Beer Birthday: Jean-Marie Rock

Today is the 74th birthday of Jean-Marie Rock, former brewmaster of Orval. While I’d visited the brewery a couple of times, I had the pleasure of judging Belgian beers with Jean-Marie at the World Beer Cup when it was in Nashville, which was an amazing experience. He first brewed for Palm and later for Lamot in Mechelen, brewing lagers, before joining Orval in 1972. He retired about five years ago, and is doing some consulting, plus working on another brewery in Belgium, Monsieur Rock. Join me in wishing Jean-Marie a very happy birthday.