Luc De Raedemaeker - Beer is part of Belgian DNA
Author: Erik Verdonck / Published: 2015-12-01 09:17:51 +0100 / Last Updated: almost 3 years ago
Luc De Raedemaeker© BeerTourism.com
Luc De Raedemaeker is a respected and renowned Belgian beer sommelier. He also teaches, organises beer contests, including the internationally acclaimed Brussels Beer Challenge and is a Knight of the Brewers’ Mash Staff.
Enjoying a Brigand
© BeerTourism.com
There is no-one more qualified than Luc to comment on the ranking of Belgian beer on the global map.
He kicks off by discussing the mergers of the main players in the world of pils: AB Inbev and Sab Miller. “Pils beer is becoming more and more international,” he feels. “Jupiler, Stella Artois, Maes pils… all of these are vying for a spot on the premium pils podium, both at home and abroad.
These beers have a less typically Belgian character compared to our specialty beers. Nevertheless, from a brewing technology point of view, pils is the hardest beer to produce.
It is low in alcohol as well as crystal clear. As a pils brewer you have to be on top of your game as any mistakes you make show up straight away. It is essential to keep the taps and barrels in tip-top condition and to pour the beer correctly.”
Nevertheless, the main players have put Belgian beer firmly on the world map. Abbey beers such as Leffe, Grimbergen and Affligem were the first to open their doors to the specialty beers.
At the 2014 BBC
© BeerTourism.com
The 1990s saw the resurgence of gueuze in Belgium; a new batch of microbreweries sprang up and furthermore, classic breweries, such as Het Anker, rose from the ashes.
Thanks to the internet and social media, small market players such as the Cantillon lambic brewery, or the Struise Brouwers, gained access to the world and even grew into internet sensations.
Marketing is leaving its mark. “A real brewer will let you have a taste, first of all, often without any further explanation,” Luc says with a smile.
“A brewer feels that his or her beer will sell itself and does not need promoting. If marketing takes the upper hand, the beer turns into a brand-selling exercise. By the way, this is an international trend that I also see with craft brewers”.
Luc enjoys a Rodenbach at Dock's Café
© BeerTourism.com
Beer With a Soul
What are Luc’s views on Belgian beer culture? “Above all, there is the expertise of our own brewers, rooted in tradition,” Luc responds. “All of them are highly skilled when it comes to specific beer styles.”
When in Antwerp...
© BeerTourism.com
In the international craft brewers’ scene you tend to come across the same beer styles, time and time again: IPA (India Pale Ale), Belgian style triple, stout…, all of them variations on a tried and trusted theme.
In a hip and trendy bar, you are given the choice of dozens of beers on tap accompanied by a hamburger, all in line with the concept.
“Nothing wrong with that, good luck to them, but I do miss the quirky element,” Luc comments.
These venues are vastly different from the majority of cafés in Belgium.
Pop into Den Engel on the Grote Markt in Antwerp (the main market square) or into Bahnhove, a former Antwerp commuter station in the municipality of Hove, now turned into a café.
You won’t fail to absorb the local atmosphere. The beer menu may be limited but you are guaranteed to find several classic beers at prices that beer lovers from abroad can only dream of.
At de "Rooden Hoed"
© BeerTourism.com
“This is ‘soul’. And you can also find this ‘soul’ in our breweries.”
Luc continues. “Just think of Het Anker, or Liefmans, or De Brabandere with its classic brewing hall full of ‘foeders’, of De Halve Maan or even the Zennebrouwers in their former industrial bakery … too many to list but all of them are brewing great beers.
And even in a dowdy canteen of a football club way down the league, with a bit of luck you can order a Westmalle Tripel and, if you are even luckier, it may come in the proper glass.
You could say that over here, beer is a social lubricant and snobbery does not come into it. At the bar, a builder is chin-wagging with a lawyer.
Catching up with Bière Grand Cru
© BeerTourism.com
Mastering the Trade
The beer sommelier does not have a favourable view of opportunists who jump onto the export bandwagon and often taint the image of Belgian beer by bringing
Take your pick...
© BeerTourism.com
low quality products onto the market.
“As a brewer, you have to be in charge of the production process and not sell beer with questionable origins,” he argues.
“If you are not a brewer yourself, then work with a brewer who has earned his brewing credentials.”
It takes plenty of time to develop and perfect a new beer. This is diametrically opposed to the current ‘rat race’ where breweries are in search of the very latest beer, flavour and styles.
Having weathered the IPA wave, we are now flooded by sour ale that is marketed as the new bitter.
Luc’s opinion: “Personally, I am not a great believer as the sour taste of the beer puts many people off.”
