Why do the beers from Belgium taste so strange?
Not strange but unique and truly traditional. This answer is long. After the main body I have a couple lists to help explain the complexity of “strange” flavors in the Belgian beers. Any beer can be described as unique taken from its origins. But when considering the ingredients and methods which constitutes its flavor, then Belgian beers are indeed in a class all their own. They are strange in that their flavor(s) are earthy and bold, unlike most any beer drank. They are sour and musty. We use descriptors such as horse-blanket, barnyard, sour, and dusty in order to understand and appreciate them. The methods employed are unique to Belgium as well. Open cooling beds purposely exposed to the natural environment invite wild or uncultured stains of yeast and bacteria to ferment the wort. These unique strains were natural fermenters and flavor producers in beer for centuries. All beer to some extent was brewed this way until the late 19th century brought the discovery of microorganisms. Ye
