brussels

TOP 5 : BEERS TO TRY

Jambe de Bois

Tripel , 8 % ABV ( Brasserie De

La Senne ) Named after Jean-Joseph Charlier , a Belgian revolutionary , this 8 % ABV Belgian Tripel balances sweetness and bitterness with citrus and peppery notes .

Spontaneous ferment , 6.5 % ABV ( Brasserie Canillon ) Iris , the floral symbol of Brussels , is a unique lambic-style beer that doesn ’ t utilise wheat as is usual with lambics and is brewed partly with fresh hops rather than aged ones . The result is a complex , amber beer with acidity , bitterness and a caramel finish .

Bière de Table

Table beer , 3.8 % ABV ( La Jungle )

This modern interpretation of a table beer is delicate , slightly sour and brewed using hops with fruity profiles .

images : alamy ; awl images

The city is teeming with these institutions . À La Becasse , on Rue de Tabora , known for serving sweetened lambic from a jug , is named for the woodcock bird and is identified by the red neon arrow above its tiled entrance walkway . À La Mort Subite , a bar on Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potageres , was named after the sudden death (‘ mort subite ’) dice game , Pitjesbak , that bankers would play here . At A L ’ Imaige Nostre- Dame , on Rue du Marché aux Herbes , patrons sit around an iron-hinged trapdoor that leads to a basement used at one time to hold prisoners awaiting execution on the Grand Place . Across the ceiling of Brasserie Verschueren , in Saint-Gilles , a line of black and yellow tape cuts the bar in half , a demarcation leftover from the days when inside smoking areas were still all the rage . And Poechenellekelder is an iconic institution on Rue du Chêne as baffling

as it is unpronounceable ; its eclectic wall art , peculiar hanging puppets and strange antique photographs are all dedicated to the wholly unimpressive statue nearby of Mannekin Pis , a small peeing boy .

From La Fleur en Papier Doré , it ’ s a 12-minute walk to Belgian Beer World , the national beer experience centre housed in the city ’ s iconic former stock exchange building . Built between 1868 and 1873 by architect Léon-Pierre Suys and showcasing Rodin sculptures , the Bourse ’ s three acres are spread over five floors . At the end of the main hall is the entrance to Belgian Beer World ’ s exhibition . I navigate its impressive architectural elements from various angles , making my way through mezzanines and along passerelles with varying perspectives and views .

The interactive beer experience at Belgian Beer World is divided into six zones . Zone 1

Hazy session IPA , 4.7 % ABV ( La Source Beer Co ) Dominated by flavours of peach , passion fruit and mango , Carpe is low in bitterness and low in alcohol compared to other Belgian ale .

Pico Nova

West Coast IPA , 0.3 % ABV ( Brussels Beer Project ) Pico Nova is a dry , bitter , low-alcohol IPA with floral , citrus and caramel notes . It ’ s made by Brussels Beer Project in collaboration with De Proefbrouwerij , a brewing facility in Lochristi with technical expertise in low-alcohol fermentations . Pico Nova showcases Pahto , Simcoe and Sabro hops to deliver floral and woody aromas and notes of sweet fruit , citrus and cream caramel .

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