Chocolate and Beer

The Rickniks will automatically say you have to go to Dummond in Brugge. Frankly, I like Moeder Babelutte better. But be aware, most of the products sold at a Belgian chocolatier will have some kinds of filling, usually praline, truffle, liqueur or cream. If you really don't want fillings, get some Cote d'Or at a supermarket.

For beer in Belgium, here's my recommendation. Because the alcohol content is much higher than a typical US beer, you won't be able to sample too much before your body tells you to stop. So, don't waste your sobriety on the brands that are readily available in the US, like Hoegaarden Wit, Stella Artois, Chimay, Leffe or Duvel (all excellent beers, but probably readily available in your home city). Also avoid the "table beers" like Cristal, Jupiler and Maas, these are no better than Bud or Miller. Some of my favorites that I can't get in the US include Verboden Vrucht, Hoegaarden Grand Cru, Westmalle (OK, can be found in the US, but rarely), Chouf, Grimbergen, Palm and De Koenig.

Beer in the Netherlands is less interesting- mostly dominated by Heineken and Groelsch, with Belgian and German imports, There was an interesting dark beer I tried from Tilburg, called... well, I don't remember, but it had the name Tilburg in it.

Linda, just from the title of your post, I like you already.

Before we went to Belgium and Holland years ago, I stumbled across a book called "The Good Beer Guide to Belgium and Holland." Instantly bought it. They've got it at Amazon, the edition's a little old (from 2002), but it might still make a good reference.

I loved the food, beer, and chocolate in Belgium. I'd go there any day just to eat and drink.

As for Germany, usually each town has its own "home beer". Some of the others on this board may know more brands to look for. Generally, avoid the ones that you've already heard of, like Heineken or Warsteiner. Nothing wrong with those, but in my thinking, I can get those here, I didn't fly across an ocean to drink the same beer I can get at home.

I thought the question was whether or not chocolate and beer go together. Well, chocolate goes with anything, and beer goes with almost anything, so my answer is yes!

I know you specified plain chocolate, but as someone who lived in Belgium for a year as a foreign-exchange student, my favorites were Leonidas. The shops can be found all over, and just try a piece, not a whole box. You could find a new favorite!

Go to Bruges and indulge. I have to agree about Dumon's chocolate -- Yummmmmmm. My husband tried as much Belgian beer as possible, really preferring the Trappist ales, while I spent as much time trying out dark chocolate from many vendors -- Dumon's being my very favorite.

PS- and if you've never sampled one, try a lambic beer on a hot day. Their natural sourness is balanced out with a fruit flavor, such as cherry, raspberry, pear, strawberry or peach. Looks for the words "Kriek" or "Frambozen". Hoegaarden also makes lemon and raspberry beers that for some strange reason are marketed as sport drinks. Only in Belgium...

Thanks for all the advice!

Not leaving till July but I'm already thirsty and hungry....

In Brugge, we thought that Dumon's was good, but Van Tilborgh, was has even better chocolates at a better price. Their address is Noordzandstraat 1 bis, Tel: 050 33 59 04. They are a little outside the main tourist area, but well worth the little extra walking.

For Belgian beer, if you can find Westvleteren, definitely try it. It's a very small Trappist brewery whose beer is almost never seen outside of Belgium. Their bottles have no label at all. The only identifier is the bottle cap.

As an added bonus, it's fun to nibble on dark chocolate while tasting some of the darker Belgian beers.

www.milka.de, www.ritter-sport.de (those are the two best German brands). Dark beer in Germany: Ducksteiner, Köstritzer and when in Düsseldorf: Alt

www.milka.de, www.ritter-sport.de (those are the two best German brands).

... of bars of fat containing 25-30% of an anonymous blend of forastero cocoas from where ever it was cheapest on the globe. That is the equivalent of blended "hooch" wine in tetra packs.

If that's what you like, fine. But I wouldn't necessarily call it "the best."

And there are some good quality mass produced chocolates -- even milk chocolates -- for example the premium brands (not the "kid and grandma brands") of Lindt and Sarotti. The traditional manufacturer Rausch produces a multitude of solid quality house brands for several German discounter chains, e.g.: "J.D. Gross" (Lidl), "Kings Gold" (Edeka), "Privatschokolade" (Tchibo).

Yuk, you like Sarotti? The brand went down the tubes decaded ago and that was for a reason. The war was over and the country got liberated from the bad guys. "New-Sarotti" is equally as lousy as the old one was...

Sorry Mark, but I am a Milka girl. Lindt is often cheaper here than Milka but I just don't like their milk chocolate. My favourite splurge still is the $2.50 bar of "Happy Cows" (Kuhflecken). Unfortunately, I can't get the Trikolade around here but my husband has the standing order of getting a 300g bar every time he goes through the Frankfurt airport (a few times a year on business).

For beer in Germany it's hard to give you a tip without knowing which regions you'll be visiting. There are so many local specialties. My favourite is Pott's, and you can't get it beyond a 50-100km radius of the brewery.

www.potts.de

Though I have not been to any of these countries yet, I have been to enough international beer festivals to know my way around when it comes to beers. And I also prefer the darker varieties :)

My favourite German bier is Erdinger Dunkelweiss -- the Erdinger brewery is in Erding, but I expect it should be available with no problem in the cities. Spaten Optimator and Paulaner Salvator are bocks, dark and strong, about 8-9% ABV. Köstritzer Schwarzbier is another good one.

In Belgium, a trappist dubbel is probably your best bet if you like darker beers. Westmalle is a great example. St. Bernardus is another brand with good dark beers. The Koenigs Hoeven Quad is very tasty as well.

P.S.: while in the U.S., and if you haven't tried it already, try to find Three Philosophers and Brother Thelonious. You will not be disappointed.