Free beer guide: Where and how to drink the best beers in the world

If Belgium is known for one thing other than chocolate, it’s beer. Not because we drink the most – 21 other countries beat us there. Not because we produce more: We’re not even in the top 10, although the world’s biggest brewer is based in Leuven.

Belgium is exceptional because of its range of excellent-quality beers. From the Trappists of Westvleteren – considered the world’s best beer – to abbey beers like Averbode and Grimbergen, to mass-market pils like Jupiler and Maes, to the sour red-browns of East and West Flanders like Petrus and Rodenbach, to the tart lambic beers of the Pajottenland to the witbier (white beer) of Hoegaarden.

And the world is catching on: Belgian beer culture has been classified by Unesco as world intangible heritage. Its heritage is not only invaluable, its diversity and rich history are not to be found anywhere else in the world.

Beer is part of the fabric of this country: The brewery is the centre of many towns and villages, and the local bar is sometimes the only business it has. Travel from Bredene to Beringen, and you can walk into any tavern and know what the beer menu means. “Duvel,” “Karmeliet” and “Westmalle” are words understood by foreign tourists and locals alike.

Download Flanders Today's ultimate beer guide, for free, here.

Six things to know about Belgian beer

1
Belgium is home to the world’s largest brewer, AB InBev, a mixture of Belgian, Brazilian, American and South African brewing interests, it remains headquartered in Leuven, where the original Interbrew started

2
Belgium has more Trappist beers than any other country: six of the 11 recognised by the International Trappist Association are in Belgium. Three of the six are in Flanders.

3
All of the world’s brewers of lambic are in Flanders and Brussels. Legend has it that only the air of the valley of the Zenne river can supply the right sort of wild yeast.

4
Belgium is home to 214 breweries, according to the list kept by beer association Zythos. There are also four geuze blenders who make their own blends of lambic brewed by others.

5
The number of beers produced is impossible to pin down, as brewers bring out new and seasonal brews all the time, but it’s generally accepted that it’s between 400 and 500.

6
In 2016, Unesco recognised Belgian beer in all of its aspects as intangible cultural heritage. It cited the country’s rich brewing history and hundreds of brews, as well as the importance of beer in gastronomy and social life.