Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant

DoubleJ

California

3.91/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3 | selection: 4.25 | $$

It isn't the interior of Het Waterhuis which makes the high atmosphere mark, it's the fact that you're right next to the canal with enough old sites around which leaves you to unwind. Al fresca seating is right outside the enterance, and during the daylight is totally worth sitting at. And as a bonus, there's that beer thing....

Carry over proper glassware, cool serving of the beer, 16 draft selections (ex. Boon, Augustijn, Gulden Draak, Piraat, Klokke) plus 150 bottles (ex. De Dolle, Tilquin, Val Duei, Floreffe) at reasonable prices and you have yet another good Belgian beer bar. It did have one flaw during my visit though, the service is rather slow. It took many minutes before I was approached by a waitress to make my beer selection. If you can tolerate that, this would be a good place in Ghent to stop at for a beer.

05-18-2013 03:22:15 | More by DoubleJ

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

3.54/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

From a couple of different sources, we were told to visit Ghent over Bruges. Enamored with the movie In Bruges, we spent our overnight time in Bruges before heading to Poperinge to drink Westvleteren. So we hit Ghent for the day on the way to Antwerp for a disappointing trip at the Kulminator. After our short day in Ghent, it is the top of our next trip list for Belgium.

To maximize our day, we left early and got on the first canal boat tour of the morning.
Our tour guide Matthew gave us a personalized tour of the city because we were the only ones to buy a ticket. While chatting, Matthew told us of a local beer named after the largest bell of the city center clocktower: Klokke Roeland. We saw the famous bell while walking. Google the image to check it out—it's a bell. This part of Belgium is known for it's clock towers, especially to the west around Bruges. In Bruges the day before, there was a list of historic Belgian clock towers in the area. Evidently, some people collect clock towers like I collect beer. We missed a lot of small breweries in this area, so a combination clock tower tour while beer hunting is definitely a good vacation possibility.

At the conclusion of our tour, Matthew sent us to the Bierhuis to taste Klokke Roeland. The bar's proper name is Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, which seems to mean beer on the water's edge (according to google translate). Right on the canal in the historic center of Ghent, the Bierhuis is clearly the place of choice for thirsty tourists. We had two drafts. First, Augustijn Blonde. Straw gold with an off white head, slight spice in the nose with a solid light malt. Smooth flavor, easy drinking.

Next, Klokke Roeland. Shimmering amber beer with a dirty white head served in the same styled glass as the house tripel at Staminee de Garre. Earthy malt nose with a little spice and only a trace to betray the high alcohol. Sweet malt and a light spiciness from the alcohol in the taste. Easy and dangerous to drink, it's slightly off balanced but a nice beer. BA rating is less than stellar, but I thought the beer to be a bit better than the reviews. The reviews I looked at seemed to be of stateside kegs at east coast bars; I would guess drinking local probably helped improve my sample.

I'm glad we stopped to try the Klokke Roeland, but the fourteen taps are of middling range of standard Belgians. The beer was well served and I wouldn't hesitate to have a quick, easy draft here again when being a tourist in the heart of this historic city. However, a perusal of BA bars in Ghent implies that a savvy beer geek could find better with some time and effort. However, it's our first bar after our day at Westvleteren and we are suppose to drink at the world famous Kulminator tonight, so the Bierhuis may have suffered by comparison. I look forward to giving it another try on our next trip to Ghent.

Pictures at http://pintsizedrevelations.blogspot.com/2013/03/het-waterhuis-aan-de-bierkant-ghent.html.

03-05-2013 14:15:17 | More by FightingEntropy

skypup

Germany

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Visited this during a trip to Ghent in September, 2011.

Located in a high tourist area. Comfortable atmosphere, wooden booth inside and tables with stools outside. We sat at a table inside, but seating was available outside that overlooks the river.

Had several beers on tap and an extensive beer menu. Sampled a bottled Tatras Bulba and a Steen Brugge Triple.

Service was prompt and friendly, Even with most of the tables occupied. Waitress spoke decent English.

Prices were competitive with other restaurants and beer sampling establishments.

11-07-2011 18:49:31 | More by skypup

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Went to this place the first night in Belgium, well the pub, and had lunch there a week later. A nice outdoor seating area right above the canal and inside the pub was just how I would expect a Belgian pub to look like. Lots of old signs and displays of bottles and glassware. The selection was very nice with all the Trappists (except Westvletern), Catillion, and well you get the picture. All the beer served in proper glassware and just below cellar temp. The service was good, they knew I was American and had tons of questions but answered everything. As for lunch a week later, inside the restaurant part, old home like feeling and had the waterzooi, man that was delicious. A definate stop if you get to Gent!

09-29-2011 20:42:35 | More by OWSLEY069

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Have visited this bar a number of times over the years, most recently in November 2010.

