Features
Beer shopping: Navigating the Belgo-American aisle

Bottle shops are making special homes for “Belgian-American” beers, which—surprise!—aren’t from Belgium. The category collects three types of brews, all made in the U.S.A.: traditional Belgian styles (think saisons, dubbels and tripels), Belgian styles with novel ingredients, and non-Belgian styles (like porters, IPAs and stouts) brewed with Belgian yeast. Still confused? Here’s a closer look at what you’ll find at the beer store.

1. Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp: This American IPA gets pepper and bubblegum pep from Belgian yeast.

2. Green Flash Le Freak: Belgian tripel yeast gives this hugely resinous, citrusy imperial IPA a peppery bite.

3. Funkwerks Saison: An effervescent saison springs with dried hay, white pepper and apricot.

4. Goose Island Pepe Nero: A traditional saison goes earthy and nutty with additions of dark malt and peppercorns.

5. Logsdon Kili Wit: This citrusy witbier gets sharp herbal tastes from Egyptian coriander.

6. The Lost Abbey Avant Garde: A classic bière de garde marked by musty, peppery yeast, citrusy hops and sweet bread.

7. New Belgium La Folie: A Flanders oud bruin grips the tongue with vinegary tartness, horseblanket and cherries.

8. Ommegang Abbey Ale: This traditional Belgian-style dubbel weighs heavy with caramel, clove and stone fruits.

Published November/December 2013
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