Let me start off by saying that there is no “scientific” evidence that there is a direct correlation between being creative and alcohol. There are studies, however, that connect booze to the lowering of inhibitions.
As an inexperienced writer who decided to dive into blogging, I do find myself significantly more imaginative and verbose after I’ve had a beer* (plus watching Anthony Bourdain) and coffee (because there’s a fine line between inspired brilliance and useless inebriation).
The #hoemygarden Event
Activities during the Hoegaarden event… So does beer really make a person creative?
This is why, when I attended Hoegaarden’s event that featured artistic activities (including fabric painting, growing air succulents, and making thread art), I thought they lifted a page off my (writing) life.
The event was an interesting way to toast Hoegaarden Original White Ale’s** Gold Award in the Belgian-Style Witbier Category in the 2016 World Beer Cup (besting 77 other witbier brands). The competition is one of the most “stringent” global beer competitions where outstanding breweries from all over the world are judged and awarded every two years (the last World Beer Cup in Numbers: it was panelled by 253 beer judges from 31 countries, and there were 6,596 entries from 1,907 breweries in 55 countries… No wonder it’s deemed the “Olympics of Beer Competition”).
The secret behind maintaining the award-winning quality of Hoegaarden Witbier was explained by Anne Ghanima, Brewmaster and Brewery Manager of Hoegaarden: “Hoegaarden is different by nature. It goes through a complex brewing process that uses special barley malt, raw wheat, and our very unique Hoegaarden yeast that result in a distinctive cloudy-white appearance. The key to the authentic Belgian wheat beer’s unique, refreshing flavour and spicy notes is ingredients including real Curacao orange peel and a delicate balance of coriander. Many years ago, Hoegaarden brewmasters’ creativity led the iconic beer we know today and we are proud to perpetuate the tradition.”
Hoegaarden as we know it today can trace its roots back to 15th century Belgium, when Begarden monks started brewing “wit” (Belgian “white”) ales. The monks experimented with adding Curacao orange peels and coriander in an attempt to counter the sour flavours of previous wheat beers. This is (as mentioned by Ghanima) still the formula Hoegaarden uses today to create their refreshingly smooth Wit Bier.
Hmmmm… Refreshingly smooth… I think it’s a perfect source of drinkspiration for a brutally hot manila day like today. Cheers!
*No amount of alcohol can turn someone into the artist of the century, so drink responsibly!
**Not a fan of the Wit Bier style? Hoegaarden comes in a fruity Rosée too
Stock photos and interview response with Ms. Anne Ghanima used with permission from Booze Online and InBev
Special thanks to Mr. Philip Tan, General Manager of AB InBev SEA; Mr. Raj Sadhwani, CEO of Booze Online Inc.; and Mr. Chester Cabrera, Head of Marketing for Booze Online Inc.
