Brussels

ManwitaPlan

Off to Brussels at the weekend and was wondering if there's any beery places people would recommend as must sees.

Basically what are the best breweries to check out and what pubs have the best variety of beer.

Thanks.

thehamo

Most places have a huuuuuuuuuuuuge selection, but i'd reccomend delerium tremens. Its a pretty cool place with a massive selection of beers. Not sure the name of the street but its on a small side street, though a huge pup. Maybe google it to find out more.

BeerNut

Do not miss the Cantillon brewery, out by Gare du Midi.

Chez Moeder Lambic run two top beer pubs in the city. The original one is a bit of a trek out of the centre, in St Gilles, but they opened a new one near the centre not long ago, at Place Fontainas.

Bier Circus (Rue de L'Enseignement) is walkable from Grand Place and is great for food as well as beer. Poechenellekelder is just over the Mannekin Pis's left shoulder and has a great beer list and lots of atmosphere.

There's a nice pub crawl, starting down near the Bourse at A La Bécasse on Rue de Tabora where they serve gorgeous Lambic Doux in stoneware jugs, then going up Rue du Marché aux Herbes and calling at L'Image De Notre-Dame, Au Bon Vieux Temps and Toone: all beautiful atmospheric Brussels boozers.

Delirium Café is on this strip too, and while it's not a beautiful atmospheric Brussels boozer it does, as people have mentioned, have a vast selection of beers (being owned by a brewery which produces endless amounts of crap samey beer helps, though: all the stuff highlighted on the menu is their own). I've heard the upstairs bar is great, though I've not been.

enda1

BeerNut wrote: »

Do not miss the Cantillon brewery, out by Gare du Midi.

Chez Moeder Lambic run two top beer pubs in the city. The original one is a bit of a trek out of the centre, in St Gilles, but they opened a new one near the centre not long ago, at Place Fontainas.

Bier Circus (Rue de L'Enseignement) is walkable from Grand Place and is great for food as well as beer. Poechenellekelder is just over the Mannekin Pis's left shoulder and has a great beer list and lots of atmosphere.

There's a nice pub crawl, starting down near the Bourse at A La Bécasse on Rue de Tabora where they serve gorgeous Lambic Doux in stoneware jugs, then going up Rue du Marché aux Herbes and calling at L'Image De Notre-Dame, Au Bon Vieux Temps and Toone: all beautiful atmospheric Brussels boozers.

Delirium Café is on this strip too, and while it's not a beautiful atmospheric Brussels boozer it does, as people have mentioned, have a vast selection of beers (being owned by a brewery which produces endless amounts of crap samey beer helps, though: all the stuff highlighted on the menu is their own). I've heard the upstairs bar is great, though I've not been.

The ground floor bar is really shit.
The basement one is really smoky but way nicer.
Though like you say the upstairs bar is the nicest.

The other bars in the complex though are cool enough too though some of the staff know little.

The tequila list and absinthe and rum lists are very comprehensive.

Its terrible, I live over here but haven't been to all the bars you mention

That pub crawl looks like a good idea though.

Regarding the Cantillon brewery.
Hmmm...

Been twice with two different groups of friends and no one in either group (me included) ever liked the beer.

The experience is not bad, but to be honest, the beer is pretty woeful.

BeerNut

enda1 wrote: »

the beer is pretty woeful.

Or, looking at it another way, the beer is among the best in the world.

I think the phrase is "acquired taste"

enda1

BeerNut wrote: »

Or, looking at it another way, the beer is among the best in the world.

I think the phrase is "acquired taste"

And I think the only way to acquire it is to cut your taste buds out with a razor blade!

Do you actually like the beer?
Their Geuze, Kriek, Caramel one?

BeerNut

enda1 wrote: »

Do you actually like the beer?

Yes. Like I say, I think it's among the best beers in the world. Lots and lots of people do. Getting it for a few quid a bottle when you can pay a fortune for it at specialty beer shops around the world is great.

enda1 wrote: »

Their Geuze, Kriek, Caramel one?

Caramel? The Gueuze is amazing, the Kriek is nice, though I prefer kriek to be a bit sweeter. Their raspberry beer, Rosé de Gambrinus, has a better fruit balance, IMO. They do a really nice dry-hopped gueuze called Iris and a fantastic white-grape lambic, Vigneronne.

enda1

Yeah I think it was a Gueuze with caramel added...
Not very nice.

