Brussels

ManwitaPlan · 22-08-2010 11:01pm #1

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 · 22-08-2010 11:05pm

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 · 23-08-2010 12:04am

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 · 23-08-2010 2:21pm

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 · 23-08-2010 2:38pm

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 · 23-08-2010 2:58pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:07pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:17pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:22pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:47pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:58pm

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 · 23-08-2010 3:58pm

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 · 23-08-2010 4:37pm

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 · 23-08-2010 4:42pm

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 · 23-08-2010 4:44pm

enda1 wrote: »

Its wort a visit alright!

...took me a second!!!

ManwitaPlan · 26-08-2010 8:54am

Cheers fellas...some great stuff on here.

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

BeerNut · 26-08-2010 9:52am

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

oblivious · 26-08-2010 10:56am

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 · 15-06-2013 1:58pm

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 · 15-06-2013 2:26pm

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 · 17-06-2013 4:27pm

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 · 17-06-2013 7:45pm

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 · 20-06-2013 2:53pm

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 · 20-06-2013 3:26pm

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 · 20-06-2013 3:42pm

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 · 22-10-2013 9:41pm

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 · 22-10-2013 11:06pm

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 · 22-10-2013 11:24pm

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 · 23-10-2013 11:39am

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 · 23-10-2013 11:48am

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 · 24-10-2013 8:00pm

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

Brussels

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