I have the very great fortune to live in Germany, right next to the border with the Netherlands. It's a very narrow strip of the Netherlands, which means that, in about 15 minutes of my house, I can be in Belgium.
You may not know this, but Belgium is responsible for the best beer in the world.
I have discovered a wonderful beer store in Maaseik, Belgium. It's called Dranken Corstjens. The staff speaks English (not a certainty over here), and is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and generous. Wow. It sounds like I should just sign them up for the Boy Scouts, doesn't it?
The store is family-friendly, too. Because Europe isn't as hung up on enforcing its own morality on everyone, children are welcome in the store, and are treated quite well, in order to give parents the most relaxing shopping experience possible. The last time I took my girls, they were given a candy, a promotional hat, and a real leather football (soccer ball). They were also smiled at and encouraged as they explored the area.
The store has a loose policy of giving a free beer glass with every six bottles purchased. For you Americans, the concept of the beer glass may be foreign to you, but it's a vital part of properly enjoying a beer. Each beer company makes their own glass (or glasses), each best suited to their beer (or beers). I've been starting a bit of a collection so, for the most part, I can serve each beer with its own glass.
But I digress. I say "loose policy" because it's certainly not hard and fast. For example, yesterday, I purchased 12 bottles of beer - a light haul as I still have a decent number left from my last trip - and was cheerfully given three glasses, just because I asked.
I was also recommended a tasty, new beer and given a sample to try, in-store. By sample, I mean entire bottle. As my friend and I were checking out, the young employee dropped half a crate of assorted bottles on its side. Luckily, none of them broke, and only one - a LaTrappe Quadruppel, popped open. The young employee then offered us a glass so that we could drink the injured beer, as he would have to throw it away, otherwise. The LaTrappe Quad is one of my favorites so, passing the keys to my friend, I agreed to not waste such a delicious beverage. (un)Fortunately, it was closing time for them, so I had to polish it off pretty quickly. As a result, I "had to" finish off two beers, on an empty stomach, in the space of about 15 minutes. The first beer had an alcohol content of 6.5%. The Quad is 12%. By the time I left the store, I was three sheets.
This is already bordering on tl;dr, but I just want to add that I desperately wish that my friend, Dennis, was here to go with me. He would crazy-go-nuts for this place. My family misses he and his a lot, and it would be great to have them over to share some food, fun, and companionship (and beer!) with. Especially when our weather is so entirely clement (highs in the mid- to upper-60s) and they live in Alabama (mid- to upper-OMGs). Hopefully, they'll find their way to Germany while we're still here.
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