ROESELARE - The Rodenbach Flemish red-brown beer from Roeselare is part of Belgium’s liquid heritage. Eugène Rodenbach, its original brewer, drew his inspiration from the dark English porter beers, introduced to Belgium from 1812. They were produced with a controlled souring process that increased their shelf life. From this process was born mixed fermentation, in which the brewer blends young, top-fermented beer that has finished fermenting, with soured beer fermented in large foeder barrels. “It’s the best of two worlds,” master brewer Rudi Ghequire says with a smile. “You add a young beer to tone down the sourness of the beer." "While the lactic acid and acetic acid in the old brew safeguard your beer from harmful bacteria.” We are strolling in Rodenbach’s impressive foeder hall, flanked by barrels that are several metres tall...

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PUURS - Some beers are veritable icons and Duvel is certainly one of them. If you spot a tulip-shaped glass, even without the logo, you will have a good idea of what its contents might be. This particular degustation glass goes all the way back to the ‘flower power’ era of the late 1960s. It holds an entire 33cl bottle but don’t pour out the beer too quickly or it will just turn into airy foam. The glass narrows towards the top and this helps to sustain the immense collar of froth. The design is well thought out too...

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