Day Seven of Belgian Beer Tour 2008

Day Seven September 24th, 2008

In the morning we enjoyed some more freetime to discover the wonders of this medieval jewel of Northern Europe. This city was at its top during the 12th, 13th and 14th century and a key tradepoint between the North and the South of Europe. The guildhouses on the Market Square, the Bellfrey Tower as the symbol of Independence of the traders and the freed civilians, the beautiful and richly ornamented houses of those civilians, all this is now a testimony of the rich and glorious past of Bruges.

Picture of an Event in Bruges:

Brewery De Halve Maan

Regnier came to pick us up in the hotel lobby at 11:30 AM and we had a nice walk through the old city centre and ended up at the Brewery Halve Maan ( = Half Moon) at the Walplein, near the Beguinage. Since 2005, the brewery, that has recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, has started brewing a new beer, after important investments were made in the very old fermentation facilities. The brew house, dating from the 1950’s, is still modern compared to some we have seen!!! Two beers are brewed: the “Brugse Zot blond” a 6% blond ale, that recently won a gold medal at the World Cup in Seattle and the “Brugse Zot dubbel” a brown of 7.5%, with a nice malty character.


In the afternoon, Regnier took those who wanted on a walk through the old and less known Bruges, with stops at some museums, churches and of course old pubs.
We sat in the garden of” Vlissinghe” the oldest pub (since 1556).
After that we went for dinner in Cambrinus, the  brasserie-restaurant in the Philip Stockstraat, just off Market Square. (see www.cambrinus.eu)