Belgian brews no small beer in China

Rising demand for rare ales from Chinese people cheers European breweries

Beer lovers from China and other emerging markets are frothing up sales for Belgian brewers, with shipments from Antwerp to Chinese ports witnessing a steady growth.

Although Belgium makes some of the finest beers in the world, sales across most of Europe have remained lukewarm in the past few years because of the continuing financial crisis. Sales, however, from Belgium to China, which started more as a test-marketing venture, have instead blossomed into a big business.