How about some Belgian beer?
Arbabier
Perhaps the most unorthodox of the 10 Belgian beers available in India, this lager is brewed by the De Dolle Brewery, which reportedly has a bunch of “mad” brewers on its payrolls. This beer pours a deep, almost sunset orange with an unexpectedly large head. Don’t expect a pleasant time with the beer, since its taste is rather yeasty and bitter.
Pair it with: It is, perhaps, best suited with European cuisine.
Price: Rs 164 per bottle
Kapittel Pater
This one will surprise those used to the standard taste and smell of beer; this dark brown brew will unveil several new layers of taste and sensation. Almost sweet, the really unexpected twist comes with the subtle hint of orange that hits you within the first couple of sips. One of the more ”advanced” Belgian beers, it starts with a slight sweet taste and ends on a reasonably bitter note.
Pair it with: Indian curry.
Price: Rs 142 per bottle
Chimay Blue Label
Perhaps the most popular mass market Belgian beer, this is not a lager that most Indians are used to. It is dark brown in colour and is an immediate assault on the senses. For those used to the almost uni-dimensional Indian brew, the variety of roast malt, nuts and the hint of cinnamon can be an all-new experience.
Pair it with: It goes best with European food.
Price: Rs 166
Chimay White Label
For those who dislike beer for its bitter taste, Chimay White may be a good option, since the after-bitterness typically associated with any lager literally melts in your mouth. Another beer with a golden colour, this lager is gentler than many Belgian beers and has fruity notes of Muscat and raisins, which make it a very cheerful drink.
Pair it with: Kebabs.
Price: Rs 162
Chimay Red Label
In sharp contrast to the bitter Orval, the Chimay Red is much easier on the senses. Its fruity apricot aroma is much easier to get used to than many other Belgian beers. The taste of the beer, too, is much easier on the palate, with lively carbonation, mildly sweet taste and notes of nutmeg and black currant.
Pair it with: You will be best advised to eat lightly-flavoured food with this beer.
Price: Rs 160
Achel Blond
A spirited beer, it takes some skill to pour an Achel Blond, but the taste itself is unique; the flavour starts with caramel and then explodes into an assortment of tastes before a noticeable bitter finish.
Pair it with: It goes well with European red meat preparations.
Price: Rs 166
Achel Brune
It takes time to discover quality. Many experts say its layers can only be discovered after the beer has warmed in a glass for a while. This is also among the heavier beers from Belgium and pours a deep amber colour, with a hint of sweetness. You can taste some hops at the very end of your beer.
Pair it with: Seafood.
Price: Rs 166
St Feuillien Triple
Unlike many Belgian beers with an often large and lumpy head, the first thing that strikes you about this beer is its white, smooth head. Pale amber in colour, there is a distinct maltiness to this beer and it also has a very different aroma—of aromatic hops, spices and the end result of fermentation. Due to its strong taste and aroma, St Feuillien Triple can be served as an aperitif in summer or an evening drink in winter.
Pair it with: Spicy food.
Price: Rs 165
St Bernardus Triple
It has flavours of fruit and malt and a tinge of bitterness. More complex layers hit you as the lager goes down your throat. Pale amber in colour, this beer has a light and frothy head and an agreeable aroma of sweet rosewater.
Pair it with: This beer goes very well with seafood entrees.
Price: Rs 162
Orval
This beer is not for the uninitiated. The amber Orval pours with a reasonably large head, but, what can really throw novices off is the sour smell that hits you when you open the bottle. The Orval can be a challenge to taste buds, since it finishes with a long-lasting bitter taste.
Pair it with: Steak.
Price: Rs 165
