Belgian visiting Texas and Wisconsin

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I find it comical on the drinking map that the heavy drinking allegedly stops at the UP border. I can assure you it doesn't change at all. Lol
Although I no longer live there i can also assure you that Busch beer is consumed in massive amounts.

 

[John the Electrician]

All three of those are not really beer, and you are correct, Busch is the worst - unless it is Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Me, on my way to a Brewers game, after touring the remaining Pabst brewery buildings. Only in Wisconsin!

 

[Badjer]

I’m tracking. That high alcohol content brew would likely kill the average American.

Maybe, but not most Wisconsinites.
As far as beer goes, I used to work for a company that brought Europeans over for training periodically. The American beer they liked best is one that you will be close to the home of: Leinenkugel's. Also try Spotted Cow. (only sold in Wisconsin.) I may have to make the 4+ hour road trip with the dogs if you come from Europe and they insist on giving you Pabst and (barf) Busch.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

If you have time and can make it about 60 miles south of Houston to El Campo. I will treat you to some real Mexican food and Margaritas!!

 

[CBeck]

If you’re coming from Belgium to Houston, this might be a good time to take a break from Belgian beers and try some classic American craft styles.

If you ever come across Pliny the Elder from Russian River brewing Company, it’s one of the most famous American IPAs—but be careful, it’s about 8% ABV, so it drinks stronger than it tastes. Only available west of the Mississippi and hard to get at that.

If you want to ease into U.S. craft beer, you might also look for:

• Sierra Nevada brewing company Pale Ale – a classic American hop profile
• New Belgium brewing CompanyFat Tire – easy-drinking and balanced
• Saint Arnold brewing company Art Car IPA – a great local Houston choice

And while you’re there, don’t miss real Texas-style Southern BBQ. Brisket in Texas is the real deal.”

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Might try dragon’s milk too

Home - Dragon's Milk

dragonsmilk.com

And goose island

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout

www.gooseisland.com

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I wish these dates lined up better but I’ll be in Mozambique. It’s actually possible we pass each other in the airport depending on your flights and if I choose to fly out of IAH or DFW. I’ll make sure I WhatsApp y’all some photos from Mozambique while you’re with @rookhawk

Houston BBQ …. Corkscrew, Killen’s, Pinkerton’s, or Truth would be my recommendations.

There are several great steakhouses, I like Taste of Texas. Their quail bites and salad bar has been my lunch more times than I can count. Make a reservation about a month out. Lots of good Mexican and Asian food options too.

Knowing your firearm tastes, you should make time to visit both Collector’s Firearms on Westheimer and Gordy & Son’s. You might also think about trying to catch an Astros game.

 

[Frederik]

Duvel I'm not a huge fan of, too commercial and too quick with a head ache.
Gouden Carolus I don't think I ever drank.
You should try a Kwak or a Tripel Karmeliet next time. I'm quite sure you'll find that much better than Duvel.

View attachment 749104View attachment 749106

On the topic of "bad beer". I'm sure @rookhawk, meant good beer, but light. I would also agree with this. Belgians only drink the stronger, specialty beers, for special occasions. The two beers just mentioned, are for Sunday afternoons in the sun, small group, seated, plate of cheese and cold meats, and we will gently consume 2, maybe 3 over a couple hours.

For a party, reception, bbq, etc. with many people, most Belgians will rather drink some kind of Pils or Lager. The best one from Belgium is Jupiler imo (also in volumes of sales in Belgium). It is not exported to my knowledge, as we prefer to drink it ourselves.

View attachment 749108

What I intend to bring, is on a whole other level though, as it is basically unobtainium:
View attachment 749107
Westvleteren 12, a trappist brewed in a Roman Catholic Abbey

I just checked ebay... people are only selling empty bottles of this... or the bottle caps alone... or even the crate it comes in...

There are only two places in the world where you can buy this officially. At the Abbey itself, where you need to register for a spot (like trying to get rock concert tickets), to be allowed to buy 2 cases max, linked to your vehicle license plate. Or in the next door restaurant. Everywhere else is grey market, not permitted by the monks.

Stop it now you are going to let me buy tickest again to come visit you again.

