1st visit to Heuvelland Wijnfeesten, a wine festival in Kemmel featuring c.10 local producers. Great location, ambience & organisation. I was our driver & amused myself w/cakes & ice cream, but our group loved the wines. I'm pretty sure we'll be back at this one in future.

Good evening from new Cafe de Waert, Brugge. Just look at this draft St Bernardus Tripel, a thing of true beauty. Cheers! 🍻 🇧🇪

Really enjoyed watching the partial eclipse at Sint-Janshuismolen in Brugge. My investment of €5 in eclipse goggles paid off handsomely & I even got a couple of decent photos using my phone.

Finally got round to cycling the 52km round trip to Oostburg (Zeeland, NL) - c.10km E of Sluis, roughly on the way to Breskens. Like the latter, Oostburg had to be rebuilt after WW2 & so it's not the prettiest town I've ever seen. However they do have a lovely unicorn! 🦄.

Highlights at Dok Brewing taproom today = Brazilian Wax, a truly incredible 13% ABV cognac BA imperial stout w/smoked peppers & maple syrup! Also 5.6% ABV märzen, Staat Die F****** Dampkap Aan, and 7% ABV Imperial Rye Saison. The other 3 beers I had were also very good, it goes without saying...😊

Another visit to the majestic Dok Brewing Co taproom, Gent. Off to a great start with Italian pilsner Crispr - a collab with Norm Brewing, Liege.

First time I've cycled the 47km from Brugge to centre of Gent. Post-ride espresso & draft Stroom Carlito pale ale on terrace at Barazza. Took 2 hours, would've been quicker w/out nagging easterly wind...but a fantastic ride all the same.

If Brussels was a bit overcast last Sunday, Bruges was sunny as can be the day before (short thread)

Lieven Vandelanotte@lieven.bsky.social · 6d ago

New 'Bruges Beer Garden', just off Wollestraat. Run by Bourgogne des Flandres w/similar beer list to their nearby brewery tap. Summer only though it may return for Xmas market. They've spent some money on creating a really lovely outdoor space.

It was great to meet @europeanbarguide.bsky.social & his partner yesterday in 't Brugs Beertje. First time our paths have crossed & hopefully not the last. If you get the chance to meet Jack for a few beers then definitely take it. Cheers! 🍻

t Brugs Beertje, Bruges 🇧🇪 1st visit. Umpteenth visit to this absolute classic brown pub and founder venue on my guide. Meeting @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social & partner for the 1st time. A pleasure! Woozy afternoon of draft Cantillon then local Tripels. If you haven't, you must. Food needed now 👍🍻

Another outstanding visit to Bij Koen & Marijke (formerly In 't Nieuw Museum), Brugge. Yea definitely not cheap but food's fantastic & beer range amazing. Seriously great beers tonight from Dochter van de Korenaar & Brambrass/Gistgeest, the latter an incredible 12% ABV rum BA imperial stout. Cheers!

A tip for cheap travel from eg Brussels Midi / Zuid to Aachen Hbf - eg stage 1 of Deutschland-Ticket trip: a) set up a/c on SNCB App, purchase Train+ for 1 month (€4 for 1 month for 65+) b) set up a/c on SNCB International App & add Train+ number c) No high speed trains option. 1 change €7 (65+)

Stayed so long in BB last night we ended up seeking emergency dinner at Rose Red. Food was sensational - even better than usual - & I really enjoyed Surrealiste tripel & Scheldebrouwerij Oesterstout. If you visit, don't miss those amazing Indonesian croquettes...

It's Beasty's 65th birthday today. We spent 5 hours in 't Brugs Beertje helping him celebrate 🍻

Fresh keg of Hommelbier on top form at 't Brugs Beertje 😎 🇧🇪

What was previously De Hobbit - the restaurant directly opposite 't Brugs Beertje - will be serving 'noodles with attitude' in its new incarnation 🤔

Great to be back on the bike & make a start on regaining some fitness after France. 57km out & back to Groede (NL) where I bravely resisted the temptation to pop into Dutch Bargain taproom before commencing my return journey 😂 🇳🇱

Back home at 1.05pm. Outside BB at 3.45pm & first in, natuurlijk 😂 🍻 🇧🇪

Finally heading home today after nearly 4 epic weeks in France to celebrate my wife's birthday. As such, it was officially a wine trip not a beer trip, so I'm quite happy with my total - 129 new-to-me FR beers from 70 different breweries (61 of which were new-to-me). No duplicates nor rule breaches!

This statement by UEFA on FIFA attempting to sell off the World Cup gave me goosebumps, what a statement - the beautiful game deserves no less “As so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

Been way too hot for much charging around in Dijon, but we found a 2nd excellent beer bar last night: L'Ours pimpant (The Dapper Bear). Great local focus to its beer list incl. more from Independent Beer Co, VIF & 90 BPM. Good ambience & service too, a really lovely bar.

It's already hit 38c in Dijon 🥵. Sightseeing now = drinking fluids. This helles lager from tiny Beaune brewery VIF hit the spot perfectly (2nd visit to fab Les Moulins Bleus). Cheers! 🍻

Bad News: Barcade Brooklyn is closing. Good News: They’re not closing for another 32 months, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Les Moulins Bleus: a serious beer bar in heart of Dijon. c.45 beers, 6 on draft. Huge thanks to @thehollows.bsky.social for heads up re local brewery Independent Beer Co, whose Saison a l'Epeautre is almost as good as the legendary Blaugies beer of similar name. Outstanding stuff. Cheers! 🍻 🇫🇷

Whatever you do in Dijon, don't bother with Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin. Website promises wines galore & at least 4 restaurants. In reality, ghost town w/almost no wine, a couple of empty restaurants all desperate to close at 1.15pm (!) & the ambience of a funeral. Avoid.

Been in Dijon 24 hours & we absolutely love it. What a stunning city with beautiful buildings & a lovely ambience - one of the best places we've been on this French trip.

Late lunch at 190 year old Lyon institution Brasserie Georges. They've their own beers (pretty sure brewed off site) which were ok, though bizarrely you can't drink their bottled beers here - take away only. Definitely not a place for a quiet, relaxing meal though food is decent. An 'experience'...

Just a small correction - that's not the trans flag, it's the progressive pride flag covering everybody. The trans flag's just blue, pink, white

Earlier we visited Bieristan, which doesn't look too promising outside - but inside it's great, inclusive & with the right values. Great service & all local beers on its c.14 strong draft list. Enjoyed our visit & would definitely return.