We are just a few days away from the Christian celebration of Christmas—a big deal in many countries, including of course Belgium. And as with so much, this little country does things differently when it celebrates Christmas, from the steaming mugs of gluhkriek handed out in the Grand Place to the ubiquitous tradition of bière de Noël—Christmas beers. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss these wonderful holiday ales and use them as an opportunity to consider the question of spicing in beer. When Americans spice their beers, it can be off-putting, but when Belgians do it, it’s delicious. We’ll examine why.

PHOTO: EVENING STANDARD