When going for the lunch today to the center of Brussels, more precisely to Brasserie Fin du Siècle (highly recommended!), we crossed the Grand Place where Belgian Beer Weekend takes place every year in the beginning of September. We had a short walk around and I took some pictures with my phone, so here you have a picture of what it is and how is it organised, in case you might be interested to visit Brussels next summer, this is a great way of seeing more from the Belgian culture!
Belgian Beer Weekend is a pleasant event where you can learn more about the Belgian brewers and taste some famous Belgian beers, while spending a nice time with your friends/family, admiring the most beautiful medieval square in Europe. During the weekend you can also see some processions.
There are various brewer stands installed on Grand Place, where you can taste and compare different beers, and discover the diversity of Belgian beers.
Apart from the famous AB Inbev, you can meet brewers such as Lindemans (famous for their fruit beers), Duvel Moortgat (popular bitter and strong beer Duvel), Bosteels (that produces famous Kwak served in a glass that looks like sandglass), or Sint-Bernardus (which tastes like the best beer in the World – Westvleteren, but is much cheaper). You should definitely go to the “Trapisttes” beer stand and try some of the beer produced by monks in abbeys under severe regulations, such as Chimay, Westmalle, or Orval.
There is free entry, but you need to buy beer tickets.
For better orientation, you have a map of stands…
…but also a schema of tastes and list of beers, you just need to pick some! 🙂
The event is for all ages!
But Grand Place is not the only place you need to be. Few meters from Grand Place you reach the Stock Exchange and there is a Bar National with music. You can buy and drink bottles of 75 cl here.
Belgians are rightly proud of their beer richness and beer culture.
So if you plan to visit Brussels in the summer, be aware of this early September event and try to add it into your itinerary – you will really enjoy it! You can find more info such as the schedule for the next year and programme on the official website of Belgian Brewers.
