Beer Planet

DoubleJ

California

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

If you're looking to get away from other tourists, consider Beer Planet. The interior isn't quite as decorated as de Bier Tempel, however Beer Planet does offer a great selection at fair prices, and you won't have to fight a crows to get a look at a beer which catches your eye.

The selection is a little more varied by nationality, offers a few more Dutch beers to go with the large selection of Belgians. I saw some Mikkeller here too. Even more surprised when I saw Old Guardian on sale, but at a very high price.

Just a short walk from the Grote Markt and with much less tourist traffic. If judging by beer, I would probably give Beer Planet the nod over Bier Tempel, although here they don't wrap your bottles for your journey back home.

05-24-2013 19:11:25 | More by DoubleJ

Radome

Spain

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I have been to Brussels several times and have always gone to Bier Tempel to buy some bottles to bring home with me. Last time I went, I sought out this shop as well, based on the recommendation of the "Good Beer Guide to Belgium" book. The shop is a short walk from the Grand Place, but a bit harder to find than Bier Tempel, especially at night.

The shop is clean and modern and feels more open than Bier Tempel, but it is also smaller. This shop consists of only one long room with bottles on the walls. The selection is smaller than Bier Tempel, but I'd say it's a notch above in quality. The emphasis here is on a good sampling of very high quality, special Belgian beers, where Bier Tempel seems to stock a bigger variety of mostly average, everyday brands. Here there were not too many truly rare special editions, but an impressive number of fairly esoteric beers from the more renowned brewers, and few everyday beers to get in the way.

The night I went in there was only one staff member, and he may have been the owner. He was friendly and knowledgeable. When I asked about any beer he was able to immediately point to its exact spot on the shelves. I didn't ask for much help, but I saw him assist an American couple and he was very good at helping them choose new beers based on what they liked. The shop apparently does a lot of shipping to the US, which is what this couple arranged for the case that they picked out. The shopkeeper told me their website has a mail order service available.

Prices were reasonable, considering they are located smack in the middle of Brussels. The bottles they had available were well worth the prices they asked.

Overall a great shop that I'm glad I checked out. If I ever go back to Brussels, I'll browse this one along with Bier Tempel to make sure I see the best of both worlds.

03-02-2013 22:05:54 | More by Radome

flavirufus

Illinois

3.49/5  rDev -15.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1 | selection: 5 | $$$

Don't bother with this place, as far as internet orders goes at least. Had been in communication with the person I believe is the owner. Had asked a couple questions on beers that were coming in and shipments to the USA and they were answered promptly. He indicated to me what when I was ready to place the order just feel free to do so. They got a very nice shipment of Cantillon in and I had a full 17 bottle box in my cart. Upon trying to click the USA shipping option that was just there a day ago, I noticed it was gone. I have since emailed about 4 times asking what the problem was, and even if they ship to the US anymore. That was 2 weeks ago and no response at all to any of the emails. I'm not understanding what even happened. Their list has since been updated several times so I know they are getting the inquiries. I had a few friends that were also wanting to place an order and inquired about US shipping and none of their emails were replied to either. Very disappointing that they would let such a large order just be ignored and even stranger that they won't even respond anymore.

01-27-2013 02:03:25 | More by flavirufus

SStein

North Carolina

3.36/5  rDev -18.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Went to Brussels on Sunday to walk around Le Grand Place, and figured I would check out the place. It was small, with rows of beers lining the wall. There was a great variety of beers, mostly Belgian but there was a small selection of Stone and Mikkeller. The beers were priced about what i would expect for a touristy spot but I went ahead and bought 2 bottles for myself anyways: Mikkeller Beer Geeks Breakfast and Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek Van Schaerbeekse Krieken. The lady running the shop seemed like customers were only there to bother her.

12-26-2012 09:55:40 | More by SStein

LambicKing

Virginia

3.59/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Right around the corner from Delirium Cafe in the heart of downtown Brussels.

I've been to this bottle shop a few times over the last two years and each time I stop in and politely ask if they have a specific beer or two on hand, the lady working gives the impression she'd rather kick me in the shins rather than tend to any questions...maybe because I'm a 34 year old American. Perhaps she's jaded from all the rowdy US/UK college-age nitwits that stumble out of Delirium looking for beer to bring home with them on their flight out of Belgium. Can't say I blame her. For that reason, I don't care for that area of town, especially Delirium on busy nights...but I digress.

