Ghent Visit 2025

As we were staying in Brussels, on our way to the railway station again we passed through the Parc du Cinquantenaire (Visit Brussels)...

On our way to Schuman Metro Station, and evidence of the EU appears.

We reached Ghent, on the 8th of September, which was declared liberated by the British 7th Armoured Division 81 years ago to the day in 1944 (Desert Rats), 3 days after allied forces had entered the city and the same day the Belgian Government was returned to power (Bulletin). Our first target was the Tourist Office (website), close by the Gravensteen above, the Castle of the Counts (History Hit), which I visited the last time I was in Ghent over 20 years ago.

The first bar I had planned for us to visit wasn't open, despite their website saying it would be, oh well, anyway, we sat down at a table in Vrijdagmarkt, and had a beer from one of the restaurants there, I believe it was Cassis (website), I may be wrong, but whatever... An excellent bottle of Corsendonk Agnus Tripel (7.5%), brewed with Styrian Golding (hopslist), Hersbrucker (hopslist) and Challenger (hopslist) hops, providing citrus fruit, pear, and coriander spiciness to the taste, refreshing and enjoyed immensely, and I was getting thirsty by now! 👌

By the way, the history of Corsendonk and brewing ale goes back to the late 14th century and the Priory of Corsendonk which had its own brewery then, however they were forced to close by Emperor Josef II in 1784, then they started brewing again in 1906, but now they claim to have become 'particularly famous from 1982 onwards' (website). 

The name of Gulden Draak (Golden or Gilded Dragon) comes from the legend of the Gulden Draak that originally adorned the bow of an early 12th century Viking Ship, then was atop a dome in Constantinople, from where it was brought to Flanders by Flemish Count Boudewijn in the 13th century ending up in Bruges; and from where it was finally removed as a spoil of war by the victorious Ghent forces following the Battle of Beverhoutsveld in 1382. It has since remained in the Ghent Belfry (above) symbolising freedom and power (visitgent).

The importance to the Brouwerij Van Steenberge of the history behind the Gulden Draak beers, their Titans, has seen the brewery include this on its website. The first Gulden Draak I tasted, was in Brussels near the end of the last millennium, when I called it a "Christmas Pudding of a Beer" - a description my brother (who lived in Belgium at the time) liked enough to use himself elsewhere. So, Gulden Draak Classic, a majestic 10.5%, brewed with Styrian Golding (hopslist) and Brewer's Gold (hopslist) hops, and it still is a Christmas pudding of a Beer! The brewery state this is a Tripel, as you can see though, not a pale golden one, but a darker ruby red colour, rich, full bodied and full of flavour. This time I drank it appropriately close by the Belfry at Bier Central, Botermarkt 11 (website), and we ate here too, tasty food as well, nice one.

On our way to our final bar this trip, and back to the station, we passed Sint-Baafs Kathedraal (St Bavo's Cathedral - website), where a church had been on the site since the 10th century, with the current cathedral building evolving from what was then St John's Church to the current gothic style cathedral in the 15th and 16th centuries.

On our way southwards we followed the same canal (Schelde) virtually all the way to the bar, so I thought at least one photograph of a canal should be included!

And another, and just to prove I was there, my head made this cameo performance! 😉

And wouldn't you know it, the planned final bar of our visit was closed too, despite their website saying otherwise, tut! BUT... Virtually opposite we found what I believe is probably an even better bar, on the canal, on a barge called Kaffee De Planck, Ter Platen 10A (website), and with over 200 beers to choose from. 😁 We didn't meet Odette, who has been the 'driving force behind De Planck' since 1985, but we did meet a very friendly young member of staff, cheers m'dear!

Anyway, we sat upstairs, on the covered part of the deck and, together with eating a few gratis nibbles I drank, from Brouwerij De Leite (website), their 8.0% tripel Enfant Terriple, the pun being linked to a Terrible Child. Apologies, but I can't find the hops used, but slightly spicy, and tropical fruit and citrus fruits in the taste, notably orange, with a dry bitter finish, cheers! 👍

You can see a digital street map of Ghent here at the Tourist Board's website.

