Bottle 'Must Haves'

I had a smaller piece of luggage nested inside of my larger luggage, so my clothes etc were packed in the smaller one. once I bought beer and was ready to leave I split it between the two with clothes and also brought bubble wrap and rubber bands. Then checked them both, everything came through perfect. If you don't want to check both bags, you can use a carry on inside the large bag and just check on, but just be cautious of the weight issue.

 

How many bottles are you going to try to bring back?

 

add to your list:
Kwak
Palm
Jupiler
CaraPils (cellar that bad boy)

you're good to go!

 

Don't forget Kaiser Premium either...

 

But in seriousness:

de Dochter van de Korenaar
de ranke
de la Senne
Brasserie Rulles
Viven

 

Dolle en struise brouwers, maybe a cuvee from carolus, buffalo grand cru vintage.. sour and lambic and maybe some special release from a brewery.... Drink as much as you can so don't have to ship it...

 

Since you'll be trying tons of unfamiliar stuff, be open to inspiration and improvisation. The couple posts above are good names to look out for. But also ask around wherever you go and, as you travel, you'll start to notice stuff you haven't seen elsewhere. Try any of the oude guezes, not just C and 3F; any Flemish red/old browns; saisons; and of course Westvleteren's closest cousins, Rochefort, St. Bernadus, and the other Trappists. While you're into Trappist territory, I also like Malheur... And as noted before, pay heed to a seemingly knowledgeable steer heading in new directions.

 

When in Amsterdam: Go to de arendsnest for a drink. It's a bar with only Dutch beers and it has a huge selection. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The best Dutch brewers in my opinion are Emelisse (especially the white label stouts), Uiltje (go for their IPA's, not their stouts), Oersoep (some great wild beers) and of course de molen.

 

To add to the lists above:
Straffe Hendrik Quad
Buffalo Stout, Buffalo 1907, and as Steven mentioned - the Grand Cru is something special
Leroy Stout
Kasteel Barista if you like Coffee/Chocolate beers
Urthel Samarath
I like all the Grimbergen's. Most are easy drinkers with good flavor.

These are among my favs.

 

I pack an empty gym-bag style duffel into my rolling carry-on. For the return flight, I can then use the roller as a beer carrier that can be checked, using clothing and maybe some bubble wrap for cushion. The duffel can then be my new carry-on and hold whatever items I removed to make room for the beer in the roller.

 

Forget Struise and take some Alvinne, more interesting and original since a year or two.

 

I had never had Alvinne despite seeing their bottles in the states. I went to Belgium and had a bunch of incredible bottles that they just don't distribute to the states. They're so underrated. I'd especially like to reference the ones made exclusively for Nuetnigenough

 

Maybe invest in one of these:
http://smile.amazon.com/Vin-Garde-V...8&qid=1458860052&sr=8-2&keywords=wine+luggage

or these:
http://smile.amazon.com/Wine-Bag-Ch...8&qid=1458860052&sr=8-1&keywords=wine+luggage

 

As said before, for Belgium mainly:
-Alvinne
-De Dochter van de Korenaar
-Struise
-De Dolle

With regard to Amsterdam:
-Bierkoning
-De Arendsnest
-The American beer temple
-In de Wildeman

You can try beer from these breweries:
-Kaapse
-Kees
-De Molen
-Emelisse
-La Trappe

 

To add to the Belgian list:
Brasserie de Blaugies
Brasserie du Brabant

 

No Cafe Gollem?

 

Indeed, Cafe Gollem and Craft & Draft are also nice bars

 

I was able to buy a good deal a Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen when I was in Brussels through bottle shops around the City Center. I brought back a couple of bottles of Westy 12 and Westy 8 as well.