Wine guy goes beer covert in Belgium. Behind every good wine there’s a (lot of) beer, just ask a winemaker. At the end of the day most vintners, with grapes weighing heavily on the mind, opt for a cleansing ale.
It’s the end of my day in Brussels and I find myself savouring a Waterloo Dubbel at Monk Bar off Place Ste Catherine. Pubs like this abound in Bruxelles, cool pubs that still whiff of Art Nouveau with their opulent woodwork and exquisite tile floors (I only have to question the music. I mean, one Suzanne Vega song for nostalgia’s sake is fine, but I do believe this is the first time I’ve heard the album run in its entirety. Ever).
They say there’s some 800 beers in Belgium, this pub has give-or-take 40 and I’m only sitting in for one. So needless to say I could drink myself around the city and still have a ways to go to get through the beer list.
Not that I’d get very far even if I pushed hard. Back to the beer in hand, at plus 8% ABV the Waterloo is a serious sipper. It’s even served in an old ceramic tankard, giving it a real Medieval, don’t mess appeal.
Beer culture in Belgium can go bottle-to-bottle for intellectual potable with the wines of any country. The care, passion, rituals, etc. involved with these brews bring brewskis to a higher form. I’d talk more but there’s a another bar to hit.
30th Annual Playhouse Wine Festival
0 Comments Published by JAMES February 27th, 2008 in UncategorizedIn this week’s column, we took a look at some interesting French wines from beyond the BIG three AOCs (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne). Definitely think we’ll be seeing more (and varied) bottles from the heart of the Old World.
Or at least three bottles with interesting labels, in last week’s Province’s column…
“Like a well-written cereal box, wine labels can provide some good mealtime reading.” Read more.
It’s true, sometimes you just want to uncork something reliable. The good ‘ol comfort wine. Like tonight, sipping on a dandy Saumur Champigny, almost afraid to talk about it lest it disappear off the shelves…
Spend more time shopping and find more interesting sips.
More wine resolutions in last week’s column.
And, drum roll please… Had a Glass has reached #1 on the BC “Adult” Bestseller list! Thanks to all that bought a copy, gave a copy, are reading a copy, etc.
Keep things interesting this holiday dinner, don’t reach for the usual bottle of wine. From our column this week:
“There’s nothing wrong with holiday Muzak — it’s the repetition that gives us a migraine. We’ll happily tap our toes to a little “Jingle Bell Rock” while we wait in line. But when we’re subjected to the same computer-programmed ditties store in and store out, we can’t wait to get home so we can throw some funk on the stereo and sip a glass of vino.
Holiday wining is no different.” More…
From our December 6th column:
“Decanting — the decorous practice of transferring wine from bottle to another vessel — is de rigueur for those old wines that have gritty sediment from years in the cellar. But, really, who as the patience for a cellar these days?” Read the entire column…
It’s getting cold outside… time to whip up a big pot of stew and pair accordingly!
On another note, thanks to everyone that has gone out and purchased a copy of Had a Glass 2008. The book has already shot up to #2 on the BC Adult Bestseller List.
Who doesn’t appreciate a good value bottle? Read up, then sip up.
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HALFAGLASS is dedicated to good wine, good food, and good people. In short, The Good Life
