No one ever told us how to pronounce these new-fangled foreign beers, so we’ve been
blundering through the best we can. But now help is at hand with this definitive guide.


LEFFE
Leffe is often pronounced ‘Leff’, ‘Leffee’ or ‘Leffur’. Two of these are correct; Belgium has two languages, Flemish and French. If you say ‘Leff’, you’re using the French, ‘Leffur’ (as in ‘heifer’) the Flemish. ‘Leffee’ should be erased from your mind.


HOEGAARDEN
Probably the most frequently mispronounced of all, with most people pronouncing this ‘Hoe-garden’, as if it were some kind of horticultural implement or a park full of prostitues. It’s actually pronounced ‘Who-garden’, but, as with so many commonly mispronounced words, it’s less embarrassing to follow the herd.


STAROPRAMEN
Bit of a tongue-twister, this one(especially after ten pints): ‘Star-oh-prah-men’, but say ‘Staro’, and everyone will know what you mean!