Drinking in Boston: Belgian Beer Fest

The Return of the Belgian Beer Fest
Cyclorama @ Boston Center for the Arts
September 26 & 27
[Tickets, $40-50]

There's a saying in the world of beer-fanatics about how to tell a true beer-lover from someone who just thinks they are. Goes like this: if you think Stella is a Belgian, you aren't a beer-lover. Simple enough. If you think Stella is a skunky as all the people who snicker knowingly at this joke, then you might consider joining them at this year's The Return of the Belgian Beer Fest.

Back by popular demand and death threats involving broken bottles of Duvel, The Return of the Belgian Beer Fest is coming to Boston at the end of next month. Given this city's driving desire for the sweet nectars of the Rhine, one would be wise to get their tickets as soon as possible. Friday's Night of the Funk, offering three and a half hours of cask conditioned, spontaneously fermented, and otherwise funky Belgians (and Rick James, of course) will be followed by two 3.5-hour taste-testing sessions Saturday. There will be a whopping 100+ beers to sample.

If you dig the Stella but want to move up to the big leagues, here are a few suggestions for fun Belgian-style brews to try outside the big names like Chimay. There's the ever popular Allagash from Maine, Ommegang from New York, Delirium Tremens from Huyghe Brewery of Belgium (!), and Unibroue from Quebec. Unibroue has a number of Belgians to its name, and this beer-lover suspects they sold their soul to the Belgian devil: none of the brews miss. Try Ephemere for a sweeter touch, or La Fin du Monde for simple perfection... because really, can you beat a beer called "The End of the World"?

Finis.

Post contributed by Llalan Fowler.