Les Brasseurs de la Grand Place

Les Brasseurs de la Grand PlaceLes Brasseurs de la Grand Place
Les Brasseurs de la Grand PlaceLes Brasseurs de la Grand Place
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

Rue de la Colline 24
Brussels, 1000
Belgium

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
0
Beers:
0
Ratings:
0
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.04
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
17
pDev:
17.43%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
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Ratings by objectivemonkey:
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Reviewed by objectivemonkey from Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2.5
I have several reviews to write, but I"m getting this one out of the way first because, quite frankly, I want to stop thinking about it. It haunts me in my dreams. Every beer I drink, a shadow of the collective world's lifeless beers flits across the rear of my tongue, paining me to no end. Why, oh why, can I not forget this awful place.

It began simply enough; starstruck wanderers wander into the center of all that is beerily holy. Brussels, central location of the worlds oddest beer, the gravitational center of all Belgian beers, the place where explorers from every country from every continent come to find the best beer... in Europe, and perhaps.... the world. But then, a terrible thing befell these wanderers.

Lapsing into their oh-so-American habit of convenience, their utter assurance that pretty things with high prices are a mark of quality, they enter... the place which shall not be named.

It looks pretty enough. The staff seem friendly. We sit, pleasantly surprised by our luck. Who knew?! a brewpub, in Belgium, overlooking the central square of Brussels. It HAS to be good. Oh, if only I knew then what I know now, what I take pain to forget.

Because, whilst several friendly smiles greeted us, we knew of no service for half an hour. For half an hour, these wanderers sat, in the middle of beer heaven, without beer. Hungry. Confused. Perhaps a bit constipated.

Oh, but service at last! Why, so excited was I, the sampler was the only course of action. 'Everything! I must have everything," I said. If only.... I had known...

Drink came, and parched I was. Deeply I drank of their elixirs. But this was no invigorating tonic. Neither was it the sulfuric intoxicant of Hades. No, worst of all, it was Purgatory... neither good, nor bad, just decent enough to keep drinking. One after the other, the same result. To sit and sip in mild misery was my fate that afternoon, and it left lasting impressions. Oh... the horror...

The food, too, was without soul, without pain or good. There was nothing left for us to do but swallow all pride, pour our wallets to the table, and leave, heads hung low, all illusions of Belgium's infallibility quashed.

So, good reader, make not the mistake we made. Find the smallest hole in the wall, tucked deep in the recesses of the city. Or better yet, just skip Brussels all together, for fear of wandering into the tentacles of this shoddy sham, this fraud of a brewpub.

.... Ok. So for reals, the only beer worth drinking (read: that didn't taste like a bad batch of Bud Select) were the guest beers. The food was unremarkable and expensive, the fries were crap. It was a wholly un-enjoyable and expensive experience.
Jul 13, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by uturn from Florida

Jan 09, 2014
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Reviewed by Radome from Florida

3.6/5  rDev +18.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
This place has one huge factor in its favor--it's open on Monday! You will find that most/all of the other establishments in the Good Beer Guide and this website are closed that day, which is when I happened to be wandering around downtown Brussels looking for decent beer and hot food.

I was in vicinity of the Grand Place looking for Brasserie de la Roue d'Or and I spotted this brewpub instead. It is literally a few steps outside the Grand Place on a side street. The sign for "Home Brewed Beers" caught my eye and I could see some gleaming brass and stainless steel from the street. I couldn't resist going in to sample beers and have lunch.

The interior was clean and the atmosphere was warm and comfortable if not remarkable. Despite all the visible brewing equipment, none of it was in use at lunchtime on Monday. I saw no signs of active brewing and I wondered if the equipment was for show and the beers were actually brewed elsewhere.

The beer menu had four house beers, Blond, Amber, Tripel and Bruin. I had small servings of the Tripel and Bruin (see beer reviews). They were well-made but unexciting. There were a few other bottled options on the beer menu, but just some Belgian standards.

I ordered the daily fixed menu for 10 Euro. It was a very good carrot soup, pork chops, salad and bread. Servings were generous and the food was fresh and tasty. The service was friendly, efficient and the waiter had limited English, which allowed me to stumble through with my very limited French.

Price for the small (375ml) house beers was about 4 Euro. The fixed price menu was very cheap for what you got, so I was pleasantly surprised with the prices, considering we were essentially on the Grand Place.

I do recommend this establishment for a quick lunch and a well-made beer or two, but it's not where you'll want to linger all afternoon when there are so many better options nearby.
Oct 12, 2012
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Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

1.86/5  rDev -38.8%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2 | service: 2.5 | selection: 1
Ok, so this appears to be the definition of a tourist trap. The location is intruiging, but that doesn't come close to making this place worth a visit.

