De Dolle Brouwers

Thanks!

It is not the traffic that bothered me and I am used to driving thru heavy traffic for more than few hours.

It is the road rules there that I am uneasy about - especially the one that allows incoming traffic to join the right-most lane without yielding or stopping.

I assume that would not be a big issue in the smaller roads where one cannot drive @ high speeds; how about the highways?

 

Great! Thank you! I will time to reach BRU around 4/5 pm when I arrive.

I plan to spend two nights in the Lux region; let me PM you if I have any queries.

Thanks again,

 

Aah my friend, I have a splendid illogical reason behind the tours/visits: sentiment.

I know, sounds silly, but it is heartening to visit the places or meet persons who produce products that one cherishes.

Piraat might go down in my ranks after I try other beers, but I will always be thankful to it for being the one to introduce me to the amazing Belgian brews. So, it is not for knowledge that I seek to visit, just the connection and experience.

Reading about De Dolle, the reputation of the beers, and its owners were enough to make me want to go there and see the place (irrespective of whether I like the beer or not).

Few other breweries that I am trying to visit purely based on recommendations:

1. Westvleteren (i know, you are not a big fan but the very fact that the abbey gives a damn about about the huge demand for their beers - and consequently not bothered about making money - makes me very eager to see the place and hopefully get to taste them at that cafe)

2. Following three are based on Webb's book that give them the rare 5 stars:
(a) De Ranke, (b) Drie Fonteinen and (c) Rulles. Eager to see if I can visit or try their beers and see if they deserve the ranking.


Thanks to this forum and guidance from members like you, i am having an exciting time researching and planning this trip!

 

I'm not sure about the rule you refer to. If someone is joining the highway then move left if possible to be considerate. But they can't just move into your lane if you're there. You don't want anyone stopping on the highway.

I live in Germany and have always found driving in Belgium and France very pleasant compared to here mainly due to the lower speeds which means everyone is driving more or less the same speed.

And just so I don't get accused of being off-topic: who else prefers their Dulle Teve with some age?

 

Read something about the 'priority of the right'. Gotta admit that i haven't yet looked at it in depth and whether it applies to both highways and regular roads, but from what I remember, vehicles joining the traffic can freely turn into the right lane without slowing or stopping even if there is traffic on that right lane. Will research and update.

Let us get back to something related to the topic: beer. Sorry for taking it off side.

 

I just looked it up. It doesn't apply on highways where people merge. Only at intersections. In Germany it mainly applies in residential areas where speeds are very low anyway. Basically, if you are at an intersection that doesn't have any stop or give way signs then you have to give way to any car coming from your right.

May you get to and from your beer related destination safely. (there, beer related post)

 

Hear, hear. Off-topic alert: A bit of driving in Belgium. 1. Priority on the right is not in play for divided highways (motorways, if you prefer), which work just like everywhere else. The difference is in town. And the priority only applies in the absence of any other signal. So, as you drive along, you have to keep an eye out for inlets, even small ones (not driveways, mind you). However, there are signals at many (most?) intersections. Traffic lights and stop signs are the same. But there are other signs (roadside and painted on the road itself) to indicate when you have to yield, and when you have right away. Google it rather than have me trying to describe. 2. Navigating. The ring-roads can have lots of traffic but not much different than a beltway anywhere in the states. A crucial difference, though, is directions are given by city and country, not points of the compass. For example, if you are coming up to a highway, it won't tell you N S E W, it'll say the big destinations it heads to. For example, say you're somewhere in the Ardennes and getting on the E411 highway -- which you might well take, @BimmerRules. It won't mark the on ramps as north or south, it'll say Brussels for north, and Luxembourg for south (and probably other cities).

BEER-wise, if it helps, you won't have trouble finding Piraat and Gulden Drak in decent shops, probably most sizable groceries, as well. If you haven't done a lot of big-brewery tours or if you read somewhere that it's a particularly evocative experience, and it's not out of the way, I couldn't talk you out of it. I can't quibble with the beers. Similar with Westvleteren -- not the most evocative visit, still fun to go see how Belgian families use a cafe lie that, and the beer is still excellent, of course in a sea of excellence.

BACK ON TOPIC for the thread, this is time when someone probably should explain buying bottles to go at DDB. I'm not entirely clear, myself, on the likelihood of having the full lineup available. Certainly not the seasonals and Reservas, right? But what of the rest? Someone please weigh in.

 

Normally Oerbier and Arabier are available year round, Dulle Teve year round except when Stille Nacht is available (according to the website). Boskeun and Stille Nacht are obviously seasonal and need to be reserved. Having said that the times I have been there, the full line up wasn't always available. Once there was no DT another no Ara. There's also six packs available (mixes of Oer, Ara and DT). I'm not sure about the reservas. I didn't ask as I still have half a box of Oerbier reserva from a previous visit.

 

Stille Nacht Reserva.. hmm, might be a good reason for a Belgium trip.

 

A quick note to those who responded to my posts; I have sent a personal note of thanks. Didn't want to keep writing about issues in this thread that are not about De Dolle.

Greatly appreciate your feedback! Thanks!

 

https://www.facebook.com/3884161234...if_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1470929828940340

Stille Nacht Reserva!!

 

I had the same thoughts about touring Van Steenberge, but it was a lot of fun, mostly because of our tour guide Andre', he was a hoot. La Rulles is also a good place to visit, and I would also recommend Thiriez

 

So the reserva is another '13? Made from the same beer as the SNR'13 that was on the Kerstbier festival the past two years?

 

Not for sale to take home!!!! Only drinking in the oerbar!!

 

No please NO !