The Champagne of Blogs

Sarah wasn’t feeling well last night, so I ventured out on my own to t’Brugs Beertje, easily the best bar I’ve been to in Bruges, and right up there on the all-time list. It is to Cambrinus what the Horse Brass is to Henry’s: tiny, dark, smoky and sociable. This one really deserves a longer writeup, but I will tempt you for now with my list from last night:

1. Rodenbach Grand Cru
2. Vichtevaar (by the makers of Duchesse and Echte Kriek)
3. 3 Fonteinen Oude Gueze
4. Hanssen’s Oude Gueze
5. Poperings Hommel Bier (draft)

Mmmm.

Took a tour of De Halve Maan brewing yesterday, since 2004 the only brewery actually in Bruges, though there are a lot of others that would have you think so. It was a fascinating tour, mostly because every other brewery tour I’ve ever been on has been of a brewery less than 25 years old. Brewing has been going on at “the half moon” for 150 years! The photo above shows me drinking Bruges Zot Blonde in front of one of their giant copper wort coolers from 1937. I also have some great photos of their koelschip that I’ll post when I return stateside. Very cool!

After Westvleteren yesterday, Sarah and I attempted to visit several other beer sites near Poperinge, all of which were closed on Wednesday. The closures continued when we returned to Bruges in the evening, but we managed to find the excellent, and highly-recommended Cambrinus, whose beer menu was several inches thick and included more than 400 beers. Mine was the amazing Vin de Cereale from Rodenbach, vintage 2004. Sarah had Bourgogne de Flandres, which was sweeter and not quite as good as La Duchesse from the same style. Tour of De Halve Maan brewery this afternoon …

Seems as though the Belgians are into meat snacks, too. Started dinner at the newly-remodeled Erasmus with Dupont’s Bon Vouex, accompanied by some ham and assorted pickled things. Next up was beef carbonnades with frites. Food was average, with an above average price and far from average beer list. My next beer was a triple from De Struise, followed by a kriek from the brewers of the Duchesse de Bourgogne. More of a wrriteup and photos when I return.