HenrikO
Well-Known Member
It's hard to find, man.
True dat.
The Akkurat casks usually last for at least a week (crazy long, tight?) - not too many crazy Lambic heads in Sweden.
It's hard to find, man.
Yeah, Zwanze day at Akkurat made that pretty clear. Reading the threads for the American bars afterward was lulzy, we just walked in, got a table, and ordered lambic after lambic. Akkurat is awesome.True dat.
The Akkurat casks usually last for at least a week (crazy long, tight?) - not too many crazy Lambic heads in Sweden.
Délices et caprices in Brussels occasionally has Cantillon/3F, and a pretty good selection of obscure Belgian microbrews. Check their RateBeer page, http://www.ratebeer.com/p/delices-et-caprices-brussels/4665/, their FaceBook page seems to be gone/down.
You'll need to check with them about hours. Some places in Belgium will close for long periods of time without it being obvious (DHVL particularly). Moeder really ought to be open, the rest you'll need to check. Keep in mind that 3F's shop has butt****ing insane hours, I've actually never been to it despite having been to the restaurant twice, it's just always closed. If you want to go there you really need to plan it.My wife and I are going to Europe for the first time at the end of the year. Leaving Christmas night and returning January 10th. We will be in Brussels for 3 days (29th-31st). I am curious about whether or not most places will still be open.
We will be going to DhvL, Moeder Fontainas, Cantillon, Bier Circus, and Drie Fonteinen (on our way out).
Anyone have info for me?
Cheers
Ryan
Did you ask if you could go to the store? Our waitress took us over there after our meal to buy stuff and tour the cellar.You'll need to check with them about hours. Some places in Belgium will close for long periods of time without it being obvious (DHVL particularly). Moeder really ought to be open, the rest you'll need to check. Keep in mind that 3F's shop has butt****ing insane hours, I've actually never been to it despite having been to the restaurant twice, it's just always closed. If you want to go there you really need to plan it.
I think I did, actually...Did you ask if you could go to the store? Our waitress took us over there after our meal to buy stuff and tour the cellar.
That should work fine, though in general I find European train systems perplexing and have mostly driven around. I'd also consider using Antwerp as a base instead of Brussels, depending on what you want to do (both beer- and non-beer-wise) it could end up being preferable. Brussels kinda sucks.Tickets are purchased, and I'll be spending 4 or 5 days in Belgium while traveling through Europe this October.
I'd like to check out Brugge and Dinant, but I'm not sure it's necessary to stay the night there. Would a good base be Brussells, then just drive or take a train for day trips?
That should work fine, though in general I find European train systems perplexing and have mostly driven around. I'd also consider using Antwerp as a base instead of Brussels, depending on what you want to do (both beer- and non-beer-wise) it could end up being preferable. Brussels kinda sucks.
We went to Ghent for 2 nights and it was our favorite city in Belgium. We used Brussels as a jumping off point and we were a 20 min walk to the Midi train station.. went to brugge and Antwerp from there. PM if you have any questions!
Dinant (the whole Ardennes valley area actually) is beautiful, recommend it...especially for a romantic stop. Brussels is pretty much a dump unless tourist traps are your thing, but it's definitely Lambic HQ. Recommend staying at least one night in Brugge/Bruges (again romantic), with maybe another in Ghent/Gent and/or Dinant since it's out of the way a smidge. Would definitely drive if you plan to visit a handful of cities. Lots of beer-centric towns, but the recommendations change a bit depending on what you are looking for.Tickets are purchased, and I'll be spending 4 or 5 days in Belgium while traveling through Europe this October.
I'd like to check out Brugge and Dinant, but I'm not sure it's necessary to stay the night there. Would a good base be Brussells, then just drive or take a train for day trips?
Do you have up-to-date info on the restaurant / retail shop hours? We are heading out there at the end of the month of Quintessance and CBC and would like to check out Drie as well.I think I did, actually...
