Beers in Oudenaarde
Sweet or Sour : which one is the best?
Beer. It might be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Belgium. Beer is like cycling or fries, it's rooted in Belgian culture. You see the flag in every bottle and true enthusiasts know the best comes from there. However, one question remains: Sweet or Sour, which is better?
Some say the only real beers are sour beers because they retain the aroma of malt and hops, others say fruit beers are too sweet.
On November 25, we had the chance to discover two different breweries and form our own opinion.
The first brewery was Liefmans. Built in 1679, their flagship beer is a raspberry beer. Ahead of their time, from 1970 to 1980, the first female brewer, Rose Blancquaert-Merckx, directed production. It is still its symbol today. The brewery is spread over several floors and the mechanisms have been restored but, most of them, remain essentially those of the time for the visits. This brewery produces kriek which are cherry-based beers but not only. This company also produces regular and sour beers. Fruit beers are always their go-to.
Then the second brewery was Rolling Hills, a brand new brewery established in 2016. Their beers are a mix between regular beers and sour beers. The premises are completely different from Liefmans and also completely new. They want to give people a unique experience. The surprising fusion between “the old world and the craft revolution”.
After the visits and tastings, I discovered that the real importance in a beer is not if it is bittersweet but the history, the know-how and the durability of it all. Meeting these people who have been there for years or on the contrary, who have just started their business, sharing their stories, their problems and their determination makes me appreciate every beer there. Sweet or Sour actually depends on each of us.