2 Luxurious Stouts from Yonder!

Both of these are from Yonder Brewing of Somerset (website), and are indeed luxurious stouts! The first, at a mere 6.0% is their Pecan Pretzel Pastry Stout, which is sweet, as I expected, very smooth, with chocolate dominating for me in the taste, but hints of toasted pecan nuts and caramel too. Plenty of body, but incredibly easy to drink, with a slightly salty, dry bitter finish.

I hardly know what to say about this, the 7.0% Double Choc Fudge Cake Pastry Stout, my notes immediately say "YES!!" to it being a Double Chocolate Fudge Cake stout! It does what it says on the tin, reminding me of when I worked in Scotland and their Butter Tablet, but saturated with dark chocolate, sounds very sweet and sickly, but strangely also pretty easy to drink, and exceedingly luxurious! 😁 Yonder don't share details of the the hops they use sadly, but very likely English hops, but they can advise me, if they ever see this blog, cheers to them too! 👍

CHEERS FOLKS! 😉

The next blog will be about Ghent, I promise, a West Coast one to come soon too!

Another Brussels Visit, September 2025.

Well, for my birthday visit to Belgium, the international part of the trip kicked off at St Pancras International (website), pictured is the St Pancras London Hotel, which used to be called the Midland Grand Hotel (website). As I had some time to spare, I had a pint of Estrella 0 0 at the Betjeman Arms (website), I kid you not, it was actually very tasty and refreshing!

Anyway, on my way by Eurostar (website), sadly, no longer bottles of Duvel for sale in the buffet, but Leffe Blonde in tins (website), plus a red wine for me, and a sarnie, etc...

I stayed in Brussels with my sister-in-law and brother, and on the other side of the Parc du Cinquantenaire (above visitbrussels) from the apartment was my first bar this visit, for food as well as drink. Indeed, this was the first bar I ever drank in on my first visit to Belgium many years ago, that is the 120 years old La Terrasse, Avenue des Celtes 1, Etterbeek, 1040 Brussels (website). Excellent food, and the wonderful Westmalle Tripel (9.5%) pictured below, my favourite Belgian beer. Brewed with Tettnanger (hopslist), Saaz (hopslist) and Styrian Golding (hopslist) hops, producing a golden ale, subtly fruity, and a dry bitter refreshing finish, quality!  

Westmalle Tripel is a 'trappist' ale, the brewery established at the trappist Westmalle Abbey since 1836 (website), gradually updated over the years, in 1968 their own water purification plant was set up, their bottling plant was modernised in 1956 and again in 2000, and a few years ago a new brew hall was installed. Although the monks no longer brew the beers themselves, they remain in overall charge of the brewery, ensuring tradition is upkept, and pure ingredients used, their own water, 100% barley malt, hops, and yeast from their own culture.  

The second bar visited this time was the great Le Cirio, Beursstraat 18, 1000 Brussels (website), next to the old Belgian Stock Exhange, La Bourse (Brussels), a favourite for Dan and me. Here I drank the 8.4% Karmeliet Tripel (website), also brewed with Styrian Golding hops (hopslist), at the Brouwerij Bosteels (website), founded in 1791. Another golden ale, a wee bit sweeter than the Westmalle, plenty of fruit and body, hints of vanilla and citrus, pretty good!

Le Cirio was originally an Italian Delicatessen founded by Francesco Cirio in 1886, and the present interior was redesigned by Henri Coosemans in 1909 in the style of an Arts Nouveau Italian cafe. The narrow doors to the toilets pictured above hint at small rooms, but it is like the 'Tardis' when you enter, so presumably the same in the women's toilet too! 😁 Anyway, the photograph framed above the mirror to the left of the doors includes the famous Jacques Brel sitting in Le Cirio, the Belgian songwriter and singer, whose works include Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me), Le Moribond (adapted for Seasons in the Sun), and Amsterdam.

