| Belgian beer is really rather special. Whether it is the | | | | at about 8,0% abv, although this isn't exceptional for |
| fruity Lambics or the Abbey or Trappiste beers that | | | | a Belgian beer. Having said that, the Pils and Wheat |
| you prefer, there are certainly hundreds from which | | | | beers are a more everyday tipple at 4,5% and 5,0%. |
| to choose. | | | | These kits are reasonably priced and very |
| Don't think that the Stellas, Jupiler and similar | | | | straightforward to brew at home. |
| Interbrew mass produced draft beers are typical of | | | | Milestone Crusader is another increasingly popular |
| the region. When you drink a real Belgian beer, you | | | | Belgian style beer kit. This is a blond style Beer with a |
| will know the difference. The trouble is, although | | | | zesty clean finish and at about 4.4% very drinkable. |
| becoming increasingly popular, it is still not too easy | | | | The kit makes up to 40 pints, and at less than |
| to find a pint of Belgian beer being sold outside of | | | | £20, makes a very reasonably priced pint. |
| Belgium. Well, now you can brew your own and they | | | | Finally, I want to mention the Beers of the World |
| are surprisingly good. | | | | kits. The Trappist Tripel is pale and strong with a |
| Several homebrew companies now produce beer kits | | | | fruity character. Although high in alcohol its body |
| which produce very good imitations of the more well | | | | remains light due to the inclusion of genuine Belgian |
| know Belgian style beers. Belgian beer kits generally | | | | "candi sugar". They also make a Belgian Witbier. |
| take a couple of weeks longer to brew than the | | | | Wheat beers, whilst deservedly popular all over the |
| average beer kit to achieve a higher alcohol content | | | | world, have until now been rather difficult to brew at |
| and subtle Abbey beer style flavours. | | | | home. This kit puts that right. |
| Brewferm now produce 13 different styles of Belgian | | | | Beers of the World kits are really designed as refills |
| beer kits, each of which will make between 7 and 20 | | | | for the Brubox starter kits. However, there is nothing |
| litres of beer. As well as the more common Pils, Gold | | | | to stop you from making it up as a normal beer kit. |
| and Wheat beer styles, you can also try the more | | | | It will make 10 litres of excellent beer for the price of |
| adventurous Gallia, Diabolo, Abbey, Ambiorix, Triple, | | | | about £13. Try finding a Tripel for that price in |
| Old Brown, Grand Cru and not forgetting their rather | | | | your local. |
| superb Christmas ale. Or, if you like a fruit beer, then | | | | So that gives you a quick overview of the Belgian |
| the Lambic Kriek or Framboise may be for you. I | | | | beer kits which you can try at home. It's a lot easier |
| have known a lot of women who thought they didn't | | | | than you may think and the results drink for |
| like beer, who then tried a Kriek cherry beer or a | | | | themselves. And if this is your first time trying |
| Framboise raspberry beer and quickly changed their | | | | homebrew, remember that your second batch will be |
| minds. | | | | much cheaper without the start-up equipment costs. |
| Be warned though. Some of these beers are not for | | | | So what are you waiting for? Show your friends and |
| the faint hearted, such as the Grand Cru and Triple | | | | family what a real Belgian beer tastes like. |
