Driving to Bruges - places to stop and where to buy beer?
Discussion
The tour was good but you don't really get to see the whole production and it's more of an overview of the history of the brewery. The big bottles were cheaper in the store than in the centre, but still more expensive than the Carrefour I went to just off Maalse Steenweg, a couple of miles to the east in Bruges. Stuff like Kwak, Duvel, Leffe worked out to about 1 euro a bottle so I stocked up there and picked up a few specialist ones in town. Went to a few different bars, all of them had a good selection, Cambrinus had the most extensive selection.
I had a great weekend away and I am happy to recommend Bruges to anyone after a city break for a few days.
I had a great weekend away and I am happy to recommend Bruges to anyone after a city break for a few days.
TheAngryDog said:
jkw said:
The brewery is well worth a visit. I think I paid about 7 euros on the door. It was reasonably interesting, included a beer and they take you up to a roof terrace with a nice view.
We got there too late to go in and see it 
. I'm trying to convince the gf that we should go back 
We went here last time in Ghent; http://www.drankengeers.be/site/en
Quite a bit out of the way, but everyone should go here at least once in their lifetime:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery
toon10 said:
celestequattro said:
Going there next week and pre-booked the brewery tour online.
Unmissable....
After your free Zot at the end of the tour, go to the bar and get yourself the Straffe Hendrick Quadrouple. I did a couple of those and glided out the place a happy man Unmissable....
Thank you.
Edited by TheAngryDog on Monday 10th August 20:03
TheAngryDog said:
toon10 said:
celestequattro said:
Going there next week and pre-booked the brewery tour online.
Unmissable....
After your free Zot at the end of the tour, go to the bar and get yourself the Straffe Hendrick Quadrouple. I did a couple of those and glided out the place a happy man Unmissable....
Thank you.
Edited by TheAngryDog on Monday 10th August 20:03
toon10 said:
TheAngryDog said:
toon10 said:
celestequattro said:
Going there next week and pre-booked the brewery tour online.
Unmissable....
After your free Zot at the end of the tour, go to the bar and get yourself the Straffe Hendrick Quadrouple. I did a couple of those and glided out the place a happy man Unmissable....
Thank you.
Edited by TheAngryDog on Monday 10th August 20:03
Sonic said:
That car park is very handy but i refuse to park there again after doing the same for 2-crates, losing my ticket and being shafted for €50 for the 5-minute privilege.
I also find any more than 2 crates is a serious workout, so tend to just dump the car immediately outside the brewery and load up. The lovely folk at the brewery don't mind, neither do the police once you explain what you're doing and they see you're loading up with Brugse' finest - just make sure you park it far enough in to let the horse and carts past and get someone to watch you out whilst you turn around and ignore the traffic signs to leave the way you came in
If you tell them you're having a zot in the bar whilst you're loading up with a good amount then they tend to give you a magic beermat which gets you a free one
And max capacity without leaving the missus behind was 16 crates (plus luggage and 3 boxes of glassware) in the 5dr 1-series.
Out of interest, what do they charge for Zot by the crate at the Half Moon?I also find any more than 2 crates is a serious workout, so tend to just dump the car immediately outside the brewery and load up. The lovely folk at the brewery don't mind, neither do the police once you explain what you're doing and they see you're loading up with Brugse' finest - just make sure you park it far enough in to let the horse and carts past and get someone to watch you out whilst you turn around and ignore the traffic signs to leave the way you came in
If you tell them you're having a zot in the bar whilst you're loading up with a good amount then they tend to give you a magic beermat which gets you a free one
And max capacity without leaving the missus behind was 16 crates (plus luggage and 3 boxes of glassware) in the 5dr 1-series.
toon10 said:
TheAngryDog said:
Legend, thank you. Just booked our stay last night for October so planning everything in advance!
No worries. Mostly good reviews. If you don't like the tour you can always get over it at the bar at the end TheAngryDog said:
I'm sure it will be better than the one in Brussels! That wasn't even a tour!
I found a bar in Brussels that sells 5 miniture beers for the price of 1. It's a good way to sample different beers without investing in a bottle of something you don't like. Don't ask me what it was called or where it was, by then I was happy to still be standing unaided 
toon10 said:
TheAngryDog said:
I'm sure it will be better than the one in Brussels! That wasn't even a tour!
I found a bar in Brussels that sells 5 miniture beers for the price of 1. It's a good way to sample different beers without investing in a bottle of something you don't like. Don't ask me what it was called or where it was, by then I was happy to still be standing unaided We spent the last visit to Bruges doing the tourist thing and wandering round without actually doing anything. This time we are planning it better, such as planning the tours we missed out on, such as the Halve Maan, Chip Museum and Choco Storey. We will end up in Ghent to pick up more beers as well.
Sonic said:
Rosscow said:
Out of interest, what do they charge for Zot by the crate at the Half Moon?
IIRC it's 24x €1.50 per bottle plus €6 for the crate... so basically £30.If you bring empty crates and bottles back then you get a refund which brings it down to about £1/bottle when you refill
Did the two main beer tours in Bruges at the weekend - De Halve Maan and the Beer Museum. De Halve Maan was much, much, much better. There were a lot of people at the bar who appeared to be taking part in the Zoute Grand Prix - I think its a historical rallye? Not checked it out yet - http://www.zoutegrandprix.be/en/
Didn't manage to try the Straffe Hendrick sadly, and forgot to pick some up on my way out of Gent as we were a little rushed to make it back to Dunkerque for our ferry.
I'll have to see if anyone in the UK sells it / anyone from here is going to Bruges and is happy to pick some up for me
Did spend 100 Euro's on beer and a couple of glasses at Dranken Geers though!
Didn't manage to try the Straffe Hendrick sadly, and forgot to pick some up on my way out of Gent as we were a little rushed to make it back to Dunkerque for our ferry.
I'll have to see if anyone in the UK sells it / anyone from here is going to Bruges and is happy to pick some up for me
Did spend 100 Euro's on beer and a couple of glasses at Dranken Geers though!
Just booked a Christmas break to Bruges for the blokes at work, is the De Halve Maan tour still going in December?
I like the sound of it (unfortunately I can't stand the taste of Belgium beers though, always end up drinking the cruddy Heinekin copy you get in some of the bars, can't remember what it's called).
I like the sound of it (unfortunately I can't stand the taste of Belgium beers though, always end up drinking the cruddy Heinekin copy you get in some of the bars, can't remember what it's called).
I know they are running a tour on the 1st of December, not sure how many they will be doing in December though.
http://www.halvemaan.be/en/brewery-visit/rondleidi...
Shame that you do not like Belgian beers, they're so much better than what we get in pubs etc.
http://www.halvemaan.be/en/brewery-visit/rondleidi...
Shame that you do not like Belgian beers, they're so much better than what we get in pubs etc.
TheAngryDog said:
I know they are running a tour on the 1st of December, not sure how many they will be doing in December though.
http://www.halvemaan.be/en/brewery-visit/rondleidi...
Shame that you do not like Belgian beers, they're so much better than what we get in pubs etc.
Just tried the online reservation booker but it seems to be broken, I will give them a ring.http://www.halvemaan.be/en/brewery-visit/rondleidi...
Shame that you do not like Belgian beers, they're so much better than what we get in pubs etc.
I have tried lots of different Belgium beers on various visits but I find them geniunely awful, I know they are very proud of the stuff they produce so I keep schtum about it. I feel the same about all the German White beers, they just taste weird to me and I am a very enthusiastic beer drinker.
Although it must be me becuase I don't like our own Real Ales either, just give me cheap Lager and I'll be happy all night!
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff