't Brugs Beertje

spoony

Colorado

4.29/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Reviewed from notes dated May 23, 2013.

A-Beertje has a quant, pub-like feel, but the place was cleaner and better-lit than many pubs with big windows facing the street. The bar is near the main Markt Square of Brugge, but on a quieter street. The front room is small with four or five tables, and the bar holds no more than a half-dozen spots. Like so many Belgian establishments, there is a variety of beer paraphernalia on the walls. The place filled quickly with tourists like myself shortly after the 4:00-pm opening.

Q-The beer selection is full of great choices, but by this point in my trip, I was used to a substantial selection of Belgian bottles, and to be honest, there isn't much here that you can't find at numerous other establishments. However, that says more about the great places to drink beer in Belgium than the Beertje, and I could drink here every day of the week if I were in Brugge.

Ser-We sat at a table and the service was pretty typical. Not annoying or cloying (like American service can be), but definitely European in style in that you have to ask for what you want. The beers we ordered were, of course, served in proper glassware and poured with care.

Sel-As usual for Belgium, the tap list is small (six beers, I think), but unlike some other places, the taps here appeared to rotate regularly and included a decent spread of brews. The bottle list deserves its good reputation because there is plenty of great old-world brew to choose from.

F-We just nibbled on cheese cubes, which were pretty mediocre, but I can't rate the food because anything you can eat on a toothpick is tough to judge.

V-Prices were decent, if slightly higher than some other lesser-known bars around Brugge.

06-05-2013 03:22:53 | More by spoony

deepchills

Texas

4.55/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3 | $$

I can't add much to the other reviews, this place was great. It's a little crampt, but so is everything place else in Europe. Also the food was so-so.
Other then that we had great time. Our bartender was Bjorn, he became our Belgium beer sherpa and guided us through our evening.
We had 9 different beers including one with amazing curry notes, and another that had the nose of vegetable soup. Both were delicious. We had Bjorn keep us in brews that we would never find in the states.
Cheers.

05-26-2013 05:40:36 | More by deepchills

DoubleJ

California

4.35/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | $$

It's tucked away and near the Grote Markt...that's not very helpful. Many of the Brugge's streets are tiny, so being tucked away could just be about anywhere. Ok, it's west of the Grote Markt, and being off a main street, I thought that I would have half the place to myself. I couldn't have been more wrong.

There are multiple rooms in Brugs Beertje. I entered from the street, and already most of the seats were occupied. The walls are covered in beer signs, old and new, leaning towards signage that looked like it was out of the 1970s. I did find a little table near the bar, and sitting on top was one of the most fun beer menus that's I've come across reading. It feels less like a beer menu and more like a magazine, going into details about selected beers, featuring other beers "of the now", illustrations and more.

5 beers on-tap and a whole bunch of bottles, perhaps around 300. Pouring were De Koninck, Brugse Zot, Houblon Chouffe, Gouden Carolus, and Witte Zwaan. From the bottle were Bockor, Urthel, De Struise, Fort Lapin, Bink, Girardin. A few of the brands I hadn't recognized seeing at any other bar that I'd been to so far. Proper glassware and pours are practiced here, while quick and friendly service added a cherry on top of this beer sundae.

Enjoyable overall experience, and worth a look during the night hours of the city.

05-20-2013 22:42:20 | More by DoubleJ

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Thank goodness someone told us about this place - it is part of Bruges and you cannot not go there.

The beer was out of this world, the atmosphere made everyone feel welcome. If you like good beer you can stay kinda feel.

Next time we are in Bruge hopefully my wife won't be passed out from too many Triples at Garre and can make it here.

05-15-2013 01:37:31 | More by hotsudge

geedub11

United Kingdom (England)

4.67/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

A must see when visiting Bruges. The staff was very friendly and the selection is top notch.

As mentioned in many other posts, it can get a bit crowded because of its popularity. This is not a reason to dismiss this place. Although it was busy when we went, the staff found us a seat in minutes and offered several great opinions on different beers to try.

Ill make sure to check this place out every time I am in Bruges!

05-12-2013 16:29:23 | More by geedub11

BierMeJohn

Germany

4.78/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This bar is a must go when in Bruges. It does get a little crowded at time, but you can't fault a place for being popular, right?! If the front is crowded when you walk in, there is another table area that you have to go out the back and through a small courtyard to get to.

I think they offer just a bread and/or cheese plate as far as food goes, which is typical of bars in Belgium so you can't fault them for that.

The staff is great and helpful and attentive even when the place is packed. The selection is also very good, but keep in mind that you might have to ask if they have something in stock as it didn't seem like everything the waiters told me they had was listed in the menu.

I highly recommend that anyone going to Bruges should make a stop at 't Brugs Beertje. Visiting earlier in the day might be a good idea to beat the crowd. Although I've been there 3 times now and the only time its been REALLY crowded was during the Brugs Bierfestival.

02-27-2013 19:46:40 | More by BierMeJohn

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.61/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25 | $$

Visited in June 2012. Reading the previous reviews, not much more really needs to be said about this place. Great atmosphere and feel to the place...classic pub. We must have arrived at little after 4pm and there was a nice crowd, I think that it was a Tuesday afternoon, so not overly crowded. The service was good and was very knowledgeable, as my wife proceeded to quiz him about what he would recommend for her, as she is not a fan of the Belgian style...ultimately I think that he found one that worked, but it was a grilling that he withstood nicely. The only slight downside was the selection, and while it was a great mass of beers, the first two that I chose, they were out of, which was slightly disappointing. Other than that, classic in every respect. Can't wait to go back.

01-23-2013 17:49:22 | More by PhillyStyle

Scamboogery

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

The only reason I'm not giving this place 5's across the board is because they didn't have Westvleteren. Besides that it is one of the best pubs I've ever been to.

01-10-2013 01:08:04 | More by Scamboogery

JimTeal

Nevada

4.73/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

't Brugs is a wonderful experience. If I could dream up a super cool beer joint, beertje, I doubt I could come up with anything close to 't Brugs, is is nothing short of a dream come true. The atmosphere is perfect, when you sit at a table or bench you know why and what you are doing in that spot. The selection, especially bottled beers, are worth a trip to Belgium. Service was just fine for a small beer joint with a single waiter, and if you show up 5 minutes after they open, I think 4pm, don't complain that its tough to find a seat for a few minutes. There's a good reason, knowledgeable beer drinkers all over Europe know the deal and they know to get there at 3:55, don't be late. We enjoyed our visits in September 2012, even with the furious North Sea storms blowing through, 't Brugs provided ample protection and what can only be called the perfect beer drinking experience. It is 5 minutes walk from the central square, where all the tourists pack the beautiful restaurants and pay top dollar for Leffe. No offense to the Square, you gotta go there, especially around sunset, but at 4 don't miss opening at 't Brugs.

11-14-2012 23:52:45 | More by JimTeal

benoniboy

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$

I visited in July 2012. Everything about this place has already been said. If you're a beer lover and go to Bruges, missing this bar is a sin. Apart from the enormous beer selection, Daisy, the owner is a legend and if you're lucky enough to be there when she's behind the bar, you'll be talking to one of the most knowledgeable aficionados of Belgian beer you'll ever meet (not to mention probably one of the most charming). There are many great beer joints in Belgium, but this one will stay with you.

10-28-2012 15:00:45 | More by benoniboy