Beer!

[ian]

Yeah, that's why I seek out the St Bernardus as it's fairly common and very nice.

I got a Westy-12 six pack once from the monastery (or rather, I co-opted our Belgy sales person at the time to do a drive by, cheeky bugger kept the second pack).

There are occasional free-ranging bottles. I got one in a cafe in Turnhout and another two in Mechelen. I don't really know any great beer places in Brussels, plus I had people in tow and they were willing to drink Stella.

[Pingu]

Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

Have you found Brussels Beer Project? 

[Pingu]

...I don't really know any great beer places in Brussels...

Oh, man 

[ian]

I don't spend a lot of time in Brussels, and well, I'm thought leading. It's a full time job. I know lots of places to get beer, of course.

I found the Brussels Beer Project in London, they do periodic tap takeovers.

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

[Jurek]

Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

Beer Hound.
That is all.

[Pingu]

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire

[Pingu]

Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

You probably know that St Bernardus brewed for St Sixtus ( westvleteren) for many years. Westveleteren is usually only available in small quantities from the Monastery ( or odd bottles from the cafe), but just now they are selling mail order for a very limited time to pay for some emergency roof repairs. You need very deep pockets though!

I was a bit disappointed by Westvleteren when I finally got some.

[Jakob W]

Likewise; my dad the vicar went on retreat at the monastery (beer provided with meals!) and came back with a couple of 6-packs. It was a very nice example of an abdijbier, but not the transcendental experience all the 'best beer in the world!!1!1!' hype had led me to expect.

[ian]

It's a very good trappist beer but that's about it, but it's the victim of online hype and being the 'best beer in the world' which it isn't. But if you get the opportunity, it's never going to be a disappointing drink once you push the hype to one side.

[Jakob W]

Yeah; I suppose the fact that you can normally only get it by ordering in advance for pickup from the monastery hatch gives it a certain hipster scarcity value. One of these days I'll manage a Trappist brewery tour of the low countries...

[ian]

Indeed, scarcity drives it. They should hire more monks or something. I mean, seriously, what is these guys' business plan! [/american]

I wouldn't drive out in the Belgish wilds to get it, but hey, if you have a sales minion driving by and he owes you a favour... It's not like the Belgians are short of good beers. Reminds me, I'm going to Leuven, the home of Stella.

Erm.

[Jakob W]

When I spent time in Belgium I was mostly working on site in the glorious industrial estates of Zeebrugge; thankfully I was put up in Bruges, so even though I mostly got to see it in the dark I was able to try the various beer bistros in the evenings. Not forgetting the free booze in the Eurostar business class lounge.

[andrew_s]

if you have a sales minion driving by and he owes you a favour...

I gather that the order process is along the lines of...
Phone up & ask what they are selling that week (not always the 12), put your order in (with car registration), turn up at the abbey on collection day in that car, and collect/pay for the beer.

So you would need to know the car the minion was driving.

I preferred the 12 to the St Bernardus Abt, but I don't reckon there is such a thing as the "best beer in the world" - it depends too much on what you feel like when you drink it.
If you do want to try it, the café by the abbey seems the only reliable place (except for end September/early October, when the close for 2 weeks).

[citoyen]

I don't reckon there is such a thing as the "best beer in the world"

Orval comes pretty close though.

[Mr Larrington]

Indeed, scarcity drives it. They should hire more monks or something. I mean, seriously, what is these guys' business plan! [/american]

You should offer them your Thought Leading services.  Payment in kind, obv.

[Pingu]

He'd need a tidy tonsure.

[Hot Flatus]

Saltaire Brewery Cascade American IPA.

It's a bit meh, but not unpleasant.

[woollypigs]

Saltaire Brewery Cascade American IPA.

It's a bit meh, but not unpleasant.

Yeah I was thinking the same.

[Hot Flatus]

Have you tried Withens from Little Valley Brewery?

Same price in local co-opt, but much much better.

[Mrs Pingu]

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  http://www.restobieres.eu/en/ they do amazing duck in kriek
La Porte Noire
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/ (tourist central)
Morte Subite (just for the atmos, you only need to go once)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse

I've re-ordered them, in order of excellence

[andrew_s]

Historical beer in the pub today
Oakham Attilla (434 -453 AD), and Milton Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)
I preferred the former.

[Pingu]

Amongst other Wild Beers today:


IMG_7700_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

[markcc]

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire

Phew!  Good to see you've missed the best places in Brussel.  More for the rest of us.

[Mrs Pingu]

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire

Phew!  Good to see you've missed the best places in Brussel.  More for the rest of us.

Well,  come on then

[Pingu]

...Leuven...

Podge's Leuven Bar Guide