The best of Belgian beer
At Le Roy d’Espagne, every beer on offer has been selected with the highest standards of quality. A menu that celebrates the diversity, taste and tradition of great Belgian beers.
A brief history of beer in Belgium
Belgium has had a relationship with beer that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was the monks who first developed the art of brewing in their abbeys, at a time when water was not always safe to drink and beer served as an everyday beverage. Since then, the expertise has been passed down from generation to generation, from abbeys to family breweries, and on to the great names we know today. In 2016, UNESCO inscribed Belgian brewing culture on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
With more than 2,500 varieties brewed in the country, Belgian diversity is unmatched: Trappists, witbiers, blondes, ambers, browns, lambics, saisons… Every style has its own history, its own terroir, and often its own glass. It is this richness that we set out to reflect in our menu.
Tank beer: Stella Artois as you have never tasted it
You probably know Stella Artois in bottles or on draught. At Le Roy d’Espagne, we also serve it as “tank beer”, a system where the beer is delivered in a special vessel and piped directly to the tap, bypassing the traditional keg entirely. The result is a beer of exceptional freshness, with no contact with air and no additional pasteurisation.
The difference from a standard draught is felt from the very first sip. Tank beer is livelier, cleaner, with a creamier head and a purer taste. Where a keg may stay connected for several days and undergo slight alterations, the tank guarantees consistent quality and a freshness close to what you would find straight from the brewery. It is an experience in its own right, one that very few establishments offer.
Trappist beers
Trappist beers hold a unique place in Belgium’s brewing heritage. To bear this designation, a beer must be brewed within a Trappist abbey, under the direct supervision of the monks, and the revenues must be devoted to the upkeep of the community or to charitable works. This strict set of requirements makes them rare and authentic beers, the very opposite of industrial production.
At Le Roy d’Espagne, we have brought together a selection of the most highly regarded Belgian Trappists. Among them: Chimay, Westmalle, Rochefort, Orval and the Trappe Quadruple. Each has its own character, from the fruity and spicy notes of Orval to the malty depth of a Rochefort 8.
Signature beers at Le Roy d’Espagne
Leffe
Leffe is a Belgian abbey beer originating from Dinant, brewed since 1240 by the canons of the Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey. It is a golden blonde with a generous head, featuring aromas of vanilla and clove, with a slightly fruity roundness on the palate. At 6.6% alcohol, it remains approachable and well-balanced, making it one of the most well-known abbey beers in the world. Today produced by AB InBev, it nonetheless retains its symbolic link with the abbey whose name it bears. At Le Roy d’Espagne, we serve it on draught in blonde, brown and ruby.
Blanche de Hoegaarden
Blanche de Hoegaarden is a Belgian witbier born in the village of Hoegaarden, in Flemish Brabant. Brewed with unmalted wheat, it is distinguished by its hazy appearance and fine head, characteristic of the witbier style. Light and refreshing at 4.9% alcohol, it reveals citrus and coriander notes that make it an ideal choice in warm weather. Revived in the 1960s by Pierre Celis after the last breweries in the village had disappeared, it played a key role in the renaissance of the entire Belgian witbier tradition. At Le Roy d’Espagne, it is served on draught.
La Chouffe
La Chouffe is a Belgian blonde beer brewed in Achouffe, a small village in the Belgian Ardennes. Recognisable by its red gnome on the label, it charms with its golden colour and complex aromas of fruit, spice and hops. At 8% alcohol, it offers a bold character while remaining pleasantly smooth and balanced on the palate. Born in 1982 at a craft brewery founded by two passionate brothers-in-law, it has become one of the most internationally appreciated Belgian beers. At Le Roy d’Espagne, we serve it in blonde.
Kwak Blonde
Kwak Blonde is a luminous interpretation of the famous Kwak, brewed by the Bosteels brewery in Buggenhout, in East Flanders. Smooth and fruity from the very first sip, it reveals a slightly spiced character with hints of liquorice, reminiscent of the firmness of nougat, before evolving towards a finish that evokes caramelised banana. The bitterness remains discreet, always in the background, but makes itself pleasantly known in the finale. Served in its iconic curved glass, it is an approachable and flavour-packed Kwak.
Kriek Belle-Vue
Kriek Belle-Vue is a Belgian fruit beer produced by the Belle-Vue brewery, founded in Brussels in 1913. It is part of the tradition of Belgian krieks, those cherry-based beers (“kriek” in Flemish) that form an integral part of Brussels’ brewing heritage. At 5.1% alcohol, it offers an enticing ruby red colour and intense morello cherry aromas, balanced by the slight acidity characteristic of the style. Smooth and fruity on the palate, it appeals equally to beer enthusiasts and those who prefer sweeter flavours.
Victoria
Victoria is a Belgian blonde beer brewed in Ingelmunster, in West Flanders. Light and refreshing at 5.2% alcohol, it stands out for its clear golden colour and delicate aromas of malt and floral hops. It is a thirst-quenching beer par excellence, designed to be easy to drink while retaining a genuine character. Less well known than some of the big Belgian names, it nonetheless deserves attention for its simplicity and balanced profile.
Our alcohol-free beers
Alcohol-free beers have long suffered from a poor reputation, often associated with bland products that were beer in name only. Those days are over. Belgian and international breweries now offer 0% beers that respect the original flavours, with genuine aromatic profiles and impeccable brewing quality.
These beers are ideal for drivers, for pregnant women, or simply for anyone who wishes to enjoy the moment without alcohol. The pleasure of a well-served beer should never depend on its alcohol content, and our selection proves it. At Le Roy d’Espagne, we offer, among others, Corona 0.0%, Blanche de Hoegaarden 0.0%, Stella Artois 0.0%, Jupiler 0.0% and Tripel Karmeliet 0.0%.
