As an aperitif or appetizer, or at a reception, the WITTKERKE and the WITTEKERKE ROSE are a hit. Easy to drink, and very refreshing. But a nice touch and an other option is to serve the CHERISH KRIEK and CHERISH RASPBERRY LAMBIC. Lambics are very commonly served at business or wedding receptions in Belgium. Some real beer-lovers will go for a nice refreshing Triple, like our BORNEM Triple or the ENAME Triple as an appetizer when the time is available before actually starting lunch or dinner. Many will appreciate a good pilsner like BAVIK, simple and hoppy to provoke the appetite. But somewhat stronger blonds like the BRUGSE ZOT, TROUBADOUR BLOND, LA DIVINE BLOND, KAPITTEL BLOND, PETRUS BLOND and SLOEBER may bring a lot of praise. You could go for a line-up of these blondes! If you want to add some easy drinking amber ales, try BRUEGEL, BIERE DU BOUCANIER RED, and PETRUS SPECIAL. All three tasty and easy drinkable.

A salad, if not too spicy, can be combined with a light beer like the WITTEKERKE or JOSEPH Spelt ale, but you could add some spice by serving a SARA buckwheat ale, or the BIEKEN Honey ale depending on the salad dressing. The cold salad and the light beer are both refreshing. Try a shrimp cocktail or shrimp salad with a PETRUS OLD BROWN, or MONKS CAFÉ SOUR FLEMISH ale. You want an extreme: try PETRUS AGED PALE with a vinegar dressing, or maybe select it as the opposite to a sweet dressing.

A light tasting fish dish asks for a light beer like WITTEKERKE or JOSEPH. If the fish is combined with some harder tasting extras or sauces, the tastier blond ale like the LA DIVINE BLOND, BRUGSE ZOT, TROUBADOUR BLOND is recommended, and even the PIRAAT can do wonders. The amber Abbey Ale AUGUSTIJN goes with all fish-dishes.

A rich meat-dish wants a rich beer. You can choose between the superb Abbey Ales AUGUSTIJN, KAPITTEL PATER, KAPPITTEL PRIOR. LEUTE BOK and BORNEM DOUBLE. The SILLY SCOTCH or the TROUBADOUR OBSCURA STOUT are natural choices here. The spicy LA DIVINE TRIPLE and the hoppy POPERINGS HOMMEL ALE will also surprise you very well.

Red meat with a rich sauce demands a dark strong beer like the BORNEM DOUBLE, KAPITTEL PATER, TROUBADOUR OBSCURA STOUT, or the PETRUS DOUBLE BRUIN. Chicken, Turkey and even Pork combine very well with PETRUS OLD BROWN or MONKS CAFÉ SOUR FLEMISH ALE: the sour nose with the taste of old wood is a surprise for your taste-buds. The beer choice should be influenced by the sauce, where you can go to reinforcing dominant tastes, or to oppose these tastes: sweet-sour-spicy-hot.

Spicy Mexican and oriental food go very well with AUGUSTIJN and naturally with a BAVIK Pilsner. TIKKA is THE choice with curry based dishes.

At the end of a nice meal, when you don't have to work anymore, a PIRAAT, BIERE DU BOUCANIER GOLDEN or a GULDEN DRAAK will give you all the relaxed pleasures you are longing for. Other excellent choices are the TROUBADOUR OBSCURA STOUT, the PETRUS DOUBLE BRUIN, and great triples like the KAPITTEL ABT, BORNEM TRIPLE, and ENAME TRIPLE. The nicest and most productive conversations will be held around one of these rich triple beers. But, if you want to cut back on the alcohol, the beautiful blondes are the answer: BRUGSE ZOT, TROUBADOUR BLOND, PETRUS BLOND, KAPITTEL BLOND, SLOEBER, LA DIVINE BLOND and even the regular BAVIK or WITTEKERKE.

Cigar-lovers recommend the PIRAAT.

The Global Beer Network will help you in selecting the best beers with your menu. Send us an e-mail. Take advantage of our Belgian beer knowledge. Add something extra to your restaurant. Make a difference with the competition. Respect your beer-drinking guests, be proud to offer them your finest selection of beers. Remember: about half of your guests will choose beer instead of wine when you present it well. The popping Champagne bottles of our most delicious ales are an attraction on the table.