I waltzed over here while the wife and kids rested prior to dinner. This place was listed on the list "Top 125 places to have a beer". Pretty cool list but this really diminishes its credibility.

Place is a little micro-brewery that produces nothing you should waste your time drinking. It's Brussels for God's sake. Hit any other local bar serving Belgium's finest. The atmoshpere seemed dark/sad and almost desparate. Not kidding.

It appears that this place preys on tourists who have heard of Belgian beer, but don't know what to expect. AVOID!
Apr 20, 2012
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

2.83/5  rDev -6.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5
Large copper kettles rest behind every turn. Steel tubing crawls everywhere turning the walls into spider webs. Catwalks, glass walls, different levels, etc...all give off the feeling that this is a much larger establishment than it is yet intimacy is maintained. A sign boasts four 2,000 liter fermentors. Another reads, "Proef Onze Ambachtelijke Bieren." Radiohead and Jeff Buckley are playing loudly over the jubilant conversation of expats. I order two reasonably good tripels and take a seat at the bar. A fellow BA who I have never met, MuskegonBrewing, sits down next to me with his wife and we're quickly off to a good conversation. I order an Amber and this time, I am not so lucky. The beer is less than stellar. In fact, it is nearly undrinkable. The music changes to Freddie Goes to Hollywood and tracks from the Breakfast Club soundtrack. Despite my love for the 80s, the vibe seems as ruined as the beer I'm drinking so we take our leave.
Nov 12, 2009
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Reviewed by ultrasupergenius from England

2.63/5  rDev -13.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
I think someone said it best when they said that this place "could and should be so much more".

I have eaten here once, just had beer twice. Walked out after having sat there without service another two times. After living in Brussels for 6+ months, I have gotten used to slow and unresponsive service. If you are going to sit anywhere but right at the bar, be prepared that they may try your patience. Not everytime... but sometimes.

Location is Grand, as in right on the Grand Place. The only reason I would suggest this spot (despite it being a brewpub on the Grand Place) is to sit outside when they do the light show in the Grand Place around 11pm. (I am not quite sure if they do that show all year - or even if it is only weekend nights... I have just grabbed a seat when I ran into it a couple of times, and the view was good from the outside seating at this brewpub).

They have a limited and predictable menu - pretty much what you can expect for quality / price / options when you are right in the most touristy spot of Brussels. If you don't have high expectations, you won't be let down. It is not terrible, and they do not gouge on prices... but don't come here thinking this will be a culinary mecca or that they will offer food / beer pairings.

It is almost as if the brewing equipment is an artifact that gets in the way... not a central focus of this establishment. At some point, some brilliant entrepreneur will turn this into a shining gem of the beer travelling world... a must stop spot showcasing Belgium's grandest beer / food / atmosphere. That entrepreneur has as of yet, not made an appearance (at least not in a very long time... I have to assume someone had a vision at one point to get this started).
Nov 10, 2009
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Reviewed by ATPete from New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev +27%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Visited in April 2008, just found my notes.

The inside of the bar is poorly lit but charming. Copper tanks to the left of the front door, with an upper level that they would not let us go on to. The bathrooms were clean, the service was friendly enough, they had no problem answering all of my questions about the Waterloo beers and glass (pottery) ware. We opted for the sampler and seats outside overlooking the Grand'Place. A local man drew a picture of one of my traveling buddies than asked for 10E! I really felt comfortable sitting out front of the brewpub, it was definitely memorable. If in Brussels, chances are youre going to end up in the Grand'Place anyway, why not stray from the Orval, Leffe or Jupiler and try some other Belgian beers not available...pretty much anywhere else.
Jul 21, 2008
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Reviewed by xychromosome from North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev +17.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3
While this may not be the best brewpub in Belgium, it does have one of the best locations, right off the Grand Place in Brussels. Plus it's very nice inside with the 100liter brewing system on your left as you enter, all decked out in copper. They has 3 beers available, their blond, amber and white ales. I only tried the blond and amber, both were decent but unremarkable. What made them taste better however was that it was happy hour and beers were only 2.50 euros for 500ml, nice! They also served me a little board with chese, ham and olives to snack which was greatly appreciated. I'm suprised this place isn;t more busy given it's location, but most tourist were outside staring around wide-eyed in the Grand-Place and I think most of them walked straight past without noticing.
Jul 30, 2007
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Reviewed by scoobybrew from Indiana

3.45/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 2 | food: 3.5
My wife and I stopped in here on our recent European vacation. It was interesting to see a Belgian brewpub after frequenting so many in the US. The atmosphere is pretty cool with the brewpots and fermenters on display. Unfortunately, they only had the amber available at the time, which the barkeep was upfront right away about. This was disappointing, but nonetheless the amber was tasty. Upstairs there's lots of little displays on historical brewing tools, containers and various brewhouse devices - this was pretty interesting.

