My Food Story : Pauwel Kwak '' the Beer connoisseur '' & us !

So on 25th November 2017 , we arrived Luxembourg - a city which needed much convincing and aggressive debate , from my end , to be included on our 1st tour to Europe as a couple . We took the train from Paris to arrive into cold Luxembourg , where a very dear friend awaited to receive us . A whirlwind of activities , unfolded in the next two days , comprising of everything we had to catch up on in the last few years and also a check box on all things touristy the city had to offer . Needless to mention here , these so called touristy check box's are very important to us Indian's who self fund their trip to Europe for the 1st time , as well as for the hosts , who eagerly plan the show around for weeks together . As i revisit my phone album now , however , i realized how those two days passed away in a blinking rush and I so wish , we had assigned more time to just sit around in the backyard , catch up or enjoy more Kwak . Yes - I said Kwak !

Honestly , i had no idea that such a beer existed , despite my few fleeting visits to neighboring Belgium earlier ( where this beer originates ) . My friend introduced us to this drink at Scotts - a pub in Luxembourg city . Brewed with natural basic ingredients like barley malts , wheat , hops and white candy sugar , this amber colored - near black beauty , is indeed a thing to behold . What amused us the most was the Kwak Koetsiersglas which is this unique glass and the holder set , in which the beer is served and needs drinking from ( in simple words , the coachman's glass ) . Now , let me tell you more of what makes this an amazing story !

In the early 18th century , one Mr. Pauwel Kwak brewed his own beer . As per the then existing Napoleonic code , coach drivers were not allowed to drink beer with their passengers riding and also , were not allowed to leave their horses and carriage unattended when not touring . As such , these drivers could also not leave their coach to meet their thirst. It is then , that Pauwel Kwak first invented the famous Kwak beer , in this special glass, which could be fixed to the coachman's carriage . This way the drivers could enjoy their beer , as they waited for their next passenger !

This story inspired a brewer from nearby Buggenhout and since the 1980s the Pauwel Kwak is brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels, which also produces the popular Tripel Karmeliet and the DeuS Brut des Flandres.

When the Koetsiersglas was placed in front of us , we were honestly at our wondering best as to how to exactly go about the drinking process - thinking in our racing minds , if it will be an embarrassing spill or a tinkering drop of the heirloom straight onto the floor . And yes , my better half was also stumped , as this was a surprise walk- along visit and he did not have his ''pre-google moment '' ala research time on this subject ! What followed was true discovery process - while it was tempting to remove the glass from the holder , we soon were enlightened that the bulb of the glass does not sit straight on its own . Nevertheless , since we had the beautiful beer starting at us , we followed suit watching the other's around and realized that the trick was to simply lift the whole apparatus and get going .

The Prestige of Kwak shares that '' Whether you drive a coach, a taxi or an uber, seek this beer out and pair it with a creamy, powerful cheese or rich game dish such as smoked ham or beef stew. If you’re feeling authentic, try it with pigeon and pickles – a Belgian delicacy. Kwak’s sweetness contrasts beautifully with bitter foods and complements most others. You can find Kwak on-tap or bottled in specialty beer bars and cafes around the world ''

On further reading , i also learnt recently , that this beer is a worthy dining partner and has its culinary uses in the kitchen as well . More on this later , post our next visit surely.

This time , very much un-debated !

Excerpts in Red from : The Prestige of Kwak .