It's festival day folks 

So after visiting the supermarket to stock up on on snacks and water we made our way to the festival and joined the long "fast lane" line - it seemed like everyone had bought "fast lane" tickets because this lane was maybe 150-200 strong (luckily we were near the front) whereas the general entrance had maybe 30 people queueing.

10 minutes later than advertised they opened the festival and opened all the doors letting everyone in at the same time BUT because our line was so much longer we had to wait, still stood in line as the general entrance cleared...so much for a "fast lane"




Nevermind we're in and found a spot by the entrance to sit and choose our first beer, Linda  picking a very tasty Tripel and me...a Westvleteren 12, amazing that there were no customers at the Trappist stall.




It was whilst enjoying our beers that to our surprise Katrien appeared telling us to join their table and so the gang from the previous night were back together.




What followed was filled with great beer, great friends and great chatter, the next 4 hours flew by. Beers were shared with some hitting the spot and others a clear miss (Stephen picking a Black Garlic Stout from Totem...it stank of dark sticky garlic)

One that was a hit was from De Struise and it seemed like they were on the Omnipollo bandwagon serving slushy beers    not quite as well executed but nice to see non the less and Linda picked a Black Albert Baileys Slush - 13% Black Albert topped with a frozen Baileys/beer head topping....it tasted delicious. My choice was Black Albert Chocolate Hazelnut Slush, pure Nutella in a glass.








By pure chance we were sat next to a salami display from Marcassou out of the Ardennes, they had a wonderful stand done up like a woodland (complete with large inflatable wild boar head) and even a game involving falling salami.

They were even handing out free packets of their salami which were totally delicious, it seemed like every time I got up for a beer I was handed a pack and brought several home with me. I've even cooked with them adding them to a dish of rice and vegetables 

https://www.marcassou.be/fr/home






A much better offering from Totem - their 10% Gingerbread Imperial Stout




Now this was stunning, from Perennial out of St Louis it was their barrel aged Sump, a thumping 12.7% Imperial Stout aged 12 months in Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey Barrels with Sump coffee




With some many dark heavy beers it was time to bow out with a Rhubarb Triple, I loved it, Linda not too sure 




And with that it was time to head back to our hotel to get ready for the evening - mucho mucho goodbyes        



That evening we were booked in at Cambrinus but first we nipped around the corner to Hotel Rose Red as as always it was packed but we found a couple of seats at the bar and ordered ourselves a couple of amazing Tripels






Food time so it was off to Cambrinus for a delicious steak and Linda their platter (so great to nibble on) and beer, well as always I went for a Steenuilke






Bellies filled we then headed in the direction of the Halve Maan brewery to a bar Linda wanted to visit and my this place was quirky...Bieratelier




As you enter the bar you're greeted with a low ceiling adorned with hundreds of women's Bra's, it was quite the shock let me tell (much to Linda's laughter)






Making your way through the small bar to the back room it too was quite the surprise with the walls covered in beer mats complete with messages from across the globe written on the back, we of course Linda added our own










Beer and Linda chose large with a tasting plank, it's not often we do this but it was fun to try all the beers from tap




What a fun and quirky bar this was, would we visit again...most definitely 


There was just enough time to squeeze in one last beer and finish this magnificent day off in style...Beertje, De Dolle and Frites - that is how you bid goodnight






Cheers to you all, more to come
Jay   

 
     

       

It's beer swap time folks 

The 13th Annual Bruges Beer Swap was taking place again at the some fantastic location of Brewery Bourgogne Des Flanders, so conveniently situated being less than a 2 minute walk from our hotel.

After missing out last year it was wonderful to once again meet up with Rudy and Marina and we were instantly welcomed back as returning friends with much hugs. It was also great to meet up with Stephen and Catherine from Scotland, the two year absence gone instantly.

Many more familiar faces turned up all loaded down with beer and all excited about the nights beery adventures.

Beers were placed on the bar top but we also had use of the fridges in the on site tasting room, this way beers that needed it could be served refrigerated

Both myself and Linda agreed that this was the most relaxed, informal and laidback beer swap yet. The entire evening was just a room filled with friends old and new happily sharing beers and chatting the night away...no fussiness, no awkwardness, it was just perfect

Pics of the evenings antics, lots and lots of delicious beers sampled.


A delicious Straffe Hendrik Wild courtesy of Filip, it was filled with beautiful Orval Bretty notes, so delicious in fact I bought a bottle to bring home 




A couple of special limited edition bottles






A couple of special vintage beers from Rudy








Amongst the many people from across Europe and beyond was Ron Smith from Indiana, he had brought a selection of beers from his local brewery Sun King - unique beers in unique bottles, this included my beer of the evening...the utterly delicious Dubai Chocolate, a stunning 14.7% Barrel Aged Pistachio and Chocolate Imperial Stout, for my this was approaching perfection 






A couple more including the new BAB 403 brought by Marc and fellow members






So there we have some happy snap shots of a most memorable beer swap - beer, friends, happy chatting, laughter...what more could you wish for 


Now then after visiting the frites stall (but of course  ) Linda suggested one last nightcap but in a bar we've never visited before, yet one we've walked past countless times and one she's long wanted to visit 




Indeed we have walked past it many times (on our way to La Trapiste) and another location used in the film In Bruges - 't Zwart Huis








What an absolutely beautiful bar this is, a large open plan wood panelled room filled with ornate glass chandeliers and imposing stone fireplaces, this is a bar we would be returning to.

