Enjoy watching a Belgian bike race with a bottle from Hops & Barley

We’re in the heart of the 2015 Belgian cycling season, where hard men hammer up steep cobbled climbs to the cheers of hardy fans who, like the riders, are often at the mercy of harsh elements.

It’s a blend of performance, panache and pain that’s without parallel.

Fortunately, for us cycling fans, several of the upcoming races will be shown on the NBC Sports Channel. Paris Roubaix, which takes place on Sunday, will air at 7 p.m. on Monday, 13 April, and Fleche Wallonne and Liege Bastogne Liege will be slotted into the schedule later this month.

It would be nice if they were aired live, but, the later times will allow the consumption of some topflight Belgian beer during the broadcasts.

You can, of course, take the easy route and put down a few Stellas or Hoegaardens, but why not roll with a little more style. Hops & Barley, a recently opened beer retail store at 412 MLK Jr. Blvd., has a stellar selection of Belgian Beers.

Based on a couple of visits, here’s three recommendations: White Gold Belgian Ale from Hof ten Dormaal, Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, and Saison d’Erpe-Mere from Brouwerij De Glazen Toren.

The IPA and the Saison have rock-star rankings from beeradvocate.com, but I was tantalized by the White Gold Belgian Ale, a complex and lusty combination of styles and flavors. It’s neither an ale, nor a Saison, but it melds components of both, with notes of herbs and fruit, along with bites of pepper, and the toasty taste of chicory, not surprising since one of the ingredients is chicory root. It also has an element of champagne: Don’t look down on the cork when you’re pulling it out.

In addition to the wide selection from Belgian, British and other foreign breweries, Hops & Barley also has a wide and imaginative range of domestic beers. If proprietor David Barker still has any on the shelf, check out Clown Shoes’ Chocolate Sombrero.

For more information, go to www.hopsandbarleysav.com.