TOPIC:

I leave for a 4 day trip to Ghent and Brugges early tomorrow morning (vacation this time, not work) and am looking for recommendations for my short list of "must see" breweries and beer pubs in Ghent and Brugges. I've heard of a rumor of a pub in Ghent that has bicycles everywhere but don't have any more information yet.


Thanks for the recommendations,
Adam

DrJohn's guide to Bruges is here[/url:iet2y79z]. There's some good stuff on Ghent on this page[/url:iet2y79z], including the great news that Hopduvel is open again. I'd also recommend a restaurant called Pakhuis[/url:iet2y79z].

Bad time to be going, they've just introduced this nonsense:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8046970.stm">news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8046970.stm

Which if they tried here, would be my "go out of my way to have as much meaty goodness as possible" day.

Anyway, Ghent is a nice spot, loads of canals and cathedrals worth taking a stroll around as it seems mostly pedestrianised (now [i:3fl1b2b2]that's[/i:3fl1b2b2] a good idea.)

Can't recommend any boozers though.

I would highly recommend De Kelk pub (Langestraat 69) in Brugge. It only opens at 5pm and has an incredible range of beers. Also Staminee de Garre, 't Brugs Beertje, 't Poatersgat and Cambrinus.

The "bicycle" place in Ghent is called 't Velootje, but a friend was there a few weeks ago and reported the following; if you want to "experience" the eccentricity of this place and it's owner, fair enough. But expect to pay 6 or 7 euros for a bottle of beer without a glass. If you ask for a glass, don't expect a clean one! You have been warned. Waterhuis an de Bierkant is good with a great selection, but suffers from employing a couple of wait staff who seem indifferent.

&amp;quot;DrJohn&amp;quot;:3vghuh65 wrote: Waterhuis an de Bierkant is good with a great selection, but suffers from employing a couple of wait staff who seem indifferent.[/quote:3vghuh65]Yeah, one of the very few places in Belgium I've given up on the supposed table service and marched to the bar. Lovely pub, though, and the first place I ever had Westvleteren.

Had a fantastic time and added a day in Brussels to the list. Hit most of the famous/infamous beer stops and took the drive out to Saint Sixtus Abbij and came away with a sixer of Westvlettern Blonde and came home with two Westy 12s after of course drinking a couple while in Belgium.

I've learend that I absolutely LOVE Saisons on this thread and I wonder if Sean has any more of his Saison that he might be willing to bring in again to the next event. (I've never tried a home/craft brewed Saison and am definitely curious now.)

I'll have to share pics/ more story about the trip at some point.

In Charlotte, North Carolina now. (basically devoid of good local craft beers...)
Adam