Overall, this was a nice stop. I would stop here again if I find myself in Brussels, but if I was short on time I don't think I'd be too concerned about it. (I thought spending time in the Belgian countryside visiting the Trappist cafes to be much more exciting!)
Jul 26, 2007
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Reviewed by Globetrotter from Virginia

2.8/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5
Couldn't spend a few days in Brussels without trying the one and only brewpub in town, particularly as its location practically jumps up and slaps you on the face just off the Grand Place. Wish I'd skipped it. The place was empty, when everything else is full. The brewkettles stand on the left immediately after the door, while the long dark wood bar runs along the right side after a little alcove to sit and/or stand. Total seating downstairs was for 25. Stairs on the left opposite the bar go up to more on a second level. There is also more seating in the back area. Black tile floors, cream plaster walls, very high dark heavy wood ceilings. Etchings adorned the walls.

Only three tapes: blonde, amber and white. The glassware was plain but appropriate. The quality was OK, although stunningly unimaginative. The beers were fresh and served properly. This place could and should be so much better.
Feb 20, 2007
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Reviewed by DaveFL1976 from Florida

3.63/5  rDev +19.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
One thing this bar has going for it is the location. The inside isn't much to write home about, but there's the fantastic option to pull up a table and chair outside and have a beer while you overlook the sun setting on some of the most captivating architecture in the world. Excellent.
Unfortunately, the beer doesn't live up to the view, and I wasn't that impressed. It's worth it to stop by for a brew if you're in the square, but don't make a special trip just for Les Brasseurs. There's plenty of other sights to take in.
Aug 21, 2006
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Reviewed by BlackHaddock from England

2.41/5  rDev -20.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5
Like all the other reviewers, I was unimpressed.

I tried a tray of samples, there was nothing I could write about which would do the brewer any good. So I will just say they did not worry my tastebuds a great deal, the word bland comes to mind, which is unusual for Belgium beers.

It is in a very good (for tourists) position, but as has been said already, there are plenty of other places close which are much better. The place is clean, tidy and looks interesting for a while, but they have failed to really do anything with the bar or beers.
Aug 14, 2006
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Reviewed by jasonm from Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 2 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
Yeah I read the reviews and still came. Ended up here for a social event for the conference I was attending.

Located on the NE corner of the Grand'Place in a narrow building of traditional stone architecture. Ground floor has a small bar area. The rest of the restaurant is divided up into 3 floors. Decor is not unlike a typical american brewpub with the requisite vats.

The beer itself wasnt that great, especially for Belgium. Of the three they were offering (Blonde, Amber, Blanche), only the Amber was drinkable for me.

Food menu is pub fare, Belgian style (mussels, etc.). I had a Pove de Boeuf which was ok, but a bit on the dry side.

Service was slow but we did have a big party that arrived in bunches. They were making an effort to accomodate us however.

Overall, when in Brussels, there are better options.
Jun 28, 2006
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Reviewed by moderndrunkard from S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.

3.4/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4.5 | selection: 2.5
Ok, so the first thing I'll say about this place is that the other reviews are pretty accurate. This is definitely not a 'must' for beer lovers in Brussels when there are so many other fine places to go (Delerium, Moeder Lambic, Bier Circus). That being said, we found ourselves wandering around the Grand Place wholly unable to find the Delerium Cafe. We saw Les Brasseurs and decided we'd go in for a few and ask for directions.

As for the beer, it's average for the setting, which is not to say bad, necessarily. Just that there are plenty of other interesting brews to explore. I had a .3 L sample of each one offered: a blond (the waiter described it as a bitter, german style beer), a wit (described as a fruit beer), and an amber (caramel).

They had some weird world music playing (Indian, maybe) which felt odd for the setting. But the true highlight of this visit and the reason for the high atmosphere and service rating is that the bartender wore an ear/headpiece and would switch on his microphone and start talking to people as soon as they came him. He greeted everyone warmly and would ask what nationality they were. "Chinese? Korean? Oh Japanese! We have Japanese, Irish, French, American..." I can't really say he made jokes, but he had me laughing.