The third bar was one of the most interesting bars you may ever enter, La Fleur en Papier Dore, Rue des Alexiens 55, 1000 Brussels (website), 'the flower made from gold foil' and still with very friendly bar staff! This really is an 'arts' bar, created by the poet and gallery owner Gerard van Bruaene, and filled by artists and musicians, such as the Surrealists like Rene Magritte, and Jacques Brel again, he did like his bars! Bits and pieces here and there, much unmatched furniture, and pictures and all sorts adorning the walls, and pleasantly laid back. 😎

Here I drank a beer from the Brussels brewery Brasserie de la Senne (website), their 8.0% Tripel Verschueren (Tripel Verschu). As you can see from the photograph, the beer is pretty natural, very suitable for vegans, golden, slightly citrussy and fruity, with a dry bitter finish. Sorry, but the hops used are pretty difficult to find out, but I'd be surprised if the blend used doesn't include Styrian Golding and Saaz hops, if you know, please leave a comment, cheers! 👍

As we walked back to the apartment, Dan pointed out the medieval city walls that remain here and there, so I took the photograph above to share, but if you want to know more about the fortifications built to defend the city in the 13th and 14th centuries, go to My City Hunt. 

That's it for now folks, Ghent next, cheers! 🍻

September Whisky of the Month!

Not another whisky/whiskey I hear you say! Well, yes, this is the September Whisky of the Month, from the Isle of Skye, off the West Coast of Scotland. From Talisker (website), where the distillery has been since 1830, and their 45.8% Talisker Skye Single Malt Whisky, and yes, I've gone for a Scottish whisky this month, because I saw it at a decent price, maybe.😉

The Talisker Skye is a deep golden colour, following ageing in used bourbon casks, and with hints of smoked peat and honey in the aroma. At first taste, it is smooth, soft, and slightly sweet, with hints of smokiness, citrus, black pepper spiciness, and butterscotch coming through, to a subtly heated spicy finish, to warm the cockles, pretty satisfying... Sláinte! 😁

Peanut's at the Vat and Fiddle!

Yes, literally, a cat called Peanut keeps turning up at a pub and brewery 33 miles away from his home, he loves the ambience and company, apparently... He first turned up there on the 9th of July, after being missing from his home in Lincolnshire for 6 days already, apparently enjoying his first birthday at the pub, the Vat and Fiddle in Nottingham (website). He was reunited with his owners after it was realised that he was 'chipped' but he returned to the pub again within 3 days of going missing a second time (BBC). It is a complete mystery how he travels between the 2 places, but he certainly remembered the way back, don't be surprised if he returns yet again! 

I have a long history with Tynemill and Castle Rock Brewery (website) going back to well before I started blogging, indeed my local pub 25 years ago is one of theirs, the New Barrack Tavern in Sheffield (website), although it wasn't owned by Castle Rock on my first visit there 30 years ago, but acquired since. I got on really well with their manager and his wife, and have a Castle Rock polo shirt given to me by them, without having the necessary points (they run a loyalty scheme). And I first visited the Vat and Fiddle towards the end of the last millennium, before going to a football match at Nottingham Forest with my then wife, where on that occasion we met another friend we've both kept as a friend since, Paul. So, Castle Rock, and I have mentioned their ales before, have made quite an impression on my life, a bit like Peanut's life! 🐱

Castle Rock Brewery do brew some excellent cask ales, including the 2 you are most likely to see around the country, Harvest Pale and Elsie Mo, and I have written about their ales before, for example on my older blog. The Harvest Pale (3.8%) is a very light and very drinkable citrussy session ale, brewed with Centennial (hopslist), Cascade (hopslist) and Chinook (hopslist) hops. The Elsie Mo is a stronger 4.7% golden ale, still very citrussy but more complex, and very drinkable too, and brewed with First Gold (hopslist), Challenger (hopslist), and Slovenian Aurora (hopslist) and Bobek (hopslist) hops. Look out for them, cheers! 😁

Image from the Vat and Fiddle facebook page.

