[OT] Cr*ppy Belgium

[minipol]

I have drunk kwak out of the proper glasses, altho I didnt realise you picked up the wooden stand as well and got laughed at by some Belgians for taking the glass out of the mounting

Yeah, it might be a bit strange in the beginning to use such a glass.
Just reminds me, there is a pub in Gent where you have to take out 1 shoe when you try a beer which has a special glass. That way, they want to assure you don't run away

Foufon? Haven't heard of this one. Isn't that a framboise beer? I'm not that fond of framboise beers. Of course i'll drink them because a beer is better than no beer but they are not my favourite.

[Askan Nightbringer]

I think you should rename this topic "Not so Crappy Belgium Beer".
I've only had the Chimay, Leffe Brune and Leffe Blonde (besides Stella) (all damn good beers too!). In England I've had lots of crap. I went to a pub and said...."I've come all the way to yeh old englande and all I've drunk is Stella and Kronebourg. Give me some of what the locals drink". They served me a pint of Carling, which reminds me of the crappy beers I had in the States (not the micro-brewery stuff, the main-stream stuff).
A Belgium Beer Cafe has opened in Sydney and I'm looking forward to trying Duvel, Lucifer, Forbidden Fruits and anything else with a mildly satanic name.

Askan

[Growltigger]

Minipol, foufon is from the Brussels region and is apparently made out of apricots (I personally think it is made out of trappist monk's hessian underwear but that is just me).

Askan, anyone in England who gave you Carling needs slapping. Stick to the real ales, we have loads with satanic names but I like the ones that indicate the effect they will have on you eg Brain Buster, Old Dirigible, Old Regurgitator and Cripple Cock (well that is a cider)

[dogscoff]

...."I've come all the way to yeh old englande and all I've drunk is Stella and Kronebourg. Give me some of what the locals drink".

Well, we don't make our own lagers, so drinking lager in England might be what the locals drink but it's not an example of English beer. You need to go for some of the curious small-brewery bitters, as mentioned by GT. Even the mass-produced stuff, like John Smiths and Boddingtons, might be interesting to a foreign palate if they don't happen to serve Old Grumblebelly or whatever strange-named real ale happens to be available.

That said, I imagine John Smith's etc is exported anyway, so you've probably tried it at home.

[dogscoff]

(well that is a cider)

Oh yes, cider... I had almost forgotten about cider. The best way to drink cider over here is to find some farmer's market or rural summer festival or something in the middle of nowhere and find some farmer who's selling the stuff out the back of his landrover. Nearly all of the mass produced stuff is fizzy crap (and am I the only one who thinks Dry Blackthorn tastes of bacon?) but some of it is drinkable, especially the bottled stuff.

[Growltigger]

Now that you mention it,I am sure someone told me once that some part or product of pigs was used as a clarifying agent in cider, maybe dry blackthorn just has a bit too much of that??!! eek

Minipol, I fully endorse Dogscoff's remarks re cider but add the health warning that the stuff farmers sell out of the back of their Landrovers (and do try Theobolds cider if you get the chance in Kent) tends to be a combination of battery acid and rocket fuel with a hint of apples. You have been warned. Too much scrumpy and you will end up with a silly accent and a tendency to morris dance

[dogscoff]

Too much scrumpy and you will end up with a silly accent and a tendency to morris dance

Arr, oi don't know what 'ee be talkin' 'bout.

* 'scoff waves some hankies about.

I am sure someone told me once that some part or product of pigs was used as a clarifying agent in cider,

I used to know a guy who swore blind that they throw an entire dead cow into the vat when making cider. He was a dick though.

[ February 19, 2003, 14:32: Message edited by: dogscoff ]