If people know only one thing about Belgium, it’s that Belgium is home to great beer. The beer culture in Belgium is deeply entrenched and the country is home to 6 of the 11 Authentic Trappist Breweries. The exact number of Belgian beers is contested at anywhere from 500 to 2000. With so many to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin.
If you are starting your Belgian Beer journey in Brussels, be sure to check out our 7 Things to do in Brussels for Beer-Lovers.
Understanding the various styles of beer can be tricky for newcomers. That’s why we’ve created a series of posts on the different styles of Belgian beer.
- Belgium in a Glass – Exploring the Country through Belgian Beer
- Trappist Beer
- Lambic Beer
- Belgian Blond Ale
- Belgian Saison Beer
- Gluten-Free Belgian Beer
- Christmas and Winter Beer
One of the best ways to explore Belgium is through its beer and breweries. Many Belgian breweries are open to the public year-round, or during special open days. Check out our full list of Belgian breweries open for individuals. We’ve visited a number of Belgian Breweries and you can find all of our reviews below.
- Averbode Abbey Brewery, Averbode (Vlaams-Brabant)
- Val-Dieu Abbey Brewery, Aubel (Liege)
- Timmerman’s Brewery, Itterbeek
- Caracole Organic Brewery, Dinant
- Braserie La Ferme au Chêne, Durbuy
- Chimay Trappist Brewery, Chimay
- Rochefort Trappist Brewery, Rochefort (Guest Post)
- Orval Trappist Brewery, Orval
Another great way to sample Belgian beer is at a festival. Check out our Top 10 Beer Festivals in Belgium.
Belgian Beer Reviews, tasting notes and information:
- The World’s Best Beer – Westvleteren Belgian Trappist Beer
- Westmalle Tripel
- Rochefort 10
- Boon Kriek
- Girardin 1882 Fond Gueuze
- Mort Subite Oude Kriek
- Lindemans Pecheresse, Framboise and Apple
- Duvel
- Tripel Karmeliet
- Zinnebir
- Saison Dupont
- Saison St-Feuillien
- Silly Saison
- Mongozo Premium Pilsener (Gluten-Free)
- Brunehaut Amber (Gluten-Free)
- Timmerman’s Blanche Lambicus, Oude Gueuze & Faro Lambic
- Belgoo’s Saisonneke, Magus, Lupoo & Arboo
- Caracole’s Saxo, Troublette, Caracole Amber & Nostradamus
- Marckloff
- Durboyse
- Rochefort 6, 8 & 10
- Val-Dieu Blond, Brown, & Triple
- Gouden Carolus Noël
- St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
- N’ Ice Chouffe
- St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël
Where to buy Belgian Beer:
- Top 5 Belgian Beer Bars in Brussels: Belgium in a Glass
- Where to Buy Beer in Brussels – Belgium in a Glass
- Belgian Beer Every Month from Belgian Beer Discovery
Think you know all there is to know about Belgian beer? Take Andrew’s quiz to find out if you know too much about Belgian beer.
Recommended Belgian Beer Books:
Check out our Guide to the Best Of Belgian Beer In Brussels on AFAR.com for ideas of where to drink and buy beer in Brussels.
We’re also working to add every Belgian Brewery to a map on Pinterest. You can check it out here: