Belgium Travel Thread

[FoudreGuy]

I'm going to a wedding in Spa this June. Is there anything in that part of the country or is it really a beer wasteland?

 

[GetchaPull]

I'm going to a wedding in Spa this June. Is there anything in that part of the country or is it really a beer wasteland?

You are less than an hour away from Fantôme...but yeah, not a ton in the immediate vicinity.

 

[andrewdrinks]

Head down to Mi Orge in Arlon at the very least.

 

[FoudreGuy]

You are less than an hour away from Fantôme...but yeah, not a ton in the immediate vicinity.

Didn’t realize we’d be that close to Fantome. Good to know. My friend is marrying a guy who lives there, so it’s now her home as well. Looks like a beautiful area.

We’re toying with flying into Germany for a few days before heading to Spa.

 

[Digita7693]

Didn’t realize we’d be that close to Fantome. Good to know. My friend is marrying a guy who lives there, so it’s now her home as well. Looks like a beautiful area.

We’re toying with flying into Germany for a few days before heading to Spa.

Tell me if you make it to cologne.

 

[omegagogetass4]

The selection of Trappist beers is awesome. If you're into vintages of Orval or Rochefort or Westy then you have to go.

I assume they cost a pretty penny. Which is the best to try?

 

[ExPimp]

I assume they cost a pretty penny. Which is the best to try?

Their prices really aren't that inflated for the vintages, I've seen much worse in Belgium. Orval is a completely different beer with 5, 10, & 15yrs on in b/c of the Brett. The others will all be good if you like aged quads (dark fruits/malts).

7yr old Orval on my last visit which just happened to be on Orval day.

A mixed green salad with apples, a funky cheese, and cod cheek lollipops.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Their food alone makes it worth it in my book, but their vintage list is pretty stellar. Certainly on the expensive side but as others have noted there are some really well priced vintage beers as well. Make a reservation if you can!

 

[stupac2]

I assume they cost a pretty penny. Which is the best to try?

Not particularly! Westy isn't exactly cheap, but the other stuff is probably less than you'd pay for it on the shelves in the US for a bunch of vintages. (Or at least was, I haven't been since 2014...)

Their food alone makes it worth it in my book, but their vintage list is pretty stellar. Certainly on the expensive side but as others have noted there are some really well priced vintage beers as well. Make a reservation if you can!

So many people say this, and their food is good, but if I'm going to schlep out there it's not for the food. That they have solid food is a plus, but it's not like this is Michelin-star (or even Bib gourmand really) territory or anything...

 

[Gaseous Clay]

So many people say this, and their food is good, but if I'm going to schlep out there it's not for the food. That they have solid food is a plus, but it's not like this is Michelin-star (or even Bib gourmand really) territory or anything...

Sure, the food isnt what brought me there originally but it would certainly bring me back even without the promise of rare vintage lambic and trappist beers. I dont find it to be much of a schlep from Brussels. To each their own.

 

[shanrath]

Sure, the food isnt what brought me there originally but it would certainly bring me back even without the promise of rare vintage lambic and trappist beers. I dont find it to be much of a schlep from Brussels. To each their own.

FWIW, my girlfriend and I just made the trip from Brussels in the snow, lugging our bags (which were weighed down after stops at Cantillon and Drie Fontainen) like idiots, and I still very much agree with you. It’s a quick train ride and quite worthwhile, given the quality of the food (which I found to be much better than most restaurants I’ve eaten at in Belgium anyway, so maybe not Michelin-tier, but still quite good) and beer we had and what we paid. Plus, they weren’t very busy when we were there and one of the employees took the time to drive us back to the train station, which felt like a pretty generous level of service for a pair of tourists. I’d happily stop there again.

 

[GetchaPull]

I assume they cost a pretty penny. Which is the best to try?

Tough to beat Joost's 35th birthday Orval (2005) for 18€. If I remember the price correctly.

 

[Saind]

Tough to beat Joost's 35th birthday Orval (2005) for 18€. If I remember the price correctly.

I think that was cheaper even

 

[GetchaPull]

I think that was cheaper even

Two numbers stick out in my brain for some reason on that beer (11,50 and 18)...so I bet you're correct. Either way, I find it to be an affordable treat.

 

[omegagogetass4]

Reflections of the untrained palate: aged Orval isn't as interesting as it is made out to be. Aged Westy is incredible. Bellevue Selection lambic '99 might be the best old gueuze out there. It reminds me of a perfectly aged 2009 duck duck gooze. Tons of bright lemon rind and sour cherry. Not a lot of funk. '95 lindemans gueuze lost all the yeast-driven funk and was replaced with cellar-driven funk making it a little boring. De heeren is the best bar I've ever been in and probably #1 in the world.

 

[Saind]

aged Orval isn't as interesting as it is made out to be

 

[Digita7693]

Reflections of the untrained palate: aged Orval isn't as interesting as it is made out to be. Aged Westy is incredible. Bellevue Selection lambic '99 might be the best old gueuze out there. It reminds me of a perfectly aged 2009 duck duck gooze. Tons of bright lemon rind and sour cherry. Not a lot of funk. '95 lindemans gueuze lost all the yeast-driven funk and was replaced with cellar-driven funk making it a little boring. De heeren is the best bar I've ever been in and probably #1 in the world.

De Heeren, maybe for Belgian beers, but I suspect even then you’ll get votes for Grote Dorst, Koelschip, Akkurat etc...
in the world, phew that’s tough, wouldn’t be my vote though.

 

[falc0n26001]

Everyone talks about aged Orval, but what I really loved was super super fresh Orval (like, a month old or so). Completely different beer, not available in the US either. Same with Saison Dupont.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Everyone talks about aged Orval, but what I really loved was super super fresh Orval (like, a month old or so). Completely different beer, not available in the US either. Same with Saison Dupont.

Last time I was in Belgium I made a point of tracking down some fresh Orval. Merchant du Vin doesn't seem to bring it over until it's at least 6 months to a year old.

 

[GetchaPull]

I must be in the minority with fresh Orval. Wasn't a fan...one-dimensional to me as the brett isn't much of anything yet. Petit Orval is another story...

 

[shanrath]

Last time I was in Belgium I made a point of tracking down some fresh Orval. Merchant du Vin doesn't seem to bring it over until it's at least 6 months to a year old.

Cafe Rose Red in Bruge and a few other places had sub-6-month-old Orval available, which became my go-to everywhere we went to before getting into the lambic. It really is excellent that close to bottling.

 

[omegagogetass4]

Tell me if you make it to cologne.

We're driving to Cologne for a half day tomorrow morning. Any recommendations?

 

[Digita7693]

Heumarkt: can easily hit pfaffen, päffgen ( 2nd best) and muehlen (best Kölsch), if you’re here past 4pm? Craft beer corner cologne is great.

Near Chlodwigplatz is awesome coffee, Ernst, and really solid pizza w some craft beer and wine at 485 grad, both on Bonnerstr.

Definitely walk into the Cathedral at the train station, it is stunning.

Water on the Rhein has been rising steadily, so might be flooding tomorrow! It’s risen 11ft in the past 6 days and current prognosis is 4 more feet in the next 48hrs.

Need more recs?

 

[omegagogetass4]

Heumarkt: can easily hit pfaffen, päffgen ( 2nd best) and muehlen (best Kölsch), if you’re here past 4pm? Craft beer corner cologne is great.

Near Chlodwigplatz is awesome coffee, Ernst, and really solid pizza w some craft beer and wine at 485 grad, both on Bonnerstr.

Definitely walk into the Cathedral at the train station, it is stunning.

Water on the Rhein has been rising steadily, so might be flooding tomorrow! It’s risen 11ft in the past 6 days and current prognosis is 4 more feet in the next 48hrs.

Need more recs?

That is perfect. Thank you!

 

[omegagogetass4]

Heumarkt: can easily hit pfaffen, päffgen ( 2nd best) and muehlen (best Kölsch), if you’re here past 4pm? Craft beer corner cologne is great.

Near Chlodwigplatz is awesome coffee, Ernst, and really solid pizza w some craft beer and wine at 485 grad, both on Bonnerstr.

Definitely walk into the Cathedral at the train station, it is stunning.

Water on the Rhein has been rising steadily, so might be flooding tomorrow! It’s risen 11ft in the past 6 days and current prognosis is 4 more feet in the next 48hrs.

Need more recs?

Actually, do you have any recommendations for traditional German food, perhaps even something unique to the region?

 

[vav1]

Actually, do you have any recommendations for traditional German food, perhaps even something unique to the region?

Go to Mühlen, it's a Kölsch brewery that's got wicked good food. They're one of the few places to serve Mett, which is pork tartar, and it's amazing. Jaegerschnitzel was on point too.

 

[falc0n26001]

Actually, do you have any recommendations for traditional German food, perhaps even something unique to the region?

There are a few traditional dishes to Cologne specifically. There's the cheese soup and also the "Heaven and Hell" blood sausage dish. We had the soup at Mühlen and it was awesome!

 

[jan63]

Will be heading to Brussels next weekend. Will be at 3F Saturday, Sunday day trip to bruges and Monday at cantillon. If anyone is interested in opening some bottles. I’ll be walking distance to cantillon. Read through this thread and got some great tips!

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Starting to plan my return trip to the motherland this year. Unfortunately won’t be able to do Quintessence or OBD, but am happy to go during a less popular time to spend a little more of my trip soaking up the beer and culture

Does anyone have any insight on what July/August looks like for lambic breweries and cafes? Any closures I should be aware of? If I recall, the o-Droom closes for a bit of time during the summer, is that right?

 

[BelgianChris]

Starting to plan my return trip to the motherland this year. Unfortunately won’t be able to do Quintessence or OBD, but am happy to go during a less popular time to spend a little more of my trip soaking up the beer and culture

Does anyone have any insight on what July/August looks like for lambic breweries and cafes? Any closures I should be aware of? If I recall, the o-Droom closes for a bit of time during the summer, is that right?

BXL beer fest in August.