National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Chit Chat => Topic started by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 08:34:53 AM

Title: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 08:34:53 AM
Myself and the missus are heading to Bruges this weekend so I'm looking for some recommendations.

We'll be there all day Saturday and Sunday and until early afternoon Monday.

What are your recommendations while there lads? 
Is there any must see breweries?
I've found https://www.halvemaan.be/en/home (https://www.halvemaan.be/en/home), presume if I get one beer related activity over the weekend this is a good spot?

Any restaurants you can recommend too? Its our wedding anniversary on the Sunday night so I'd like to go somewhere nice.

Thanks in advance,
Colin

Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: Simon_ on January 04, 2018, 09:12:44 AM
De Alcoves
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 09:59:39 AM
Thanks Simon.

That's the Queen Astrid Park you mean yeah?
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: redshift on January 04, 2018, 10:30:48 AM
Halvemaan is the only brewery in Bruges but it's a decent tour and the Brugse Zot you get at the end is very good.

As you'd expect there are a lot of great pubs but some of my favourites:

Cambrinus - huge beer menu including Struise Black Albert
River Bar - not the best beer selection, some Boon, but a beautiful location
Brugs Beertje - good beer selection including Girardin and De Dolle
Café Rose Red - beautiful pub with Cantillon gueuze on tap
De Garre - really good beer menu including Drei Fonteinen
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 10:51:42 AM
Thanks man,

I might book in a tour of Halvemaan so.

Thanks for those pub recommendations too, plenty to go on there.
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: Simon_ on January 04, 2018, 11:36:56 AM
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 09:59:39 AM
Thanks Simon.

That's the Queen Astrid Park you mean yeah?

Yeah I haven't been but I've been told it's a good place to take the wife. Not many people around this time of year. Lot of nooks and craneys.
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: irish_goat on January 04, 2018, 02:08:04 PM
Quote from: Simon_ on January 04, 2018, 09:12:44 AM
De Alcoves

  :D :D
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 02:56:35 PM
Quote from: Simon_ on January 04, 2018, 11:36:56 AM
Quote from: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 04, 2018, 09:59:39 AM
Thanks Simon.

That's the Queen Astrid Park you mean yeah?

Yeah I haven't been but I've been told it's a good place to take the wife. Not many people around this time of year. Lot of nooks and craneys.

;) I didn't know whether you were being serious or not  :)
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: delzep on January 04, 2018, 07:57:00 PM
Fort Lapin brewery is also in Bruges (about 30 seconds walk outside the ring road)

Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: DamienE on January 05, 2018, 08:29:27 AM
There's a beer museum in the centre.

And I believe the top of the tower is a must see
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on January 05, 2018, 09:10:07 AM
Cheers Lads.

I booked a brewery tour with Halvemaan last night. That's seems like a good starting point and we'll take it from there after.
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: Qs on January 05, 2018, 03:54:18 PM
I second the De Garre recommendation for beer. Its kind of hidden but a great menu and a lovely traditional spot.

For grub I'd recommend Quatre Mains for somewhere a bit nicer than the usual cafe bar places. You might need to book, maybe not cos its not peak season but a lot of locals were eating there too when we were over.
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: Andy Q on January 05, 2018, 05:25:54 PM
Highlights for me was Cambrinus for Westy & Mussels, t' Poatersgat for a sound barman/owner and his Viven IPA recommendation, & Cafe Rose Red for one bar that the misses actually enjoyed rather than endured, it has been 6 years mind you, I would recommend getting to Cambrinus early, It did seem to be hopping later on it the day, and I'm to old for that carry on!
Title: Re: In Bruges - Recommendations
Post by: Kevco5 on January 06, 2018, 07:00:51 PM
t' Poatersgat was a personal highlight, lovely bar with a great selection. There's an Argentine steakhouse close by that is well worth a look.
I took the Bourgogne de Flanders tour, close to the tower. It's a Flanders red brewed in Brugge then blended with timmermans lambic. The brewery is nearly an afterthought of the tour and shop, but it does have some cool features like glass floors allowing you to see into open top fermenters.