Ever since I was introduced to Belgian style beers I've tended to blow a fair amount of cash on these unique ales. I've enjoyed most of them. My attempts at brewing with Belgian yeasts has met with pretty good results. Not quite the same however compared to those I've been laying out the cash for. How can I really compare my own brews to these imports? Beer really doesn't travel well to my knowledge, so how do these beers match up to the ones in Europe? More important, are the flavors I'm assuming are important indicators merely results of shipping and not those typical of Belgians enjoyed on their home turf? Are we drinking beer and raving about how great they are- while a Belgian tasting them might demand their money back?! I guess this applies to any import really.

It has been my observation that the quality in terms of freshness of import brews has dramatically improved over the years. Back in the day buying most low volume imported beer would usually mean dusty bottles and stale beer. I don't know if the primary reason for the improvement is better turnover of stock or better and faster shipping, but I haven't had a really stale import in quite a while.

The fresher the better of course, but I think a bottle of Optimator or even Paulaner Hefe here these days stands up pretty well to what I recall drinking in Germany when I lived there.

Most Belgian styles are also high ABV and probably travel better than your typical German lagers or British ales.