Belgian National Day: Celebrate with Stella
Thursday July 21st is a public holiday. Well it is in Belgium when the locals celebrate Belgian National Day. So why not
take their lead and join in the festivities by getting along to your local Belgium Beer Café for a glass of Stella
Artois® and a bowl of steaming mussels?
Kiwis and Belgians alike will come together to celebrate Belgian National Day, which only happens once a year, at
Belgian Beer Cafés throughout New Zealand.
Each of New Zealand’s eight Belgian Beer Cafés will be celebrating the day in their own fashion.
Trevor Ready, owner of four Auckland Belgian Beer Cafés, including De Post, The Occidental, De Fontein and The Ponsonby,
has organised plenty of activity around Belgian National Day.
“We will have live music playing and offer some great food and beer sampling opportunities, with a few surprise dishes
on the menu created by our Belgian chef,” says Trevor.
Meanwhile, Mark McGuinness of Christchurch’s Torenhof Belgian Beer Café has arranged a sit down meal for over 130
people. This includes two courses of traditional Belgian fare, two Belgian tap beers and a live jazz band, all for $30
per head.
“The concept worked well last year and Belgian National Day has been established as an iconic event on the social
calendar, it’s also a great experience and provides the opportunity for Kiwis to taste some authentic Belgian cuisine,”
says Mark.
The specialty tap beers on offer at Belgian Beer Cafés around the country will be Stella Artois®, Hoegaarden®, Leffe
Blond® and Leffe Brun®, all poured in the traditional Belgian Way. Other Belgian specialty beers will be available,
including Belle-Vue Kriek®, Belle-Vue Framboise®, Hoegaarden® Grand Cru®, Duvel®, Chimay Ale® and plenty more.
So get along to your local Belgian Beer Café on July 21st and raise your glass of Stella Artois® to the Belgian’s and
their beer-making excellence!
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Stella Artois®
Is the world’s best selling Belgian beer, enjoyed in more than 80 countries around the world. A crafted brewing process
uses traditionally malted barley and the finest hops, resulting in a premium lager with superior quality and a full,
unique flavour. Stella Artois® has a clear, pale golden colour with a fine, clean bitterness and a hint of citrus fruit.
Alcohol volume = 5.2%
Hoegaarden White®
Is the authentic Belgian wheat beer, top fermented and then re-fermented in the bottle. Hoegaarden White® has a
distinctive hazy yellow colour and an alcohol content of 5%. This is a sweet/sour beer with a little bitterness. It is
slightly spicy, with a strong hint of coriander and a touch of orange.
Leffe Blonde®
Is a traditional abbey beer hand crafted by monks according to the specific rules of their times. Brewing moved outside
the abbey walls in the 1800s, though the original recipe and traditions are closely observed. Leffe Blonde® is golden in
colour, light bodied with a subtle dry, clove-like aroma. It has a delicate sweetness and an alcohol volume of 6.6%
Leffe Brun®
Is also an authentic abbey beer, brewed with roasted malt to provide its full bodied, slightly fruity taste and its
rich, deep brown colour. It is a medium strength abbey beer, which compliments all traditional Belgian meat dishes. Both
Leffe Blonde® and Leffe Brun® are served with a creamy head in the chalice-type glass, continuing the traditions of the
monks from Abbey de Leffe. It has an alcohol volume of 6.5%