Long-awaited beer released by lambic producers and blenders such as Antidoot, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Tilquin, and Bokke had to be moved online, or were even limited to local Belgian customers only. And events such as Cantillon’s Quintessence and the Night of the Great Thirst were postponed, with Quintessence being moved into 2021 and the Night of the Great Thirst currently being scheduled for September 11. Other events such as 3 Fonteinen’s Lambik Tastings from March and June have also been moved into September, surrounding this year’s Open Beer Days, while the BXL Fest scheduled for August has been cancelled for 2020 (though the Exclusive Beer Packs will still be released and will be available for pickup at Moeder Lambic Fontainas after August 24, 2020.

The fate of Cantillon’s Zwanze Day 2020 is still up in the air, with a final announcement expected by August as to whether there will be an event this year at all, and if so, will it be able to be organized globally or just more localized in Brussels or in Europe.

However, all is not lost for the lambic lover in Europe. Over the past month, restrictions have started to loosen, and many producers and blenders are now able to open their doors again for sales, and now even for tasting. Unfortunately, it is not quite as free and easy as it was before the pandemic. Hours are more restrictive than they were in the past, and reservations are required to visit some locations. If you are lucky enough to be able to get to Europe this summer, here’s some helpful information for planning your visits.

Cantillon Brewery/Brussels Museum of the Gueuze

On May 11, Cantillon reopened the doors of their shop for takeaway only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, which until June 15 meant for Belgian customers only as the borders were closed between Belgium and the rest of Europe until then. As from June 20, Cantillon has also reopened their bar and the Museum of the Gueuze on Saturdays only, however reservations are required. Tours and the bar both start at 11AM, bar reservations can be made by email to info@cantillon.be, and tours can be booked on the Cantillon Website. The bar closes at 5PM, with the last orders at 4:15 PM.

I visited Cantillon for takeaway on Friday, June 26, and also the bar on Saturday, July 4. There was an excellent selection of bottles available for take away. the bottle list for on-site consumption on the 4th was nothing short of outstanding. the new upstairs bar area is set up for customers. There is adequate space for social distancing and it is marked you can see if you click here, and a maximum of 10 persons per table.

Cantillon does still recognize the social aspect of a visit to Cantillon. You are still allowed to share bottles with others, as long as you use clean glasses and limit the movement around the bar area. If your group does grow, they will also accommodate with a larger table (if available) to help limit the need to walk or pass bottles between tables. They require the use of a mask when you are not seated at your table, and request that only one customer walks up to the bar at a time to order.

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom

Also on May 11, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen reopened their shop in Lot, again, at first only possible for customers within Belgium to Visit. As from Friday, June 12, the lambik-O-droom has also reopened for on-site consumption. The lambik-O-droom is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 Noon until 8:00 PM. Guidelines for visiting, as well as the current offerings available for on-site consumption, can be found on their website, however their on-site beer list is not always up to date, so you’ll want to scan the QR Code on your table to access the latest menu.

I visited the lambik-O-droom on Friday, June 26, and found it to also be quite well organized. Seating was only available outside on the grounds but it was covered and there was plenty of seating for a group (up to 10 people) to sit together and share. The beer selection was outstanding, with a number of the Twist of Fate (Spelling van het Lot) beers that would have been released in May being available for on-site consumption. Packs were also available for sale in the shop, with the same basic packs that were also made available on the webshop, as well as individual bottle sales.

Gueuzerie Tilquin

Gueuzerie Tilquin reopened their shop on June 6, and the shop and taproom are currently open on Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, though they will be closed from July 15 to August 15. Tilquin has a number of interesting packs available for purchase, including their recently released Grape Lambic packs, with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling lambics.

Visting a Belgian Lambic Tasting Room This Summer

We recognize this is a very unique time in the world right now, and our American readers cannot visit Europe under the current travel restrictions and ban. We are not advocating putting yourself at risk to travel, and we wholeheartedly believe in wearing a mask, and social distancing is still the best course of action. Our new cases in the Netherlands are minimal and some rules have relaxed even further as of July 1, 2020. We also drove to the brewery in our private vehicle and took proper precautions. We suggest following the regulations for the location where you live in Europe and adhere to all the rules that each brewery asks you to abide by. As the situation with COVID-19 is ever-changing, we also recommend you confirm the locations are open as you plan your potential visit to any Belgian brewery right now.

Aside from the beautiful architecture and loads of history, Bruges is also one of the tastiest cities in Europe. The city boasts an excellent beer scene, wonderful food, and some of the best chocolate in the world. Here are some of our tastiest tips for visiting Bruges.

Where to Eat in Bruges

Bruges has hundreds of restaurants, including a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in and around the city. While the legendary three-star De Karmeliet has closed for normal service, remaining for special events only, chef Geert Van Hecke still runs restaurant Zet’joe and bistro Refter alongside the original location.

For a more casual dinner, check out Restaurant Cambrinus, where you can get traditional Belgian cuisine prepared with and paired with their large selection of Belgian beers.

For a fun dessert, stop by Go.fre, where you can grab a delicious Belgian waffle on a stick. You can get your waffle dipped in a variety of chocolates, and coated in a number of different toppings. Get it topped fresh, or buy some prepackaged waffles to take home as a souvenir.

And no visit will be complete without buying some chocolate to bring home to all of your friends and family. And there’s no better chocolate shop in Bruges than Chocolatier Dumon. You won’t be disappointed!

Where to Drink Beer in Bruges

Brugge has quite a lot of beer history, and there are plenty of beer-related activities in the city.

In the south of the old city, near the Minnewater, you’ll find the historic Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, where the local Straffe Hendrik and Brugse Zot beers are brewed today. Here you can tour the old brewery, as well as enjoy traditional Belgian food and the house-brewed beers.

As you head from the Minnewater back towards the center, you’ll find the BeerWall, where you can see hundreds of Belgian beers on display, and stop in the shop to pick up some of your favorite bottles.

In the market square you can find the Bruges Beer Museum and Experience, with interactive exhibits on the history of beer in the city, as well as tastings of beers from nearby breweries like Rodenbach.

And right next to the Church of the Holy Blood, you’ll find the Struise Beershop, where you can buy the latest offerings from one of Belgium’s most creative breweries.

If you’d like to sample some of Belgium’s best beers, stop by some of the great beer cafes in the city, such as De Garre, Cafe Rose Red, and ‘t Brugs Beertje.

Where to Stay in Bruges

After a day of tasting your way through the city, you’ll need a comfortable hotel in the city to lay your head at night. One of our favorite hotels in Bruges is the Grand Hotel Casselbergh. I stayed there during the European Beer Bloggers Conference in August 2015, and truly enjoyed my stay there, especially the great breakfast!

When and How to visit Bruges

Bruges is one of those cities that is great to visit year-round. It’s many parks and canals are lovely to wander through on a beautiful summer evening, and winter brings a fairy tail charm to the city, with the Markt turned into a Christmas market and ice skating rink. Shops are open year-round, though many do close for at least a week in the late summer for their holiday.

If you are traveling to Bruges, unless you are renting a car, you will likely be arriving by train. the train station is located just south of the main walled city center, and is a nice walk, through the Minnewater and into the center.

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