Whatsit Wednesday - the KWAK glass

Belgium has a rich culinary history. Most people know about cheese, Brussels sprouts and Belgian endive. In more recent history people in the US became aware of the varied history and beauty of Belgian beer. Local breweries sprang up in places all over the US. 

Beer in Belgium is a delicacy and a commonality. While many people might simply drink a “pils” which is actually a beer based on a brewery the Czech Republic (in Pilsen), there are many who drink all sorts of specialty beers. Beers are brewed in Abbies by monks. Beers have cherries or other fruits in them. And they can be “double” or “triple”, “blonde” or dark. 

Although Belgium has over 1000 beers, many of them these days are part of the AB Inbev company which owns beers all over the world (including Budweiser, Busch and Corona). The brewery for Stella Artois is still sat on the canal in the Belgian city of Leuven. 

But “Kwak” beer is especially noteworthy because of the type of glass in which it is served. According to the story Pauwel Kwak had a tavern which was located where coaches would stop. In that time the coachmen were not allowed to leave their coach and horses. So Kwak designed a glass that could be used by the coachmen while sitting atop their coaches. 

The KWAK glass looks like a teardrop suspended in a wooden holder. The whole thing is necessary as a glass. The glass itself would fall over if placed on a table. But with the wooden stand, everything is ready for consumption.