Hump Day: Belgian Beer
Last Sunday, The Hub and I took a lovely stroll through the city. It was warm and sunny and there was only one thing was missing: commerce. On Sundays in France, almost everything shuts down - the shops, many of the restaurants and bus routes, museums, grocery stores, you name it. As we walked around past all the closed shop we realized that we had no choice. It was time to go to the bar.
The Hub has had his eye on a bar called The Egg, located in Saint Roch, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Montpellier. Every time we've gone to check it out, it's been really crowded and nearing closing time, so we save it for another day. Since it was one of the only bars open last Sunday, it seemed like the perfect time to try it out and knock back a few beers. In France, you're basically faced with 2 options when it comes to beer: Heineken or Belgian beer. Everyone knows that I love my IPAs, so this has been a struggle and I usually just end up defaulting to a Rosé (not that I"m complaining!). But The Egg had a wide selection of Belgium beers and don't you know, I found quite a few I liked.
Francis, our bartender, recommended that I try a beer called Orval, which was the first Trappist beer to be sold nationally around Belgium. I loved it! Dark and bitter, I think it will be my go-to when I'm jonesin' for an IPA.
yum!
While I enjoyed my Orval, The Hub sipped on Mc Chouffee.
The Hub's
This beer was also dark, but to me it was more nutty like a brown ale. We moved on. Intrigued by the name, The Hub tried a Kwak. The name is funny and the presentation is even better.
you use the entire contraption to drink!
Kwak is an amber beer that's mellow and fruity making it my second favorite beer of the day! I enjoyed my second beer, Delirium Nocturum, but it was a little bit too sour for my taste.
love the cute elephant!
We capped off our adventure by splitting a beer that was new to The Egg, La Guillotine.
don't worry, our heads are intact
It was described as a strong pale ale, so I thought I would love it. I didn't love it as it was a little sweet, but I did like it. Good enough.
By the end of the visit, I had two clear winners: Orval and Kwak. Do you see any others on the menu that I should be trying? Something tells me we'll be going back to The Egg next Sunday to continue our Belgian beer adventure...
haute:
1. high-class or high-toned; fancy
2. high; elevated; upper.
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duchesse de bourgogne is my favorite! but i think we have opposite tastes in beer so you might hate it.
ha! i will try it just for you!
When you come back to the Mission, you can get a Kwak at Monk’s Kettle!
it’s a date!
hey Natalie – I’m a fan of Triple Karmeliet! good stuff have had around several Oakland spots. Miss you!!
ooh, thanks di! i will try that one next time. try the kwak if you see it in oakland – i think you’d love it!
were you wasted?!!!!? lol…looks like a blast!!
ha!! practically! but we had fun :)
i love beer. and i LOVE hump day! xo
the best day of the week!! ;)
If you like IPA’s you’d probably like the Lupulus (Lupulin is the bittering “stuff” in hops)so I’m assuming it’s hoppy! Also that Saison…Saison’s are the hoppier of the French Farmhouse Ales. That Chouffe Houblon is a cross between a Double IPA and a Belgian Tripel and is one of the best beers on the planet. You can check out my post on Houblon where I profess my love for it!
http://dankbrewingcompany.blogspot.com/2010/06/maybe-best-beer-ive-ever-had.html
Actually, that whole list is chalk full of some of the best beers on the planet.
great recos! thanks nick!