Belgian Beer 101

Learn the language of Belgian beer.

Belgium has brewed for a thousand years, and its beer is a culture unto itself. Start here: the styles, the science, the history, and the rituals that make it the most revered brewing tradition on earth.

About Belgian BeerWhat makes Belgium the spiritual home of beer.Why It Tastes DifferentYeast, sugar, and centuries of tradition.Beer StylesTripel, Lambic, Saison, Trappist and more.History & TraditionsFrom medieval abbeys to the modern revival.Glassware & ServingThe proper vessel for every pour.
Interactive

See how it all connects.

Five great families branch into the styles you know. Trace the lineage of Belgian beer, with a live count of the beers in each.

View the family tree
The five pillars

Explore the styles.

Belgian TripelStrong, golden, elegant.Trappist BeerBrewed within monastery walls.Belgian DubbelDark, malty, profound.Lambic & GueuzeWild, spontaneous, sour.SaisonThe farmhouse ale.WitbierCloudy, spiced, refreshing.Golden Strong AlePale and deceptively strong.QuadrupelThe biggest, darkest ale.Flanders Red AleThe Burgundy of Belgium.Belgian BlondeSmooth, golden, welcoming.Belgian IPABelgian yeast meets the hop.

    Belgian Beer Wisdom

    Did you know?

    Many Belgian beers refermenent in the bottle, creating natural carbonation and complex flavors.

    Why it tastes different

    The Monk's Dispatch

    One letter a month from our cellar: a beer worth seeking, a brewery worth knowing, a small lesson in the art. What is this?