Looking for information about visiting the Tilquin taproom. I've been to Tilquin during the 2017 and 2019 Toer de Gueuze so I have some idea of what the place is like, but am curious about what the taproom is like. I see they're only open a few hours on Friday and Saturday. Do they get much of a crowd? What's the atmosphere like? Do people hang out and drink beers or mostly grab bottles and go? For onsite consumption, do they sell individual pours from bottles? Individual pours of the draft versions of their gueuze, Mure, etc.? Full 750 or 375ml bottles?
I have been a couple times (both on Saturdays before the started opening on Friday) and it is definitely a smaller group that you have an 3F or Cantillon, but people are always really nice and have never had a problem finding someone to share a bottle with. Both times there have been 7-10 other people, and got a barrel room tour and experimental beer pour from Pierre as well. They had some draft, but mostly bottles, and sizes depend on what they bottle. It is much more relaxed than other places, but definitely worth the trip.
I went to tilquin last September with public transportation, there were 2 or 3 drafts + 6-10 bottles on site. Was a nice day but anyone who wants to go there, I divise you to rent a car or carpool because public transportation is a mess, the taproom is in the middle of fking nowhere, one bus every 2 hours or so to the train station, then the train to go back to Brussels... it was a long long trip I don.t know if it was a one time thing or if it is always like that but on-site drinks were cash only when I was there, so make sur you stop at an atm before heading to the taproom to avoid disappointment
Thanks for the info. When I looked on Google Maps it seemed the public transportation options were better than every two hours, but maybe I misread it. Good to know about them being cash only.
The taproom was very relaxed when I visited (cash only). I took a train and then a bus last year. It was very cool to tour the gueuzerie and sample a few experimentals. We were lucky enough that a friendly local gentleman gave us a ride to 3F on the way out. Tilquin is awesome.
