The Belgians are famed for many things but beer sits high atop that list. Drinkers should rejoice then when a celebrated 261-year-old brewery brings their signature beers to the Malaysian market. Dionysus Asia Sdn Bhd, the local distributor for Martens Brewery, recently celebrated the launch of six of the brewer’s beers with a tasting party at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.
These beers include Sezoens blond, the Kristoffel range of blond, white and dark, 1758 IPA and the amber ale Boot Tread. Fond Martens, the eighth-generation co-owner and managing director of Martens Brewery, says that “while the world is currently witnessing a craft beer revolution, Belgium has long had a tradition of brewing special beers that we already call craft beers.” The longstanding brewing and enjoyment of quality beers is in Martens’ opinion what separates Belgian beer from the rest.
“We (the brewery) will keep our tradition but we are not blind to new developments that are up and coming,” says Martens. “Our Sezoens double dry-hopped beer is the most traditional of our portfolio, a recipe from his great grandfather from around the 1860s and has not changed since then. When it comes to a more contemporary selection, the 1758 IPA comes to mind, which is a newer creation in a sense that it is brewed to suit the taste of what drinkers look for in an IPA today.”
Among the six beers offered there are a few beers that, according to Martens, are best suited depending on the time and weather. If it’s cold, dark and rainy out, he recommends an amber beer, something akin to Boot Tread for its moderate bitterness and caramel finish. For sunny weather, opt for the Sezoens due to its refreshing balance of hoppiness and bitterness with hints of sweetness.
