Hop-Accentuated / IPAs

Belgian beers are not all that hoppy. At least, that’s the stereotype, despite evidence to the contrary. Where did this stereotype come from? Looking back to what makes Belgian beers Belgian, one of the most important aspects is balance. Hop bitterness, maltiness, fruity esters and spicy phenols should work in harmony to produce a balanced beer, with no single aspect dominating. The German, English and Belgian markets traditionally shunned beers that were out of balance (too much hop bitterness or too much maltiness without enough hops). If you like over-the-top bitterness in your beers, then Belgians may seem to not be hoppy enough. As it turns out though, many Americans got burned out on palate-killing bitterness, prompting brewers to shift their American IPAs from bitter bombs to exhibiting more flavor and aroma hoppiness (from late-addition hops or dry hopping).

Not All Belgian Beers Fit the Stereotype

Belgian brewers have been using hops in their beers since at least the 1300s, and probably a good bit earlier. There are plenty of examples of hoppy Belgian brews. Some of these were heavier beers from the Middle Ages through the mid-nineteenth century that required more hop bitterness to balance out the malts and sugars used to brew them. But, some newer and paler styles, from the 20th and 21st centuries, were also fairly heavily hopped. These “Hop Accentuated Ales” were typically Tripels, blondes or amber ales that were given an extra measure of bittering, flavor and aroma hops. Based on the popularity of American-style IPAs, some of these would use U.S. Pacific Northwest hop varieties for all or part of the hop additions.

Classic Hop-Accentuated Beers

Poperings Hommel Bier from Leroy Breweries is a good example of one of these. It was first brewed in 1981, before IPAs insanely popular with American craft brewers. At 7.5% ABV, it is only 40 IBUs (compared to other examples in the 50-100 IBU range), but its four different hops from Belgium’s hop growing region make it a classic.

Urthel Hop-It is another classic hoppy Belgian ale, coming in at 9.5% ABV. It was originally brewed at Van Steenberge, but is now brewed by the Koningshoeven/La Trappe brewery in the Netherlands. De Ranke XX Bitter is reputed to be Belgium’s bitterest beer, although today there are more breweries competing for that title. De Ranke XX is 6.2% ABV and 65 IBUs. Another classic is Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel from Brasserie d’Achouffe (now owned by Duvel). It’s basically La Chouffe strong golden ale that has extra hops added. It is 9.0% ABV with 44 IBUs.

Two Camps

When you get down to it, Belgian Hop-Accentuated Beers and IPAs fall into two camps. The first is the classic Belgian IPA or hop-accentuated ale, which is a standard Belgian beer that has been bumped up with extra hops. These beers use Belgian recipes (which can be Tripels, Strong Goldens, Blond Ale or even darker styles) along with continental malts, Belgian yeast and Belgian, German, or Czech noble hops. Some of these also use American Pacific-Northwest hops – especially for additions of flavor, aroma and dry hops. Duvel Triple Hop uses a different American hop each year, and many other brands important hops from the American Northwest.

Belgium is currently experiencing considerable growth in small, independent breweries that produce predominantly American-style IPAs. Scores of these breweries have sprung up in the last five years and some of them are producing excellent IPAs as well as innovative non-IPA beers. Further evidence that Belgium’s creative spirit lives on in these new start-up breweries

 The second camp, the American-Belgian IPA, starts with an American recipe and ferments with Belgian yeast. In many instances, the Belgian yeast is the only Belgian component, which is added to an existing IPA from the brewery’s lineup. Grains and hops are American.

New Independent Breweries

Belgium is currently experiencing considerable growth in small, independent breweries that produce predominantly American-style IPAs. Scores of these breweries have sprung up in the last five years and some of them are producing excellent IPAs as well as innovative non-IPA beers. Further evidence that Belgium’s creative spirit lives on in these new start-up breweries.

Belgian Examples of Hop-Accentuated Beers and Belgian IPAs

Houblon Chouffe from Brasserie d’Achouffe, Urthel Hop-It from Brouwerij Urthel, Tripel Hop from Duvel,        Hopsinjoor from Het Anker, XX Bitter from De Ranke, Poperings Hommelbier from Brouwerij Leroy,        Arabier from De Dolle, Taras Boulba from Brasserie de la Senne, Troubadour Magma from The Musketeers, Hopus from Brasserie Lefebvre, Piraat Triple-Hopped Dry Hopped Ale from Van Steenberge, Delirium Argentum from Brouwerij Huyghe, Vedett IPA from Duvel, Thorberg Five Hop IPA from Brouwerij Thorber,    Saison Dupont Cuvée Dry Hopping from Brasserie Dupont, Palm Hop Select from Palm, Paljas IPA from Brouwerij Henricus, Leffe Royale Single Hop Crystal from Leffe, Kasteel Hoppig from Bierkasteel Van Honsebrouck, Anglium Extra Hop from Angilum, Belle Fleur from Brouwerij De Dochter van de Korenaar and Derniére Volonté from Brasserie Dieu Ciel!.

American Examples:

Dawg Daze IPA from Bruz Beers is one of our most popular beers. It’s brewed with Pilsner, Aromatic and Vienna malts and CTZ, Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe hops. It has a distinct Belgian yeast component and is very drinkable. Another Bruz IPA is Le Renne IPA, a somewhat lighter version. Other Belgian-style IPAs are: Raging Bitch from Flying Dog, Hugh Malone from Allagash, Bitter Monk from Anchorage Brewing , Le Freak from Green Flash, Live A Rich Life from 3 Floyds, Cali-Belgique IPA from Stone Brewing, Audrey Hopburn from Great Lakes, Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster from Shorts Brewing Company, Triomphe from Brewery Vivant, Accumulation from New Belgium, Fresh Slice from Otter Creek, Grumpy Monk from Samuel Adams, Foray Belgian-Style IPA from Deschutes, Why Can’t IBU from Stillwater Artisan Ales, Spencer IPA from Spencer Trappist Brewery, and Brainless IPA from Epic Brewing.

There are many more examples, especially in Belgium, but these represent good selections from both sides of the pond.