Wally's Wine and Spirits

Belgian beer comprises the most varied and numerous collection of beers in the world. Belgian beer-brewing's origins go back to the Middle Ages, when monasteries began producing beers. Naturally, Belgians claim that theirs are the best beers in the world. This view has been supported by beer experts such as Michael Jackson.

These days, Belgian beers are sold in brown (or sometimes dark green) tinted glass bottles (to avoid negative effects of light on the beverage) and sealed with a cork, a metal crown cap, or sometimes both. Some beers are refermented (subjected to a final fermentation phase) in the bottle, and are labeled "bottle-conditioned."

Fortunately, Belgium contains literally thousands of pubs (called cafés in Belgium) in spread throughout the country that offer a wide selection of beers usually served with care. To fully appreciate the wide variety of tastes in Belgian beers, each beer should be served at its "ideal" temperature (which is usually in the range of cellar temperature: 8-15C or 46-59F) and in an appropriate glass. The vast majority of Belgian beers are sold only in bottles -- tap beers tend mostly to be pilsners and the occasional one-off.

Virtually each beer has its own glass. Beyond the basic shape of the glass (wide-mouth goblet, curvacious tulip glass, tall pilsener, etc), each glass is imprinted with a logo or name. The different basic shapes are designed to enhance the flavor and aroma of the particular beer.