I'm off to Bruges!

[JFB]

After a few beers with the brother in law in the pub the other night and the wonders of an I phone and paypal it looks like i'm spending new years in Bruges!
I did go in April this year and had some great beers but feel I probably missed a lot due to not knowing what I was after.
So can I please get some recommendations for beers to try and bars to visit.
I'll do my best to try all recommendations:drunk:

 

[AlanManley]

The Duvel Bar is an obvious choice... it's in the main square.

There is a bar just off the main square which is down an alley that if you didn't T know it was there you'd miss... it took me 3 walk bys!
I'll fish out the name. Great little quirky bar and some excellent beers on.

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[Pfeffer]

Bruges is a wonderful city, however the beer there isn't really my thing. They tend to use gruit instead of hops for some of their local brews, which isn't my cup of tea.

If you like fizzy Belgian beer, make sure to try la Chouffe blonde, Delirium Tremens, Achel, Westmalle and Westvleeteren.

Not sure if you fly or go with the ferry/tunnel, but if you buy bottled beer in a beer shop.. make sure to check for flaking in the bottle. Some beers have been on the shelf for ages.

 

[JFB]

The Duvel Bar is an obvious choice... it's in the main square.

There is a bar just off the main square which is down an alley that if you didn't T know it was there you'd miss... it took me 3 walk bys!
I'll fish out the name. Great little quirky bar and some excellent beers on.

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Missed the Duvel bar. Is the one down the alley the one where you get the du Gare(spelling?) comes served with a small bowl of chopped Gouda cheese. If so that ones ace and i'm definitely popping back in there.

 

[JFB]

Bruges is a wonderful city, however the beer there isn't really my thing. They tend to use gruit instead of hops for some of their local brews, which isn't my cup of tea.

If you like fizzy Belgian beer, make sure to try la Chouffe blonde, Delirium Tremens, Achel, Westmalle and Westvleeteren.

Not sure if you fly or go with the ferry/tunnel, but if you buy bottled beer in a beer shop.. make sure to check for flaking in the bottle. Some beers have been on the shelf for ages.

Don't think I tried any of those. I'm going to have to pen a few of these down. Maybe make a check list...

 

[AlanManley]

It's called De Garre
http://www.degarre.be

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[AlanManley]

Missed the Duvel bar. Is the one down the alley the one where you get the du Gare(spelling?) comes served with a small bowl of chopped Gouda cheese. If so that ones ace and i'm definitely popping back in there.

That's the one... it's amazing!

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[Linalmeemow]

Go to de Garre and drink their 11% house ale. It's great if not the friendliest place in Bruges.
Go to la Trappiste, an amazing vaulted basement bar which probably IS the friendliest place in Bruges. Go before it gets busy and ask the bar staff what's good - they'll make great recommendations.
Go to t'Brugs Beertje and marvel at their beer menu.
Try to eat at Cambrinus and Ribs n' Beer (Ribs n' Beer is a great place - sounds tacky but isn't and is great value)
Have chips and mayonnaise in the square but don't drink there, it's stupidly pricey.

I think as long as you go to decent beercentric bars and ask the staff for their recommendations you can't go far wrong in Bruges. It's like a ****ing fairytale.

edited to add - the Haalve Maan brewery tour is only 6 euros or so and includes a beer at the end. Very interesting tour and really good beer.

 

[JFB]

Go to de Garre and drink their 11% house ale. It's great if not the friendliest place in Bruges.
Go to la Trappiste, an amazing vaulted basement bar which probably IS the friendliest place in Bruges. Go before it gets busy and ask the bar staff what's good - they'll make great recommendations.
Go to t'Brugs Beertje and marvel at their beer menu.
Try to eat at Cambrinus and Ribs n' Beer (Ribs n' Beer is a great place - sounds tacky but isn't and is great value)
Have chips and mayonnaise in the square but don't drink there, it's stupidly pricey.

I think as long as you go to decent beercentric bars and ask the staff for their recommendations you can't go far wrong in Bruges. It's like a ****ing fairytale.

edited to add - the Haalve Maan brewery tour is only 6 euros or so and includes a beer at the end. Very interesting tour and really good beer.

Ribs and beer sounds great, been to the rest except Trappiste which ill try.
Also want to try the lambic place in Belgium. Not sure if it will be open over new years though.

 

[Jakeyboi]

+1 on the haalve maan brewery. The zot beer is lovely.

