Currently I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso, and to say the least it is a beer desert quite literally. This June I am going on vacation to Europe and one of the three cites ill be visiting is Brussels. I plan on going to Cantillon of course and perhaps 3F, but it such a short time I want to hit the must go places. So please any advice on breweries, brew pubs, are beer bars would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
As often said before on this forum; The pubs on the Grand Place tend to be a bit touristy and can be pricey, but you kind of have to sit at one sometime for the view. La Challoupe d’Or is nice. Au Mort Subité (The Sudden Death) Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères 7, walk through the St Hubert Gallery (mall) and out the far end. Art Deco café named after the board game that used to be played there. Best visited during the day when not too busy. You can get a ‘house’ geuze beer here. The following 2 places are down blind alleys leading off Rue Marché Aux Herbes; Au Bons Vieux Temps Impasse St.Nicholas 4, is a lovely old pub but not as good for beers as A l’Imaige Nostre DameImpasse Des Cadeaux, is one of only 2 places in Brussels that has Bourgogne des Flandres on tap (a Flanders sweet/sour ale). A La Bécasse Rue de Tabora 11, is down another alley with tables set in rows (disrupts conviviality in my view!) and the house speciality is Timmerman’s Lambic Doux served in an earthenware jug. Bier Circus, Rue de l’Enseignement, Brocante, Rue Blaes 170, Delerium, Impasse de la Fidélité 4a, Falstaff, Rue Henri Maus, 17-21. This is a classic old-style café. It closed in 2006 but I think it has re-opened. Not a beer place as such but a beautiful Art Nouveau interior. Fleur en Papier Dorée, Rue des Alexiens 55, is a terrific small dark antique place with walls and ceilings darkened from years of smoke. René Magritte drank here allegedly. Do not go here if you are in a party of more than 4 persons! Geuze. Le Cirio, Rue De La Bourse, 18. Another classic old-style café – go for the décor. Le Zageman, Rue de Laekan 16, Moeder Lambic Fontainas, Place Fontainas 8, is one of two in the mini chain (both are different). They do what they do, offer vintage gueuze (and more mainstream beers) but are not cheap. Moeder Lambic St Gilles, Rue de Savoie 68, - maybe too far from centre! Nuetnigenough, Rue du Lombard 25, Paon Royal, Rue Vieux Marché aux Grains 6, Poechenellekelder, Rue du Chêne, this is across the road from the Mannekin Pis. It is hung with marionettes etc., very quirky. Porte Noire, Rue des Alexiens 67, Restobiéres, Rue des Renards 32, (restaurant with beer) near Brocante Spinnekopke, Place du Jardin aux Fleurs 1, (a restaurant, but can have a beer in afternoons) Toone, Impasse Shuddeveld 6, is a historic puppet theatre with beer!
Le Zageman has been closed for a number of years. While it was open, the only time I tried to get in, it was closed that night.
You'll be very happy with the Moeders. I found the Delrium Cafe to be not so great - Hoppy Loft was decent, but the 1st two floors, no so much.
Sorry, one more thing - Cantillon has a tasting room and you can buy bottles to drink on premises. I was there a few weeks ago and enjoyed a Zwanze 2012 with my friend. Just a really cool place to hang out and what's better than drinking Cantillon at Cantillon. They did offer to allow us to take what we didn't finish away, but we just left the bottle for them to provide pour to other guests during the day.
Well exCUSE me! I was merely trying to be helpful. It is difficult to be accurate when places close and reopen and I am based in Dublin, not Brussels. I was in Brussels on Sunday week last, but unfortunately didn't manage to visit all of the places I mentioned in the post.
Didn't your mother tell you that you should finish your Cantillon, there are poor beer drinkers in the US that would probably go to bed without Cantillon, so you had better finish yours.
I know, I know. It was 10am and I had already had a glass of gueze, kriek, rose de gambrinus and cuvee st. gilloise. Wah, wah It's a tough problem to have.