Overall, the whole scene was just so bizarre that it more than made up for the lack of interesting beer and left me with a positive impression.
Apr 25, 2006
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Reviewed by wl0307 from England

3.56/5  rDev +17.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
Been to this brewpub for several times during my three-month stay in Belgium last year. The major reason for my repeated visits to this not incredibly impressive place (summing up the previous three reviewers' points of view), is its relative proximity to the train station and I could kill some time while waiting for a train back to Leuven after work. Believe it or not, although it is situated right at a corner of the Grote Markt, there were few people and tourists drinking inside before 5pm, so the relative quietness was also welcome, for me to read some materials at a corner seat. Not a bad place at all for a quiet drink, especially compared to a lot of pompous-looking, crowded, and incredibly expensive cafes in the Grote Markt area.

Nothing to add about the interior as described in great detail by LongBeachBum's review. For beers, there were only four kinds available during my visits: on tap were white/wit, lager, amber, plus a bottle-conditioned Tripel, whereas brune was ju...st out of season. The Tripel stands out of the whole range as a truly quality brew which is both flavoursome and complex in terms of structure, and I responsibly brought one bottle with me back to London and waiting to savour it in maybe one year's time.

As regards service, a regular barman (who was there at each of my visits) provided me with table service in a friendly, efficient but not intrusive manner, which greatly compensates for the bar's otherwise slightly neglecting features. For example, there was no mentioning of any guided walk in the brewery, as all informaiton they are prepared to share about their brewing techniques is provided inside the menu and it seems they presume anyone interested should care to explore and read the whole lot by him/herself. The same applies to different kinds of "sample trays" for their whole range of beers which could have been very good even for the sake of marketing; the options are written in the menu and the barman simply didn't bother to mention them at all, not to anyone as far as I noticed.

On balance it is an above-average brewpub, with at least one delicious beer deserving wider attention.
May 09, 2005
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Reviewed by Popsinc from Canada (ON)

2.45/5  rDev -19.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 2
Right in the heart of Grand Place this bar seemed more un-traditional than most bars in Belgium.

Copper brewing equipment is present at the front of the bar and there are several levels to sit down and enjoy your beer.

On my visit i asked the bartender to explain his house brews to me. He explained the 3 beers on tap and also told me that the bottled house beer was "no good, don't buy." So i ordered what he described as an amber. Average beer at best.

Anyway, 5 minutes later i noticed the bartender pouring several nice sample trays of beer. I called him over and asked, why after we discussed your house beers didn't you tell me that you had a proper sample tray with small galsses? His answer..."i didn't know you wanted that".

I was somewhat ticked off because after shwoing an inerest in the his house beers and asking several questions, he didn' even mention or suggest that I had the option of a sample tray.

Not impressed at all.
Oct 29, 2003
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Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

3.06/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3
Belgium is officially supposed to be bi-lingual, and the cardboard Beer Drip Mat that I picked up from here reflects this, as it states “Les Brasseurs, Grand-Pace de Bruxelles” and “De Brouwers, Grote Markt van Brussel”. I listed it under its French name, as this is the more popular of the two languages and the one that I find is most used in Brussels.
“The Brewers”, opened in the Summer of 2001, and is situated right in one of the corners of the Grand’Place, and is housed in a historic building with a rather splendid looking frontage whose appearance is only spoiled by the newly installed bright red luminous signs in the windows. As you enter there is a long bar to your right, and the interior is well decorated with lots of brewery paraphernalia. There are several interlinked floors with tables and chairs that offer views over the Bar and the Brewery equipment which is quite literally all over the bar and is all inter-linked with more pipework than I have seen from my work on Power Stations. The high ceiling makes this a good bar for non-smokers as well.
Beer range is currently; Ale, Special, Triple, a Wheat and 4 Seasonals. The usual offerings are all ‘middle-of-the-road’ beers, but I was lucky enough to try the remnants of the dark Xmas Beer 2001 at Easter last year, and this was a very good brew indeed.
This place obviously caters for Tourists though. I have been twice now, and on my last visit I waited here to meet up with my friend from England on a Sunday night in November 2002 for our weeks beer vacation. The Bar was only frequented by a bunch of loud English drunks. And they were tolerated !! – which says a lot about this place. Anything goes, and I fear the beer is secondary somewhat. Still, when there are no idiots, it is definitely a nice place, which is well fitted-out and worth a visit if you are here to try the beers for the first time (at present they are only available here on tap). But the beers are all very “average” for me, and nothing to write to home about, maybe I am being a bit harsh – I am comparing them to some of the very beers in the World after all.
Just remember - 3 minutes walk from here is the marvellous Toone Bar, neatly hidden away down an alley, with a much better beer range and hopefully not full of pissed-up English Tourists!
Jan 03, 2003
Les Brasseurs de la Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium
Place rating: 0 out of 5 with 17 ratings