Belgian Beer Quest

Happy holidays from EarBlitz!  New episodes will be coming in the new year.

Zythology: Mastering Belgian Beer

The quest to experience legendary Belgian beer sometimes leads to unexpected revelations - like the existence of a profession called zythology. Zythologists are essentially master beer sommeliers, and their existence - which is relatively new - is incredibly meaningful for a variety of reasons.

Join host Nate Cairney as he digs into the subject of zythology and why it is matters in the context of Belgian beer. Along the way, you’ll meet Belgian zythologist Sofie Vanrafelghem, who will help illuminate what, exactly, zythology is, why Belgian beer deserves a place at the same culinary table as French wine, and why it is so important to dispel myths about women and beer.

Helpful Links:

Sofie’s World - Belgian Beer Expert Sofie Vanrafelghem

U.S. Craft Beer Institute - About Cicerones

UNESCO and Belgian Beer Culture

St. Bernardus: History and Mystery in Watou

With a range of excellent beers that consistently show up on “best of" lists around the world, St. Bernardus is a strong Belgian brewery. Yet its history is inextricably linked to that of Trappist powerhouse Westvleteren, which has led many to wonder how - and how closely - the beers are related.

Join host Nate Cairney as he travels to the heart of Flemish Belgium to unravel some of the brilliant mysteries surrounding St. Bernardus. You’ll learn about the perfect beer for a cold, rainy day, the identity of the jolly man on St. Bernardus labels, the truth about the connection between Westvleteren and St. Bernardus, and why a place called Watou might just be better than DisneyWorld.

St. Bernardus Official Website

Bier! Magazine

Sofie’s World - Belgian Beer Expert Sofie Vanrafelghem

Rochefort: the Power of Place and Silence

Show Notes:

Inside the walls of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, located in the beautiful Ardennes Forest near Rochefort, Belgium, Trappist monks brew the Rochefort 6, 8, and 10 beers. But other than a small sign and a few dusty bottles behind one of the abbey windows, visitors might never know that this is the place that produces some of the most legendary beers in the world.

Helpful Links:

• Saint-Rémy Abbey Brewery 

In honor of the Belgian Beer Quest Podcast series launch, we are inviting you to the Belgian Beer Quest Launch Party and Tasting at De Belgian Bistro in Weilerbach, Germany on November 7th, 2019.  Host Nate Cairney will be on hand to talk to fans and pass on his knowledge of Belgian beer.  We will also have a beer tasting with some little known Belgian beers and a few surprises along the way.  Space is limited, so register today at https://earblitz.com/launchparty/.

We hope to see you there!

Lindemans: the Magic of Lambic Beers

Show notes

Lindemans is one of Belgium’s oldest and most respected beer brands. Its lambic beers are world-famous, and the business has been run by a member of the Lindemans family for six generations - for almost 200 years.

Join host Nate Cairney as he delves into the Lindemans story, which is fascinating and fraught with adventure, persistence, happy accidents and innovation. You'll also learn more about an incredible - almost magical - process known as spontaneous fermentation, in which the success of a modern brewing operation relies on harnessing something…invisible.

Helpful Links:

Lindemans Beer

Spontaneously Fermented Belgian Beers

Chimay: Big Beer, Bigger Heart

Show notes

In many ways, the story of Chimay is most unexpected. Chimay is a global brand. Its four beers are synonymous with excellence and available around the world. But at heart, the Chimay story is about how goodness is born, how it grows, and how it perseveres even through the darkest times.

Join host Nate Cairney as he delves into the amazing story of Chimay. Along the way, you’ll encounter refugee monks, the disappearance of a nearly century-old yeast, the importance of growth to giving back, and a pair of unlikely heroes who were given a quest that would change the way the world thought about Belgian beer.

Helpful Links:

Chimay Beer

International Trappist Association

All About Beer - Farewell to Fr. Theodore

Inside the Golden Valley: Orval

Show notes

With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a compassionate Trappist heart, Orval may well be the most respected brewery in Belgium. Orval, with its one beer, is also reminiscent of a Zen - or Trappist - riddle. How can one thing, the one Orval beer, contain such multitudes?

Join Nate Cairney as he travels to the beautiful valley of Orval in a quest to see where one of the world’s best beers is made. Learn more about Orval’s fascinating history, forward-thinking monks, how a bottle can be beautiful, and the role that one gallant trout played in launching a legend.

Helpful Links:

Orval Abbey

International Trappist Association

Thomas Merton - Wikipedia

Breandán Kearney - Belgian Smaak website

Return to Westvleteren

On a warm early summer day in Flanders, something extraordinary occurred. The cloistered monks at Westvleteren, who produce three legendary beers and who are famously reclusive, called a press conference. Something big was brewing.

Host Nate Cairney was fortunate enough to be invited to the press conference. Join him for a rare treat as Belgian Beer Quest enters the gates of the famous Westvleteren abbey. Along the way, you’ll learn more about Westvleteren’s big announcement and hear about a day when a simple Trappist monk was treated like a rock star.

Helpful Links:

Westvleteren Brewery

Rate Beer - Westvleteren Profile

Breandán Kearney - Belgian Smaak website

Bier! Magazine

Ear Blitz Website - Episode Page

A Classic Belgian Brasserie: St. Feuillien 

A Classic Belgian Brasserie: St. Feuillien

In this episode, host Nate Cairney steps in to the St. Feuillien brewery for an inside look at how Belgian beer is made. Join him in his quest to learn more about the magic of beer science, the oddness of gigantic bottles, and one brewery’s effort to remain true to traditions in an increasingly modern world.  Belgian Beer Quest is brought to you by Ear Blitz.

Helpful Links:

St. Feuillen Brewery

Breandán Kearney – Belgian Smaak website

Belgian Abbey Beers – Wikipedia

Ear Blitz Website - Episode Page