How did I overlook the Chimay Blue -- I'd put it right after the LaChouffe on my list. And the Red would go right after Duvel.

Since we are on the subject of beer I have a little question. When I was in the ARMY I lived in Seattle for a few years, while there i grew rather fond of some of the local micro's. Well recently a good friend of mine has moved to the Seattle area and I was wondering if there was any way he could ship me a few 6 packs through UPS or FED EX. Have any of you ever tried this or know someone who has?

Grimbergen Blonde and any of the Leffe beers (blonde, brune, or red) are quite tasty as well.

I truly love Belgian (and Belgian style) beers! Among my favorites -- like many of you -- are the La Chouffe and the Chimay Blue Label. But I also enjoy, the Moinette, Orval, Biere de l'Abbaye d'Aulne 10°, Floreffe, Gueuze Lambic De Treuze, Het Kapittel-abt, Lucifer, Maroussesous 10, Saison Dupont, St. Sixtus Abdij Abt... and, come to think of it, many more.

BTW, a funny story about the raspberry beer from the Mort Subite (Sudden Death) brewery. When they started making that beer, more than a century ago, they would make small batches which would be available only on a certain day. So people would write their names on a list and wait around in front of the brewery, mostly playing cards or dice. When their name was called, they had to abandon the game immediately, therefore declaring -Mort Subite!- (Sudden Death). Hence, the name of the beer.

It is also interesting to note that the Unibroue brewery, in Quebec, makes many Belgian style beers which are quite tasty and available in the USA. Among these, the Fin Du Monde, Maudite, Don de Dieu... Quite good, more info at http://www.unibroue.com/products/bieres.cfm

And I can't help finishing my intervention without mentioning one of my favorite beers, although it is from Austria, the Samichlaus (from Schlossbrauerei Eggenberg). It is a very tasty, 14 percent alcohol, beer (some would call it barley wine). It is the best beer to go with a cigar that I have ever tasted.

I'm not a big beer drinker. (I usually stick with wine or rum.) But an occassional beer is nice. So far, of beers that I've tried, Blue Moon is my favorite. (Perhaps that's not a great beer to beer aficionados. No idea.) But that's considered a Belgian beer, isn't it?

I'm always up for trying new things. For those of you in the know, can you recommend any beers that I should try that might be similar in taste to Blue Moon?

I cannot drink beers such as Guinness. Much too strong for my liking. You need a knife and fork to drink that stuff. (Although, you'd think with my Irish heritage that I should like it. It was so ubiquitous when I was in Ireland. But just can't stomach the stuff!)

Thanks for any suggestions!

Just returned from Belgium to live in my home land of Scotland. For 5 years I past through Westmalle every day on my way to work.

How I miss those journey's home from work on a Friday, where I would sit outside the Cafe Trappisten, smoke a nice cigar (most times cuban) and savour European life.

All I have now is whisky, mountains and lochs .... and of course plenty of cigars !!!