Brussels Beercation

Check out La Becasse, it's near the Grand Place

http://www.alabecasse.com/en/info.html

 

Westvleteren and Struise are a must! And very easy by train and bike....

 

Search in this thread for those names and you'll see loads more. Enjoy.

Oh, beware things being closed in August. Pretty much any shop or restaurant outside the immediate center is prone to shutting for a week or so during the summer. So call/email ahead for anything you have heart set on to check dates.

 

Cantillon.
I really enjoyed going to Westmalle the last time I was there. Just make sure Cafe Trappisten is open. Also, Brugge is beautiful!

 

You may want to consider staying in Brugge as your base. I'm coming up on my 14th trip to Belgium and except for two trips, have used Brugge as a base of operations. To me it has a better vacation feel than Brussels. If you send me a beermail with a regular email address I can send you more info about staying there.

 

mmm La Becasse

 

Unless you have a car, I would disagree about using Bruges as your base. Brussels is better connected to the rest of Belgium and Europe and it's easier to get to/from the train station. Being more of a tourist town, Bruges may also be a little more expensive to stay at, but you're near the Grand Palace so it's probably a wash.

I would recommend staying a night or two in Bruges if you haven't been though.

 

Don't forget Antwerp

 

I am visting both this summer (Bruge in July, Brussels in September for a festival), any brews that are specific from each city that is a must have/ try? I admit I am a little naive when it come to Belgian beer, but enjoy all types of craft beers, any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

I still have some Horal blend 2011 in my cellar if someone is looking for a trade ....or lou pepe

 

Bruges - Ghent, 20 minutes on the train, 3 fast per hour.
Bruges - Antwerp, 60 minutes on the train, 1 fast per hour.
Bruges - Brussels, 50/55 minutes on the train, 2 fast per hour.

We can manage well enough without a car in Europe, we have a decent rail system unlike certain car reliant nations!

 

I'm well aware of how long the train takes, I took it many times when I was there. That doesn't make Bruges a good spot to make your base. Staying in Brussels gives you more options.

 

and therefore it doesnt mean you need a car to make it your base with quick rail links.
It might not suit this OP or yourself as a base but it has served mysefl and others well over the years.
To dismiss it as a base without a car is bizarre!
when Im on a beercation with my friends the last thing we want is a car!!

 

You seem to be ignoring the point of my post which is, as a base, I think that Brussels (car - assuming you don't actually use it in the city ) >= Brussels (no car) >= Bruges (car) > Bruges (no car). No idea why you're being so combative about it.

And you can replace "car" with willingness/ability to hire one (e.g. taxi or bell bus).

 

Far from combatative ... I'd hate for someone who hasn't travelled around Belgium before to see your post and think Bruges = Car or it's not suitable as a base!

You agreed with the good train services/frequencies so all you have to do is add around an hour on to a journey from Brussels in each direction.

From memory the first train from Bruges gets you to Brussels by 6am and the last train back is after 11pm, so there aren't really any places you can't get to from Bruges that you can from Brussels in a day.

Plus you're in Bruges (obviously a destination in itself), nearer to Ghent, Antwerp and Poperinge are about the same journey time as Brussels, therefore some of the destination beer trips are of equal or less time than Brussels.

 

I see it like this

Car = freedom ( if somebody drives that dosn't drink )
Train = hassle ( nearly never on time )

If you can hire a car then i would do it ! It's much easier to get to.places around the big citie's , like for excample , struise , westvleteren , de dolle , alvinne etc etc , no stress , no taxi's

 

btw, i like throwing fuel on fires...
Ghent> Bruges
And do not miss Antwerp as was mentioned before.

 

or hire a driver and car and contact me only drink in my free days

 

That's my plan!