Mumbai Mirror charmed by Belgian beers

Don't let the diamonds of Antwerp keep you away from the real treasures in Belgium, writes the Mumbai Mirror’s Rishad Saam Mehta. Locally made brews with rich, diverse flavours promise to change the way you look at beer. Unlike these days, when one can guzzle water from a tap in Belgium, water was once a medium through which most diseases spread. Monks in abbeys brewed beer using ground water from uncontaminated sources and hence the beer was safe to drink. Today, these traditionally brewed Belgian beers are classified as Trappist and Abbey Beers and are renowned for their rich and intense taste. It is often said that a flagon of beer used to have the same nutritional value as a loaf of bread. Belgian beer is full of character and life. It dances on the tongue bursting with taste which changes as it travels from your lips through your mouth and down your throat. Most of us consider beer as a drink to quaff thirst, but in Belgium, beer is a celebration of the brewer's passion and enthusiasm. It is revered like wine. Each different beer is served in a glass that is specially shaped to enhance its bouquet and taste. Each sip is pondered upon and like a living thing, some Belgian beers change taste as they sit in the glass and air.

Read the full article on the Times of India’s website.