Black Thaw - Another Black IPA

On my older blog, lost to me to edit anymore, thank you Google/Gmail (😒), I had written about Black IPAs before, and it's still available to view, it appears (blog). Anyway, similarly, I shall not waffle about oxymorons, but will paraphrase what I said then about how Black IPAs are brewed, as explained to me by Brett, who used to work at Hastings Brewery (which no longer exists). The way he brewed Black IPAs, he used malt that had been de-husked, allowing some colour, but not to have the roasted malt flavour, then he chucked in a significant amount of hops, for example, Cascade, Columbus and Galaxy, to ensure an APA style flavour.

Well, the hops used for Burnt Mill's (website) Black IPA, their Black Thaw (6.0%) are Centennial (hopslist), Citra (hopslist) and Erebus (hopsteiner). The end result, I felt, was a bit like a cross between a Black IPA and a Porter, there was a hint of liquorice and dark fruits, body more like a Porter (well it is 6.0%!), and a mixture of citrus and dark fruits in the finish, which is a wee bit dry and bitter, not too sweet, not bad at all, cheers! 😁

If you haven't already read it, this blog is my opinion about stouts/porters.

Belgian Beer Week 2025

National Beer Days, International Beer Days, IPA Days, Belgian Beer Weekend, presently we are in Belgian Beer Week 2025 (website), the celebratory drinking doesn't stop! 😉 So what better than a Quadrupel Trappist ale to celebrate with?!? The 10.0% Quadrupel from La Trappe (website) is indeed a Trappist ale, and a pretty good one to choose too, and which La Trappe claims to be the first Quadrupel in the World! 

I've seen La Trappe Quadrupel described as an amber beer, a dark amber beer, but it poured out so dark it looks more like a dark reddish brown colour, it is that dark an amber, see my photograph above, which is pretty accurate! Brewed with Hallertau Northern Brewer (hopslist) and Slovenian Super Steirer (also known as Super Styrian, ie Aurora grown in Slovenia - hopslist), this Quadrupel has a dark fruits and slightly vanilla aroma, as with most malty or slightly malty ales I detected significant butterscotch, as well as dark fruits in the flavour. Rich, slightly sweet, and smooth to drink, with a warmth from the alcohol, but dry enough to drink easily. 👍

Nice one, cheers, and Happy Belgian Beer Week! 😁

The Real 'If Only I Had The Time To Understand!'

The Real? Oh, have a look back to this blog for an explanation-ish. 😉 

So, enjoyed at the Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog), from Pomona Island (website), up int' North West of England, and their 12.5% If Only I Had The Time To Understand, a 'Russian Imperial Stout' aged in Cognac Casks. The real If Only I Had The Time To Understand does have cognac and coffee in the aroma and taste, with dark fruits and chocolate much more noticeable in the taste. Unsurprisingly, smooth and luxurious, and indeed gorgeous, cheers folks! 😁

St Bernard's Day: 20th August.

2 suggestions for St Bernard's Day (more about at the bottom of this blog), first I decided to go back to the darker English Trappist Ale for today, brewed by Cistercian monks at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire (website), this Tynt Meadow is a 7.4% trappist ale. Dark ruby red/mahogany colour with a big fruity aroma and flavour. Not the citrus fruits I normally enjoy, but rich darker fruits, with a touch of chocolate and malt/toffee in the taste, plenty of body and smooth, and slightly sweet to drink, Tynt Meadow is bottled conditioned, consequently having a long shelf life, so store in a cool place, drink quite chilled, and pour out carefully, unless you enjoy the addition of yeast particles from the lees...

The second suggestion which I have written about very recently (blog), so will precis that information here, is from Brouwerij St Bernadus (website), their St Bernadus ABT 12 (10.0%). Strictly, not a Trappist beer, although they had brewed Trappist ales for the Trappist monks at Westvleteren from 1946 to 1992. In 1998 Hans Depypere bought the business and it has flourished since. The St Bernadus ABT 12 is a very deep dark coloured red Quadrupel, brewed with hops grown in their own hop field. This has a slightly malty/fruity aroma, again, a bit sweet, but with a dry slightly bitter finish. Tasting of dark plum and damson fruits, indeed, a Christmas Pudding of a beer as many Quadrupels tend to be, very rich and tasty!

