Monday, June 29, 2009

Beer Connoisseur goes live...with the Belgian Beer blogger




Well, good news for Belgian beer lovers.

The Beer Connoisseur website is now live at:

http://www.beerconnoisseur.com/

This is a new website, where I will be blogging weekly about Belgian beer.

Beer Connoisseur plans to go live as a magazine late this year.
It will be quarterly.

Look for lots of articles about Belgian breweries, cafes, beers, and
beer-related things!!

My introductory article is at

http://www.beerconnoisseur.com/Discover_Belgium

I hope you enjoy!

Cheers,

Chuck

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Photos in the "Good Beer Guide to Belgium"



Brother Antoine at brewkettle one, Brasserie Trappistes Rochefort.
This image is on page 96 of the new Good Beer Guide to Belgium.
Without the watermarks, of course!





The newest edition of Tim Webb's "Good Beer Guide to Belgium" was just published about 10 days ago, and copies are available at http://www.babblebelt.com/articles/webbnew.html.

This completely revamped sixth edition is probably the best yet. It is very professionally produced, with slick, glossy pages and loads of new content.

It is also very well illustrated, with many superb photos. 25 of the images in the Guide are mine, including several from the Trappist breweries. There are also photos I took at various cafes, beer fests, and other breweries.

I can't recommend this highly enough: if you like Belgian beer, get a copy!

Cheers,

Chuck Cook



Brother Benedict, the brewer at Westvleteren/De Sint-Sixtusabdij
van Westvleteren, at brewkettle one.
This photo is on page 164 of the new Guide.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

"Breweries and Cafes of Kortrijk" article in June/July 2009 Celebrator Beer News



The brewmaster of Bockor in Bellegem, pulling a sample of lambic right from one of their foeders (huge oak barrels.)


I have an article about the breweries and cafes in the vicinity of Kortrijk, West Flanders, in the June/July issue of Celebrator Beer News.
The article, which runs about 1,350 words, covers cafes like Staminee Den Boulevard, Eirekedeirie, and others in the city, as well as the great Rusteel in Gullegem. I also wrote about the breweries in the region, such as 't Brouwkot, Bockor, Gaverhopke and more.
Kortrijk is an under-appreciated city and corner of West Flanders, that deserves more attention for its beery riches.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Toer de Geuze article in June/July Celebrator Beer News

The new Celebrator arrived on Friday, and I have two Belgian beer articles in this issue.

One is about the Toer de Geuze, held April 26 in the Payottenland. What a great Sunday it was, visiting the lambic breweries!

Well, back to work. I have many more deadlines to meet this month.....

Cheers,

Chuck