Twenty Years of Great Beer at Bruges's Little Bear
by Chuck Cook
One of the world's most famous beer cafes celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. 't Brugs Beertje, located in Brugge (Bruges), Belgium, first opened its doors on Friday, MayÊ13, 1983. "Bruges's Little Bear" has been serving up excellent Belgian brews and atmosphere ever since.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] Jan De Bruyne had the idea to open a beer specialty cafe in the early 1980s, having seen the developing interest in specialty beers in Belgium at that time. He and wife Daisy Claeys had managed a restaurant before and hence were familiar with running a small business. Jan and Daisy's dream came true when they found a place for their cafe in the very heart of Brugge's shopping area, in a building dating from 1632. Kemelstraat, a small street off busy Steenstraat, was and still is a perfect location for such a cafe.
While the Beertje started with fewer than 100 beers on its menu, there are now about 250 different brews available, including five on tap ("van 't vat" in Flemish). All Belgian beer styles are represented, with West Flanders being particularly well covered.
Though I first discovered Belgian beers while backpacking in Spain in 1991, it was at the Beertje three years later that my true voyage into the world of Belgian brews began. Once I had tasted beers like Rochefort 10, Het Kappitel Abt and De Dolle Stille Nacht, there was no going back. I was on the road to Belgian Beervana.
Little did I know back then that I would have the rare opportunity to interview Daisy Claeys about the history of her famous cafe in 2002, on my ninth trip to Belgium. Of course I have made it a rule to spend at least one evening at the Beertje each visit to Belgium, which is a very easy rule to follow!
Why is Bruges's Little Bear such a great place to sample beer, learn about beer and meet new friends? The popularity of 't Brugs Beertje is not only due to the great list of beers offered, but also to the atmosphere, which is very conducive to good times and good conversation. As Brugge is one of Europe's top tourist attractions, there are lots of visitors taking in the sights. With just about every class of accommodation available, there is always a wide cross section of people at the Beertje.
There are several backpacker-type youth hostels in Brugge, bringing in a young, adventurous crowd. Also, it is very easy to meet people while on vacation, as most everybody is there to have a good time. There are people from 18 to 80+ years old sampling fine beer virtually on a daily basis here. The clientele is international, with people visiting from all over Europe, Japan, South America, Australia, New Zealand, North America and many more places. The banter at the Brugs Beertje can be compared to the "Craic" often referred to in Irish pubs.
The service is always friendly and helpful, with Daisy and all her staff well versed in beer styles, proper beer pouring and presentation, and of course beer suggestions for anyone who may need help with the many choices offered. You will not get your beer in a frosty glass or receive a blank stare about what seasonal beers are on tap, I can assure you. You also will not see any lagers on the menu. There is no pils here or strong drink (for that you must visit the also-famous Genever bar, the Dreupelhuisje, next door, with 100+ different flavored gins). Food is also available at the Little Bear. A cheese board is offered with five types of cheeses, and there are also a few pates and pastas.
A special note (and recommendation): The beer menu only covers the beers that are available year-round. Always ask about seasonal beers or special brews that may not be on the list. The Beertje is a great place to taste the many offerings of Brouwerij de Regenboog, located about two kilometers from Brugge in Assebrook. Regenboog is one of the top small microbreweries in Belgium, and brewer Johan Brandt brews a number of seasonal and special one-off beers such as Halloween, Smisje Kerst and BBBourgondier. These world-class brews do not as yet have a very wide distribution in Belgium.
Wherever you happen to be on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, be sure to raise a toast to one of the world's top beer cafes, 't Brugs Beertje, owner Daisy Claeys and 20 years of great beer culture!
Chuck Cook is a freelance writer living in Chapel Hill, N.C. His passions are beer and travel, and he has written for various beer publications. E-mail him at chuck@beerandtravel.com.
Copyright 2003, Celebrator No material herein may be reprinted without permission of the Celebrator Distributed On the W3 For personal, non-commercial enjoyment and use only. Cheers!
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