belgian brouwerijen

Some Belgian brewery visits!

After Ghent we headed to Brouwerji 3 Fonteinen, who are known for their geuze (sour) and kriek style beer.  We arrived in time for a tour of their, smaller than I expected, barrel room where one of the master brewers talked about their operations and poured and poured.  While Simone was passed out in the baby bjorn we mingled with the group and tasted some great beer and cheese.  As most of the group made their way to the onsite beer shop, we chatted up a visiting brewer from Orange County, California and Marco took care of the floaters.

Next stop was Brussels - to Cantillon Brewery.  Another brewery famous for its geuze style.  Annie and I stayed in the cozy, fire lit, and overcrowded tasting room while Patrick and Marco did the self-guided tour of the brewery.

What I find most interesting about the Belgium breweries we visit is how old their still in operation equipment is, one hundred plus years old some of it.  It's not the shiny, new steel tanks, clean and brightly lit bottling rooms that I was used to touring in America microbreweries.

We stocked up on some Cantillon and then headed to our hotel in Brussels.  This was our last night before we parted ways with Patrick and Annie.  We had a late, nice dinner out while Simone was on her best behavior, sound asleep in the baby carrier.

The next day Marco and I drove to the Flanders region to visit two favorites - Brouwerji de Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren and De Dolle Brouwers.  Two very different and unique operations.

Westvleteren, a 19th-century Cisterian monastery and Trappist brewery, is famous for not selling their beer anywhere in the world other than by appointment only pick-up at the monastery and at their onsite cafe.  We hung out in the cafe for some brews, sandwiches, and their famous ice cream that is topped with freeze-dried hops.

Next up was to my very favorite, De Dolle.  I could go on about this husband and wife operation. We had toured the brewery last visit so we just relaxed in the tasting room where, in between greeting regular visitors and pouring beers, Jo gave Simone cuddles and her very own De Dolle t-shirt.  

brugge and ghent

In late February of this year our friends Patrick and Annie visited us from northern California. They first came to England for a few days before all of us chunneled to Belgium.

This was our first trip with Simone outside of England.  We spent the first (rainy) day and night of the trip in Lille, France. We had a long cozy lunch and then spent the day ducking in and out of shops and cafes to take breaks from the drizzle.  We ended the night at a great bar where Frenchmen flirted with Simone.

The next morning we grabbed baguettes and drove on to Brugge, Belgium.  Marco and I had visited Brugge with Marco's parents a few years ago.  We were excited to get back to the beer-centric small city.  Though cold, we had great weather.  We roamed the city a bit before getting to the main task at hand, beer bars and beer tastings.  We knew we wouldn't make it to De Struise Brouwers this trip but we went to their beer shop and tasting room located on a main square.  I had only tried a few of their beers before, it was great to taste such a large selection - all of it amazing.  After a full day in Brugge, we grabbed some waffles with Nutella (always with Nutella) before heading to Ghent.

It was late evening when we arrived to Ghent.  Thanks to Patrick, we had another amazing Marriott stay, in a great location - right on the river.  We dropped our bags and headed out to see the city at night.  As we walked, we were taken aback by the beautiful city.  I don't know what I was expecting, but Ghent exceeded my expectations.  Come to learn later, the city has won awards for it's lighting plan. As we walked, we passed so many great old "brown bars", all bustling.  We chose a cozy one lit entirely by candlelight. We enjoyed our drinks while sitting back on old velvet sofas, looking around at the young crowd and reminiscing about those days.  We hit one more bar where Marco made 15 or so  new best friends while bonding over yard stick beers.  Annie, the very patient pregnant one, was such a trooper as Marco, Patrick, and I combed over the thick beer menu.  After several, Patrick and Annie headed to dinner while Simone was telling Marco and I that it was time for bed.

The next morning we checked out some design shops, enjoyed coffee and Belgium waffles, and picked up a dress for Simone in a Belgium lace and linen shop.

Next post, photos from some brewery visits.  

village tour

I spoke about our decision to live in the countryside here when I shared photos of the cottage.  We knew it would be such a change of pace from our rat race commute / city living in Arlington, Virginia.  We are approaching three years living in this village and we still love it.

On most days or evening over the summer, we get out for a family walk.  We walk the village loop, around the village lake, or along one of the many footpaths.  On nicer days I grab my camera before we leave the cottage so I can document summertime in the village.  It is one of the prettiest seasons here, as as the roses are in bloom.

Mostly for our own documentation - the collection I have shared below are from various summer mornings or after dinner twilight walks around the village loop.  Some days I feel nostalgic for our current chapter even while I am still living it!  I guess because I know it isn't permanent, but in this slower pace of life I can't help but remind myself daily how lucky I am.