Monday 18 February 2008

Top ten Belgian beers

So, what are the best Belgian beers?

Well, after tasting more than 450 of the who knows how many Belgian beers out there, I think I have a pretty good grasp of what I like. But there is such a variety of styles, and different beers suit different occasions, so it is very difficult to create an ordered list. Thus, the following is simply my top ten Belgian beers in alphabetical order:

    ♦ Achel Brune Extra

    ♦ Black in Japan

    ♦ Cantillon gueuze

    ♦ Chimay Grande Réserve (aged)

    ♦ Deus

    ♦ Orval

    ♦ Rochefort

    ♦ St Bernardus Abt 12 Special Edition

    ♦ Taras Boulba

    ♦ Westmalle Extra

Being considered for the top ten...
 ♦ Brasserie de Bellevaux Black
 ♦ Scheldebrouwerij Oesterstout
 ♦ Boon Kriek Mariage Parfait 2008
 ♦ V Cense
 ♦ St Feuillien Grand Cru

    What? No Westvleteren??


(page occasionally updated)
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34 comments:

  1. Anonymous9 June 2008 at 15:47

    nice list, I'll keep it in my favorites for an occasion :)

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  2. Anonymous17 July 2008 at 15:54

    Where in Belgium can I find Deus for 10 euros? My folks will be in Leuven and I want them to try it...
    Bedankt!

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  3. Andrew Stroehlein17 July 2008 at 16:36

    Deus is in bigger Delhaize supermarkets for 10 or 11, though I haven't seen it there for a while now, sadly. perhaps only around the holidays?

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  4. Anonymous21 July 2008 at 04:01

    While drinking a Westmalle Tripel tonight I discovered your blog. I've been enjoying the hell out of it and learning about tons of new beers to try. I too write a beer blog though it sure ain't as classy as yours!

    Take care,
    Aaron
    www.theviceblog.com

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  5. Anonymous26 January 2009 at 23:34

    Great list, I will have to pick up the St. Bernardus and give it a try. I feel like I've cheated myself as its been on the shelf there for so long. The aged Chimay Grand Reserve is our personal fav, but we've not tried a few on your list, something to look forward to!!

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  6. Anonymous24 March 2009 at 01:08

    My top10:

    1. Westvleteren 12
    2. Delirium Tremens (from tap!!!!)
    3. Affligem Tripel (from tap!!!)
    4. Chimay Bleu
    5. Delirium Nocturnum (from tap!!!)
    6. Trappistes Rochefort 10
    7. Achel Extra Bruin
    8. Delirium Xmas (from tap!!!)
    9. Westvleteren 8
    10. St. Bernardus 12

    Out of your list I haven't tried Deus, Cantillon Geuze. I don't think Floreffe or other versions of St. Bernardus hit the top10. You see I am a Delirium fan but I have a reason to be: have been several times to the Delirum Café in Brussels. Huge mistake to miss it and miss their beers from tap. Tripel Karmeliet is also close to being top10 for me and Orval.

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  7. Anonymous17 June 2009 at 21:20

    no Kwak ?

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  8. Anonymous18 June 2009 at 09:02

    HOE is m favorite. Lived in Belgium 15 years. No KWAK on your list? Oh my. Top shelf item and a must to have on your list.

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  9. Unknown5 September 2009 at 10:20

    hey guys help me am in brussels at the end of this month a very short trip i would like to know the must drink beer when i am there thank you

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  10. Hanney14 September 2009 at 07:58

    Come have a "Kwak Max" in Gent sometime! It's only drunk by tourists, but damn fine way to embarrass oneself!

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  11. Stuart30 November 2009 at 23:02

    Hello
    Just set up own blog recently. Feel free to pop along and link our sites

    www.belgianbeershrimper.wordpress.com

    For the record, have you tried Het Kapittel Dubbel - reckon you might like that one. Top class brown

    ReplyDelete
  12. dendermonde4 May 2010 at 20:54

    not to sound common or anything, but as a belgian myself, its either blonde affligem during meals,

    and jupiler when i go out with mates (alot of jupiler that is) :)

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  13. Anonymous14 May 2010 at 21:44

    Surprised you left off the Westmalle Triple and Duvel. You also left off the St Bernardus Triple, which is really nice. Kwak and Delirium aren't that great.

