We quickly dropped our bags and obviously needed a few warming ales to put the walk behind us.
Walking down a tiny little alley we made it to De Garre and squeezed into a gap between the upstairs balustrade and window, the windowsill was our table. It didn't bother us though and after those few warming ales, bowls of complimentary cheese and recitals of a Russian marines motivational song by a table of Russians we were on our way, back out into the elements.
To get to the next bar of course. Which was Poatersgat, an underground sort of cellar whose door you have to squeeze under to get in and is like sitting in someone's living room selecting from a pretty solid beer list of around 100 beers. A very, very cool place to lose a few hours.
After a hot tip from the barman we ended up at Estaminet for a cheap but decent late night dinner. As you can see, by this point of the night Todd the Mental Beaver was having a hard time holding back the floods.
MY F UPS - PART 1
The next morning over breakfast I talked up how good our lunch at De Bistronoom was going to be. A five course meal, prepared using ingredients that had been sourced fresh that morning, paired with great beers at a restaurant in a little seaside town called Oostende.
We got the train on time and I got us to 22 Vindictivelaan by 12 (the time of our reservation). The only problem being that a Thai restaurant now exists at 22 Vindictivelaan and De Bistronoom is no more. God knows where I'd made a reservation for.
So by this point I was pretty popular with Nix and Matt and as any good travellers should we thought we'd make the most of a bad situation and check out Oostende itself. Unfortunately, Oostende is where all good seaside towns go to die. A v average place. The best Oostende has to offer is some random crumpled red boxes (take that Perth's cactus).
We quickly got the train back to Bruges and headed to Cambrinus for our beer themed lunch. We destroyed a meat and cheese board and then devoured wild rabbit (the only kind of rabbit worth eating) cooked in dark ale, a fish stew and beef skewer with an incredible sauce made with Cambrinus' house beer. All very good but average service let this place down big time.
After lunch we headed off to 't Brugs Beertje, the highest rating beer bar in the world. A very cool place, tucked down a little alley and with an impressive beer list. However, given that it appears in every guide book regarding Bruges, Belgium or anything remotely related, it was jam packed with tourists (yes I get the irony) who come in for one beer just so they can say "oh, well I've been to the best beer bar in the world". I understand the rating because this place is your quintessential Belgian beer bar in every single way and would've been amazing 20 years ago but now it just feels like a tourist attraction and another box for people to tick.
Next stop was De Kelk where we consumed round after round of Duchesse de Bourgogne off tap - amazing, and Matt's beer highlight up to that point. We also got treated to a bottle of Hansenns Oudbeitje. So much sour and so many strawberries - also amazing!
It was then home to bed as we tried to sleep through two guys trying to undress their p*ssed mate before they poured him into bed. Why???
On our final morning in Bruges we headed to Cafe Rose Red for a nice little palate awakener and a few other treats - which included cheese of course.
And then headed back to our hostel for a few cheap La Chouffes before returning to Poatersgat for our final beers of Bruges, a very enjoyable way to finish off a very enjoyable few days.
The Barrie-ometer of "Feel" - rejoice-full merriment
Pug Sightings - 12
The Beers
Garre Tripel
Gulden Draak
Achel Extra Bruin, Bruin
Duvel Triple Hop Sorachi
Westmalle Dubbel, Tripel
De Dolle Dulle Teve, Oerbier
St Bernardus Wit, ABT 12
Rochefort 8, 10
Silly Saison
Hanssens Oude Gueuze, Oudbeitje
Girardin Black Label, Kriek
Delerium Deliria
3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze
Duchesse de Bourgogne
Rodenbach Vintage 2011
Bosteels Deus ("the champagne of Flanders")
Chimay Bleue
La Chouffe
Carolus Christmas
De Ranke Père Noel
Malheur 6
Brouwerij The Musketeers Troubadour Obscura
Dupont Moinette Brune
Gauloise Brune
