Beer in Brussels

Is one night in Brussels, one in Antwerp and one in Bruges at all practical?

 

Don't do that. Hauling and worrying about your luggage makes the train rides ten times as stressful.

 

I was considering using Brussels as the base, spending the first day there. Then on day two, quick trip to Antwerp for Kulminator. Day three, Bruges.

 

They key word is "stay." If you're sleeping in Brussels you can do it. Hauling your luggage between cities and checking in to different places really puts a damper on the travel days.

 

Don't forget that kulminator is open at 4 pm

 

Bof, this starting to sound a bit stressful. I'd say, whatever you do will be great, but if you're having doubts and want to reel it in, just forgive yourself, especially as you're hauling around the baby. I mean, I don't think you'd exhaust Brussels in three days, if you couldn't get away. But since you can well, well, it's up to your style as a tourist. Bruges is certainly nicer to look at, but if you have to start from Brussels (an hour or more on the train, plus a bus ride), it'd be a long day trip if you're turning around the next day for another day trip. Brussels-Antwerp wouldn't even be a terrible commute by London standards, but maybe a bit draining back-to-back with Bruges in a 3-day trip. And does that include a jet-lag day? Well, you'll know your energy level, I only meant to make the point, you won't run out of novelty or beer if you can't do a three-for-three. Enjoy.

 

You're right, especially considering Belgium was supposed to be the relaxing part of the holiday, having spent the previous two weeks driving up and down the UK visiting family. Hoping I can still figure out a way to get an extra night or two which would help somewhat.

 

Use Bruges as base i would suggest ... you still have family time there and the connections to other cities by train is good ... don't forget to check when we are on strike (every monday in december) because thats the moment you dont have to visit Brussels or Antwerp

 

I'll be travelling via Eurostar though, so I feel like Brussels would make more sense to use as a base.

 

As an aside, how does Délices et Caprices compare to Beer Mania? Been mapping it out and it looks like Beer Mania my be quite the walk.

 

I was just at Delices today and I can't recommend it enough though the selection is quite small. The owner is one of the best dudes I've encountered in bottle shops. He remembered me from a few months ago and is always down to chat. I haven't been to Beer Mania in years but it's cool. Beer Planet, Tempel, and Delices are all near each other.

 

Wow, they really are! Thanks for that.

May skip Beer Mania then unless anyone wants to tell me how much better it is than the ones @MattSweatshirt mentioned.

 

BM is sure to have a wider selection than the others, but I'm sure you'll find more new stuff than you want to carry anyway, at the others. That said, if you have more than a day in Brussels and you're heading in that direction, swing by but maybe call to check its open (regardless of hours posted on the website).

 

Would there be any other good reasons to head in that direction other than Beer Mania?

 

It's an interesting and distinct part of Brussels, where neighborhoods of different social and ethnic makeups (eurocrat/expat types, students, Congolese, Bruxellois) blend into each other. Good dining and drinking to be done thereabouts, as is true of any number of neighborhoods (Les Brassins, some of the places around St. Boniface church, and plenty of Congolese). It could be something to add on to that area, or a small detour en route toward hipper parts of Ixelles around Place Fernand Coq or Place Flagey. Otherwise, for general tourism and just getting a different view on Brussels, it's maybe not the most evocative area, compared to, say, the profusion of cool architecture in St. Gilles or the tumult of the Abattoir market in Anderlecht. ... So, I'm tempted to say, it's not worth going that far out of your way if you only have a couple days in Brussels, but then again anything that has you roaming a bit away from Grand' Place for at least one of your days, that has to be a good thing.

 

when I was at Delices I saw boxes of 50n40e but they were not for sale

 

yep its nicer, smaller NYC. But it is the capital, and I have ran into a few things that tend to make the trip a tad less enjoyable. Still there are many nice places to visit in town. Like any place very touristy...there are issues.

Needless to say we only visit in the daytime anymore, if ever. The only time we are in Brussels is the train station to go somewhere else. lol

 

I never felt unsafe in Brussels. Just don't look like a weenie. Having been to Detroit a few times, Brussels is actually quite safe.

 

The yearly murder rate in Brussels is 10 people per 100,000 residents; in Detroit it's 54.6 per 100,000. And violent crimes and everything else scale similarly. Yeah sure in Brussels you can have a riot on one day, but any given day in Detroit there's a much higher chance something bad will happen to you. Houses like this are on every street in Detroit in certain neighborhoods:
http://aslathedirt.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/vergara3.jpg

I felt quite safe in Brussels, general political turbulence aside.

 

Exactly. As I said earlier, I lived in London for some time. Should I be putting up videos of the beheading of the British soldier or the tube bombings? You kind of have to know what to expect in big cities.