Het Anker’s special blond ale

Posted at 2:12 pm by Patrick under Dublin + Belgium:2005

For my nightcap, I am enjoying a “Margriet”, a special blonde ale from the Mechelen brewery we visited on Friday.

This one has a honey-like residual sweetness balanced by a subtle hop bitterness. I am quickly becoming a fan of this beer.

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Cheers from Hasselt!

Posted at 1:20 pm by Patrick under Dublin + Belgium:2005

I *do* like my draft Saison Dupont.

Proost!

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The currency of beer

Posted at 1:17 pm by Patrick under Dublin + Belgium:2005

We are now at the Weekend of Belgian Beers sponsored by the Limburgse Beer Club.

Pictured here are the tokens used to “purchase” beers. It’s 25 Eurocents for one token — reds are worth 10 tokens. Beers range from 7 tokens for draft beers, to up to 60 tokens for a special vintage champagne beer.

We’re starting with some draft Saison Dupont for now.

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Belgica 101: Chocolate

Posted at 5:26 am by Patrick under Dublin + Belgium:2005

No trip to Belgium would be complete without chocolate (and lots of it).

There are many artisanal chocolatiers in Bruges, and many of them are concentrated on the KatelijnenStraat.

Larger makers like Leonidas and Neuhaus are known around the world, but I like the family run operations best.

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Passage hotel: another old friend

Posted at 4:16 am by Patrick under Dublin + Belgium:2005

This is the third time I’ve stayed here during my travels to Bruges, and its quality seems to be on the up from my previous visits.

We’re in room 14, the same one the Mark and I had when we last visited Bruges with our friend Rob. The room has been freshly wallpapered, and looks more crisp than our 2000 stay.

Just be aware that shower control is a push-button l (one push is about 5 seconds worth of water). You gotta move fast, or shower with one hand!

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