Actually, your question inspires me to amend my earlier post.

I have three favorites.  Add to the list Tripel Karmeliet.  It's very fruity (lots of banana and a kind of silky, vanilla-y texture), w/ a bit of spice, and the most wonderful, thick head I've ever had on any beer.

Their website sucks, but, here you are anyhow:  http://www.bestbelgianspecialbeers.be/main_eng.html 

I'm blessed w/ a wonderful bar just down the street called The Hopleaf, which boasts some 40 or so beers on tap (all Belgian and/or North American craft brews), w/ another 250-300 varieties in bottles, depending on the day.  Next time we're both in Chicago, I'll treat you to a drink or two, Ian!

This often seems to be the case, in my experience.  I tend to find the higher alcohol Belgian beers to be less overtly 'alcohol-y', with a much rounder (?) sweetness and texture.  With the St Bernardus Abt 12 I listed above, for example, there is a really wonderful toffee/chocolate/sweetened coffee flavor, and it's not until I've finished the bottle that I realize that it does indeed carry a 10.5% APV.   

You eat Chivers, Ollie?? 

Now sipping....
Port.
And had forgotten how much I like it. I think port maybe under-appreciated in the drink world.

Hurrah!



It survived the trip without becoming either undrinkable or hideously expensive!

A bottle of M&S organic cider, 500 ml. That makes me wonder why beer in cans and bottles was (and still often is) sold in amounts of 440 ml. What's so special about 440 ml? At least 500 ml is close to a pint.

A Gin and Tonic

Gosh, I needed that.

(Gordon's as it happens, even though I am normally a Blue Sapphire man, myself)

Tommo