Popped in for a couple at 1am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning and actually managed to get a couple of seats at the bar (the place is always crowded)

Headed straight to the bottled menu as usual, which had around 100 options (4 or so on draft)

The bottled menu didn't contain too many rareities in my opinion, so I got stuck into a couple of hommel beers (as a palate cleansing interlude between stronger Belgian examples and jenever!!!)

The layout of this bar is akin to an English/Irish pub with various artifacts and ols books strewn around and is table service.

However as we were sat around the bar we proffered from a much faster bar service and didn't go thirsty (top tip, as on previous visits the table service can be somewhat slow - normally due to the fact the bar is jam packed!)

As is our tradition on a Ghent visit, we piled into the Dreupelkot next door for good night Jenevers :P

03-19-2011 19:49:14 | More by Ruds

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

4.56/5  rDev +17.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited 10/2008

We headed back across the Leie River to Het Waterhuis, a café right on the river that had a good reputation for beer. It did not disappoint.

They offered three different house beers. I stuck with a hoppy blonde called Gandavum, my friend grabbed a tawny colored strong ale Klokke Roeland. Both were surprisingly excellent. The cafe was lots of brick and timber, old dusty glasses on a ledge above the bar, beer signs galore and false vines draped from the ceiling. Nice view of the river too.

But there was more! What should I spy on the chalkboard but Rodenbach Foederbier. Fantastic! I ordered one and the server asked me if I was sure I wanted one because this beer was very, very sour. I reaffirmed that, yes, this was the beer I desired. She warned me again about the extreme sourness and asked me if I was really sure about this choice.Again, I assured her that I had an idea what it would be like and said that I was prepared. A third time she tried to warn me..."Bring it on!" I said. I am guessing she has had to take this beer back from unsuspecting tourists in the past...

Good service, decent prices, a great atmosphere and a fantastic beer list. Maybe the best all-around beer bar in Gent.

05-27-2010 13:26:14 | More by ViveLaChouffe

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Visited: 8-22-08

A wonderful bar with ample history and a fine atmosphere. Great beer list with lots of lambic, geuze, and sour browns. Also features a fair number of house beers including the very good Gandavum Dry Hopping, a Belgian IPA brewed exclusively for Waterhuis by De Proef. I was pleased to see Timmermans Witte Lambic on tap when I visited. Service was a little slow. The lower level was jam packed so we sat upstairs. The view was good and the space interesting so that was nice but unfortunately it meant having to rely on an older lady to serve us. She was less than prompt but otherwise friendly.

11-29-2009 23:14:12 | More by DaPeculierDane

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $

Right on one of the canals in Ghent, this is a great place to sit outside if the weather is good. Easy to watch the canal boats go by while you're choosing from a nice selection of geuze and interesting house beers. Just a few steps from the city center. Didn't try the food. Staff was very helpful in choosing decent beers and avoiding the lesser ones. They do have wireless internet, although the staff didn't know it. Beer prices are very good. A few rare finds, including a Moriau Geuze (brewery has closed). Definitely one of the beer highlights of a visit to Ghent.

11-18-2009 01:20:08 | More by Travlr

jfunkk79

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $

Visited in March '08 on a tour of Belgium with some fellow beer nerds.

We sat at a small table by the bar. Real homey feel with all the dark wood everywhere. The bar was really small, made of brick with huge glassware rack. The glassware hung from above and extended out to over the serving area. Lots of glasses.

The dry hop vines lining the top of the bar and extending around to the side of the room are a really nice touch. In any other bar it may seem out of place and forced but here it definitely lends itself nicely to the rustic interior.

The beers were great and pretty inexpensive. They had a nice mix of your standard Belgians with a few lambics from each of about 5 different breweries. Very cool.

Service was friendly, spoke great english and was happy to answer questions.

If you find yourself in Ghent this is a must visit. Especially when it's nice out.

03-21-2009 03:37:14 | More by jfunkk79

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$

Visited twice during a long weekend over New Year (08-09). On the first visit we had to go upstairs because the small groundfloor bar was full.

Service up there was poor, the lad forgot our order and then only brought 3 beers, forgetting my on tap Gulden Draak Vintage. The lovely cheese platter we also ordered came only after reminding him. On leaving I found him downstairs texting someone instead of doing his job, very annoying. Everyone upstairs seemed to be tourists, no Flemish spoken at all, just French and English. The view from the windows however are great, the room and furniture all wooden and rickety.

The second visit was quieter and we found seats downstairs, the bar is very pleasant and again wood is the main stuff used throughout. The staff were more attentive and my on tap NIce Chouffe was in fine order. Everyone in the place on this occasion appeared to be local apart from us.

The bar is part of a business that has four distinct parts, this bar, Chez-Leontine, which is a posh looking Flemish eating house next door. Next door to that is 't Dreupelkot, purely a Jenever Bar with 215 to choose from and lastly across the river on Kraanlei is their Beer and Jenever shop, which I also used to buy some rare beers before heading home.

In short, a good choice of well kept beers, pleasant atmosphere and surroundings, hope the staff are the ones we encounted second!

01-22-2009 15:54:27 | More by BlackHaddock