Bonus Quick Bites: Big new brewery news, off-menu pizza, winery concerts.

The two very best places in the world for beer are Belgium and California.

At least that's how a lot of discerning beer nerds feel, including Belgium-born, Monterey-based Damien Georis and Fabrice Rondia.

Georis makes wines for the epynonymous wine label (though he's only a distant relative of owner Walter Georis) and his own Madeline wines; now he's brokered a deal with connections in his homeland to import a striking craft ale called Leopold 7.

Rondia has embarked on the permitting and construction of a heady "eco-brewery" across from Monterey Plaza Hotel in New Monterey that will brew Leopold right here on Cannery Row.

He plans on deploying solar power to fuel the operation. By using reused condensation for cleaning, recycling spent grain through Monterey Waste Management's Gas to Energy program and delivering via electric vehicles he'll further the sustainable ethic.

Ultimately all Belgian ingredients will be shipped raw (which reduces weight and waste compared to imported bottles) and combined with local water filtered to match Belgian levels.

The brewery is scheduled to open in 2016 (likely the tail end).

In the meantime, Georis has tagged imported bottle with the slogan "Born in Belgium, Soon to be California Brewed." (Rondia and Georis also like to call it "the Belgian blond with the California tan.")

The beer is spendy (starting at $3.99 at 750ml), but brew lovers can consider it required tasting.

It delivers the pop of a double at 6.2 percent ABV, but proves creamy and soft with a complement of floral flavors, honey, spice, depth and a clean finish.

Three types of hops—Chinook, Simcoe and Warrior—give it structure and character; additional bottle aging creates smaller bubbles that carry a silky mouth feel.

Like Georis says, "Extremes are easy. True balance is hard."

It's available at places that prioritize good beer, including Post No Bills, Wharf Marketplace, Bottles N Bins, Whole Foods, Surf N Sand and local restaurants like Corkscrew Bistro and Schooners.

More food news items assemble below:

• Speaking of: The total number of U.S. breweries hit 4,144 this month: It only took 142 years, but the U.S. craft beer industry has finally set a new record. The previous record of 4,131 dates back to 1873.

• New gastropub Melville Tavern in downtown Monterey does its grand opening 8-11pm Thursday, Dec. 10, with complimentary appetizers and beer and wine for purchase.

• Ag Against Hunger is still “fielding” nominations for 2016 Agricultural Woman of the Year until Jan. 22. Nomination forms and submission instructions at www.agagainsthunger.org.

• Jeff White, the community’s best friend on the dial (at KRML) has Pizza My Heart (656-9400) dialed. He reports they do an off-menu "Porkalicious" with chicharrones, red onion, cilantro, honey, lemon and Serrano chile peppers.

• White also helps conduct the fun at Folktale Winery, where the Live in the Vines concerts in the barrel room are ongoing. Next up: Greg Holden and Maia Sharp with Casey Frazier opening 7pm Saturday, Dec. 12. Look to join the Listener Advisory Board on the KRML website for more.

• Folktale also hosts an industry night the 4-9pm the first Monday of every month, with free tastings on wine and food, 50 percent off Folktale wines (and an after party at Barmel).

• “Christmas in Italy Holiday Party” at Cibo Italiano Ristorante 5-10pm Tuesday, Dec. 15, features sopranos singers, Mike Marotta's accordian-driven band, a canned food drive and 20 percent of proceeds going to San Carlos Cathedral Parish Food Pantry.

• El Pajaro Community Development Corporation (El Pajaro CDC) celebrates its 36th anniversary with news the organization recently received notice of a $799,000 award from the federal Community Economic Development Healthy Food Financing Initiative to expand its Kitchen Incubator Facility. Nice.