Belgian History of Beer

1. In 1965, a Belgian royal decree mandated that lambics must contain a minimum of 35% wheat. It also ordered that labels state the name and location of the brewery.
2. Saint Arnold, a bishop born in 580, is considered the patron saint of beer. He encouraged people to drink beer instead of water during the Plague. Indeed, the Plague suddenly disappeared once his word spread (though some suggest because beer was boiled in the brewing process, it would have been safer than water, which had previously spread the infection.) When Saint Arnold died in 640, the citizens of his hometown carried his body from Remiremont to Metz for reburial in their church. On this journey, another miracle occurred - when the weary porters stopped to share their only mug of beer, they discovered the mug never ran dry. Each July, Belgium's brewers pay homage to Saint Arnold at a church service. On this 'Day of Beer,' brewers march through the streets dressed as the 'Chevalrie du Fourquet' (or 'King of the Mashing Fork').