Beer of the Week: Heverlee Witte (4.8%) by Heverlee
For a wee country, Belgium has had a rather huge impact on the world of beer, and few countries - even big ones - can claim to offer such a diverse beer cellar.
A century of so ago, there were about 3,000 Belgian breweries, pioneering styles such as tripels to witbiers, saisons to lambics.
Nowadays, there are only about 170 breweries, and though their numbers are fewer, never before has there been such an awareness of Belgian beer-craft among brewers and beer-lovers around the world.
One of Belgium's newest breweries is Heverlee, based in the Abbey of the Order of Premontre in Leuven. Heverlee's master brewer, Joris Brams, grew up in Leuven, and remembers playing in the abbey's vast grounds as a wee boy. Like a prodigal son, he returned to his home town several years ago and began researching the abbey's brewing heritage. After persuading the monks a brewery was a really good idea, Joris released a Heverlee lager/pilsner a couple of years ago, and has just recently launched a white beer, an easygoing wheat beer perfect for summertime drinking.
Heverlee Witte (4.8%) pours a cloudy pale yellow, and has an aroma of fresh orange citrus, lemon and spices, and has that tart, tangy reek of cloves typical of so many Belgian beers.
This spiced cinnamon character is to the front on tasting, but is quickly followed by a rush of sweetness to finish with a soft mild bitterness; the flavours of clove - a common trait of wheat beers - quickly softening to leave you with a summertime fruit bowl of cherries, tangerines, sweet lemons and bananas.
For a wheat beer, Heverlee Witte is hugely accessible and a great introduction to the style, though anyone will enjoy its refreshing and lively texture.
FIVE OTHER GREAT BELGIAN BEERS
Wanderlust Wheat (4.6%) by 6 Degrees North An honourable mention for the Aberdeen brewing company who have brought out a series of Belgian-inspired beers, from saisons to tripels, though their wheat beer is one of their best. A balanced and refreshing beer, with typical Belgian flavours of bananas and cloves but also aromas and flavours of lemon and orange citrus, and coriander. Less easy than the Heverlee.
Leffe Brown (6.5%) by Leffe
Leffe are giants of Belgian brewing, and their brown beer is popular for all the right reasons. It pours the colour of wet peat, and has typical Belgian estery flavours though these are soft, rounded and friendly. The bitterness is gentle and satisfying, with the sweet caramel maltiness bringing hints of raisins and Christmas.
Rochefort 10 (11.3%) by Brasserie de Rochefort The strongest - and best - of three beers to come from this outstanding Trappist monastery in the Ardennes. This is a rich, succulent brown beer; strong, beautiful, and incredibly complex. With a fruity, vibrant aroma, the taste is plum, blackcurrant, alcohol and sweet malt. The bitter finish lingers long in mouth. Savour every sip, this is one of the world's best beers.
McChouffe (8%) by Brasserie d'Achouffe
Belgium's take on the Scottish ale. This is a rich, strong brown beer bursting with fruity flavours - raisins, cherries, plums - complemented by an caramel malt sweetness and a delicate, underlying bitterness.
Fruli strawberry beer (4.1%) by Brouwerij Huyghe A Belgian wheat beer blended with strawberry juice, Fruli is a zesty, refreshing drink with sweet fruit flavours and a tart, tangy finish. A good gateway to the world of fruit beers though, sadly, it does not count as one of your five-a-day.
Heverlee at Tontine, a pop-up Belgian-style bar, opens tomorrow on Tontine Lane, Glasgow, as part of the Merchant City Festival and is open until August 2. www.heverlee.com
Colin Campbell
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