Otto and the 3 intrepid beer hunters went to Bruges, the Venice of the North. Bruges's incredibly well-preserved medieval architecture makes it one of the most exciting tourist attractions in Europe. Besides architecture, sites to see include several museums. First is the Groeninge Museum, with six centuries of paintings from different styles, including works by Jan van Eyck, a Flemish Primitive painter. The Memling museum is also not to be missed, with the wooden Shrine of St. Ursula. Also, the only work of art by Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime, can be seen in the Church of our Lady. The Chapel of the Holy Blood also displays an ampul reputed to contain the blood of Christ. Of course a visit to Bruges wouldn’t be complete without a canal or carriage ride, sampling the chocolates and waffles, shopping for craft work including Bruges famous lace, visiting art galleries, climbing the belfry or trying several of the more than 350 available Belgian beers. We started the morning with a brewery tour, there are two within walking distance of the centre with free tastings! We found the Straffe Hendrik Brewery Tavern, home of the De Halve Maan Brewery. This is obviously geared to the tourist trade. We did the tour which was quite good and you get to go up onto the roof top for excellent views of the city. The beer was quite ordinary, so we left after one! A short walk to Bargehuis, a beer café, close to the canal. We studied the beer menu of some 125 beers and noticed two other groups of like minded individuals. It was here that we became a little more adventurous as we began to explore the great variety of beers. Then we, headed for lunch at one of the swanky restaurants by the fish market (go on splash out – its only money) where you get a different beer with each course and even your own beer waiter! Replete from an excellent lunch we headed for one of the taverns near the Cathedral to try a Kwak or two, just for the glass it comes in (think chemical warfare and you'll get the idea). You cannot go to Bruges without trying out a few of the best Belgium beers at "'Het Brugs Beertje" (Little Bear) bar - there are hundreds to choose from and they go very well with their "nibbling plate" of cheese, salami and pickles. The bar staff can help you pick a suitable brew and they have fruit beers to try too. It’s a great old-fashioned beer cafe with brown walls, beer posters and two dimly lit, smoky rooms. Friendly staff and not really a tourist trap place. There are over 200 bottle d beers on the menu, plus five draught beers, "Brugse Zot" is a good one to try. This is one of the must visit beer bars in the world! | Translate This Page      |
 | The Cafe Craenenburg is a bar and brasserie on Markt, with helpful waiters who are only too happy to make beer recommendations for you. We tried a number of trappist ales here. It's on the west side of the square, and the few metres between it and the "tourist-heavy" row of bars and restaurants on the north side, seems to keep it reasonably popular with locals. An ideal place for a good, convivial night out.
Next up was De Garre a tiny bar squeezed into an alley between Bruges's two main squares, Markt and Burg. Half a dozen tables downstairs and a few more in the equally cosy (non-smoking) upstairs bar - so don't be surprised if there's no room. The beer is excellent, including their own De Garre triple on tap. As usual you get a small bowl of delicious cheese as a snack. The choice of beers is not as extensive as at the better-known Het Brugs Beertjes. |
Still going strong, we tried the Brasserie Erasmus. This is a hotel, with modern décor and classical music playing. We selected from a menu of 120 beers. We chose a couple of dark Abbey ales and the a couple of fruit beers that were on draught.
Other bars to try are: Ovene – opposite the old fish market has a beer list of 55 with east and west Flanders being the most prominent. Zolder (The Attic) – but it’s a cellar bar. Open fires in the winter, has a beer list of 50 which does not include Inbev or alken-meas brews, good stews are the order of the day on the food front. On the canal bank is the Dyver, one of Belgium’s top restaurants for beer cuisine. is a classic Flemish bar built in 1515, it has loads of atmosphere. Remember beer is the drink of the people.
Cheers Otto.
