Beer Discovery: Pauwel Kwak

Beer: Pauwel Kwak
Brewery: Bosteels
Country: Belgium
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
ABV: 8.4%

Many people recognize the distinctive shape and look of the Kwak glass, but the story behind the funky shape of the glass and the beer it contains is not that well known.

The beer is brewed by the family brewery Bosteels, which has been run by the same family for over 6 generations!

The beer is named after its brewer, Pauwel, who started brewing the beer while Napoleon was busy conquering Europe. Pauwel was the owner of an inn, de Hoorn, which was frequented by coachmen of horse carriages. It was customary during that time for the coachmen to stay with the carriage, whilst the passenger went inside for a refreshing drink or something to eat.

Pauwel, recognizing that the coachmen would also like to have a nice brew (drunk driving was still allowed back then), set about creating a special glass for the coachmen. Imagine someone designing a special glass today which would make it easier for drivers to drink without leaving their car.

Coachman and his Kwak

And so the Kwak glass was born! The glass is distinctive for both its round bottom shape and the wooden holder which comes with it. Its enlarged, round bottom, prevented the glass from falling over while riding whilst it was hanging from its wooden holder. Attached at the side of the carriage, the coachmen always had their glass ready for a refill. The wooden base was added later as the brew became more popular, allowing for the beer to be placed on tables or other surfaces.

Enjoying a Pauwel Kwak (3.75/5*)

There are several theories as to why the beer is named "kwak". Kwak or the english equivalent of blob was used to describe the brewers physical appearance as Kwak was not his actual last name. However, some people attribute the name to the sound the beer makes when it spills over careless consumers. Due to the its distinctive shape, the last few sips result it an air bubble pushing beer outward (something which, if not suspected, can cause quite a mess). Therefore, some argue that the name is descriptive of the sound the beer and not the physical appearance of its brewer.

The beer and glass were actually released in 1980, with the history behind the glass and beer being used for marketing its release. The brewery claims the history is authentic, and it might as well be with the brewery going back so many generations.

Amber in colour and having a slight sweet/spicy taste with fruity aromas, the Pauwel Kwak is definitely an enjoyable brew.

So if you ever find yourself driving your horse carriage through Belgium, be sure to stop for a Kwak!

Cheers!

Beer Festival: Dutch Craft Beer Festival

Festival: Nederlands Speciaalbier Festival (Craft Beer Festival)

Location: 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands

Last week i visited the bi-annual Dutch craft beer festival in Den Bosch, and had an absolutely great time. 

I was really looking forward to once again attending this great beer festival, having only visited it once before. Furthermore it was in my home town, something which adds just a little bit more excitement to the event. I was therefore quite disappointed that after a week of reasonably good weather that the forecast for the festival day was bad.

I still had my hopes up though, weather forecasts aren't that accurate in the Netherlands on average.  Unfortunately for me and my friends, on this occasion they were. Despite the dismal weather conditions, we still managed to have a fun packed and beer filled day at the Dutch craft beer festival!.

We were a little early, eager to start!

We arrived about 15 minutes early to the festival, knowing from previous experience that it could get quite busy and as such did not want to wait in a long line. Therefore, we managed to get our tasting glasses and coins quickly and set out exploring. 

Tasting glass, and brewery booklet

It turned out that there was plenty to discover, with 38 Dutch breweries present and with each offering 3 or more craft beers, there was something for everyone's taste. With so much choice, we started looking around for something light to start with (which ended up being a very good idea). There was also a great atmosphere, at least for the first half of the festival, with live music and relatively stable weather conditions. 

Beer Festival

However, after a couple of hours the rain started pouring down and some logistical problems became apparent. There were two big problems, there weren't enough coins or glasses. This was unfortunate, because it created long lines and prevented people from enjoying more of the festival, since it is only a one day event. However, we were well prepared, being early birds, and as such were just spectators to the chaos. 

Getting busier

Logistical and weather conditions aside, it was really awesome being an such a big festival! The fact that there were only Dutch breweries present really gave me a chance to discover more of my nation's craft beers. Furthermore, the brewers were all open for a chat and there was even some brewing going on!

Brewmaster in action

Weathering the storm, using our festival booklets as umbrellas, we enjoyed all kinds of different beers at the festival. I ended up drinking 17 different brews (good thing i started off light :P). Furthermore, with the exception of one brew, i enjoyed all the beers that i tried. 

I will be sure to visit the festival again next time (in the fall), hopefully next time it will be better organized and the weather more enjoyable. 

All in all, a great day at a great festival!

Cheers!