Gent

Where does one start?

It's been a few years since my last visit to Belgium and I suppose some of them may have changed, but my favourite was De Heeren van Liederkercke, and to get there you get a train from Brussels to Denderleeuw, walk from the station to the town square, turn right and it's on your right.

Ghent - de Dulle Griet in the Botermarkt square by the cathedral Antwerp - Afspanning t'Waagstuk - but don't ask me where it is - I could probably get there myself but I've never left there sober! Brussels - if the Ultieme Hallucination is still open, try there, it's not far from Het Loo I could live in Au Stoemelings, which is not far from the European Parliament If it's still there try Lop Lop, at the other end of the Vismarkt from the Grand Place - wonderful beer but also with English food, especially if you are suffering withdrawal symptoms from bacon butties, proper toast and a decent cuppa!

I must go again... I'm getting withdrawal symptoms... Where's that bottle of Delerium Tremens I used to keep locked away for emergencies?>>>>>>!!!!

NO! It is distant from that station. (I got very lost here last year reading the Webb and D'Arcy guides simultaneously, when the former suggests Denderleeuw and the latter Liedekerke!) Liedekerke station is much nearer, although still a fair step. Iddergem is very close to cafe, although has a less frequent service.

I was here a couple of weeks ago and wasn't too impressed. The new menu lists the 240 beers in alpha order of name, with no data on style, ABV or brewery. This is in fact quite common in so called 'specialist' beer cafes and I believe totally unacceptable. How new breweries ever get established is a mystery to me, as it is almost impossible to home in the fact they exist from most menus.

Lop Lop has gone down hill and no longer gets recommended in guides. I walked out without getting a beer on my last visit.

David

Hotel Palace and Paix in Poperinge Kauwakers in Dranouter Beertje in Bruges of course! Post Office in Ypres

Yes I remember it was a hell of a long way there - but I didn't notice on the way back!

Is Joost still there? If not, then that explains it.

Shame - perhaps Andy has gone back to Kent.

"Next weekend me and Miss Looby are off to Belgium for a couple of days ... (snipped) ... I thought I'd just ask in case anyone had any favourite bars and cafes they'd recommend".

This is where we (R.A.T.S.) head for when we're in Belgium, (Oostende / Brugge / Ghent)

Cafe Botteltje : 19 Louisastraat - Oostende Ostens Bierhuus : 14 Louisastraat - Oostende De Garre : (just off) Breidelstraat - Brugge 't Brugs Beertje - Kemelstraat 5 - Brugge (Not to be missed !) de Dulle Griet - 50 Vrijdagmarkt - Gent

Before anyone mentions 'de Zolder' - 53 Vlamingstraat - Brugge ... rumours are it went bankrupt a week or so ago.

Depending on the length of your stay ... you might just see us at the Zythos Beer Fest in Sint Niklaas on the 5th and 6th March. Approx 50+ brewers and 150+ Beers ! Very approx. 20 / 25 minutes from Gent by train and the festival is almost opposite the rail station !

For more information may I suggest a visit to John White's website at

Cheers ...

Dave Sec-RAT-ary Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S. ®

I didn't see Bier Circus in Brussels mentioned. Does that excellent place still exist?

Bruce CAMRA member from New Jersey

Hi Bruce ...

RE: Beer Circus - Brussels

Just did a search, and found that several people are having a 'beery lunch' there on Monday (7th March.) after their attendance at the Zythos Beer Festival mentioned in my previous post.

So 'yes', it still exists.

Cheers ...

Dave The Sec-RAT-ary R.A.T.S.

Thanks Dave,

That was by far the best place I visited in Brussels.

Bruce

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. We haven't got long there, so it'll be a great help to have the ng's suggestions to hand so that we can find somewhere quickly without wandering round wondering if there might be something better round the next corner.

Thanks again.

Thanks very much for that informative reply Dave. Just one thing FYI - I can't get

Hmmm ... seems OK this end ?

Someone once told me that if I'm uploading info/pages to my ISP's servers, people cannot actually log in at the same time, but I'm no expert (far from it !) on anything 'technical'.

The second address you mention is another society - (and there are more apparently) - using the same name but are not related to us in any way, apart from the 'appreciation' of Real Ale that is. I have also registered the name 'Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S.' as a Trade Mark.

Cheers ...

Dave The Sec-RAT-ary Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S. ® (The 'official' ones !) ;o)

Hmmm ... seems OK this end ?

Someone once told me that if I'm uploading info/pages to my ISP's servers, people cannot actually log in at the same time, but I'm no expert (far from it !) on anything 'technical'.

The second address you mention is another society - (and there are more apparently) - using the same name but are not related to us in any way, apart from the 'appreciation' of Real Ale that is. I have also registered the name 'Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S.' as a Trade Mark.

Cheers ...

Dave The Sec-RAT-ary Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S. ® (The 'official' ones !) ;o)

It's working now - must have been some sort of glitch.

Seeing how popular the term seems, that's probably a good idea.