The Bowsing Ken

330: Ciney Blonde - Blond

   A top-fermented blonde beer from the folks at Brouwerij Alken-Maes.

  For us North Americans the history of Ciney beer is a bit vague, perhaps because I think it's never actually been imported over here. I have had this several times during my travels in Belgium, and have always found it - both the Blond and the Bruin versions - to be a nice refreshing beer, especially on a warm summer's day walking around some little Belgian village...well like the village of Ciney.

   So here is what I know...In the late 1970s a local Ciney - the town of Ciney, that is - liquor distributor by the name of Roger Démarche came up with the idea for a new beer, which he tapped (no pun intended) the Brewery Grade in nearby village of Mont-Saint-Guibert to produce. He named his new beer after the town of Ciney, calling these first batches "Cuvee de Ciney." (By the way, in French the word "cuvee" means vat or tank). On 23 June 1978, in the Cafe Rubens, the first glass of Cuvee de Ciney was served. Truly a small batch beer, this first Ciney came only as a Bruin, and only in barrels. In 1980, a Blond was introduced, and in 1986 a Special 10 (actually 9%) beer was added to the menu. The Blond is still going strong, but the Special 10 was later discontinued. Under Belgian regulations, Ciney is considered a "special" beer, of the Abbey type, although it has never really been associated with an abbey. Indeed, there is no Abbey in the village of Ciney.

    In 1992, the brewing of Ciney was transferred to the Brasserie Union, in the town of Jumet, and in 2000, the whole thing was sold to the Alken-Maes brewing empire. Alken-Maes closed the Brasserie Union in 2007, and since then Ciney has been brewed at the Alken facility. Since then, the Ciney brand has been part of a portfolio of beers bought and sold by a number of different concerns, and as of this writing (2016) is part of the Heineken family.

  As can be seen - at least what I can glean - Cimey has never actually been brewed in the town of Ciney. That's ok, Ciney can trace its heritage back to the town, which itself has a rich brewing history dating back well into the 1400s.

   Fun Fact: In 1869, the village of Ciney had a population of 3,000, and a total of 150 pubs - nice ratio. By 1903, the population was up to 4,867, with 231 pub keepers, which prompted one journalist to proclaim that Ciney was the most corrupt city in Belgium. The truth be told, Ciney has since the Roman times - when it was called Chiney - been a thriving market town, and as such, the number of drinking establishments are perhaps a bit out of proportion to the resident population. At its height, the town of Ciney hosted over 20 market fairs a year, each lasting about a week. So, you can see there was certainly a market for beer.

  The steeple seen on the Ciney beer label and glassware is the bell tower for Ciney's Saint Nicholas collegiate church. A collegiate church is one governed by a college of canons. In 2010, the bell tower was damaged in a storm, to the point where it collapsed into the church nave. It has since been rebuilt

  Like I said, I have enjoyed this beer - both Blond and Bruin - in many places over in Belgium and have had the Blond imported here to the U.S., and will do the same with the Bruin as soon as I can. To the best of my knowledge, neither is imported over here. Having it shipped in from Brussels, which is is small price to pay for a good beer. 

  Watch this space for updates.