That Westvletren is something to try you will not regret it except that you cannot find it anywhere else in the world tan Belgium and specifically Vlandere.

 

[375Fox]

Knowing your firearm tastes, you should make time to visit both Collector’s Firearms on Westheimer and Gordy & Son’s. You might also think about trying to catch an Astros game.

I haven’t been to collector’s firearms in 10 years. That was always top stop for me when I had to go to Houston for work.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Friends. When @VertigoBE visits in early June, I'd like to host a dinner party for him. It would be the Saturday evening (I think that's June 6th?). I'm 45 mins east of the Twin Cities. Please RSVP and let me know if there will be a +1.

Local AHers FYI: @franzfmdavis @375er @Kurt Swanson @John the Electrician @Jagerrand

If there are other members that would like to come, please let me know.

Thank you so much for the invite! I would love to join!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I haven’t been to collector’s firearms in 10 years. That was always top stop for me when I had to go to Houston for work.

Their new store is very different from their old location. I’d suggest visiting one of these days.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Sorry @rookhawk but he will need to try some of the best BBQ found in Houston!! Not up in the great white north.

Houston is full of great restaurants. Home to some of the newly top rated craft BBQ spots.

They are always worth the wait. I think you will enjoy your short time in Texas

@VertigoBE I hope you have a great and successful trip to America.

FYI; Everyone knows the only truly great BBQ is found in the southeast.

Actually in North or South Carolina. I found the little "mom and pop" place by accident on a road trip. My taste buds, without success so far, have been in search of a BBQ that can match the BBQ I had there.

My apologies to you @VertigoBE that your taste buds for BBQ must be subjected to All You Others supposed best BBQ America has to offer. LOL.

Too bad your visit timing couldn't have been in the fall and for a much longer time for you to take a break to possibly enjoy a bit of North America hunting.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Your whole post was great until the above. I only drink bad beer. I hate good beer. If I can’t drink 60 beers and then operate heavy equipment, it’s too strong.

With the recent craft beer trend it has become difficult to find white trash beer. I have stacks of it on my garage as they are now coveted collectibles: genesee, old style, Miller high life, PBR, pointe, special export, hamm’s, etc.

You Brit’s like whiskey and beef gravy, but why mix them and call it beer?

When I visited @rookhawk he told me he didn’t have any good beer, only canned Pabst Blue Ribbon. Little did he know that PBR is my favorite and considered by me a very good beer.
High life, Stag, Coors Banquet, and Budweiser are also considered top shelf, although I have put down my share of natural light.

 

[mark-hunter]

I wish I could join! That american BBQ sounds awesome!

Not to mention esteemed company of fine gentlemen!

 

[rookhawk]

I wish I could join! That american BBQ sounds awesome!

Not to mention esteemed company of fine gentlemen!

I think you should come over! Join the party! I suspect we get enough of Vaughan’s clients to arrive, we can probably force him to visit from Zim too.

 

[rookhawk]

When I visited @rookhawk he told me he didn’t have any good beer, only canned Pabst Blue Ribbon. Little did he know that PBR is my favorite and considered by me a very good beer.
High life, Stag, Coors Banquet, and Budweiser are also considered top shelf, although I have put down my share of natural light.

@Wyatt Smith you haven’t visited since I lived in the people’s socialist republic of Illinois. You should probably drive on up through the cheddar curtain for the dinner party with Jurgen this June! You can’t believe how nice the air smells when you’re on I90 and you pass through South Beloit and start smelling the sweet scent of Wisconsin versus the burning sulfur of Illinois!

 

[mdwest]

@VertigoBE I hope you have a great and successful trip to America.

FYI; Everyone knows the only truly great BBQ is found in the southeast.

Actually in North or South Carolina. I found the little "mom and pop" place by accident on a road trip. My taste buds, without success so far, have been in search of a BBQ that can match the BBQ I had there.

My apologies to you @VertigoBE that your taste buds for BBQ must be subjected to All You Others supposed best BBQ America has to offer. LOL.

Too bad your visit timing couldn't have been in the fall and for a much longer time for you to take a break to possibly enjoy a bit of North America hunting.

Your first sentence is spot on...

but Im afraid you completely fucked up after that...

