Belgian Beer Cafe
Encyclopedia
Belgian Beer Café is a chain of concept cafes/restaurants specializing in Belgian
-inspired food and Belgian beers. The company was founded in Brussels
in 1998 by InBev
and now is part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev
Group. Currently Belgian Beer Cafés can be found in 50 cities spread out over 19 countries.
and serving them in an atmosphere that resembles a typical Belgian cafe.
The idea to (re)create the traditional cafe as an embassy of Belgian Beer, bar and food culture was born in 1997. The first Belgian Beer Café opened its doors one year later in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Many other European countries followed rapidly. The first Café outside Europe opened in 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Belgian Beer Cafés come in two slightly different concepts: rural and cosmopolitan. The rural version imitates the typical Belgian brasserie
, which is rather spacious with a large amount of seating and a good view of the comings and goings. The cosmopolitan-orientated Cafés are furnished in a more efficient way, less roomy and are targeted to a different audience. The Cafés were designed by Creneau International, inspired by the look of Belgian Cafés during the interbellum and incorporating many elements of Belgian Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta
.
At first, the beer menu was limited to only original InBev brands but over the years the number of participating breweries has grown. Now you can taste all different types of Belgian beers, from Pilsner to Trappist
beer.
Avril Maxwell, bartender of the Belgian Beer Café in Christchurch
, New Zealand
won the 2009 Stella Artois World Draught Master contest.
At the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, a complete Belgian Beer Café was constructed in the Belgian EU pavilion. Seven million people visited the pavilion to find out more about the Belgian fries, chocolates and diamonds. About 110.000 of them visited the Café to try Belgian beers and cuisine.
The Belgian Beer Cafés were also represented in 2011 at the Cleveland Wine Festival. During the festival, a Belgian Beer Café served Stella Artois (premium lager), Hoegaarden (white wheat beer
) and Leffe (abbey beer).
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-inspired food and Belgian beers. The company was founded in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1998 by InBev
InBev
InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...
and now is part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V. is a Belgian-Brazilian publicly-traded company, based in Leuven, Belgium. It is the largest global brewer with nearly 25% global market share and one of the world's top five consumer products companies by EBITA....
Group. Currently Belgian Beer Cafés can be found in 50 cities spread out over 19 countries.
History
The Belgian Beer Café concept comes out of the Belgian heritage of great beer, and the tradition of pairing Belgian beers with Belgian cuisineBelgian cuisine
Belgium has been called a nation of gourmands rather than gourmets: a country, in other words, where "big cuisine" comes before "fine cuisine". It has been said that Belgium serves food of French quality in German quantities.-Frieten or frites:...
and serving them in an atmosphere that resembles a typical Belgian cafe.
The idea to (re)create the traditional cafe as an embassy of Belgian Beer, bar and food culture was born in 1997. The first Belgian Beer Café opened its doors one year later in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Many other European countries followed rapidly. The first Café outside Europe opened in 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Belgian Beer Cafés come in two slightly different concepts: rural and cosmopolitan. The rural version imitates the typical Belgian brasserie
Brasserie
In France and the Francophone world, a brasserie is a type of French restaurant with a relaxed, upscale setting, which serves single dishes and other meals. The word 'brasserie' is also French for "brewery" and, by extension, "the brewing business"...
, which is rather spacious with a large amount of seating and a good view of the comings and goings. The cosmopolitan-orientated Cafés are furnished in a more efficient way, less roomy and are targeted to a different audience. The Cafés were designed by Creneau International, inspired by the look of Belgian Cafés during the interbellum and incorporating many elements of Belgian Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta
Victor Horta
Victor, Baron Horta was a Belgian architect and designer. John Julius Norwich described him as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect." Indeed, Horta is one of the most important names in Art Nouveau architecture; the construction of his Hôtel Tassel in Brussels in 1892-3 means that...
.
At first, the beer menu was limited to only original InBev brands but over the years the number of participating breweries has grown. Now you can taste all different types of Belgian beers, from Pilsner to Trappist
TRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
beer.
Avril Maxwell, bartender of the Belgian Beer Café in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
won the 2009 Stella Artois World Draught Master contest.
At the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, a complete Belgian Beer Café was constructed in the Belgian EU pavilion. Seven million people visited the pavilion to find out more about the Belgian fries, chocolates and diamonds. About 110.000 of them visited the Café to try Belgian beers and cuisine.
The Belgian Beer Cafés were also represented in 2011 at the Cleveland Wine Festival. During the festival, a Belgian Beer Café served Stella Artois (premium lager), Hoegaarden (white wheat beer
Wheat beer
Wheat beer is a beer that is brewed with a large proportion of wheat. Wheat beers often also contain a significant proportion of malted barley. Wheat beers are usually top-fermented...
) and Leffe (abbey beer).