So, who was St Bernard? Bernard of Clairvaux was a 12th century monk, then Abbot, who was a principle in the foundation of the Knights Templar, and in the creation of the Cistercian Order that broke from the Benedictines. Indeed, the Cistercians are also called Bernardines, after Bernard of Clairvaux, or White Monks, as they dropped the black cowl warn by Benedictines. Unsurprisingly, St Bernard is patron saint of the Cistercians and Knights Templar, and also patron saint of bees, beekeepers, and candle makers/chandlers. There you are. 👍

So, to celebrate, maybe raise a glass of Tynt Meadow or St Bernadus, cheers! 🍺

Clonakilty Whiskey...

Yes, yes, I know, I've already written about a whiskey this month (blog), but I was drinking in the Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog) yesterday, and Oliver waved a not yet opened bottle in front of me, and tempted me to buy a glass of it. I'm easily tempted, no control! 😉 So there it was, distilled in County Cork by Clonakilty (website), their 46.0% Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, I'll have some of that, thank you very much! 

Clonakilty is quite a new distillery, set up in 2019, and they use only barley grown in Co Cork, the whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Amontillado casks. This produces an aroma strongly teasing me with vanilla and hints of citrus and butterscotch, and tasting gently of vanilla with a hint of pear, orange and butterscotch, smooth, but you know the alcohol is there whilst drinking and as it goes down, good stuff, sláinte!

Classic English Hop back after 100 Years!

I saw on the BBC website, that a grandparent of hops around the world, the Farnham White Bine (above image from Hogs Back website - info at Ed's Beer Site), has been resurrected after a hundred years, and is growing in the hop fields of Hogs Back Brewery (website), alongside their Cascade (British Hop Association) and Fuggle (British Hop Association) hops.

I thought, great to hear good news, but they've actually been growing Farnham White Bine hops for 10 years now, so not so new news. Indeed, Hogs Back brewed their first ale with this hop back in 2015/16 (the article I refer to suggests 2015, the brewery suggest 2016 😕), presumably after their first crop, and that was Farnham White, a 4.0% golden bitter (Cask Marque). 

If you want to experience Hog Back's ales brewed with the historic Farnham White Bine hops, watch out for their 'limited edition' ales, notably already mentioned Farnham White (photograph above with thanks to Andy King on UNTAPPD); their latest addition to their seasonal ales Blackwater Plum Porter (4.0%); and Home Harvest Pale (4.0%), brewed with their own Fuggle and Cascade hops in addition, this one for Autumn consumption (Hogs Back website). 

Happy hunting folks, cheers! 😁

August Whiskey of the Month.

"About time!" I hear from some. 😉 I had even surprised myself when I realised I have not reviewed this mainstay of Irish whiskeys! Oh well, it's here now as my August Whiskey of the Month, Jameson whiskey (website) which used to be distilled at their Jameson Distillery, Bow Street, Dublin 7. However, since 1976, when they merged with Powers and Cork Distillers to form Irish Distillers (website), like many other well known Irish whiskey brands, now it is distilled at their Midleton Distillery near Cork (website).

Jameson is a 40.0% triple distilled whiskey, of course, a deep amber coloured blend of grain and single pot still whiskeys, and aged in oak casks for at least 4 years before bottling. It has a slightly oak woody, honey and citrus aroma, and you notice the alcohol very much too, and noticed straight away in the taste. Indeed, it has a warming effect all through the drinking experience from nose, to mouth to stomach, although very smooth! I, as I seem to, noticed butterscotch in the taste predominantly, with hints of vanilla, nuts and cinnamon too, I like it, sláinte! 😉

IPA Day Ale, cheers!

My IPA Day ale of choice yesterday evening (blog) was enjoyed at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock a Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW (website), and was brewed by Yorkshire brewery Rooster's Brewing Co (website), whose excellent ales I have been drinking since the late 1990s. The ale, from this very reliable brewery, who brew 'vegan friendly' ales that always turn out totally clear, was their 4.3% Old Faithful Pale Ale. Brewed with 3 hops: Bramling Cross from England (hopslist); Cluster from the USA (hopslist); and Pacific Gem from New Zealand (hopslist). Consequently producing a pale clear ale with citrus, lemon and grapefruit, and just a hint of darker fruits in the taste, and with a lovely dry bitter finish, nice one! 

