For all of Belgium’s myriad beer styles, around 70% of all beer consumed in Belgium is the humble pils. So Australia really isn’t all that different to Belgium, although our beer market probably sits closer to 90% of consumption being lager.
Sit in any of the town squares, or up at the bar of any local café, and you are likely to see a Jupiler or Stella in hand, with these two beers dominating the Belgian market.
I’ve seen Bavik advertised as ‘Belgium’s favourite pils’, and I had always wondered why this was so. The claim is obviously very subjective, but I think it is based on the fact this beer has been brewed to the same recipe since 1894. It also won the award for best Belgian-brewed pilsner at the World Beer Awards in 2021 and 2022.
Interestingly for a pils, this beer is not pasteurised. (That is, heat-treated to remove any micro-organisms and improve shelf life and stability). What is does mean though is that the yeast has not been made inactive by heat treatment, more akin to ales.
It pours an ever-so-slightly hazy straw colour (the beer is filtered), with the characteristically billowing white foam which obligates a bar tender to employ the silver beer comb or head cutter to style up the presentation of your beer.
It is crisp, lively and refreshing with a grainy malt backbone and earthy, grassy hop bitterness typical of the noble hops used. Just an easy beer to drink, as intended.
by Piwne Podziemie (Beer Underground)
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