I think I had the white grape one too but don't quite remember.

The Kriek I didn't like but I didn't try the Raspberry one.

Overall though as a beer category I must be missing something cause it really turned my stomach.

I'll try again perhaps but maybe need to forget my experience first to approach it again with an open mind.

Any more approachable lambics to try perhaps?

BeerNut

enda1 wrote: »

Yeah I think it was a Gueuze with caramel added

Ah, Faro. It's to take the edge off. For me, the edge is the best bit.

enda1 wrote: »

Any more approachable lambics to try perhaps?

Loads! Actually, Lambic Doux at A La Bécasse is a great introduction to the style. Mort Subite Gueuze is another slightly sweetened one that's nicely balanced. Then there's the likes of Girardin Oude Geuze where instead of adding sugar, they've aged it to take the sharpness out a bit. It really is one of those things, like spicy food or hoppy beer, where you start off intolerant of it but gradually build up your tolerance levels until only the hottest/bitterest/sourest will do.

enda1

BeerNut wrote: »

Ah, Faro. It's to take the edge off. For me, the edge is the best bit.

Loads! Actually, Lambic Doux at A La Bécasse is a great introduction to the style. Mort Subite Gueuze is another slightly sweetened one that's nicely balanced. Then there's the likes of Girardin Oude Geuze where instead of adding sugar, they've aged it to take the sharpness out a bit. It really is one of those things, like spicy food or hoppy beer, where you start off intolerant of it but gradually build up your tolerance levels until only the hottest/bitterest/sourest will do.

Right I'll get some of them soon and report back.

My confidence in you Mr. Nut is waning after singing the praises of perhaps the least favourite beers I have ever had!

And I don't like nuts :P

BeerNut

enda1 wrote: »

My confidence in you Mr. Nut is waning after singing the praises of perhaps the least favourite beers I have ever had!

My missus went to Brussels for a work thing about ten years ago and came back with a tale of the disgusting local sour beer one of her colleagues had dared her to drink. Within a year she had developed a taste for it and has been a Cantillon fanatic ever since.

Once you get over the initial shock -- like a red wine drinker encountering champagne for the first time -- it's very tasty.

MediaTank

BeerNut wrote: »

Bier Circus (Rue de L'Enseignement) is walkable from Grand Place and is great for food as well as beer. Poechenellekelder is just over the Mannekin Pis's left shoulder and has a great beer list and lots of atmosphere.

Love that place and specialises in aged beers too.

thelynchfella

Cantillon Brewery is a must.

Surprised Beernut hasnt linked this;

http://beermapping.com/maps/maps.php?m=belgium

Might be of interest to you!

enjoy, Brussels is a great city especially if you like your beer!

enda1

thelynchfella wrote: »

Cantillon Brewery is a must.

Surprised Beernut hasnt linked this;

http://beermapping.com/maps/maps.php?m=belgium

Might be of interest to you!

enjoy, Brussels is a great city especially if you like your beer!

Its wort a visit alright!

thelynchfella

enda1 wrote: »

Its wort a visit alright!

...took me a second!!!

ManwitaPlan

Cheers fellas...some great stuff on here.

Could anybody tell me where is the nearest trappist brewery to Brussels?

BeerNut

I think the nearest is Westmalle at 80km away. Most of the rest are a bit over 100km away in different directions.

oblivious

Public transport is a bit crap you would be better to renting and a car at Charleroi if you fly with Ryanair as there a few brewery's around that area

MANUTD99

Rather than start a new thread, Ill keep this one going.

Heading on a 2 day city trip to Brussels in July. Any new recommendations to go for good beer.

Also does anyone know of a shop where I can buy some beers to bring home?

thanks

BeerNut

I stand by what I said earlier. I've been to Moeder Lambic Fontainas now, and it's amazing. Unmissable.

For beer to bring home it depends on what you're after. You can get a lot of very good mainstream stuff like the trappists and Duvel for buttons in the supermarkets. There's a big selection at Biertempel on Rue du Marché aux Herbes and they're very good at wrapping stuff for transport. For more of a hand-chosen selection from the less-well-known Belgian breweries, try Délices et Caprices on Rue des Bouchers, though beware their opening times which are a bit odd. More info on their website.

