Belgian beer culture encompasses the traditional craftsmanship of beer production and is an integral part of the Belgian diet, playing a prominent role in daily life, as well as festive occasions. Brewing beer in Belgium has a long history dating back to the Gallo-Roman period (third to fourth century AD) when this was a mainly female domain.
As with the rest of the European continent, beer was considered a healthy drink alternative to water. The average consumption of beer in medieval Europe reached up to 1.5 liters per capita per day. Until the 1960s, children eating lunch at school could choose among tea, coffee, or beer (a type of sour brown or blond beer that contains very little alcohol).
Almost every week, there is a beer festival somewhere throughout Belgium, attracting thousands of people. Many festivals have a global reputation while others are simply intended to celebrate the local beer culture. Throughout their history, the Belgians' love of beer has left a mark on their history books and has inspired legends that endure to this day. According to one legend, the saint of beer, St. Gambrinus, is credited with introducing hops. He is buried just meters away from the Brewers House on the Grand Place in Brussels.
Belgian beer is known throughout the globe for its wide variety of flavors, ranging from extremely sour to bitter, and is produced in numerous cities, towns, and villages across the western European nation populated by 11 million people.
Almost 1,500 types of beer are produced in the country using various fermentation techniques, and traditional knowledge that has been passed through generations. While certain areas are known for their particular varieties, some Trappist communities have also been involved in beer production, contributing the profits to charity. Additionally, beer can be used in cooking – for example, in the production of beer-washed cheese – and as with wine, it can be paired with foods to enhance their flavor.
In Belgium, beer consumption is a social event, both in private and in public. Beer is offered to guests in homes or enjoyed with friends at a pub or restaurant. Most everyday activities begin or end with a beer. Even though the number of pubs in Belgium has fallen over the last few decades, every village has at least one local café. Beer embodies both the joys of life and is the perfect remedy against the gloom of society.
Belgian beer culture was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage on 30 November 2016. Several brewers have formed organizations working on a broad basis to promote the consumption of beer responsibly. In addition to this, sustainable practices have been integrated into the culture, with recyclable packaging being encouraged, and the introduction of new technologies to help reduce the use of water in production processes.
Aside from being passed down through the home and among social circles, knowledge and skills are also passed down from master brewers who teach classes in breweries and universities focusing on courses for those involved in the field of brewing. Some programs also target those involved in the hospitality industry, offering public training programs for entrepreneurs and small test breweries for amateur brewers.