price, you simply can’t beat this beer. An absolutely perfect dessert beer.

And on the Belgian side,

Boon Oude Kriek Mariage Parfait- Brewed with a crazy amount of cherries (this vintage is 40%), this beer is a must-try for any Kriek lover. Not overly sweet like the Lindeman’s line or too sour like some Cantillons, the amount of cherries added balances everything out and offers a truly one of a kind experience. Act quick, though, there’s not much of this to go around.

De Proef Reinart- Want to convert a white-wine or champagne drinker to the wonderful world of beer? Look no further. This spritzy, light-bodied Belgian pale ale is a sure shot pleaser. The flavors of green apple and flowers are offset by the funky lemon and biscuit flavors deriving from the brettanomyces yeast. Swap this with the next white wine you pair with dinner and you’ll be amazed at the different (and dare I say better) experience.