Belgian Beer Knights - Analysis Requested

[r***@gmail.com]

Esteemed Readers,

Ran across something peculiar recently and wanted to get your thoughts on it. It seems that in Belgium, there exists the La Chevalerie du Fourquet des Brasseurs (the Knighthood of the Brewers' Mash Staff). These "beer knights" are the direct descendents of the medieval secular brewers guild in Brussels and have existed since about the 14th century (or so I've read). Once a year roughly 10 members of the international beer business are "enthroned" as knights by this order in recognition for their service to the Belgian beer industry. It's lauded as one of the highest honors a beer merchant/brewer can receive.

A quick Google search will bring up quite a bit of info but here are some links to start.

http://brusselsdiplomatic.com/2013/09/09/belgian-beer-brewers-the-knighthood-of-the-brewers-mash-staff/

http://vegasseven.com/2014/09/17/presenting-sir-adam-carmer-knight-brewers-mash-staff/

https://plus.google.com/photos/100926747620351473997/albums/5651254402742532721?banner=pwa&authkey=CLje_YT7mbyigAE

My question is multi-pronged.

1. Is this a true knighthood? Meaning, is it recognized by The Belgian government/royalty? Are the honorary knights truly knights?

2. Would this knighthood be recognized by other European authorities? Would King of Arms (College, Lyon, Spain and so on) likely recognize this knighthood?

3. Are there any traditional heraldic addictaments related to this knighthood? There is a medallion they are given upon being "enthroned" and it has a coat of arms on it. Would this medallion be hypothetically featured on an achievement below the shield as other knightly medallions sometimes are?

Any and all thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Have fun digging!!!

Cheers!

[r***@gmail.com]

Sort of surprised nobody has responded to this one yet. If "Beer Knights" don't catch your attention, I'm not sure what will!

[e $$iri k_i]

Post by r***@gmail.com
Sort of surprised nobody has responded to this one yet. If "Beer Knights" don't catch your attention, I'm not sure what will!

I'm quite sure it's caught a lot of attention; just what to say about it is another matter entirely.

It reminds me of when someone asked if Japanese mon were the same as euro coats of arms. Methinks the same applies here.

[Jonas Arnell]

Post by r***@gmail.com
1. Is this a true knighthood? Meaning, is it recognized by The Belgian government/royalty? Are the honorary knights truly knights?

No, it is not. It is an "order society"/"fraternal order". It mimics the orders of chivalry but are only allowed to do so within their own meetings. There are a lot of food/wine related organisations in Europe with similar background, like la Confrerie de la Chaine de Rottisseurs and Les Chevaliers de Tastevin.

Post by r***@gmail.com
2. Would this knighthood be recognized by other European authorities? Would King of Arms (College, Lyon, Spain and so on) likely recognize this knighthood?

No

Post by r***@gmail.com
3. Are there any traditional heraldic addictaments related to this knighthood? There is a medallion they are given upon being "enthroned" and it has a coat of arms on it. Would this medallion be hypothetically featured on an achievement below the shield as other knightly medallions sometimes are?

No

[e $$iri k_i]

1. Is this a true knighthood? Are the honorary knights truly knights?

"They most certainly are, because they never can be."

2. Would this knighthood be recognized by other European authorities? Would King of Arms (College, Lyon, Spain and so on) likely recognize this knighthood?

Someone once posted that the UK only recognizes titles given and held in the UK, and ignores titles (legit or otherwise) outside the UK. You may or may not be a knight and an earl in the Kingdom of Adria and Pandora, but this is England, etc.

[e $$iri k_i]

"And with his Guild medallion on, Carmer gets free beer for life in Belgium."

As long as I got free beer for life, I could care less if u recognize me as a "real" knight or not. This free beer in my hand is real, and that's all that counts!!

[r***@gmail.com]

Thanks to all for their kind responses. I thank you for the insights. There is precious little on this "order" to be found online.