Beer consumption down in Belgium!

A wee change of tempo, though my next blog will be about my walk with the Routemeister on Wednesday last, and 2 new pubs.  However, he (my brother Dan), brought with him when he visited, a copy of an article from the Belgian Metro newspaper he thought I'd be interested to read the article (link).

Amongst other things, the article states that, according to official figures, the Belgians are drinking less beer per head than ever, ie it has dropped from 80 litres per head annually to just 74 litres per head, shameful! However, this is against a background of a 1% increase in annual production, due to sales to countries outside the European Union increasing.  Indeed, in the last 12 years, exports to countries outside the EU has increased by 613.3%... 

If Belgian beers weren't so expensive over here, I'd be very happy to help contribute to the increase in production too, especially my favourite, the excellent 'trappist' Westmalle Tripel, a mere 9.5% of beautifully hoppy beer, and 'real' too, as bottle conditioned.  Anyway, the next time he returns from Brussels, the Routemeister will be bringing back some bottles for me, as he'll be coming back by car for a change, nice one, I'm looking forward to helping the Belgian brewers, cheers! 

Tout travail mérite sa bière

So, we deserve a beer after work... but also, when we go to a football match... and usually before and after the match... Certainly, over the years, I have found it hard to cope with watching my team sober, though I'm sure United fans haven't had such a problem for a long time, despite there being many cracking pubs in Manchester to drink in!

I bought this t-shirt at a fair in Brussels, and it's always a cracking place to find beer in, a particular favourite of mine being Westmalle Tripel, or Triple for the Walloons ;-)

But who am I to enjoy beer, or to even talk about it?

Oh yes, Steve the Beermeister! So I should really talk about it as this is a blog directed at beer drinkers, and particularly those visiting towns and cities they are unfamiliar with... So, we have been adding pubs of the day, whatever, but also, I want to develop this into talking about beer, wine, food, architecture, history, politics, music, football... hell! It's all culture, and this is what I'm about, culture, and specifically as far away from the vulgar end of it I can get (not easy for me ;-)

Please read, comment and enjoy our suggestions, and remember, I am not alone, Kieran is also a regular contributor to this blog, and he's a good lad, despite our trip to watch QPR at Exeter together a while ago, but that's another story I am giving him the opportunity to add Exeter before I do.

CHEERS!