I'll be heading to Brussels next June, not looking to head too far out of the city centre as we will have spent the two weeks prior running around the UK visiting family. With that being said, I have a few questions: 1) I really want to visit 3 Fonteinen...would we better off renting a car? Is there a better method of getting there? 2) Would I be hugely missing out by not going elsewhere? Keeping in mind that relaxation is somewhat paramount here (other than beer stops). 3) Are there any interesting beer/food events around that time? 4) I love cheese, and would love to try the Chimay and Cantillon cheese that I have heard about. Where are these available?
1) There's a commuter train from Brussels on weekdays. Maybe a bus -- I'm not sure but search on De Lijn or SNCB websites? Make sure to check the opening days and times; beware that the shop isn't always stocked with rarities and the brewery isn't the most evocative tour, but I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just making sure you approach strategically. Def'ly include a relaxing meal at the restaurant, which is really what the place is about. Check out the castle ruin in Beersel and see if Oud Beersel is open for a visit. 2) Keep search and thinking, you have time to plan. How much time on the ground, though? 3) Ditto and post back here. 4) Chimay is available in every grocery, and many, many other beer cheese, woo hoo. Cantillon, I haven't had, but might need to get it at the brewery.
"1) There's a commuter train from Brussels on weekdays. Maybe a bus -- I'm not sure but search on De Lijn or SNCB websites? Make sure to check the opening days and times; beware that the shop isn't always stocked with rarities and the brewery isn't the most evocative tour, but I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just making sure you approach strategically. Def'ly include a relaxing meal at the restaurant, which is really what the place is about. Check out the castle ruin in Beersel and see if Oud Beersel is open for a visit." A big part of wanting to visit for me was the restaurant, gueuze incorporated into meals etc. "2) Keep search and thinking, you have time to plan. How much time on the ground, though?" We'll be there for around a week. "3) Ditto and post back here." June 13th-20th. "4) Chimay is available in every grocery, and many, many other beer cheese, woo hoo. Cantillon, I haven't had, but might need to get it at the brewery." Any other examples that would be great to try?
4) Hoh, man, most/all of the Trappists and lots of other abbeys have readily available cheeses (in fact it's not uncommon that the cheese is more genuinely produced on site than the beer). Just off top of my head, some other abbey brands are Maredsous (very common supermarket brand), Val-Dieu (better), Averbode (really good)... Herve has a cheese matured in beer (putting on my fake accent here and he is a strong one. But that's the readily findable stuff -- hit a cremerie and discuss...
1. The restaurant is definitely the way to go. They typically have some of the older bottles to drink there but that can get expensive. I personally recommend the carbonnade and frites. Amazing. 2. For the amount of time on the ground, I would think about doing day trips using the train to Brugge or Antwerp. There are a lot of great places to enjoy a beer in both cities and if you hit Brugge the right day the De Struise shop is open. 3. I don't think there is anything big happening that time frame but there is still plenty of beer related things to do without having a big event. 4. Getting most beer cheese is fairly easy, there are quite a few available in the any of the larger markets. The Cantillon cheese, you can usually buy at the brewery.
