by Brouwerij Verstraete (Deca Services)
This beer comes from Belgian ‘beer firm’ Brouwerij Verstraete. It is the term used in Belgium for what we call our contract brewers. They are a recognised brewery business, without their own brewery.
Deca Services is a big production brewery in West Flanders, and it is here that the Papegaei is brewed for brewer Adam Verstraete. Papegaei translates as ‘parrot’ in Dutch – hence the label symbol.
The beer is a strong blonde ale, with a hazy orange body and nice aroma of citrus and Belgian yeast. Barley, wheat and oats are in the grain-bill, with whole Perle hop flowers (bittering) and Hersbrucker hops used for dry-hopping.
There is a pleasant malty backbone, with a good dose of citrus hop character and coriander and curacao orange spice. Low carbonation aids the smooth mouthfeel.
And while Verstraete may not have its own brewery, they do have a lovely little shop on the canal in Diksmuide where you can enjoy the Papegaei beer along with other local produce on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
An interesting beer from Alvinne, and one of Belgium's most bitter beers at 115 IBU
by Abdij Averbode (Brouwerij Huyghe)
A multi grain mix of barley oats and spelt, plus dry-hopping make this strong blonde ale a really interesting creation
A Strong Blonde Ale cross Belgian Tripel, with oak chips used in the brewing process to add a hint of vanilla
by Brouwerij De Hoorn (Palm - Swinkels)
A Belgian Strong Blond Ale aged on oak chips
The 'Devil's' little brother, made to the same recipe but without secondary fermentation in the bottle
by Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (AB InBev)
Like a super-charged Hoegaarden witbier...but better
A special Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is the only Belgian beer to use Witloof
A sort of Belgian style strong blonde ale, made using unsold sourdough bread
Like a bigger, tastier (and classier) version of the classic Leffe Blond
A strong blond ale in the style of Duvel, brewed by Het Anker brewery
A delicious strong blond ale with a crisp malt body and a nice hop bitterness
The world renowned Belgian Blond Ale from Orval Trappist Monastery. There simply is no other beer like Orval.
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
A fruity, malty Belgian pale ale, originally brewed in 2003 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the brewey's former head brewer.
A classic strong pale ale from one of Belgium's old family breweries.
A variation on the acclaimed Piraat strong blond ale, this time with four different hops added at three separate times during the beer-making process
A delicious, complex but light and dry Belgian Strong Blonde Ale from Brasserie St Feuillien
A special Belgian Blonde ale, dry-hopped with Cascade hops. A tribute to Armand Desplenter, one of the founding brewers
A full malt body, spicy Belgian yeast and five different hops in this strong blonde ale