What about hops?!

Hi there!

Today’s blog is about hops! It is so popular lately…

It’s the female flower of the hop plant (see image above). And it gives a rather bitter, grassy, floral, spicy, lemony,… taste to your beer.

It all comes down to acids that the hop resins contain: alpha & beta acids. In a nutshell, the alpha acids favor the fermentation of the beer. So they are responsible for the flavor of the beer. The beta acids do not contribute to the taste, but to the aroma of the beer. So that is why, there are two kinds of hops: the bittering ones and the aroma hops.

If the hop is added during the final 30 minutes of boil, it imparts the ‘hop taste’. If it’s added during the final 10 minutes, it imparts the ‘hop aroma’. If the hops are added after the wort has cooled and while the beer ferments, it’s called ‘dry hopping’.

And guess which country is flooded with hops? 🙂

No, it’s not Belgium.

Love,

Cathy

Background …??!

Hi there!

Quick message to let you know that I’m working on a new background for the beer bottles. I like this background a lot! I have no photoshop experience, but tried some tutorials to make my logo look ‘burned’ into the wood. I like! But it has to be smaller of course. What do you think?

Any suggestions?

Love,

Cathy

Heineken everywhere??!

I’m surprised.

We are just back from our holidays in the South of France (for the curious people, we stayed in a little village called Vacquières). And what did we see? In EVERY bar or café there was Heineken on draft. Let’s say, 5 years ago, that wasn’t the case at all. I thought the French were quite chauvinistic? It used to be 1664/Kronenbourg.. And to be honest, I liked that a lot more.

I must say I silently hope that it changes again and that France can be proud of it’s own beer…

Or am I wrong? Are there any french bloggers here that know more?

Bye the way, you mustn’t be fooled by all the mass production of beer (and wine 😉 in France. You can find a lot of variety beers there too. For example the Ch’ti beer, that is now well-known thanks to the film ‘Bienvenue chez les Ch’ti’s‘.  If you like French films, you should definitely put in on your list! 

Cheers!

Cathy

Tasting: Bierboom

Hello guys,

Tonight we are tasting the Bierboom Tripel. Thank you Rudy Vossen for bringing it over to the beer museum.

It has a 8,5% alcohol and has a very hoppy taste! I would definitely recommend it if you like the hoppy flavor. The name comes from the stick people used, to carry the beer. See the picture below to understand and see what I mean 😉

The beer is also called after a bar that we have here in Bruges (with the same name). You can find that bar in the ‘Langestraat’.

I also took a picture of us tasting it, hope you like it!

Cheers.

Cathy

Spoiled…

Hello there!

Great news! I’m spoiled!

As from yesterday I have a new camera … A Canon EOS 1200D. I also got two lenses and a tripod.

I’m fully geared now… Now I only have to learn the principles of photography 😉 But that won’t be a problem, because the camera came with an application that can be installed on my iPhone. And it’s great, there are super interesting tutorials and exercises on it. It encourages you to try different types of pictures. I guess the best way to learn it, is to practice a lot.

Yesterday evening I’ve tried to take some pictures of course. You can see some in my gallery.

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If you have tips & tricks, do not hesitate to let me know!

xXx

C.

 

Thank you!

Hi there!
I’m very happy to see that I have 200 followers now 😃
Beer is a hot topic and I really like the positivism on my blog.
If you have questions or improvements, please let me know!
Also if you’d like to see some extra beers or products on my webshop, I can always add them.
Thanks again,

Cathy
cathy@tastebelgium.be
http://www.tastebelgium.com

 

Préaris Quadrupel

Hi folks!

Here I am again 🙂

We tasted another beer last night, the Préaris Quadrupel.

In 2011 it was chosen to be the best hobby beer in Belgium. It has a 10% alcohol level.

We have chosen this beer, because it is brewed nereby! Only 5 kilometers from our door.  Unbelievable, right? The brewery is called ‘Vliegende paard brouwers’. If I try to translate it from Dutch to English: ‘The flying horse brewers’. Crazy name 😉

It has an aroma of burned malt, caramel, a little bit of vanilla & dark fruit. I think it would perfectly fit after a meal, as a dessert.

Cheers!

Cathy

New Product online: De Poes

Bonjour!

Today I have another special beer for you: De Poes. (freely translated: the cat :-))

It’s new! A blond, unfiltered fruity beer. With a bitter touch but still a pleasant freshness.

This is the link if you want to check it out!

Made in Belgium.

Au revoir mes amis,

Cathy

Thank you!

I just would like to quickly thank you for following my blog.

I have over 100 followers now. I’m very happy!

Cheers!

New product online: Martin’s IPA

Hi everybody!

And again… a new beer online.  Also rather new and hoppy! I guess you are starting to know my favorite beers now… 🙂

A British IPA (Indian Pale Ale) with a peppery approach, a bit bitter but not aggressively.  A real great ale « made in England ». God save that Beer !

Visit my website: www.tastebelgium.com to order it!

See ya,

Cathy