Pierre Tilquin, a lambic blender in Bierghes, Walloon Brabant, is this weekend hosting eight British brewers, who will be introducing their beverages to the Belgian public .
The entrepreneur had already organised his Tilquin English Beer Festival in 2016 and 2018. After a year 2020 marked by the novel coronavirus, he is doing it again in 2023, against the backdrop of a new variable since the previous editions: Brexit.
“We had all the trouble in the world with the administrative formalities requested by the English customs, then Belgian customs, but we made it,” a relieved Tilquin commented. “The beers from the eight breweries were delivered on Monday.”
On Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 9 p.m., fans will be able to taste one or other of the 46 beers offered by breweries from London, Manchester and Scotland.
Sceptics afraid of finding flat, lukewarm beers sometimes seen as symbolising the English brewing scene will be in for a surprise. The styles on offer will be very diverse: lagers, bitters, pale ales, milds, stouts, porters, saisons and IPAs.
Pierre Tilquin is quick to point out that no beverage will exceed 7% alcohol. “Only light, easy-drinking beers. This is in contrast with the Belgian tradition, known for its triples and Trappist beers, which are quite heavy.
The host of these British breweries will not be outdone. He will unveil his project for a family tree of gueuze, aimed at making a unique blend of gueuze for each member of the Tilquin family.
“Pierre Tilquin launched his gueuze brewery in 2009 in a segment that has until now been occupied mainly by Flemish brewers, with the exception of Brussels-based Cantillon. Tilquin quickly distinguished himself by using rather atypical fruits in his gueuzes (damson, blackberry, rhubarb…).
He will obtain lambic wort from colleagues before blending and resting it in Bierghes. However, he hopes to brew his own lambic and has already conducted some trials. “We brewed 20 times this winter and 15 times the previous winter," he says. "Lambic fermentations are still variable, but it’s on the right track.”
.