That said, the service is sub-par...but perhaps they know they don't have to be courteous since merely their location will sell the beer for them. The staff in there is just short of downright rude.

For the size, the shop contains a wide selection of great Belgian beers (nothing's harder-to-find) at very reasonable prices...especially for the location. Glassware is very limited IMO.

If you are in town for a short period of time, this is a must stop. If you have more time on your hands, look to visit other locations outside of downtown Brussels such as Gent, Brugge or nearby stores such as BVS Drinkcenter.

09-04-2011 22:57:19 | More by LambicKing

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

4.43/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$$

Went to this place on a recent trip to Brussels. They sold me westvleteren 12 even though they say on their website they won't. They have a very good selection of belgian beers, most of which I had not seen in the other 2 shops in and around the grand market in brussels. The owner is nice and helpful. he made some decent recommendations from the list that he has. I would probably buy from them again if i had the chance. This place is right around the corner from the delirium cafe in brussels as well. I would definitely check them out if I visited brussels again.

08-01-2011 20:04:38 | More by Squelch

harrymel

Washington

2.99/5  rDev -27.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$$

Good little beer store tucked into the market area of Brussels. As well known for their ability and willingness to supply the US market with Westy's, they have a great selection of beer from Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, etc. This is really where the appreciation ended for me in as far as compared to the other locals. Primary saving graces here for me are that they have a great website. I did not really purchase much here because the owner was very much impressed with himself and I found him a bit crass regarding his willingness to discuss beer (more interested in talking to his friend via skype on the computer). The beers are also a couple euro more here than in other locals.

Upon deciding where to shop for my take home goods, this establishment was last for the potential list.

06-27-2011 07:34:31 | More by harrymel

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$

Not far from Le Grand Place and relatively easy to find the Beer Planet is well worth the time for a visit. They basically only sell beer and have one of the widest selections I found in Brussels.

The displays are organized in a reasonable fashion, with beers grouped by style. I found a few things here that I didn't see anywhere else and so was able to find a few things that don't make it across the Atlantic (or at least don't get into PA).

Each of the times I visited the manager asked if he might be of help. On only one of those occasions did I feel he was being a bit pushy but it turned out he was also just trying to call my attention to a hard to find beer from a brewery about which I'd asked a question. On another occasion I made a specific request for a beer I didn't see and he spent about 5-10 minutes locating it in one of his cases of unshelved stock.

The prices were about what I expected in an area of shops targeted for tourists, but nothing seemed way out of line and I even spotted a few things that were less expensive that one or two other places.

Basically if you want to shop for quality Belgian beers this is one of the places you should not miss. Indeed if you have the time to only visit one place this is definitely one to consider.

04-22-2011 20:35:31 | More by drtth

calir1

Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Now the review of this place is based on an American in a Belgian beer store. I was like a kid in a candy store!!!! Now to the average Belgian, it was probably not all that impressive, but to me, I could and did spend a lot of money in here. As I walked in I see Black Albert and Black Damnation along with vintage Cantillon with all their regular beers. Now I know Cantillon is down the road and buying them here would be dumb because they are more than double than the brewery, but much less than here in the states. I could spend 100 euro and walk out with a Westy 12, but did not know that until my second trip in and did not want to spend that much more. Awesome place, check it out.

11-14-2010 11:54:18 | More by calir1

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$$

Surprisingly my first review of this store. The location can't be beat, just 1 minute from the Grote Markt, exactly where a tourist is likely to be while in Brussels. The prices are somewhat high, at least by my estimation, compared with non-tourist areas, but not high enough to discourage some purchases.

Great selection, many beers that I saw no where else. The guy running the shop (maybe the owner?) was kind of pushy with his help, but I guess he gets a lot of tourists browsing with no idea what to get. Still, I thought I gave him enough nuggets of knowledge that he'd leave me alone but he still insisted on pimping beers that I know I can already get in the USA. No worries, I can study the selection on my own.

Definitely worth a stop, maybe the best place in the city (that I know of) to get de Struise, also some good lambics and gueuze.

11-02-2010 10:44:19 | More by TurdFurgison