In this issue, Steve Mitchell has a quick taste of some of Belgium's latest offerings:

Starting in the Brabant town of Zellik, on the North-Western edge of the Brussels ring-road, the ANGERIK BREWERY started production in June 1998. Only one beer is made under the name of BOERKE (Farmer), a dry hoppy brew at 5.5%. This name may have to change as a larger Dutch brewery has objected - can you guess which one?

The brewers are garage owner Angelc Buyse and cress-grower Erik De Cuyper. get it!

Quickly moving across to Liege province and the town of Aubel where Alaii Pinckaers and Benoit Humblet set up their ABBAYE DU VAL-DIEU brewery in October 1997 in the grounds of the same named Cistercian abbey. The monks have no involvement in the venture and no Trappist origins or such claims are made.

There is the standard range of beer. Blonde (6%),Bruine (8%) and Triple (8%)

In July of this year Rader Amber (10.5%) was exclusively produced for the Radermacher jenever (gin) distillery of Raeren in the german speaking Eastern Cantrons of Belgium.

It is a unique marriage of Val-Dieu Triple (8%) and Radermacher's Lambertus (38%) pure grain jenever, and is forceful tasting, rich and ardent, slightly hazy and dangerously drinkable. This beer has been "blessed" with a 9110 St. Arnoldus rating.

Finally, in Hainaut province the ABBAYE DES ROCS brewery of Montignies~Sur-Roc last month launched La Montagnarde Altitude 6.

This gently spiced, malty but dry and smooth brew is unusually full-tasting for a beer of its strength. Said to be sour by one respected Brussels-based beer specialist?