Hi. I have a family member going to Brugges for a day next month for business, and she said she'll have a couple hours of free time. Can anyone recommend a beer store she can visit to pick up some things like Cantillion, or some Westvleteren? Thanks
There is one almost on the main square that has Cantillon, and Westvleteren also De Struise's store is close by. They are both pricey by Belgian standards. Sorry don't remember the name but Brugges is small and both are near the post office. You can also find almost all the other lambic producers there and tons of glassware.
The one near the mains square is ridiculously overpriced. It does have Cantillon but only the 100% Geuze, if I'm not mistaken. I believe they sell Westvleteren but at 9€ or more a bottle. Struise's beershop is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. But definitely worth checking out. If you have ant more questions, I'll gladly answer, I live pretty close to Brugges.
They had more Cantillon than that last fall when we were there, they had about 6 different ones but we were at Cantillon earlier in the trip so didn't care. Think buddy is looking for one stop shopping for his family member which that shop is. Pricey is a point of reference when he can barely get Cantillon in California if and when he can for less than $40 us a bottle.
In Fall bottle shops usually have more Cantillon available, at this point in the year, it's pretty rare to find those harder to find bottles in bottle shops. I passed a couple of beer shops in Brugges, with a friend that was visting this weekend and there was not a lot of Cantillon left. August and September will see the new releases but directly at the brewery.
Basically every tourist focused beer shop in Brugge had Westy 12. Priced anywhere from €11-15. Even small corner shops seemed to have a couple of bottles. For a non-beer-nerd family member, I'd suggest one of three places all very close to the main square, in fact 2be and The Bottle Shop are about 4 doors apart on a busy shopping street with lots of chocolates, lace, etc. Biertemple - http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14837/ - Smallest of the 3, most expensive (barely) best Lambic selection 2be - http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16175/ - Big tourist shop with a large beer cellar (actually in the cellar). Also has a bar in the courtyard. Best selection of glassware and the huge selection of wacky tourist tat make it worth a look around. The Bottle Shop - http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14839/ - Best selection, tied for prices with 2be. Only place that had all 3 Westy beers when we visited. No fancy lambics but they did have Cantillon Gueuze & Kriek as well as 3F. Friendly staff but they were burning some nasty incense or something.
I was in Bruges last summer and scored a bottle of Westvleteren 12 at "The Bottle Shop." I don't remember exactly how much I paid, but I did the math when I bought it and it was comparable to bomber-prices in the US, maybe a little more expensive. 2be is a tourist trap. It's worth going to see for the spectacle (giant beer wall, lot's of beer swag/glassware in the gift shop, huge bottle shop), but they are definitely going for the American tourists. They had Westvleteren 12 in their bottle shop, but you could only buy it if you bought 100 euros worth of stuff in the gift shop. No thanks. I agree with the previous posters that Bottle Shop and 2be will be the best bet as it's on a main street near the main square in town.
Thanks for the information everyone, I'll be taking a similar trip – to Brussels and Bruges the first week of September. Really looking forward to all the beer. Any other suggestions for either city? Fortunately I will get to stop by Cantillon for a few bottles, and was hoping to pick up a few to bring home in my suitcase. Although the second half of the trip will be in Bruges, so it may be challenging lugging bottles back and forth on the trains. I'll check out those shops when in Bruges. *bah dum chh*
