Discovering Beer Cocktails - Tipsy Chronicles

Working in a Belgian brewery and distillery means also discovering the fascinating world of  beer cocktails as described in this part of our tipsy beer chronicles! 

When I moved from France to Belgium for an internship at Tipsy Tribe brewery & distillery in Brussels, I knew that joining a craft brewery was the best way to get the full Belgian beer experience! 

A Bodacious Bellini in a cocktail glass garnished with a slice of fig

The first few days, I met the team, and discovered how the brewery and distillery works (and the difference between brewing and distilling!) As part of my training, Dan invited me to join one of the tours of the brewery & distillery and a beer tasting with customers. I tasted two beers, Chaotique, an American IPA, and Desita, a Helles. He explained the beer and spirits production process. It was really interesting to have such an immersive experience and to have the explanations from an actual brewer rather than a simple guide. 

While discovering their various craft beers and spirits, I also discovered beer cocktails, which I hadn’t really heard of before. I knew beers, I knew cocktails, but I never thought of making a cocktail with beer. Unlike straight beer, these cocktails play with flavors by combining beer with juices, spirits, syrups, or even other beers. 

At Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery I’ve had the Bodacious Bellini - a beer cocktail based on Bodacious, a distilled lemon-lime sour beer combined with peach juice and a garnish. I was not expecting this combination to work so well: a great balance of sweet, fresh and tangy. The first time I tried the Bodacious Bellini it was a beautiful sunny day in Brussels – the perfect moment to really enjoy this refreshing cocktail that is so simple yet so amazing!

Do I still love a classic local beer? Yes! Do I still drink other cocktails - absolutely. But this new discovery really opened up my horizons on the different ways to enjoy beer!