For a new twist on bubbly for any special occasion, try a cork-sealed bottle of beer

February 16, 2004 - PUURS, Belgium and COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - The traditional image of a special occasion dinner or celebratory toast includes a nice bottle of wine, usually of the sparkling kind. For those who would prefer beer, cork bottled ale can provide the same bubbly presentation at much less cost per pop. Cork-sealed beers can be found at almost any liquor store in 1 pint, 9.4 oz (750 ml) bottles. Most are imports and often Belgian. A tall bottle of Duvel, Belgium's most popular specialty beer, retails for about $6-$9 while an average sparkling wine or Champagne goes for two or three times that - or much more. " A fine bottle of Belgian beer makes the perfect companion to most any gourmet meal or celebration - all at a cost much less than expensive champagne, said Laurent Demuynck, president, Duvel Moortgat USA, Ltd. "With the extra cash you save, you can splurge on chocolates, Belgian, of course, or just more beer." According to Demuynck, a tall bottle of Duvel offers "the same wine bottle-like cork with its magical pop, and matches devilishly-high alcohol content with tiny effervescent bubbles that can go delightfully to your head. " In a push to help Americans enjoy Belgium's most popular specialty ale at its best, Duvel's new white bottle label tells them how to get their own Duvel glass and gives step-by-step directions on mastering the pouring ritual. The tulip-shaped Duvel glass is sold at the Duvel's U.S. Web site "Duvel tastes best when it's served in the Duvel glass," said Demuynck. "That's the only way you'd ever drink Duvel in Belgium. The visual experience of watching the head form and the dense column of bubbles rise through the beer is as much a part of the enjoyment as actually drinking the beer." The glass isn't just about looks -- it's physically proportioned to enhance Duvel's taste, Demuynck explains. Duvel is served with a large head - which lasts a long time. But, you don't have to drink the head. The glass is sloped in such a way as to allow the beer to slip past the head when you drink it. Second, there is a small circle etched in the bottom of the bowl of the glass. The texturing effect of the circle encourages the fine-grained carbonation to escape. That's why you'll see lots of bubbles forming a column in the middle of the glass - almost as much bubbles as in champagne. "The smaller the bubbles, the better, just as in champagne, and Duvel's bubbles pass the test," said Demuynck.

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