Belgian Ale

What is Belgian Ale? 

Belgium is one of the most renowned beer countries in the world, with a beer culture and history so rich and diverse that it is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Although Belgium offers a wide variety of beer styles, their signature has historically been ales. Belgian ale isn’t a singular beer type but rather an umbrella term for many ales, most of which are characterized by fruity aromas and flavours derived from yeast and a higher-than-average alcohol content. Sugar is often added to the wort to increase the alcohol content.

Origin Story

The history of Belgian ales dates to the Middle Ages when breweries were established in Belgian (then Flemish and French) monasteries. The monks experimented with various brewing techniques that led to the creation of several Belgian beer styles.

You can read more about the history of each beer style by choosing a specific Belgian ale substyle.