Happy International IPA Day, plus one, cheers! 😁

International IPA Day 2025

Today is IPA Day 2025 (daysoftheyear), when we celebrate India Pale Ales, indeed, celebrated on the first Thursday of August every year now, and how IPAs have been influenced by craft brewers, and hops, from the USA. IPAs were originally brewed to be transported by boat on the long trip to India from Britain in the 18th century, thus had plenty of strength and plenty of hops as a preservative, to help survive the long journey. The idea of IPA Day has its origins in 2011, the brain child of American beer enthusiast and author, Ashley Routson*, who I send my thanks to for making me also take advantage of this day every year in Britain too, cheers!

With thanks to Pints and Panels (website) for the image above, the evolution of the IPA, from a slightly darker English hoppy beer transported to India, to the later U.S. craft brewery influenced paler versions, or, as I prefer to call them, APAs. I know where I'm going to imbibe later on, so may just report back on my IPA Day ales sometime very soon, cheers m'dears! 🍺

*Ashley Routson, The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer: An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer.

Pink Grapefruit Ale from Kent Brewery!

I have written about Kent Brewery (website) ales many times before, indeed, they are one of my favourite dependable breweries for the quality of their ales, paler ales especially for me. But a recent visit to the Rye Waterworks (blog) saw me drink the slightly hazy 4.9% Kent Pamplemousse, brewed with pink grapefruit and citrusy hops, although I can't discover which hops were used, apologies, but I would be surprised if they were not from the USA. And if you're wondering about the name, 'pamplemousse' equals 'grapefruit' in French. 😁

It may look 'flat' in the photograph above, but it wasn't, indeed, it was just a full pint served to me, and ales are gravity fed at the Waterworks, so only a little head, although it did keep lacing all the way down the glass. OK, Pamplemousse is more orange than pink, but pink grapefruits produce a red juice, so I would describe this as an extra fruity, citrusy American Pale Ale style (APA), and I doubt if I'm wrong about the hops, but what do I know. 😉 So, pale and hoppy, very fruity, with a nice dry bitter finish and refreshing, another nice one Kent Brewery, cheers! 👍

Apologies - International Beer Day 2025 Yesterday!

Sorry I missed this, I had the wrong date marked in my diary. 😕 But Happy International Beer Day for yesterday! 🍺 Which should have been, and probably was elsewhere, a day of global celebration of beer (website). Indeed, the first Friday in August has been International Beer Day since 2013, a celebratory day created by Jesse Avshalomov at his local bar in Santa Cruz in California in 2007 (used to be August the 5th previously), you have to love those drinkers across the North Atlantic who suggest I celebrate drinking beer so regularly! 

The purpose of the day is to gather with others and enjoy a few beers and to celebrate the variety of beers available, and to celebrate those who brew, manage, and serve beer to us, not forgetting the wonderful pubs and bars where we drink. As Simon Difford suggests, let's raise a glass "to Beer, a drink that brings the world together." (diffordsguide) 🍻

But I did have a pint of ale yesterday, from a brewery I had never heard of, at my local 'local' The Prince Albert in central Hastings (blog). The ale, pump clip first image above, was from West Sussex brewery North Garden (website), Peaks (4.5%), an English Pale Ale, so brewed with English hops, which I presume are the same as for its stronger sibling Peaks Extra Pale Ale (4.8%); that is, Olicana (British Hop Association) and Harlequin (British Hop Association).

