Hoegaarden Brewery, through its exclusive distributor in the Philippines Booze Online, Inc., has extended the celebration of its World Beer Cup win to Philippine shores by hosting a festive roof deck party at the Manila House in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The festivity toasted Hoegaarden Original White Ale’s Gold award in the Belgian-Style Witbier Category of the 2016 World Beer Cup, which bested 77 other witbier brands. Considered one of the most stringent global beer competitions to date, the World Beer Cup evaluates beers around the world and recognizes the most outstanding breweries and their beers every two years.
Recognized by connoisseurs as the original Belgian White Beer, Hoegaarden Witbier biere blanche, is esteemed for its distinct taste and flavor palette which consists of Curacao orange peel and coriander that lend it a light and refreshing flavor and smooth taste.
In addition to its cool citrusy finish, Hoegaarden Witbier – biere blanche credits its Gold award to the Hoegaarden Brewery’s complex and exacting brewing process and century’s worth of expertise. Anne Ghanima, Brewmaster and Hoegaarden Brewery Manager explains, “Hoegaarden is different by nature. It goes through a complex brewing process that uses special barley malt, raw wheat and our very unique Hoegaarden yeast that result in a distinctive cloudy-white appearance. The key to the authentic Belgian wheat beer’s unique, refreshing flavor and spicy nose is ingredients including real Curacao orange peel and a delicate balance of coriander. Many years ago, Hoegaardenbrewmasters creativity led the iconic beer we know today and we are proud to perpetuate the tradition.”
Hoegaarden traces its roots to the village of Hoegaarden, Belgium where brewing beer has always been an integral part of life. The tradition began in the 15th century, when Begarden monks in the area started brewing Belgian white (or wit) ales. Since the previous wheat beers they brewed were sour, the monks experimented by adding orange peel from the colony of Curacao and coriander until they deliciously crafted the Hoegaarden recipe used today. By the 19th century, the village then boasted of 35 breweries.
Hoegaarden and other World Beer Cup℠ winners were selected by an international panel of 253 beer judges from 31 countries. Regarded as the “Olympics of Beer Competition,” the World Beer Cup assessed an impressive field of 6,596 entries from 1,907 breweries in 55 countries. The awards were presented during the World Beer Cup ceremony at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.