Tasting

What do the beers from Namur and the Ardennes taste like? Mostly round, spicy, and fruity, with a sweetness that never turns cloying. Four names found almost everywhere in Belgium make excellent examples: Rochefort 8, La Chouffe, Leffe Blonde, and Blanche de Namur.

Rochefort 8 is dark and smells of dried fruit, bread, and spice. La Chouffe is pale gold and spicy, with coriander as an audible undertone. Mc Chouffe, its brown counterpart, brings anise, licorice, and caramel to the glass. Blanche de Namur is the light, pale counterpart: cloudy, fresh, and citrusy.

The right glass has a stem and a wide opening. In a chalice or a tulip glass, which narrows slightly at the top, the aroma collects, and the dense foam holds longer. Leffe and other abbey beers are often served in a chalice, while La Chouffe has its own glass featuring the gnome.

A strong beer shouldn't be served too cold, or it will close up on you. Around 8 to 12°C (46–54°F) is typical, and the darker beers can be served a bit warmer still. When pouring, tilt the glass, pour slowly, and leave the yeast sediment in the bottle. If you want the sediment included, swirl the last bit and pour it in at the end. It's worth letting the glass sit for a moment afterward: as it warms, spice and fruit notes open up, and the first impression of sweetness develops into something more complex. A sip of water in between helps reset the palate.