Or maybe not, on looking at the few reviews I could find, which suggest a paler beer than I drank (likely reviews of the Extra Pale Ale), although English Pale Ales are usually darker than the APAs that have been dominating the IPA name in recent times. The Peaks I drank was quite a deep copper colour, very much like a traditional IPA should be, and was, indeed, a bitter ale, like a traditional IPA would have been at the outset. Also, I didn't get the tropical fruit flavours you would expect with hops used like Olicana and Harlequin, so very likely more traditional English hops were used. However, the brewery's website doesn't help me at all, I can only go by what I was served, which was a bitter traditional English ale. Happy Beer Day Plus One, cheers! 😁

Sheffield: Congratulations to Brian at the Bath Hotel!

I've thought about using the image above for many years now, which is of my pal Rick the Dentist, on the left, with Brian Johnson the Landlord, in the Bath Hotel, 66-68 Victoria St, Sheffield S3 7QL (website). Rick sent this photograph to me soon after I moved away from Sheffield, just to make me jealous, no doubt. 😉 This is one of my favourite pubs in Sheffield, where I have had many good times over the years, and it's great that Brian is back running the pub again after a number of years during which he had leased it to Thornbridge Brewery, because his warm welcome always makes you feel at home (eg visiting last year - blog).

So why the 'congratulations' to Brian then? Well, call me a late messenger, but he won the local CAMRA Central Sheffield Pub of the Year 2024 last year, and more recently I saw in Sheffield CAMRA's Beer Matters July 2025, this year too (Sheffield CAMRA). Nice one Brian! 👍

This has reminded me that I need to visit again very soon, looking forward to seeing you again Brian, and whoever else I bump into, cheers! 🍺

Also, you'll likely have worked out I've been to Sheffield recently, blog soon. 😁

Belgian Beers Making Up For Monday!

To make up for Monday's falling back on weaker, brewed for abroad, 6.0% Leffe for Belgian National Day (blog), I dropped into The Jolly Fisherman (blog) the next day, and had 2 more impressive Belgian beers. First the Trappistes Rochefort 10 (website), with records written that brewing starting at the now nearly 800 years old monastery by 1595, the monks previously working on farming and mining only. During the revolutionary period from 1789, the monks fled from French troops, not returning until 1889. Looting and destruction of their original church meant they built a new church and brewery and, as farming failed to meet the monastery's financial needs, they supplemented their income by selling their beers. By 1952 professional brewing became their main source of income, and a new brewery was built in 1960.

Since 2020 brewing has been at a brand new 'state of the art' brewhouse, from whence came the Rochefort 10 I drank on Tuesday, a Quadrupel, a mere 11.3% in strength 😉 with the '10' coming from an older Belgian measurement of wort density. A deep reddish brown in colour, a bottle conditioned beer, with a spicy, fruity and slightly smoky, aroma. It's pretty much full of dark spicy fruits in the taste, a little chocolate too, my notes on the day say "Black Forest Gateau in a glass" and quite right too, plenty of body, rich and luxurious, gorgeous! 😁

Second, from Brouwerij St Bernadus (website), the St Bernadus ABT 12 (10.0%), situated in Watou in Flanders, with a complicated more modern history. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a Trappist beer, but you would be wrong! They started brewing Trappist ales, under different ownership, for the Trappist monks at Westvleteren in 1946, but in 1992 the International Trappist Association (website) set up with rules agreed, including that to be authenticated, Trappist ales had to be brewed in a Trappist monastery and either brewed by, or brewing supervised by, monks. For 6 years they had trouble keeping the brewery going...

Then, in 1998 Hans Depypere bought the business, and it has flourished since, with a new brewing hall added in 2014 (history). The St Bernadus ABT 12 is a very deep dark coloured red Quadrupel, brewed with Hallertau Magnum hops (hopslist) for bitterness, and Goldings for aroma (hopslist); all hops used are grown in their own hop field. With a slightly malty/fruity aroma, it's a bit sweet, but has a dry slightly bitter finish. Tasting of dark plum and damson fruits, a Christmas Pudding of a beer as many Quadrupels tend to be, very rich and tasty!

Cheers m'dears! 🍺

Happy Belgium National Day!

The 21st of July is 'National Day' in Belgium, the anniversary of the swearing in of King Leopold I, the first recognised King of Belgium nearly 200 years ago, in 1831, following the revolution the previous year against the last of many empires encompassing Belgians over hundreds of years, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Therefore, much celebration will be had in Belgium today as it is a public holiday, nowhere more so than in Brussels (The Brussels Times). 

