Where to Drink Belgian Beer in Brussels
1. Best Craft Beer: Brussels Beer Project
Brussels Beer Project is located less than 20 minutes on foot from Brussel Centraal Station and is a great place to spend some time on a short Brussels layover. Brussels Beer Project features Belgian craft beers with a more modern flair. Order a sampler of four beers served in elegant stemmed glasses. I tried the Jungle Joy fruit beer had a light hint of mango and passionfruit and just a tinge of sourness. The Delta IPA was a little smooth and not particularly hoppy. The World Gone Sour was a guest beer from Northern Monk and was sour but not overpowering. The De Molé, another guest beer, was my favorite; a double stout that doesn't hold back on the heart or spice. If you want to experience Brussels like a local, Brussels Beer Project is the place to be.
2. Most Unusual Bar: Bar Le Cercueil
Le Cercueil was recommended to me by brewers from the U.S. whom I met in the tasting room at the Brussels Beer Project. If you are looking for a macabre place to grab a Belgian beer, this is it. Le Cercueil translates to "the coffin". I ordered a classic Tripel Karmeliet which oozed honey. I sipped my beer in the sepulchre and set my glass on a coaster on a glass topped coffin. If you like your Belgian beer with a gimmick, this is the place to go.
3. Most Popular Belgium Beer Pub: Delirium Cafe
Delirium Cafe is probably the largest and most popular Belgian beer bar in Brussels and is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. I stopped in for a quick Silly Sour while admiring the riotous decor. Delirium Cafe is actually quite large with a variety of bars that have different vibes. I walked down to the cellar bar where there was great atmosphere and plenty of seating on a late Friday afternoon.
4. Most Convenient Belgium Beer Bar: Moeder Lambic Fontainas Square
5. Best Place for Lambic Beer: Moeder St. Gilles
6. Best Up and Coming Belgian Beer Bar: L’Egalité
Where to Try Belgian Beer in and Around Bruges
7. Kitschiest Place to Drink Belgian Beer: 't Brugs Bieratelier
8. Where to Go for the Strongest Belgian Beer: de Garre
9. Most Historic Place to Drink Belgian Beer: Cafe Taverne de Dreve in Flanders
Best Places for Belgian Beer in Leuven
10. Most Atmospheric Place for Belgian Beer: Fiere Margriet
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Did you know that Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg are often grouped together and referred to as Benelux? Here are some ideas for other places to visit in Benelux:
|
Top Places for Belgian Beer in Ghent
11. Best Place to Drink Belgian Beer with a Medieval Vibe: Cours St. Georges
12. Best Place to Spend a Rainy Day: De Trollekelder
13. Best Place to Drink Belgian Beer on a Boat: Board Kaffee de Planck
Time for a beer break aboard Kaffee de Planck, a bar aboard a boat in Ghent. We ordered Gueze Boon Marriage Parfait and a Godendag Brown Trappist beer. A cheese platter was the perfect accompaniment, once again served with celery salt and mustard. Kaffee de Planck has a canopy so that you're sitting outside in the fresh air, but protected from the elements even if it's raining.
14. Most Overwhelming Belgium Beer Selection: Bier Central
Bier Central provides a great introduction to Belgium's beer scene. Warning: it's so hard to decide when the menu comes in an illustrated book that must be at least 50 pages long. There are over 300 choices of Belgian beer to try! We treated ourselves to a 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek for ~13 EUR and also tried a bottle of Gentse Strop. Note that Bier Central has a sister bar, Beer Central in Antwerp.
Bier Central provides a great introduction to Belgium's beer scene. Warning: it's so hard to decide when the menu comes in an illustrated book that must be at least 50 pages long. There are over 300 choices of Belgian beer to try! We treated ourselves to a 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek for ~13 EUR and also tried a bottle of Gentse Strop. Note that Bier Central has a sister bar, Beer Central in Antwerp.
15. Place to Drink Belgian Beer with the Best Local Vibe: Brouwbar Gent
Brouwbar Gent in Patershol is both a tasting room and microbrewery. Sit outside or grab a table inside for an afternoon of excellent Belgian beer tasting. We treated ourselves to tasting paddle featuring four different samples for 10 EUR. The chocolate stout was my favorite. We need to go back to try the raspberry and cherry sour which was only available by the bottle and thus not available to taste.
Brouwbar Gent in Patershol is both a tasting room and microbrewery. Sit outside or grab a table inside for an afternoon of excellent Belgian beer tasting. We treated ourselves to tasting paddle featuring four different samples for 10 EUR. The chocolate stout was my favorite. We need to go back to try the raspberry and cherry sour which was only available by the bottle and thus not available to taste.
16. Belgian Craft Beer Bar Most Worth Walking To: Dok Brewing Company
Dok Brewing Company is located further afield in Ghent. It will take you about 25 minutes to walk there from the center of Ghent. Dok is definitely worth the effort to get to. You'll be spoiled for choice with all the different Belgian craft beer options on tap alongside an even great selection of bottled beer and cans. We tried a Gose Island sour cloudy with raspberries, a classic Belgian blonde, and a rye porter laced with 30% Trappist beer which gave it a sour, funky taste.
Dok Brewing Company is located further afield in Ghent. It will take you about 25 minutes to walk there from the center of Ghent. Dok is definitely worth the effort to get to. You'll be spoiled for choice with all the different Belgian craft beer options on tap alongside an even great selection of bottled beer and cans. We tried a Gose Island sour cloudy with raspberries, a classic Belgian blonde, and a rye porter laced with 30% Trappist beer which gave it a sour, funky taste.
17. Best Place to End Your Belgium Beer Tour: Gentse Gruut
Gentse Gruut Brewery and tasting room is very centrally located in Ghent about a 5 minute walk from Sint-Jacobskerk. You'll find plenty of outdoor seating on a nice day. Sit outside at Gentse Gruut and enjoy some 100 mL tasters at the brewery as the perfect nightcap to a day of Belgium beer tasting.
Gentse Gruut Brewery and tasting room is very centrally located in Ghent about a 5 minute walk from Sint-Jacobskerk. You'll find plenty of outdoor seating on a nice day. Sit outside at Gentse Gruut and enjoy some 100 mL tasters at the brewery as the perfect nightcap to a day of Belgium beer tasting.