I don't. The hours are on their website, I think. But contact them ahead of time. The second time I went there the shop was supposed to be open, but there was some kind of giant street fair and so it was closed, and the restaurant had abbreviated hours (I was still able to go). Send them an e-mail with the dates you'd like to be there to ensure no conflicts.Do you have up-to-date info on the restaurant / retail shop hours? We are heading out there at the end of the month of Quintessance and CBC and would like to check out Drie as well.
DHVL is another one to be aware of. Though they just did a random closure so maybe you're safe.Yeah I emailed both Guido and Armand, we'll see.
Do you have up-to-date info on the restaurant / retail shop hours? We are heading out there at the end of the month of Quintessance and CBC and would like to check out Drie as well.
It's worth going even if they don't have anything special.Anyone been to Cantillon lately? Family is going to Europe this weekend and will be in Brussels for a day or two. Couldn't find out what is available at the shop from their website
Well I'm not going on the trip, just them. They don't really drink beer but had offered to bring some gifts backIt's worth going even if they don't have anything special.
Ah, I see. I think it's difficult to know ahead of time what they'll have on sale, in that case.Well I'm not going on the trip, just them. They don't really drink beer but had offered to bring some gifts back
I believe from looking into it that it's just much cheaper to check an extra than to ship. If you have to ship then I actually can't help you, but I imagine it'll be as easy as finding a bpost location.I'm headed to Europe in July, and I'll probably be in Belgium ~July 7-10. Thanks for all the info in this thread; I'll definitely be putting it to good use.
Any advice on packing up and shipping a box back to the US? I'll probably only do it if I find several tougher bottles, i.e. not Cantillon/3F Gueze/Kriek. But if I can find St. Lam, Vig, LPs, or rare, I'm thinking it'd be worth to ship a box back. (I can't do a suitcase, as this trip has 3 post-Belgium weeks, and I really cannot afford to lug around extra heavy suitcase, especially when staying in hostels and such!)
I believe from looking into it that it's just much cheaper to check an extra than to ship. If you have to ship then I actually can't help you, but I imagine it'll be as easy as finding a bpost location.
Depends on your carrier, I've seen more like 50-70. Shipping will be significantly more, beer sites charge like 70 Euro, and presumably doing it on your dime is going to be even worse.Yeah checking an extra bag is like $35-40. Shipping is...not that cheap
If OP goes to Grote Dorst he might be able to get one from Yves. If you're not shipping and just want to pick up something to carry the beer in those plastic 12-bottle crates are everywhere and someone will sell you one.Shipping is doable though keep in mind that styro shippers AFAIK are unavailable in Belgium, as in most European countries. A friend in Brussels who has shipped stuff to me also had a hard time even finding bubble wrap (he eventually found it in a moving supply store in an industrial estate, but he may just have been clueless). Shipping 12 bottles to the US will likely run you $75-100. Don't forget to tick "cadeau" on the customs form... ;-)
My first bag is free, but my second bag is $100 traveling internationally with United Airlines. So, that's a lotta $$. I'm leaning toward it being too stressful and just drinking all the lambic I can while in Belgium/Amsterdam, but I'll give it more thought.Yeah checking an extra bag is like $35-40. Shipping is...not that cheap
This is great advice, although it might be a bit much for me. Quick math is that's 50-100 bottles, which is probably out of my budget? I certainly can't afford $1,000 on bottles right now.Bluecane, let me know if you want shipping advice. I ship 60-120 kilos twice a year via BPost. If your'e doing large volume, it's the only way to do it. There are some tricks as well.
Best advice is to befriend someone who is dialed into the beer scene in belgium early on and they can help you stock some shipping materials and such. Bring them american beers + cash as a thank you. drop me a PM if you want some help.
I'm headed to Europe in July, and I'll probably be in Belgium ~July 7-10. Thanks for all the info in this thread; I'll definitely be putting it to good use.
Any advice on packing up and shipping a box back to the US? I'll probably only do it if I find several tougher bottles, i.e. not Cantillon/3F Gueze/Kriek. But if I can find St. Lam, Vig, LPs, or rare, I'm thinking it'd be worth to ship a box back. (I can't do a suitcase, as this trip has 3 post-Belgium weeks, and I really cannot afford to lug around extra heavy suitcase, especially when staying in hostels and such!)
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