Kick Start Your Night with Belgian Beers: Eight Percent or More Alcohol by Volume

The Belgians have it right: Make good beer, package it in large bottles, and make their alcohol content comparable to wine. Liquor stores, restaurants and grocery stores are finally beginning to tap into what Belgian monks have been brewing since the Middle Ages, to the delight of beer drinkers worldwide. The following five beers are just the tip of the iceberg in a repertoire that includes thousands of different Belgian beers, but they are all excellent for the newcomer to try.

Chimay Bleue (Grand Reserve)
This popular Belgian is a local favorite and is considered to be the classic Chimay beer. Chimay Bleue adds a slightly bitter flavor to its fruit and pepper notes. Because Chimay's flavor profile is so broad, it's a great beer to start with if you're unfamiliar with Belgian beer.
The essentials: small and large sizes available, 9%

Augustijn Ale
This slightly cloudy Belgian blonde is abbey ale that's been around since 1295. Its flavor profile contains notes of pineapple and grapefruit. Very tasty.
The essentials: 750 ml, 8%

Bieken Ale
This tap refermented blond honey ale has a subtle taste of honey and light spice. Bieken Ale is a tasty, hoppy beer from Belgium.
The essentials: 750 ml, 8.5%

Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend
Three Philosophers is a 98% ale, 2% cherry lambic Belgian ale. Lambics are beers that are distilled with fruit; the 2% cherry lambic that Three Philosophers contains will give you just a hint of cherry. Pour this one with care so you won't disturb the yeast sediment on the bottom.
The essentials: 750 ml, 9.8%

Delirium Nocturnum Belgian Ale
My personal favorite on the list, from the Huyghe Brewery in Belgium. Delirium Nocturnum has a pleasant dark-fruit flavor with plenty of molasses and spice to ground the sweetness.
The essentials: 1 pint, 9.4 fl oz, 8.5%

When selecting a beer to drink, Belgium is a great region to start. The brewing tradition has been instilled in the country for hundreds of years, and there are plenty of different types of beer to choose from. However, be warned: these beers are heavier, more flavorful and contain a much higher alcohol content than domestic light beers. They're also packaged in bigger bottles and cost more than domestic brews. However, this makes them infinitely more enjoyable. The beers listed above can be found in most fine liquor and grocery stores or online.