Easy as BBC

Australia offers some great beers, but it is always fun to broaden your horizons and try something different. The Belgium Beer Cafés in Melbourne are “unofficial embassies of Belgium and promote Belgian culture, beer and cuisine in an authentically Belgian environment.” Five draught Belgian beers are on offer: Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune and Belle-Vue Kriek and “A unique nine step pouring ritual ensures the perfect pour.”

Above: BBC's beer selection
Source: www.belgianbeercafemelbourne.com

There are two Belgium Beer Cafes (BBCs) in Melbourne: Eureka, Southbank and Bluestone, St Kilda Rd. Both offer the same beer, wine and food selections. The Eureka location is a perfect for a relaxing drink whilst sauntering along Southbank. The Bluestone premises are located in a historic bluestone building established in the grounds of Vision Australia and have a vast beer garden entrance. This is the perfect rendezvous point to catch up with friends on sunny afternoons. Both premises also have live music playing every Sunday.

Above: BBC Bluestone's expansive beer garden
Source: www.belgianbeercafemelbourne.com

For a light dinner a shared pot of mussels are essential. They are available in five different flavours just to confuse you! It is advised to share the massive pot with a friend though – each pot comes with sliced bread and chips with mayonnaise (oh so European!) so are extremely filling.

Above: BBC Eureka on Southbank
Source: www.belgianbeercafemelbourne.com

To enhance your beer drinking experience, BBC hosts some great events to enrich your knowledge of beer. Numerous beer courses are scheduled throughout the year and the next one is coming up this weekend. Introduction to Microbrewery Beers will be held Saturday 20th Feb at Beer DeLuxe in Fed Square. A special guest brewer will introduce his range of beers and explain how they have been developed.

The BBC also has a Cycling Club which offers a pretty sweet deal for members. For $30 annual membership, members receive:
•a Cycling Club water bottle
•Belgian Beer Cafés’ Melbourne food and beer vouchers (2 vouchers, per person, per visit can be redeemed)
•monthly complimentary breakfasts; and
•a discount on the Belgian Beer Café's own distinctive cycling kit
For those not into beer, the Belgium Beer Café has some great wines on offer from their frequently updated wine list. However, it is worth ordering a beer just to observe the unique pouring process.

Take advantage of the free live music and drop into a BBC this Sunday for a unique taste of Belgium.

For more information on beer courses, food/drink menus and live music line-ups at BBC visit:
http://www.belgianbeercafemelbourne.com