Early last June of 2012, Brian Purcell, CEO and brewmaster of the soon-to-open Three Taverns Craft Brewery in Decatur, GA, took a seven-day beer tour of Belgium with his wife. He and his partner and CFO, Chet Burge, had almost reached their funding goal to open a Belgian-beer-inspired brewery, and the trip served as inspiration—in... View Article
We, as beer lovers, are constantly being introduced to the next great infatuation, permutation or trend as the brewing industry rapidly rambles on.
The appreciation for Belgian beer and Belgium’s brewing culture has never been more keen than right now. One could even argue that it is currently the most influential force in North American brewing. This well-deserved affection has helped sustain and nourish both the fledgling North Americans and venerable Belgians. Beer lovers have taken a particular... View Article
“Mussels in Brussels?” That’s what the gal who wrote our plane ticket asked us before our first trip to Belgium.
Often, when beer lovers venture into the realm of Belgian brews, they experience an epiphany. Even without an experienced or refined palate, it is apparent immediately that there is something different, something beyond the familiar flavors and aromas of other offerings. Be it depth, complexity or nuance, we are presented with the unexpected manifestation of... View Article
There is no escaping the agrarian history of beer. This relationship was nearly lost a couple of centuries ago, as the Industrial Revolution seized control of brewing, but recently, beer-drinkers have demanded that beer revisit its soul, born of terroir.
So what is it about Belgium? We’re talking about a country roughly the size of Massachusetts, with an annual GDP less than many profitable pyramid schemes. And yet, in beer circles, Belgian brewing figures quite prominently—universally understood to be one of the world’s premiere beer capitals. And the constant subject of beer writers. Two new... View Article
This Flemish area of Belgium, nicknamed “Hoppeland,” is nestled against the French border and, in a country known for more than 800 beers, has the distinctive honor of being called the “brewers’ corner of Belgium.” There, five breweries are located less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Poperinge: the reclusive Trappist brewery of St. Sixtus,... View Article
The Trappist ales of Belgium and the Netherlands, produced in breweries attached to abbeys, are world famous. They include Chimay, La Trappe and Orval, the most widely exported beers. They are produced by monks who help maintain their churches and fund their work in the community with the sales of their beer.