To sit here just drinking in both the beer and the stunning location as we recapped on the most perfect day was the absolute perfect ending.

Festival tomorrow folks

Cheers
Jay   

   
   

Gorgeous photos Jay. Almost feels like I'm there. Thanks for sharing those with us!

Cheers! - John

Our road trip out and bottle share 




10.30am and we're off, so after meeting up just across from our hotel at the fish market we hit the road and set off on our journey towards the Watou region of Belgium...we were St Bernardus bound

After an hours journey across the picturesque Western corner of beautiful Belgium, so far to the West that we were close to the French border (in fact me, Filip and Linda each got a text saying welcome to France  ) we turned into the imposing St Bernardus brewery.




Upon entering you're met with a large souvenir shop that was richly filled with beer, cheeses, pate's, clothing and various beerphanalia...beers, pate and a rather cool St Bernardus t-shirt were bought.




It was then upstairs to the ultra modern open plan restaurant for some food and a beer, the large floor to ceiling glass walls proving picturesque views across the Watou countryside and luckily enough they managed to squeeze us in, this place was packed




Beer first with me picking something new, a 6% Belgian Blonde Ale brewed with lemon verbena and fennel...quite citrusy and herbal




Food time with Linda, Filip and Katrien opting for glorious looking platters and myself going for the Flemish Carbonnade prepared with St Bernardus ABT12 and served in a cauldron sized portion




After that most delicious lunch (great food, great beer and great company) we explored the outside rooftop terrace and my the views were nothing short of spectacular. From here we had panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside, hop vines and even nearby France








Time to move on and it was the short journey to that most iconic of rural Belgian countryside bars - Helleketel, this place really is that bit special







The bar area was particularly busy but we found a table by the bar and to my delight owner Lena came over and took our orders (luckily Filip was on hand, no way would she understand my northern accent  ) I went for the very fitting Helleketel from De Bie with Linda choosing a local drink Picon and Filip choosing a Yvegem Bruin (I can't remember what beer Katrien chose  )






This place just oozes masses of local charm, ancient quirkiness and is steeped in decades of beery history. This is the kind of place I'd never tire of visiting, it really is Watou's answer to Beertje






Vintage jukebox playing vintage music, free to play

 


The bar cat was quickly in my seat as I took the above picture 




Time to head back to Bruges and get ready for tonights beer swap but WHAT a day it had been, to visit these far corners of Belgium is undoubtedly our highlight of the weekend. We've been on some mad adventures over the years (with many more to come  ) with each and every one a cherished memory I'll hold in my heart forever, THANK YOU Filip and Katrien from both of us        

Bottle share to follow

Cheers
Jay         



     

     

Now for a proper post, our time in Bruges 


Our first day in town was a mix of old favourites and new spots, kicking things off with the one and only and best house beer around







A bit of food and Linda had booked us in at a restaurant that we've walked past countless times (on our way to Rudy's old bar) and the first of two new locations used in the film In Bruges...Diligence










Flemish Carbonnade (first of many) and Spaghetti Bolognaise






Our final bar of the day and there could be only one...my No1










Heading back to our hotel we had to make a little pitstop at our favourite little wooden food truck (always the one on the right) and the guy serving said it's great to see us again and that we were missed last year - it's not just the people in bars who remember your faces






Walking back to our hotel the night was so peaceful, beautifully quiet and not a breath of wind






Bedtime for now folks...tomorrow we venture out with Filip and Katrien plus the bottle share

Cheers
Jay 

 

 

Thanks so much for the kind replies guys, it really is a massive relief    the worry of "what if" was constantly on our minds. The big thing was getting the Colonoscapy out of the way, that would reveal anything untoward and I'm so happy to say that no cancer was found...I can deal with a few polyps - I aint gonna lie though that was some painful procedure (the medicine you take is vile and the camera examination something else)

Because they found 5 polyps (albeit small ones) I will have to have another colonoscapy but thankfully not for another 5 years.

Tomorrow I have my second Vitamin B12 injection with 3 more to follow over the next two weeks, I'll then have another blood test to see if my B12 levels are high enough, if they are then that's an end of it    if not they'll repeat the procedure in 3 months time.

In saying all that I really do feel so much better than I did just a couple of weeks back, that upset bloated stomach has gone and as a result my appetite is returning.

Next is to get my hernia sorted but that's another story 


Cheers,
Jay