Belgian Beer

In Belgium Beer is the most varied, numerous and high-quality in the world. There are over 400 different types of beer in Belgium you can find anything from white to raspberry beer. Some of the most famous are made by monks.

Let me speak immediately about the main Belgium beer rules. Every beer has its own glass. Thou shall drink another beer, if the right glass is not available! Antwerpians and Belgians will always follow this rule. Don't act surprised if you see that somebody refuse a beer in the wrong glass. That's completely normal and the bar tender will apologetically inform you that the right glass is not available. He will not try to convince the customer that the beer tastes the same in anther glass. It doesn't!

I also suggest you don't drink mainstream beer from Imbev. This includes Leffe, Hoegaerden, Belle Vue and many others. They used to be good, but their quality went down while their brew capacity went up. I don't consider them anymore as quality beer!

There are many Belgian Breweries in the City and Province of Antwerp. There are just to many Belgian beers to write about so we had to limit ourselves to only this part of the country ... for now.

Belgian - Brewery 't Pakhuis, City of Antwerp

District: Zuid

2000 Antwerpen

Vlaamsekaai 76

+32/(0) 3 - 238.12.40

When you enter the Brewery/restaurant, you'll see the beer making installation on your left. Quite impressive and only a few moments later you taste what they are making there on the spot! You can keep the bottle as a souvenir if you want.

Antwerps Blond 5.1 % alc. vol.

This beer is not filtered and therefor a bit turbid. A fresh thirst killer with a delicious aroma of malt and fine hops.

Antwerps Bruin 5.5 % alc. vol.

A special beer with a profound taste gained by using carameled malt while brewing. A special fermentation process gives this beer his extraordinary taste.

Nen Bangelijke 9.5 % alc. vol.

A strong beer, seriously hopped with a fully profound taste and a delicious after taste.

It has a bit of a Pub atmosphere and the food here is acceptable - a meal with a couple of drinks is about 25 EUR.

But don't ask for French fries.

The only fries they make here are Belgian! ;-)

Belgium - Brewery De Koninck, City of Antwerp

District: BerchemMechelsesteenweg 291

2018 Antwerpen

Tel. +32-3-218 40 48

De Koninck - A Bolleke: Alcohol volume 5 %

You can also ask a "prinkse" or a "fluitje". It's the same beer but the glass is different.The bolleke is the most popular, the other are for women and children ;)This nice amber ale beer has around 5 percent alcohol. The beer is made in a Brewery close to where we live. This is the beer of Antwerp and we drink it in all occasions.

The Koninck Blond: Alcohol volume 6%

Some man prefers blonds. De Tripel Konink is a gold blond beer with typical bitter hop and a nice long after taste. In 2005 it won a golden medal in an international competition in the pale blond category.

De Winterkoninck: Alcohol volume 6.5%

This strikes a pleasant balance between bitter, sweet and roasted dark hop. This beer is made as the name suggests: in winter. It's a bit red in color and perfect to warm up during the cold of winter.

De Koninck Tripel:Alcohol volume 8% Strong.

Do you like it stronger? Amber color, top fermented and the finest taste. It has a sweet touch and will tickle the top of your tongue with its balanced tastes. Don't exaggerate with this one at 8% it's a pretty strong beer.

DK Red and DK Blond:

It was so good we forgot to check the alcohol content.

A new star is born. We tried it a few days ago and we think these two new beers are absolutely great - superlatives all around! We were told that for this series they found inspiration in Champagne. And that's what this beer is for. It's made to fit with the most exquisite meals and finest taste. It also comes in a very nice sparkling wine bottle. Very inviting indeed!

There is a Café with a terrace next to the Brewery. Great place to try all the different Koninck Beers - since this is the only beer it serves.

This food here is overpriced for what they offer. I would expect those or lower prices in the old town but here i think it's just a bit strange. It's ok to dine here if it's warm enough on the terrace. Otherwise expect to have cigar and cigarette smoke blown in your face during you meal.

Sampling all Belgian beers is easier said than done - I have been working on it for several years now. I am afraid I lost track of which ones i tried already. I guess I'll have to start again - this time maybe I'll approach the challenge alphabetically ;) Although they keep confusing it all with christmas beers and special editions.

Belgium contains thousands of cafés that offer a wide selection of beers, ranging from 10 in a small local café, to over 1000 in a specialist beer café. Top beers evolve in cellars - they become better and better with age. That is if you if you like aged beer of course (you can try aged beer in the Kulminator).

De Kulminator

Rated as the best beer bar in the world, its beer selection is simply incredible. A real Beer Mecca. Specialized in old beer, you'll find all the famous Belgium top beers from different years. Some of them older then 20 years!

Don't come here if you want Heineken. They don't have it! Come here if you adore good beer, classical music and no nonsense beer.

Keep the coupons - If you drink enough beer you get to keep a beer glass of your choice.

A word of warning though - there is no atmosphere and better leave your contact lenses at home. The bar is something from the 70's and when busy it fills to the brim with cigarette smoke.

Just outside of Old Town

Vleminckveld 32

2000 Antwerpen

03.232.4538

Paters Vaetje

One of the best beer-bars in The City frequently visited by the locals! You have about 100 beers to choose from (Hundred of bottles of beer on the wall, one hundred bottles of beer....") ;) Every choice is good. Do you want a Belgian-beer; Duvel, Trappist, Old Geueze or something you never heard of before? You'll find it here.

Oh yes, also an amazing view on the Cathedral... and it gets better with every beer. Actually you can be literarlly leaning on the Cathedral Of Our Lady while you sip your Belgian-beer. The bar gets very crowded and there are always 3 - 4 tables standing right next to the cathedral.

Great place - the only time we choose against it is when there is no where to sit ... or stand!

Budget; from EUR 2,5O to... Depends of how long you stay... ;-)

Blauwmoezelstraat 1

2000 Antwerpen

phone: +32 (0) 32.31.8476

Afspanning 't Waagstuk

Been to many beer-bars already? Would you like to try something special?

Go here for excellent beer and nice finger food. They also have a good house draft that you'll only find here.

The ceiling of this is crowded with diverse beer mugs - fun to look at and wonder how long it would take to empty one of those. There are also tables outside in the cozy courtyard - It's a pleasure to have a beer here.

You'll also find an excellent selection of Trappist Beers - even though the extremely rare West Vletteren was not available last month. They promised us new stock soon :

Stadswaag 20

Antwerpen, Belgium 2000

225.0219

District: Zurenborg

T' Zeezicht

Even though there is no sea sight here, I always feel on holiday when I come to this beer-bar. Very often during the weekend there is life music.

An excellent Belgian-beer selection and nice finger food.

This bar is very popular with the locals.

The area is deserted in the afternoon, but in the evening all the bars on the square come awake and people begin to flow in. Above the big square hangs a net with many small unevenly spread lights - they look like stars! No cars :) and with all the candles and music this can indeed be a very romantic spot. Not to mention they have and they have Chouffe on Tap!

Dageraadplaats 7

2018 Antwerpen

+32 3 235 10 65

http://www.antwerp-tourist-guide.com

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