Everywhere you go, look out for Brasserie De La Senne beers. They're really starting to go mainstream across Brussels now and they're superb. The house beer at Moeder Lambic Fontainas is one of theirs -- a pale ale served on cask, called Band of Brothers.

enda1

BeerNut wrote: »

I stand by what I said earlier. I've been to Moeder Lambic Fontainas now, and it's amazing. Unmissable.

Have to agree with you there. It was my favourite beer pub when I lived in Brussels. Its about the only thing I miss about the place.

BeerNut wrote: »

Everywhere you go, look out for Brasserie De La Senne beers

Again spot-on. They really are lovely.

Martyn1989

BeerNut wrote: »

Delirium Café is on this strip too, and while it's not a beautiful atmospheric Brussels boozer it does, as people have mentioned, have a vast selection of beers (being owned by a brewery which produces endless amounts of crap samey beer helps, though: all the stuff highlighted on the menu is their own). I've heard the upstairs bar is great, though I've not been.

The bar upstairs is the Hop Loft and shouldn't be missed. I know you'll be after all the Belgian stuff but up there they have all sorts from all over that you won't see anywhere else. You've also a much better chance of getting a seat. Also when I was there they had no problem with us bringing beers up or down respectively.

enda1 wrote: »

Do you actually like the beer?

This must be the first time the Beernuts been asked this?


The Timmermans Brewery isn't far outside Brussels and easily accesible on public transport, its an alright visit but nothing special.

Geuze

enda1 wrote: »

Regarding the Cantillon brewery.
Hmmm...

Been twice with two different groups of friends and no one in either group (me included) ever liked the beer.

The experience is not bad, but to be honest, the beer is pretty woeful.

Isn't lambic seen as a "sour" beer, with no sugar?? So I suppose it's not for everybody.

I would call it an adult drink, like I think mustard is an adult food.

I love geuze.

Geuze is often called the champagne of beer.

enda1

Geuze wrote: »

Isn't lambic seen as a "sour" beer, with no sugar?? So I suppose it's not for everybody.

I would call it an adult drink, like I think mustard is an adult food.

I love geuze.

Geuze is often called the champagne of beer.

Thank you very much for your patronising tone. I am quite comfortably an adult and don't require to enjoy lambic beers to prove it to you.

Also quoting posts from 3 years ago doesn't help much either.

ciaran76

Geuze wrote: »

Geuze is often called the champagne of beer.

I think you will find Miller High life the Champagne of beers :pac::P:D


http://justbeer.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/miller-high-life-the-champagne-of-beers/

Chelon

Re-resurrecting this fine thread once more - I was once in a dark bar in Brussels where the bar staff were all clad in monk-like robes; anyone know where it is?

Ravelleman

Speaking of Belgium, what can people recommend in Ghent? I've been there numerous times but thought I'd ask for some more inspiration here. I'll be going to the Delerium Cafe, which is more limited than the one in Brussels, and Dulle Griet. Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant was just ok. Other suggestions?

Anyone ever been on a brewery tour there?

I'll also be going to the Westvleteren monastery, although my attempt to get two crates has failed, given timetabling issues with the car. Hopefully I'll stumble upon a three-pack or six-pack while sampling the delights in the cafe.

BeerNut

Trappistenhuis (164 Brabantdam) is well-regarded though I don't think I've been. The only other place I know is Café de Hopduvel but it goes in and out of business like a yoyo and last I heard it was closed. Rokerelsstraat 10 if you want to take a look -- you might get lucky.

Chelon

I'm going this weekend - Brussels and Bruges, possibly a day trip to Antwerp or Ghent also.

Have visited a couple of other breweries before(Heineken, Guinness(!)....and have to say, as a "beernut" myself I didn't really find them that interesting. More marketing hype than useful info. Are the Belgian ones any different, if so could you recommend one in Bruges?

Anyone know the name of that "Trappist" bar in Brussels, all candlelit alcoves and hooded serants.....?

BeerNut

Chelon wrote: »

Heineken, Guinness

These are both visitors' centres rather than actual breweries. De Halve Maan in Bruges is worth a visit, but I cannot recommend Cantillon in Brussels highly enough -- there are very few breweries like it anywhere in the world.