Memphis is the home of the BBQ World Championship competition for almost 50 years (started in 1978).. Bar none the best BBQ on the planet...

I'll give the Carolina boys a strong second place showing though

Someone is going to come along shortly and tout that nasty Kansas City style sticky stuff that they try to pawn off as BBQ... Carolina definitely beats KC..

Barbecue - Memphis In May

Buy Your 2026 WCBCC Tickets Now! Check Out The Merch! Experience Compete Get Involved With the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest Bring Your Team Become a Volunteer Become a Judge Become a Vendor GET YOUR MEDIA CRED Become a Partner Presenting Sponsors Supporting Sponsors

memphisinmay.org

 

[rookhawk]

Your first sentence is spot on...

but Im afraid you completely fucked up after that...

Memphis is the home of the BBQ World Championship competition for almost 50 years (started in 1978).. Bar none the best BBQ on the planet...

I'll give the Carolina boys a strong second place showing though

Someone is going to come along shortly and tout that nasty Kansas City style sticky stuff that they try to pawn off as BBQ... Carolina definitely beats KC..

Barbecue - Memphis In May

Buy Your 2026 WCBCC Tickets Now! Check Out The Merch! Experience Compete Get Involved With the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest Bring Your Team Become a Volunteer Become a Judge Become a Vendor GET YOUR MEDIA CRED Become a Partner Presenting Sponsors Supporting Sponsors

memphisinmay.org

In the name of global peace, I just want to point out that I was intending to make 5 or so different types of BBQ for Jurgen’s party. Naturally, everyone can complain its all garbage compared to their own preferred genre while watching the poor guest of honor, a Belgian, scratch his head in utter confusion.

Memphis is definitely one of the genres that will be covered. Texas too. And Florida. And probably some Missouri and Carolina/Georgia too.

Wisconsin lacks quality of BBQ, but our ethos is quantity. So we’ll be hosting maximum quantity of various American BBQ during Jurgen’s stay so he can go home traumatized and confused by what the hell went down in Wisconsin.

 

[mdwest]

In the name of global peace, I just want to point out that I was intending to make 5 or so different types of BBQ for Jurgen’s party. Naturally, everyone can complain its all garbage compared to their own preferred genre while watching the poor guest of honor, a Belgian, scratch his head in utter confusion.

Memphis is definitely one of the genres that will be covered. Texas too. And Florida. And probably some Missouri and Carolina/Georgia too.

Wisconsin lacks quality of BBQ, but our ethos is quantity. So we’ll be hosting maximum quantity of various American BBQ during Jurgen’s stay so he can go home traumatized and confused by what the hell went down in Wisconsin.

Shoot me an address by DM.. I'll send you up some authentic Memphis dry rub from a place that will knock your socks off..

Charlie Vergos Rendezvous serves what are probably the most perfect dry rub pork ribs on the planet..

Carolina, KC, etc.. will argue (rightfully so) that their pulled pork is better.. everyone has a preference..

But no one is crazy enough to argue that there is a better dry rub rib than can be found at Rendezvous, Corkys, Central BBQ, Cozy Corner, etc.. Most of those places have been around anywhere from 50-75 years and are still family owned/operated businesses that have been passed down 3-4 generations..

You might get shot visiting some of the restaurants.. a couple of the most famous places are in very bad parts of town... but.... the BBQ is worth it...

 

[VertigoBE]

Shoot me an address by DM.. I'll send you up some authentic Memphis dry rub from a place that will knock your socks off..

Charlie Vergos Rendezvous serves what are probably the most perfect dry rub pork ribs on the planet..

Carolina, KC, etc.. will argue (rightfully so) that their pulled pork is better.. everyone has a preference..

But no one is crazy enough to argue that there is a better dry rub rib than can be found at Rendezvous, Corkys, Central BBQ, Cozy Corner, etc.. Most of those places have been around anywhere from 50-75 years and are still family owned/operated businesses that have been passed down 3-4 generations..

You might get shot visiting some of the restaurants.. a couple of the most famous places are in very bad parts of town... but.... the BBQ is worth it...

Why don’t you hand deliver those spices and stay for the party?