Nevertheless, the fourth edition of the Brussels Beer Challenge serves as a confirmation that the Belgians have mastered their own ancient and traditional beer styles – saison, Vlaams roodbruin (Flemish red-brown), lambic, oude gueuze, kriek…
Saison Dupont Biologique (Brasserie Dupont) was crowned the Best Belgian Beer but nevertheless, a classic beer such as the ‘spéciale belge’ Palm amber beer also received recognition.
Recent Blog Posts
Trappist beer meets whisky, Chimay Grande Réserve Fermentée en Barriques 2018At the BeerLovers’ Café just behind Liège’s City Hall we get together to taste the limited edition Chimay Grande Réserve Fermentée en Barriques 2018, a Trappist beer aged in whisky barrels. ... [ read more ]
Palm and Rodenbach - now under the banner of Swinkels Family BrewersLIESHOUT/STEENHUFFEL - Since 2016 the Palm, De Hoorn and Rodenbach breweries have been owned by Bavaria, a Dutch-based brewer. Two years after the takeover, Bavaria has been re-named Swinkels Family ... [ read more ]
The Brewers Of Europe Forum 2018BRUSSELS - To be authentic is not a competition and neither is it a fashionable attitude. You either are an authentic brewer or you are not. You are driven, you make great beers that have a soul, you ... [ read more ]
Zythos 2018. Watch out… there’s some heritage about!LEUVEN - 12,500 fans made their way to Leuven for what was already the 15th edition of the Zythos beer festival. Many fans travelled a long way to get to Belgium. They flocked here from many European ... [ read more ]
Showcasing the Belgian art of living, Horecatel 2018MARCHE-EN-FAMENNE - “Their cuisine is on a par with that of the French and the portions are generous...” When people discuss the Belgian art of living, it won’t be long before the term ‘Burgundian’ ... [ read more ]
Comments
You must be logged in to leave a comment
SHARE:
You Might Like
On August 24th, 25th and 26th we look forward to welcoming you to the 4th edition of the North Sea Beer Festival. Taste over 200 Belgian beers, eat some delicious food and enjoy the music in the wonderful surroundings of Leopoldpark in Ostend.
Brewery Van Honsebrouck - Bierkasteel
Castle Brewery Van Honsebrouck, well known for it's "Kasteel" beer range, now offers their Bierkasteel beer experience; brewery visit, event location, restaurant, bar and shop. Open from 10th August 2016.
The Duvel Moortgat Brewery caters to everyone’s tastes with 3 different brewery experiences. From complete novice to experienced beer lover, Duvel has the brewery visit package for you.
The ultimate book on Belgian beer; a 704 page illustrated hardcover written by Erik Verdonck and Luc de Raedemaeker. Discover how brewing works, how to tap, pour, taste and store your beer; which beer styles and types there are, how to pair beer and food, must-try beers and what about the new craft beer trend? The Belgian Beer Book covers it all.
BLOG
POSTS
Going for gold: Brussels Beer Challenge 2014
LEUVEN - As many as 79 Belgian breweries with 200 Belgian beers took part in the third edition of the international Brussels Beer Challenge. There was plenty of international competition with en... [ more ]
The Belgian Beer Book: Tapping into Belgian beer culture
BELGIUM - How do you write an unbiased review of a book that you yourself have written, pouring your entire soul into it? I’ll immediately give up on that impossible task and instead I’ll offer you a peek behind the ... [ more ]
Belgian brewers victorious in Brussels Beer Challenge
BRUSSELS - The second Brussels Beer Challenge was an unqualified success for Belgian brewers. Sixty-eight Belgian breweries took part and they submitted 139 samples for tasting. Belgium was rewarded with 66 medals (20 Go... [ more ]
Brussels Beer Challenge 2015
ANTWERP - The 4th edition of the Brussels Beer Challenge once again put Belgium firmly on the world map. After Brussels, Liège and Leuven, it was Antwerp’s turn to host this internationally renowned beer ... [ more ]
Ben Vinken, the original Belgian Beer Sommelier
ANTWERP/BRASSCHAAT - For over 30 years Ben Vinken has been a tireless champion of Belgian speciality beers: as a beer sommelier, beer lover, organiser of the annual Bierpassieweekend beer festival ... [ more ]
More Beer
The origins of this beer are unmistakeable. The miner depicted on the label and the name of ‘kompel’ (a nickname for a miner) testify to the hard slog in the former coal mines of L... [ more ]
Beer Tourism Newsletter Signup
Enter your name and email address on the right and click "SignUp" to join.