Belgian Beer Quest

Happy holidays from EarBlitz!  New episodes will be coming in the new year.

Zythology: Mastering Belgian Beer The quest to experience legendary Belgian beer sometimes leads to unexpected revelations - like the existence of a profession called zythology. Zythologists are essentially master beer sommeliers, and their existence - which is relatively new - is incredibly meaningful for a variety of reasons. Join host Nate Cairney as he digs into the subject of zythology and why it is matters in the context of Belgian beer. Along the way, you’ll meet Belgian zythologist Sofie Vanrafelghem, who will help illuminate what, exactly, zythology is, why Belgian beer deserves a place at the same culinary table as French wine, and why it is so important to dispel myths about women and beer. Helpful Links: Sofie’s World - Belgian Beer Expert Sofie Vanrafelghem [http://www.sofiesworld.be/] U.S. Craft Beer Institute - About Cicerones [https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/about-cicerone-0] UNESCO and Belgian Beer Culture [https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/beer-culture-in-belgium-01062]

St. Bernardus: History and Mystery in Watou Show Notes With a range of excellent beers that consistently show up on “best of" lists around the world, St. Bernardus is a strong Belgian brewery. Yet its history is inextricably linked to that of Trappist powerhouse Westvleteren, which has led many to wonder how - and how closely - the beers are related. Join host Nate Cairney as he travels to the heart of Flemish Belgium to unravel some of the brilliant mysteries surrounding St. Bernardus. You’ll learn about the perfect beer for a cold, rainy day, the identity of the jolly man on St. Bernardus labels, the truth about the connection between Westvleteren and St. Bernardus, and why a place called Watou might just be better than DisneyWorld. Helpful Links St. Bernardus Official Website [https://www.sintbernardus.be/] Bier! Magazine [https://biermagazine.nl/] Sofie’s World - Belgian Beer Expert Sofie Vanrafelghem [http://www.sofiesworld.be/]

Rochefort: the Power of Place and Silence Show Notes: Inside the walls of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, located in the beautiful Ardennes Forest near Rochefort, Belgium, Trappist monks brew the Rochefort 6, 8, and 10 beers. But other than a small sign and a few dusty bottles behind one of the abbey windows, visitors might never know that this is the place that produces some of the most legendary beers in the world. This "silent approach" makes the quest to unravel the magic of Rochefort even more compelling. Join host Nate Cairney as he travels to a beautiful part of Belgium to seek a deeper understanding of the mysteries behind Rochefort - including why what you don’t see is sometimes the most important thing of all. Helpful Links: * Saint-Rémy Abbey Brewery [https://www.abbaye-rochefort.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=94&lang=fr] * Sofie Vanrafelghem - Sofie’s World [http://www.sofiesworld.be/] * The Guardian - More on Rochefort and Water [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/monks-launch-legal-fight-to-protect-water-purity-of-trappist-beer]

In honor of the Belgian Beer Quest Podcast series launch, we are inviting you to the Belgian Beer Quest Launch Party and Tasting at De Belgian Bistro in Weilerbach, Germany on November 7th, 2019.  Host Nate Cairney will be on hand to talk to fans and pass on his knowledge of Belgian beer.  We will also have a beer tasting with some little known Belgian beers and a few surprises along the way.  Space is limited, so register today athttps://earblitz.com/launchparty/ [https://earblitz.com/launchparty/]. We hope to see you there!