 

[Sadfield]

Go to de Garre and drink their 11% house ale. It's great if not the friendliest place in Bruges.
Go to la Trappiste, an amazing vaulted basement bar which probably IS the friendliest place in Bruges. Go before it gets busy and ask the bar staff what's good - they'll make great recommendations.
Go to t'Brugs Beertje and marvel at their beer menu.
Try to eat at Cambrinus and Ribs n' Beer (Ribs n' Beer is a great place - sounds tacky but isn't and is great value)
Have chips and mayonnaise in the square but don't drink there, it's stupidly pricey.

I think as long as you go to decent beercentric bars and ask the staff for their recommendations you can't go far wrong in Bruges. It's like a ****ing fairytale.

edited to add - the Haalve Maan brewery tour is only 6 euros or so and includes a beer at the end. Very interesting tour and really good beer.

That's covered it. [emoji3]



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[JFB]

+1 on the haalve maan brewery. The zot beer is lovely.

I had the zot followed by the double then the strafe Hendrik at that place.
You have to love Bruges even the misses smiles when you suggest a nice weekend away:grin:

 

[Pfeffer]

All the food and drinks at the main square are expensive, but that's normal in touristy areas. There are some very good and very bad restaurants though. I've been there a couple of times (perks on living on this side of the channel). Make sure to plan it up front, check some ratings before you travel. It can save you headaches over there as some tourist oriented joints go for the "they will only visit Brugge once approach". Especially hotels seem to get away with it.

For food I can recommend argentinian steakhouse "el Churrasco". It's nothing fancy, but cosy with good food and good value as it's a 5min wall from the square. With that many calories from beer I can recommend an argentinian low carb diet.

If you find some nice bottled beers in a souvenir shop, ask how much shipping costs. Some of the beer stores have webshops and are happy to mail it to the UK in case you're flying.

 

[JFB]

All the food and drinks at the main square are expensive, but that's normal in touristy areas. There are some very good and very bad restaurants though. I've been there a couple of times (perks on living on this side of the channel). Make sure to plan it up front, check some ratings before you travel. It can save you headaches over there as some tourist oriented joints go for the "they will only visit Brugge once approach". Especially hotels seem to get away with it.

For food I can recommend argentinian steakhouse "el Churrasco". It's nothing fancy, but cosy with good food and good value as it's a 5min wall from the square. With that many calories from beer I can recommend an argentinian low carb diet.

If you find some nice bottled beers in a souvenir shop, ask how much shipping costs. Some of the beer stores have webshops and are happy to mail it to the UK in case you're flying.

I'm on the euro star:thumb:
I must admit when I was there in april I didn't find the food that great/value for money.
The brother in law loves a good steak, so el churrasco is going on the list..

 

[dad_of_jon]

The Duvel Bar is an obvious choice... it's in the main square.

There is a bar just off the main square which is down an alley that if you didn't T know it was there you'd miss... it took me 3 walk bys!
I'll fish out the name. Great little quirky bar and some excellent beers on.

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+1 for the duvel bar, it does shut early-ish so get there early :-)

http://www.duvel.com/en-us/news/enjoy-duvel-interactive-historic-setting

Are you driving over? If so a slight detour on the way home is well,well worth it :-)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2ee977c58244f262!8m2!3d50.7145772!4d2.8851329

allow an hour there!

 

[Dutto]

A marvellous city to visit.

My advice is to go out dressed to walk and go visit the city by night.

On windless black nights, the lighting on some of the old buildings is so designed that looking at them from certain angles will give you an absolutely perfect mirror image in the canal alongside.

When we were there they had an exhibition of ice sculptures which were worth seeing as well.

My only other advice is to try and get away from the "tourist traps" around the main square. Prices are sky-high and the quality isn't all that great.

A truly magical city though so - Enjoy! :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
+1 for Staminee de Gare - they will only allow you three small glasses of their own brew (and at 11%, can you blame them). It can get very busy as it is only a small place. There is seating upstairs.
It's just off the main square (Markt) on Breidelstraat. Look for a shop called La Cure Gourmande - there's an alley right next to the shop entrance that looks like another door. The Staminee de Gare is down the alley a short distance, up a set of stone steps.

More details here: https://beernerds.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/honeymoon-beers-part-2/

 

[AlanManley]

I have family over that way... I am now planning a visit to see them! 😂
Thanks for the inspiration!!

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[keat64]

We stayed over in Lueven on our way back from the Alps.
I found one bar that had over 1000 beers to choose from.

Unfortunately SWMO, made me come out after 2.

 

[strange-steve]

Also want to try the lambic place in Belgium. Not sure if it will be open over new years though.

Which lambic place do you mean? Timmermans, Girardin, Boon and Cantillon are all in the Brussels area I think, but if you have transport it's definitely worth going to Cantillon at least, amazing brewery and world class beers. Their holiday opening hours are on their website.