Belikin Beer by Belize Brewing Company – #OTTBeerDiary Day 36

This post is a part of the 2015 New Beer Every Day Beer Diary Challenge, #ottbeerdiary.  Over the course of 2015, I will be trying a new beer every day. Please read the background in the link above, and enjoy reading about the most recently tasted beers below. If you’d like to join the challenge as well, let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out Grown-up Travel Guide and his #grownupbeerdiary, where Andy Higgs came up with the diary format in use below. You can catch up on all of our posts as part of the challenge under the tag ottbeerdiary.

Day 36: February 5, 2015

Diary entry:

It’s snowed on me pretty much every day this week.

It hasn’t been too cold, just snowy. And not with much in the way of accumulation, just a fairly constant flurry that then dissipates.

I feel like somewhere warm.

And so…

The Beer:

Name: Belikin Beer

Style: Pale Lager

Producer:  Belize Brewing Company

Alcohol content: 4.8%

Bottle size: 0.33l

Purchased from: Brought back to the Netherlands from Belize.

As you may know, Erin lives part of the year down in Belize. I’ve also managed to visit the country three times as well.  One constant of my visits to Belize has been Belikin Beer. I’ve tried almost all of the different types of beer they brew at Belize Brewing Company, though there are a few I have not managed to sample yet.

The core line-up of Belikin beers consists of:

Belikin Beer is the core pale lager.  This is the beer you can find most readily throughout the country, and is great to drink cold while lounging by the pool or on the beach, or with a meal. It’s also a great base for a Michelada – basically a beer-based Bloody Mary. Commercial Description: Belikin Beer is brewed in the classic continental European lager style. Belikin uses Canadian Pilsner malt in combination with a blend of German hops to create the perfect malt-hop balance for our flagship. Since December 13, 1971 the original recipe has called for a lengthy fermentation and lagering to allow the yeast to create its full conditioning. This full-bodied beer with a medium golden colour is delightful any time of the day.

Belikin Stout can also be found year-round, and is a vear nice, daily drinking stout. Commercial Description: Belikin Stout is a rich black stout with a creamy, velvety head. This Stout has a bold, almost smoky mouth-feel, well balanced with a modest but pleasant bitterness. This voluptuous beer is made from Canadian malt, Belizean cane sugar, Carmel Coloring and German Hops.

Belikin Lighthouse Lager is the “light beer” version of Belikin; only 4.2% abv vs. the 4.8% of the normal lager. This is a good one for warmer days, longer sessions, or for a change of pace. Commercial Description: Lighthouse Lager is the youngest member of Belize Brewing’s beer family. It has a soft golden color with a more floral aroma. It is brewed with the finest Canadian Pilsner malt and an expertly chosen combination of German hops that delivers its refined subtle aroma. Only the freshest yeast is chosen for this delicate beer, slightly more dry but with a noble hop aroma and flavor. Crisp and refreshing, it can be enjoyed any time of day. In terms of color, taste and alcohol content Lighthouse is lighter than the other existing beers in the portfolio.

Belikin Premium is not quite as readily available as the regular Belikin, but is a pleasant treat when you can find it.  Commercial Description: Belikin Premium is a rich more malty beer is made with the best ingredients. A combination of three (3) different malts (Canadian Malt, Caramel Malt, and Extra Special Malt) together with two (2) different hops (CO2 Magnum Hops and Perle Hops) gives this beer a fuller heartier sensation on the first sip. This darker-colored beer exemplifies a deeper richer taste with its malty body, a gem for every ale-drinker.

In addition to this core line-up, Belikin also has a few seasonal beers that they have started producing in recent years.

Belikin Chocolate Stout is a foreign / export stout with a great chocolate / caramel flavor.  Erin brought one of these home once and I had to sample it, and I loved it! I’m hoping she’ll bring more of these home soon.  Commercial Description: Developed by the ancient Maya thousands of years ago. Cultivated and handed down generation after generation. And now, perfected by the Belize Brewing Company. The unparalleled seasonal brew, Belikin Chocolate Stout. This exquisite craft beer features moderate carbonation for a rich, creamy flavor that lingers with a decadently satisfying hint of chocolate–the Maya food of the gods. With a delicious aroma that is both chocolate and velvety, with just the right hints of vanilla and rum.

The Belize Brewing Company’s brewmaster, Nolan Michael, has introduced Belikin Chocolate Stout in honor of the month of chocolate celebrations as part of the Cocoa Festival in Punta Gorda in Southern Belize. Yet, the whole world wishes it could get its hands on this beer.

Belikin Sorrel Stout is one I have not yet seen or tried.  Hopefully I get to try this one soon.  Commercial Description: Handcrafted with traditional sorrel, a longstanding Belizean favorite that brings some extra cheer to the spirit of the holidays. This nicely balanced and aged Stout is blended with specialty malts, carefully selected German hops and brings together local Caribbean flavor, color and heritage.

Belikin Verano is the other offering I have not tried, though we do have a bottle at home that I’ll open when Erin is home as well, since I’m not sure if she’s tried it before.  Belikin Verano was released in summer, 2012, and I’m not sure if it is still part of their normal rotation.

In addition to the Belikin line of beers, Belize Brewing is also the brewer of Guinness Stout in Belize. The Belizean Guinness Stout is not the typical Draft available in Europe or the US. Guinness Stout is a special style of Stout brewed bigger and bold with a more assertive bitter finish. They brew it according to the original recipe from Ireland under the direct supervision and quality standards of Guinness Ltd. from Dublin.