johnrm walks into a bar...

[johnrm]

So I'm traveling, Belgium and Netherlands.
I'm in a place called den Bosch in the South (oh, so you're a purist, 's-Hertogenbosch to you sir).
I found a place called Cafe Bar le Duc, the only brewpub for miles, unless you count the huge Heineken plant about a mile away.
I had a quick tour of the brewery, a tidy 500l Cooper clad system from Hungary, followed by 'We've a brewday tomorrow, you can have a look in'.
So I'm going to be back at 8am.

[johnrm]

www.facebook.com/cafebarleduc

[Taf]

www.facebook.com/cafebarleduc

I thought you didn't know what facebook was!

[johnrm]

I spotted this on a beermat, I figured someone here might know what it meant.

Now, wheres my hand-cut goose quill?...

So I went back this morning and met the Brewmaster, Peter (Are all Brewmasters called Peter?)
He gave me the 10 minute tour, showed me the mash in progress and explained that he was 'working' on a new recipe and only had time for a few questions.

System Size: 500litre or 3BBl (1 British Brewers Barrel = 1BBL = 36 gallons = 288 pints = 163.6 litres = 43 US gallons)
Production: 1 run per week.
Fermenters: 4
Power: All electric

They fill 70CL bottles using a CP twin bottle filler at 1atm (about 1bar) and have mechanised capper, so semi-auto.

I asked the barman (last night) if it was profitable given the size and he seemed to think so.
I assume this size within the brewpub model in a Tax/Duty-lenient country makes more economic sense than in Ireland.

Interesting link on why NOT to start out too small...
http://www.soundbrew.com/small.html
Dempsey echoes this, so it HAS to be true 

[Eoin]

Did you attempt to link whatever it was you found on a beermat? I can't see anything,

[Taf]

Did you attempt to link whatever it was you found on a beermat? I can't see anything,

He really doesn't do FB!

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/cafebarleduc

[johnrm]

I clicked on the link above.
My browser almost immediately changed to some abomination with all sorts of false idols and perverse social promises.
Run away! Run away!
Wheres my Tablet and chisel?  :

[Dunkel]

It's all double Dutch to me... or is that Dubbel Belgian ?