Sadly I cannot make it to Belgium today, although I will be making another visit in the not too distant future, consequently today I had to go shopping for Belgian beer, and this (above) is what I returned from the shops with. I had to go shopping because the first two places I would have gone to for Belgian beers in Hastings would have been the Eel & Bear (blog) and The Jolly Fisherman (blog), who both sell an impressive array of bottled beers. Sadly, both are also closed on Mondays, so woe is me, I was unprepared... 😣

BUT, next year will be different, no doubt, as Belgium National Day falls on a Tuesday! 😁

Anyway, I bought 4 bottles of an Abbey style beer this year, brewed by Leffe (website), where brewing has been ongoing only since 1240 😉 and that is their 6.0% Blonde. Sadly, not as potent as the 6.6% Leffe Blonde we drank back in September (blog), but my brother Dan had brought those back with him from Brussels, we get weaker stuff served up in Britain. 😒 This is pretty much a 'go to' beer for Dan as it's very dependable. Even though a wee bit less body and strength than the Belgians enjoy, there are still hints of caramel and spices in the aroma and taste, particularly cloves, a very gentle bitterness, and a slightly dry finish, nice one.👍

So, Happy Belgium National Day! Cheers 🍻

I Love Clitheroe!

Well, someone does, because Rod, who is moving there sometime soon-ish, brought me back a can of Clitheroe brewery Bowland (website) 4.0% I Love Clitheroe IPA. As I can't find anything about it on the brewery's website, I'm guessing it's re-badged either Hen Harrier (4.0%), or more probably Buster IPA (4.0%), although it looks darker than either of them, so no idea! 😏 It hasn't been 'fined' or filtered, so a wee bit cloudy, and suitable for 'vegans' no doubt. A very fruity aroma and taste, sweet to start off with, which stays to the end, with only a wee bitterness at the finish, many thanks for treating me again Rod, and cheers m'dears! 🍺

I have since been advised that this is Bowland Buster IPA, cheers Rod! 👍

More Dark Beers, I Kid You Not!

3 dark beers from around the country, and all enjoyed in Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog), first, the 4.2% cask conditioned 'Classic Porter' London Thunder brewed by Roosters in Yorkshire (website). The name coming from the fact that the porter beer 'style' was developed for the porters of Victorian markets in London, I presume. As you can see it is a very deep dark red, the opacity probably enhanced by it being an un-fined 'vegan' ale. I got roasted oats in the aroma, and liquorice too, and liquorice even more noticeable in the taste with a wee bit of chocolate too, although both flavours quite subtle. Apparently brewed with 7 different varieties of malt, and English hops, although the hops used aren't shared with the public. London Thunder is a pleasant, and surprisingly not heavy at all, easy to drink dark porter, not bad at all folks.

From not so far away from Hastings in the South Downs of Sussex, and the first of 2 crafty keg beers, this 7.3% 'Export Stout' Blessed State brewed by Burning Sky (website). This has cacao nibs and a blend of coffee beans added to the brew, and has significantly more body and depth of flavours. Rich, and chocolate dominated for me, with just a hint of coffee. Pretty damn good!

I'll add a link to the blog where I discuss porters and stouts below too.

Finally, from Bavaria in Germany, was the luxurious (you knew one had to come 😉) 14.4% Barrel Aged 'Imperial Stout' Black Rainbow brewed by FrauGruber Brewing (website). There's a mouthful, in more ways than one... A strong dark beer, aged in casks, with dark fruits and roasted hazelnuts, pecan and coconut, noticeable in the aroma and taste, but not as much chocolate to the taste as the previous beer has, and, indeed, luxurious!

The last beer I wrongly called If Only I Had The Time To Understand at first, and which will be written about in a later blog, sorry not my error folks, I thank you.

I discuss my opinion concerning the difference between a porter and a stout in this blog, feel free to read, and comment if you wish, cheers m'dears!