De Helleketel and Houblon.

Now for something a bit special, whilst in Brugge back in January me and Linda were lucky enough to meet up with a couple of good friends - Filip and his lovely wife Katrien.
Filip runs what is without doubt the webs number 1 site dedicated to Belgian beer, the fantastic Belgian Beer Board (please visit this site the wealth of information is mind blowing)

Back to the trip, Filip took us around the beautiful west corner of Belgium, in particular the region of Watou. We were lucky enough to visit several outstanding bars (more on them later) possibly my favourite was De Helleketel (the oldest bar in the Watou region)
A very busy rustic place and despite being filled with happy cheerful locals we were welcomed with open arms and room quickly found for the 4 of us - even though not a word of English was spoken the friendliness shown by the land lady and regulars was heart warming.

Both Filip and i chose the excellent Houblon Chouffe IPA, a hazy pale yellow beer with a large pillowy white head. Very floral and spicy hoppy aroma with a sweet citrus taste followed by hop bitterness and a dry finish

.

Linda and Katrien both had Picon, a local drink of red wine infused with citrus and other magical ingredients.

A thoroughly enjoyable time was had and on my way out i noticed something old and dusty in the corner of the room - a 1.5 ltr bottle of Helleketelbier.....sadly empty or i'd have been asking how much.

http://www.achouffe.be/en

STAMINEE DE GARRE

Seeing as my first post mentioned my favourite Brugge bar i thought i give Linda's favourite a mention.
Staminee De Garre is another Brugge bar that features heavily on many a Belgian beer fanatics places to visit list. Now i speak from experience here but on your first visit this place can be difficult to find, the easiest way is to walk from the Markt along the cobbled Breidelstraat towards Burg, it's on your right down a tiny alley.

Should you be lucky enough to find a seat here (despite being split over 2 floors De Garre is still small but compact) the beer of choice and reason for peoples visit is the house beer Tripel van De Garre.

Brewed by Van Steenberge the house Tripel from draught is a masterpiece. Hazy amber coloured beer with the largest, creamiest head of any Belgian beer i've had, so dense infact that i'm pretty sure you could balance the cheese cubes that accompany on top without fear of sinking.

Classic Tripel in the aroma - citrus, clove and alcohol (this beer is 11%) taste is candy sweet malts with a fruity (apricot) edge and a slight tart, alcohol finish. Low carbonation makes this one hell of a dangerously drinkable beer.

STRAFFE HENDRICK QUADRUPEL

Lets start things off with what was for me, my number 1 priority, must try beer at Septembers Bruges Beer Festival. Enjoyed back then from draught and now from bottle in January at my most favourite bar, the one and only 't Brugs Beertje.

Pouring Straffe Hendrick Quadrupel produces a large creamy beige head that slowly fades to leave a constant covering. Underneath is a deep, dark reddish beer that without holding to the light borders on black.
Aroma is crammed with roasted malts combined with liquorice and treacle, spices are there as are hops and the mighty 11% alcohol is also noticeable but never overpowering.

Tasting pretty much backs up the aroma - sweet, roasty, dark dried fruits and hops with a slight carbonated finish.
All in all a cracking flagship beer from Brugge brewery De Halve Maan.