Hey, everyone. I will be in Bruges for 3 days in July, and obviously, visiting breweries is a huge priority. There is a great loop right outside of the city where you can find De Dolle, De Struise, Westvleteren and St. Bernardus. Obviously, we could rent a car and drive, but who the hell wants to be the designated driver for that trip!? So, I was wondering if there are any shuttle programs that will take you around for about 4-5 hours and drop you back at your hotel, aside from a limo service. I am open to other suggestions, too. Any advice would be great. Can't wait to visit your amazing country. Thanks a lot!
I'm not sure how close the trains would come to where you want to go, but I would consider that means of travel. I always use them when I'm on a Belgian beer hunt. Here is the link to their rail site http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx
Not sure what you mean with "right outside the city" but De Struise is about 60km form Bruges. Westvleteren is not that far from them either. You could take the train and bus but expect at least 2-3h of travel. Just rent a bike in Bruges and use that time to explore the beautiful plains of West-Vlaanderen while heading to the brewery.
The only one of those breweries that is straightforward to visit (from a timing perspective) is Westvleteren. Shooting from memory here, De Struise is only open 4 hours a week (Saturday) and De Dolle can only be visited on Sunday. I'm not sure St. Bernardus is ever open to the public except by private appointment for large groups. Public transit is a bad option IMO - you'll waste so much time getting these more remote locations
You really want to do them all is allmost not possible... best way is to visit westvleteren and another close brewery... but your staying in Bruges so taste the beers there in the bars only westy is very expensive in the bars €10/bottle so visit that one (4.5/bottle abbey) Book a driver and car and visit westy, liefmans and something else in one day is possible.... Or try Gruut in Ghent
NO, and you be wise to buy a copy of the good beer guide to Belgium. That is my advice that and have allot more time. We always have a car to do that. But you take train nearby(Poperinge) and ride the bell bus, or get a taxi or rent a bike. That would eat 1 day easy.