MrGee

Just back from Belgium a week ago, Ill give u my recomendations of good beer bars in Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp.
Antwerp
1. De Groote Witte Arend
2.Gollem ( my favourite in antwerp)
3.Kulminator
4.Oud Arsenaal

Brugge
1.Brugs Bertje ( great bar and staff)
2.Cafe Red Rose
3.Cambrinus
4.Huisbrouwerij de halveman(Brewery Tour and there tasting room)

Brussels
1.Au Bon Vieux Temps
2.Au Brasseur
3.Cantillon Brewery( interesting tour and nice tasting)
4.Delirium Village
5.La Becasse
6.Little Delirium cafe
7.Moeder Lambic
8.Poechenellekelder
9.A la mort Subite( love this place, nice food and lovely geuze)

Was in all of the above bars, all great places for beer fans to visit.

Greg

Chelon

Fantastiche, Greg many thanks, hope you left some beer for us!

Chelon

Did you come across any good restaurants? Thinking ethnic - the Dutch have their fantastic Indonesians, but does Belgium have anything similar?

MrGee

I didnt, i was only interested in the bars and i ate cheese and meats with my beers! ( and plenty of waffles too) i didnt visit any restaurants although there is lots of them just off the grand place in brussels. Near delerium cafe. Seems very seafood orientated.

Running Balance

MrGee wrote: »

Just back from Belgium a week ago, Ill give u my recomendations of good beer bars in Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp.
Antwerp
1. De Groote Witte Arend
2.Gollem ( my favourite in antwerp)
3.Kulminator
4.Oud Arsenaal

Brugge
1.Brugs Bertje ( great bar and staff)
2.Cafe Red Rose
3.Cambrinus
4.Huisbrouwerij de halveman(Brewery Tour and there tasting room)

Brussels
1.Au Bon Vieux Temps
2.Au Brasseur
3.Cantillon Brewery( interesting tour and nice tasting)
4.Delirium Village
5.La Becasse
6.Little Delirium cafe
7.Moeder Lambic
8.Poechenellekelder
9.A la mort Subite( love this place, nice food and lovely geuze)

Was in all of the above bars, all great places for beer fans to visit.

Greg

Cheers for the detail Greg,

Heading to Bruges at the end of November and at a loss what to..

Any tips things to do avoid..

Ta

MrGee

Running Balance wrote: »

Cheers for the detail Greg,

Heading to Bruges at the end of November and at a loss what to..

Any tips things to do avoid..

Ta

Ive been to brugge 3 times, only a place to go for a day trip imo.
First time i went did a few touristy things like a boat cruise on the canal and a horse and cart ride as well as wandering around stopping into churches etc.
The other 2 times it was all about beer, stopping into as many new bars as possible to try new beers. The brewery tour at the haave man is pretty decent if your interested in beer brewing. Belgium is a great place, dont think there has ever been anything to avoid.

Chelon

Recent Bruges and Brussels trip:-
Bruges:-

Beertjes Bar - very good place, don't ask for "Bertie's Bar", pronounce it properly and the locals will show you where it is.

http://www.brugsbeertje.be/index_en.htm

Boat trip round the canals - very nice and bit of a bargain at €7

Belfry - worth going up, not so much for the view, but to see the campanological (think that's right hic) mechanics at work. Quite something.

Devaney's Irish pub - bit meh, we heard the Cambrinus across the road was better especially for food, but didn't get to try it.

Basilica of the Holy Blood - even if you're not religious, go in to see the interior, it's stunning.

Brussels:-

Big thanks to Greg, Mort Subite and especially Moeder Lambic at Fontainas were superb. Best beer of the trip was enjoyed at Moeder, an Adelardus Bruin, absolutely delicious and am now on a search to see if it's available here.

Also one of our party jokingly asked for a Guinness one night at Le Cirio (next to the Bourse). The bottled "Special Export Stout" that arrived was quite wonderful, at 8% a completely different experience to the draught stuff here.