    Here's my list, though I'm not at 100 yet (I haven't tried Westvleteren 12, Floreffe, or Deus, but I will)

    1. St Bernardus 12
    2. Westvleteren 8
    3. Duvel
    4. Westmalle Triple
    5. Rochefort 10
    6. Orval
    7. Rochefort 6
    8. St Bernardus Pater
    9. St Bernardus Triple
    10. Achel Blonde

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  14. Belg15 November 2010 at 16:31

    also GOUDEN CAROLUS TRIPEL, TRIPEL KARMELIET and BARBAR are very good belgian beers

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  15. Anonymous30 November 2010 at 13:11

    I'm not seeing Straffe Hendrik here? Could well be the Jimmy Hendrix of beers!

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  16. Anonymous2 December 2010 at 14:14

    I just moved to Belgium, so I'll have to take your list to the grocery store the next time I go. So far the Grimbergen Dubble is my fav!

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  17. Anonymous19 April 2011 at 21:39

    stella artois?

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  18. Anonymous24 June 2011 at 17:32

    nobody has mentioned chouffe.. it is azesome

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  19. Anonymous6 July 2011 at 14:13

    No Westmalle in your top 10? I would enlist Dubbel and Trippel...

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  20. Snowdog9 July 2011 at 11:16

    A must-taste is Omer, in my opinion. Also the Duvel Tripel Hop and Pannepot are favorites of mine. Real pearls in beerland : )

    Greetings from a little town in the Flanders

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  21. Trev10 July 2011 at 00:21

    I agree with a lot of your list. But after I read that you don't enjoy Duvel I decided I wanted to beat you to death with my bare fists.


    http://strongbeerstronglegs.blogspot.com/

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  22. Anonymous17 July 2011 at 22:25

    Belgium beers !!!!

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  23. Anonymous17 July 2011 at 22:28

    And something sweet? try Lindemans Kriek
    And a "witkap" ?

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  24. Anonymous18 October 2011 at 18:24

    Ghulden Cop, a new beer from Belgium. Only to get @ Geraardsbergen (Grammont)

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  25. Anonymous10 February 2012 at 12:10

    in your full list i noticed you tasted some of the De Ranke beers, but the top one is missing. check 'Cuvée De Ranke' a blend of old brown flemish ale and girandin!

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  26. Anonymous7 April 2012 at 03:49

    Does no one drink Gulden Draak?

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  27. Anonymous21 June 2012 at 20:38

    On quads: I'm quite familiar with Rochefort 10, Chimay Blue and St. Bernardus 12 and up ti1l recently ranked those highest.
    Last weekend another quad made it up to my top 3: Malheur 12 - I recommend you taste it if you get the chance.
    (Westy might possibly shuffle the order again, we'll see in a couple of weeks :) )
    /Chris

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  28. Des de Moor21 August 2012 at 14:37

    This is a solid list, but which Rochefort? I assume 10. Good to see Zennebrouwerij and Jandrain-Jandrenouille in there. DeuS raised an eyebrow -- not an obvious choice but there's a case to made for it. I'd have to find room for Orval and single lambic, probably an aged one from Boon.

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  29. Andrew Stroehlein21 August 2012 at 15:26

    Thanks. With Rochefort, I like 6 and 10 so it's kind of a dodge for me to just say "Rochefort" here, I admit... a way of sneaking in an eleventh in the top ten...

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  30. Unknown16 October 2012 at 17:18

    De Koninck? Worthy of a mention

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  31. Dr. Citrus13 December 2012 at 14:30

    Degustibus non disputatum est.

    Hard to argue with any of these lists really. But regardless of your preferences, When in Antwerp, find the Kulminator--a fine place to sit and sample Belgium's best brews...

    --Dr. Citrus

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  32. Anonymous23 December 2012 at 02:43

    Why isn`t Leffe on the list? ;-)

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  33. Anonymous27 May 2013 at 23:33

    All Belgian Beers are great. Taste is subjective. Same applies to wine.

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  34. Anonymous26 December 2013 at 20:30

    My top 10.
    Alphabetically.
    Total Belgian beers tried so far: 1388

    3 Fonteinen Armand’4 Oude Geuze Lente
    Abbaye des Rocs Brune (fresh)
    Cantillon Kriek (75 cl.)
    Cantillon Mamouche (fesh)
    De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2010
    De la Senne Taras Boulba
    Dupont Avec les Bons Vœux (bottle)
    Hanssens Scarenbecca Kriek
    Orval (4 – 6 weeks)
    Struise Woody Albert

    ReplyDelete

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