Day Six, Brugge: Sightseeing, Lunch, Brouwerij De Halve Maan
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 4:40 PM.
We woke, had the typical hostel breakfast, checked out and caught the train to Brugge. After arriving in Brugge, we found our hostel, checked in and then set out.
The view from our hostel.
We went to the Groening Museum to see their collection of Flemish Primitive art. There were two things that struck me: the level of detail and realism in some of the paintings, and the surreal imagery of some of the religious paintings.
After the museum we went to lunch at a café called Erasmus, which was mentioned in the Good Beer Guide. The normal menu was pretty expensive, so we went with the 10 € lunch special, which consisted of an overly salted pea soup and a plate of grilled meats with a salad. We each had a Saison Dupont with lunch.
After lunch we went to Brouwerij De Halve Maan, which is apparently the only brewery still operating in Brugge. We decided against taking the tour and instead had the two beers that were offered in their large tasting room. The atmosphere seemed to be geared towards tourists as did the beers. The two Germans arrived shortly after we did, and we briefly said hello.
553. Brugse Zot Dubbel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / De Halve Maan
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear ruby-brown with a thick, brown head that fades to a quarter-inch layer leaving thick lace.
Smell (3.5): Some roasty malt, pepper, graininess and alcohol.
Taste (3.5): Toasty malts, light fruity sweetness with a roasty finish. Alcohol is evident, but subdued.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Light-bodied, a tad watery, moderate carbonation with a dry finish.
Drinkability (3.5): Good, but not a lot going on.
Overall (3.45)
554. Brugse Zot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / De Halve Maan
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours a clear, pale golden with a thick, white head that fades to athin film leaving a small amount of lace.
Smell (3.5): Hints of fruitiness with some grain and hops.
Taste (3.5): Light fruit, with notes of bananas. Light spiciness with grain and hops in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Crisp, with a light fruitiness and some nice hoppiness.
Overall (3.45)
After the brewery we went to the Begijnhof, a set of houses facing a wooded inner courtyard that's currently used by Benedictine sisters as a monastery. It was once home to the beguines of Brugge, members of a religious order. After seeing the Begijnhof we walked to the park in the south of the city and then to one of the old city gates. We stopped at a café near the city center for coffee and waffles before heading to the a bar.
This was outside of a bar.
The view from our hostel.
We went to the Groening Museum to see their collection of Flemish Primitive art. There were two things that struck me: the level of detail and realism in some of the paintings, and the surreal imagery of some of the religious paintings.
After the museum we went to lunch at a café called Erasmus, which was mentioned in the Good Beer Guide. The normal menu was pretty expensive, so we went with the 10 € lunch special, which consisted of an overly salted pea soup and a plate of grilled meats with a salad. We each had a Saison Dupont with lunch.
After lunch we went to Brouwerij De Halve Maan, which is apparently the only brewery still operating in Brugge. We decided against taking the tour and instead had the two beers that were offered in their large tasting room. The atmosphere seemed to be geared towards tourists as did the beers. The two Germans arrived shortly after we did, and we briefly said hello.
553. Brugse Zot Dubbel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / De Halve Maan
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear ruby-brown with a thick, brown head that fades to a quarter-inch layer leaving thick lace.
Smell (3.5): Some roasty malt, pepper, graininess and alcohol.
Taste (3.5): Toasty malts, light fruity sweetness with a roasty finish. Alcohol is evident, but subdued.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Light-bodied, a tad watery, moderate carbonation with a dry finish.
Drinkability (3.5): Good, but not a lot going on.
Overall (3.45)
554. Brugse Zot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Straffe Hendrik / De Halve Maan
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours a clear, pale golden with a thick, white head that fades to athin film leaving a small amount of lace.
Smell (3.5): Hints of fruitiness with some grain and hops.
Taste (3.5): Light fruit, with notes of bananas. Light spiciness with grain and hops in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Crisp, with a light fruitiness and some nice hoppiness.
Overall (3.45)
After the brewery we went to the Begijnhof, a set of houses facing a wooded inner courtyard that's currently used by Benedictine sisters as a monastery. It was once home to the beguines of Brugge, members of a religious order. After seeing the Begijnhof we walked to the park in the south of the city and then to one of the old city gates. We stopped at a café near the city center for coffee and waffles before heading to the a bar.
This was outside of a bar.
Labels: Belgian Pale Ale, Belgium 2006, Dubbel, Travel
