Beer Types
Discover the diverse world of Belgian beer types — from refreshing white beers to rich special brown dark beer. Learn about their unique flavors, and aromas.
Pilsner Beer
The most common beer type in the world. A bottom-fermented hoppy lager brewed according to the production process invented in the 19th century in the city of Pilzen, Czech Republic.
Taste
Very refreshing beer with very light, clear colour from pale to golden yellow. Typically slightly bitter with varying levels of hop aroma and flavour. Best when served ice-cold.
Food pairing
Deep-fried white fish, chicken, salad, sausages
White Beer
A refreshing beer traditionally made with a mixture of wheat and barley. White beer gets its generally cloudy appearance due to the high level of wheat in suspension and traditionally contain few hops to keep the bitterness low.
Taste
The wheat gives the beer a crispy and slight tangy taste, while the use of a blend of spices like coriander and orange peel give it a fruity sweetness. Very refreshing and thirst quenching summer beer.
Food pairing
Steamed mussels, seafood, grilled fish, white meat
Trappist Beer
A Trappist beer is brewed in a Trappist monastery by or under the supervision of monks. Worldwide only 9 monasteries are making trappist beers, 5 of which are in Belgium. Trappist beers are generally high in alcohol and rich in aromas.
Taste
Trappist beers are top-fermented and often have a grainy flavor, a slight sweetness and a caramel or fruity undertone with a gentle bitterness.
Food pairing
Meat dishes such as steak, steak tartar and stews
Abbey Beer
A top-fermented beer that is made according to old recipes and brewing methods of a monastery or abbey, but produced today at a modern brewery.
Taste
Fruity but rich taste with a gentle caramel sweetness on the palate. “Abbey ales” can vary enormously in specific character, but most are quite strong in alcohol content.
Food pairing
Meat dishes, washed-rind type of cheeses
Golden Ale
A top-fermented beer with a beautiful golden color. Traditionally a beer with a higher alcohol content and a slightly fruity taste.
Taste
Very elegant beer, pale to golden in color, often highly hopped with a floral nose and a tangy, fruity finish.
Food pairing
Fried foods such as frites, spare ribs, pizza, BBQ
Fruit Beer
Refreshing beer made by adding a variety of fruits during the brewing process. Easy-to-drink dessert beer with a fruity taste.
Taste
Elegant sweetness and gentle fruity aromas. Easier to access for those who are not so fond of traditional hoppy and bitter beers.
Food pairing
Salads, cottage cheese, blue cheese, desserts
Lambic Beer
Lambic beer is a rare and distinctive Belgian specialty that can only be brewed in the Senne Valley within the Pajottenland region, southwest of Brussels. Unlike most beers, lambic undergoes spontaneous fermentation, relying on wild yeasts and native bacteria found only in the microclimate of the Zenne Valley. This traditional process gives lambic its signature complex, sour, tart, and earthy character.
Taste
The lambic brewing process gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry, vinous and cidery, often with a tart aftertaste.
Food pairing
White meat such as chicken, sushi, pickles
Fruit Lambic
Fruit lambic beers are made by fermenting lambic with fresh fruits like cherries (kriek), raspberries (framboise), or peaches (pêche). They are naturally fermented with wild yeasts, resulting in a tart (sour), complex flavor balanced by the sweetness and aroma of the fruit.
Taste
Fruit lambics are vibrant and refreshing, with a harmonious blend of tartness from wild fermentation and natural sweetness from the added fruit. Depending on the variety, they can feature flavors like juicy cherries (kriek), ripe raspberries (framboise), or succulent peaches (pêche). The beer often has a bright acidity, a dry finish, and a sparkling effervescence.
Food pairing
Cheese, desserts (chocolate mousse!), savory dishes (e.g. roast duck), salads (with goat cheese)
Red Beer
A unique top-fermented beer matured in large oak barrels giving it a special red color and a sour yet fruity taste. This beer is original brewed in the western part of Flanders.
Taste
A traditional reddish-brown, mildly sour and refreshing beer with strong fruity flavours. There is no hop bitterness, but tannins are common.
Food pairing
Shrimp cocktail, white fish, sautéed seafood, sweet and sour pork
Saison Beer
Originally a refreshing, low-alcohol beer brewed seasonally in farmhouses in the South of Belgium.
Taste
A very light, fruity beer with a dry acidic taste in which you can detect traces of spices such as ginger or coriander.
Food pairing
Roast chicken, steamed mussels, lemon sorbet
IPA
IPA stands for India Pale Ale and was originally an English beer exported to India. Still today the IPA is characterized by an abundance of hops, giving it a bitter taste.
Taste
A strong hoppy flavor, with a slightly (or extremely) bitter taste.
Food pairing
Caesar salad, grilled lamb, dark chocolate
Special Blond
The Belgian-style blond special beer is typically easy-drinking, with a low but pleasing hop bitterness. This style of beer is characterized by its medium to light body and a moderate alcohol content.
Taste
A light- to medium-bodied ale, with a low malt aroma that has a spiced and sometimes fruity-ester character.
Food pairing
Fries, fish & chips, salami, seafood, chicken
Special Amber
Amber beers are known to be pleasant, easy drinking beers of moderate alcohol content. The name amber is based on the colour of the beer, coming from the pale malts that are selected for the brewing. Ideal for those seeking a more complex beer than a light lager but not as intense as an IPA.
Taste
The flavor profile exhibits moderate malt with toasted bread, nuts, caramel and honey. Hopping is relatively low with a spicy, herbal and floral character.
Food pairing
Amber Ales are good with moderately flavored foods, especially poultry and pork and grilled meats. Burgers, pizza, sausages, milder cheddar cheeses and gouda are also good choices.
Special Brown Dark
Belgian brown and dark special beers feature strong flavours such as caramel, coffee or chocolate with a higher alcohol content. This style of beer is a great choice for those who enjoy full-bodied beers with a lot of complexity.
Taste
Dark Belgian ales can have notes of dark fruit, chocolate, and caramel, as well as a slightly sweet and malty taste. They may also have a spicy character, which is due to the use of unique yeast strains and the addition of spices.
Food pairing
Grilled chicken, steak, chocolate desserts, pumpkin pie
Non-alcohol
Very straightforward :) A beer with no alcohol!! They are brewed using a similar process to regular beers, but the alcohol is removed through evaporation or dilution. They come in a variety of styles and offer a similar taste and flavor profile to their alcoholic counterparts. Overall they offer a refreshing alternative for those who want to enjoy the taste of beer without the alcohol.
Taste
Tastes like a beer, but obviously light... no alcohol you know...
Food pairing
Whatever you want. Light food is a good match!
