Belgian Beer Guides - which one?

Tim Webb's "GBG to Belgium" is about both beer tourism *and* Belgium's breweries. A big part of the book is given to listing all Belgian breweries and their products. It's an excellent and worthwhile resource.

So is "Lambicland," by Tim Webb, Joris Pattyn, and and Chris ("Podge") Pollard. This is a more focused book, concentrating on the last remaining lambic brewers and blenders of the Payottenland.

Michael Jackson's "The Great Beers of Belgium" is also worthwhile.

Start with Tim Webb's one; a new edition just came out, and it will be the less obsolete of the lot. Then, once you've absorbed it, you can go on to rest.

(Note that this new, 2005, edition, does not cover the Netherlands but has a much expanded coverage of Belgium in exchange.)

Pierre

So, it does contain in-depth descriptions of each brew? I was concerned it would be more of a tour-guide to breweries and their brews' characteristics in general.

Not in depth (I think; at least it didn't in the prior editions and I don't have the new one yet) but it does give a capsule review of a vast number of beers plus a general description of each brewery, as well as essays on the various styles, plus tour guide stuff. It's a good introduction, then once you are familiar with it you can shop for specialized books knowing what you are looking for.

Tim Webb is also pretty much the only major beer writer who does not mince his words and who berates publicly the breweries he feels are letting the side down (hello Chimay, hello Riva...)

Pierre

Pierre Jelenc a écrit :

Indeed : fiercely independent, unafraid to air solid opinionated views, yet in a pretty funny way, with a flair for deadly one-liners that'll have you chuckle as you read.

If you start virtually from scratch, the - admittedly long - introductory chapters in this guide will teach you all you really need to know about the reality of the belgian beer market : the amazing sides, those wonderful beers you just have to taste once (or more !) in your life, but also the shadier side, the trappings like so-called label beers, dumbing down of classics, over-use of spices etc.

Beside, it is fact-packed, really meant for use in the field from the start, and designed for quick, easy reference (a good few maps, and multiple indexes, for example)

This in my opinion is not only the yardstick against which to measure all other beer guidebooks, belgian and else, but also a sheer masterclass in travel guide writing, structure and design in general !

Cheers !

Laurent