Micky Dolenz

MrGee wrote: »

Just back from Belgium a week ago, Ill give u my recomendations of good beer bars in Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp.
Antwerp
1. De Groote Witte Arend
2.Gollem ( my favourite in antwerp)
3.Kulminator
4.Oud Arsenaal

Brugge
1.Brugs Bertje ( great bar and staff)
2.Cafe Red Rose
3.Cambrinus
4.Huisbrouwerij de halveman(Brewery Tour and there tasting room)

Brussels
1.Au Bon Vieux Temps
2.Au Brasseur
3.Cantillon Brewery( interesting tour and nice tasting)
4.Delirium Village
5.La Becasse
6.Little Delirium cafe
7.Moeder Lambic
8.Poechenellekelder
9.A la mort Subite( love this place, nice food and lovely geuze)

Was in all of the above bars, all great places for beer fans to visit.

Greg

Au Bon Vieux Temps was a local of mine, liked it a lot in there.

Would like to add The Beer Circus to the Brussels list. Great selection of beers and was never overly busy in all the times I was there. Does food too.

MrGee

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Au Bon Vieux Temps was a local of mine, liked it a lot in there.

Would like to add The Beer Circus to the Brussels list. Great selection of beers and was never overly busy in all the times I was there. Does food too.

I heard great things about the beer circus!, its closed on mondays i think, it was when we were there anyway. I will defo visit there my next belgium trip.

pdebarra

BeerNut wrote: »

My missus went to Brussels for a work thing about ten years ago and came back with a tale of the disgusting local sour beer one of her colleagues had dared her to drink.

Had a similar experience with the Mort Subite geuze: the vilest form of beer imaginable, closer to vinegar, could barely get it down me neck. But now I love it! Well, not so much the Mort Subite one. My favourite is the Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait, but there may well be better ones out there that I have yet to try.

Next month, I shall embark once more on a voyage of discovery to that Promised Land, and see what I can find!

MrGee

pdebarra wrote: »

Had a similar experience with the Mort Subite geuze: the vilest form of beer imaginable, closer to vinegar, could barely get it down me neck. But now I love it! Well, not so much the Mort Subite one. My favourite is the Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait, but there may well be better ones out there that I have yet to try.

Next month, I shall embark once more on a voyage of discovery to that Promised Land, and see what I can find!

Lol, When i got back from brussels recently i was getting craves for a morte subite geuze. I only drank one geuze per visit and only in morte subite. It wouldnt be a style i would seek out but i found myself really looking forward and enjoying it.
You have me wanting one now!!

Il have to plan a quick 2 nighter trip to brussels early next year!!

Chelon

MrGee wrote: »

Lol, When i got back from brussels recently i was getting craves for a morte subite geuze. I only drank one geuze per visit and only in morte subite. It wouldnt be a style i would seek out but i found myself really looking forward and enjoying it.
You have me wanting one now!!

Il have to plan a quick 2 nighter trip to brussels early next year!!

Can't say I enjoyed the Mort Subite gueze - would you have to be a wheat beer fan to get it? I'm not. Wondering how many glasses you'd have to try before it got you :P

I didn't like the kriek either. My favourites were the ale and stout styles, like De Koninck and top of the list for me, Adelardus Bruin.

Isn't it amazing that whatever bar you are in, the beer is always served perfectly chilled (not overly though) and presented. Love to go back soon...

Chelon

Quick one - can anyone recommend a website for ordering some of the rarer Belgian beers?

MrGee

Not necessarily a wheat thing, i enjoy trying all beers, with a preferance for darker coloured ones.
I guess i found it refreshing, was a change from the 10%+ bombs that id been drinking before and afterward.
And one is enough!, in belgium i never drank the same beer twice in a day.

Geuze

pdebarra wrote: »

Had a similar experience with the Mort Subite geuze: the vilest form of beer imaginable, closer to vinegar, could barely get it down me neck. But now I love it! Well, not so much the Mort Subite one. My favourite is the Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait, but there may well be better ones out there that I have yet to try.

Next month, I shall embark once more on a voyage of discovery to that Promised Land, and see what I can find!

I think that Mort Subite make a geuze and a Oude Geuze

Here is a review of the geuze, scoring 56:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mort-subite-gueuze-lambic/5965/




Here is the Oude Geuze, scoring 95:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mort-subite-oude-gueuze-formerly-fond/10814/

Geuze

pdebarra wrote: »

My favourite is the Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait, but there may well be better ones out there that I have yet to try.

Lovely, lovely beer. I'd say it's made with pride.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/boon-oude-geuze-mariage-parfait/12027/


Available in a few off-licences in Ireland.

sarkozy

I prefer Mort Subite to Boon, which you can get in the Porterhouse.