't Brugs Beertje

jerryjeff

Tennessee

4.72/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

I'll admit upon initially entering I wasn't certain what to think. After all the really great reviews I was expecting the place to be a bit larger maybe. After perusing the menu for a while I spoke with the server who was very helpful and gave me a great recommendation for both beers I ended up having. While we were there I heard him interact with other patrons and my experience was not unique. The beer was great and the atmosphere was wonderful, I didn't feel very good the evening we went in but I wish we could have made an evening of it instead of the two drinks I had.

06-01-2011 00:19:25 | More by jerryjeff

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Quaint and dark bar on a side street in central Bruges. Helpful and knowledgeable staff can guide even the least knowledgeable through the menu. Stocks an extensive selection of all beers Belgian--particularly beers from the Flemish region. Several orders of the cheese and salami plate will keep any session going long. Prices are super reasonable for nearly everything on the beer list. This place is an institution that is a must stop for anyone who likes beer. I've spent several nights here over the course of a few trips to Bruges... its the must stop at bar.

05-11-2011 15:27:00 | More by callmemickey

nickd717

California

4.53/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

A brilliant little beer bar near the heart of Brugge. The little bear, for those who don't speak Belgian (I'm fluent in Belgian). A nice atmosphere with two or three rooms going back from the front. Crazy little trinkets adorn the walls. If you have some piece of crap with you that you don't care about, try putting it in one of the wall decorations and see if it's still there when a buddy of yours visits in a year or two. After that, your buddy will be the proud owner of said non-noteworthy piece of crap. Good times... Anyway, the selection is excellent. I had a Rodenbach Vin de Cereal and a De Cam Oude Kriek, both of which were excellent and neither of which you're likely to find in the US of A. Service is very good from my experience. They'll come to your table and take your beer orders, as you'd hope they would. Not sure if they have food, but I didn't get any. Anyway, a very nice beer bar. A definite must-stop if you're in Brugge.

04-29-2011 22:49:25 | More by nickd717

BrewerB

California

4.8/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $

Went here with a couple of friends, all on a vacation from California.

The place was crowded but with enough space to accommodate my group of the three. We were immediately immersed in the menu which offered up a bounty of Belgian beer unlike anything the three of us had ever experienced. Most of these beers we'd never heard of and the quality of what we sampled was superb.

Our server was extremely attentive and though we didn't have any difficult beer questions, he seemed like he'd have immediate answers if needed.

Didn't sample any food and don't recall whether or not it was served.

The price, in my opinion, very reasonable for the quality and selection that was available. Will definitely go back next time I find myself in Brugges.

03-18-2011 17:50:56 | More by BrewerB

hurfer

Indiana

4.34/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

We arrived in the evening and it was very crowded, but were able to get seats at the bar without too long of a wait. We came back later in the night and it was still packed.
Great atmosphere, tons of old tackers and other breweriana covering the walls.

The menu is huge, broken up by region of Belgium. It is a little overwhelming to look at but, the staff is extremely knowledgeable. Bjorn was our server and he made tons of great recommendations. This place is a must stop if you find yourself in Bruges.

02-13-2011 15:49:06 | More by hurfer

jrallen34

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I came to Brugge with hopes of checking this place out and sadly its CLOSED EVERY WEDNESDAY. However, amazingly enough it turns out this was the place I visited last June before I knew anything about beer. I had no idea of the name before but as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what it was. This is a quaint small place, old decor, tons of locals. A very helpful bartender that offers great suggestions and is willing to listen to wasted Americans. They have a huge book of beers, lots of staples but also tons of semi-rare ones. A very chill place to hang out at.

In Brugge this is the top place to go and finish your night after bar hopping because once you get here, you don't want to leave. Highly recommended.

11-27-2010 22:05:02 | More by jrallen34

BucBasil

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

Amazingly packed for the small size of the place, but pretty well worth the trip. Touristy but the selection is tops and balances it out. Menu is organized by Belgian region and there are choices from pretty much everywhere in the nation and some from abroad. Not the most beer-saavy crowd when I went, mostly going for the local Brugse Zot. OK but safe choice. The bartenders however are VERY knowledgeable, narrowing down preferences to make recommendations. "Sweet or dry? Stronger or weaker? Dark or light? etc etc Take this..." They know every corner of the menu and about Belgian beer.

The place as I said is surprisingly small but has a lot of character. I had to wait a bit for a spot to clear up, but I guess that goes with the territory of being very famous and small at the same time. That being said, the service is excellent and the price is more than right.

Good place, but come at a lower hour if you can.

11-05-2010 05:23:47 | More by BucBasil

flypaper

Spain

3.65/5  rDev -20%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 2 | $$

Just returned from Brugge and visited 't Brugs Beertje, Cambrinus and De Garre, and I have to say the Bear was my least favorite.

Atmosphere - Two small rooms without much character. The entry room with the bar is definitely the better option. They were playing classical music the whole time, which really... sucked.

Selection - Not bad, but the menu was annoying because it was sorted by region.

Food - not much of a selection other than some finger food. We were a bit disappointed because we were somewhat hungry. Not a big knock though considering it is a beer bar!

I liked Cambrinus more (the only place I found a Westy 12) although it was a bit sterile. Best option for my money in Brugge - De Garre and its fabulous house triple.

09-12-2010 12:10:23 | More by flypaper

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

4.06/5  rDev -11%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Well here I was, in Bruges, and of course my heart racing at thought of drinking a beer in the legendary Little Bear. I wish I had more time to spend in this lovely little beer cave.

A: Classic Belgian Cafe. However, the Tuesday evening I was there, it was almost all tourists. It was however quite lively, and everyone in the place was disscussing beer, and some even making notes. A beer geek meeting post from people around the globe.

Q: From what i could tell, beers were served in appropreate glassware and proper temps.

S: Service was prompt, kind, and professional. the passion the woman serving us had for beer was evident in the pour, and the knowing acknowlegment of our selections

S: I wasent as blown away by the selection as I expected to be... Lets be clear here, the beer menu is a huge book, but most of it is little articles and stuff. However there was a good selection of rarer stuff. A lot of stuff you had to ask for, and wasent listed in the menu, which is a complaint I often have. I dont like having to wonder what beers a place has, Id like to see it listed in the menu with the price.

Overall a really excellent spot with an amazing reputation. I'd go back for sure next time I'm in Belgium.

09-09-2010 20:43:10 | More by uno99

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.8/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Visited: 8-23-10

We were already at the door when Daisy opened it at 4:00 PM sharp. We planned to have a couple of beers and move along. We did, 6 hours later...

I started with the wonderfully dry and well hopped Taras Boulba and moved on to a couple of beers that couldn't be had anywhere else. One from t' Smisje even featured this bar on its cartoony label. We moved onto Ichtegems Ouid Bruine, Adelardus Trudoabijier, De Cam Oude Geuze Kriek, Guido, Bolekes of De Konnick, Ave les Bon Voeux and Cuve de Ranke, and that was just to start us out. We would continue the evening tasting wonderful sour beers and all sorts of Flemish oddities that I had not seen before and have not seen since.

Service from both Daisy and the other staff was flawless. They knew each beer on their menu. They were friendly, prompt, and kept the beers coming.

I befriended some young Brits at the next table and they broke out a geography game called Mapominoes. I taught them Euchre and later learned the French version "Quinche" from some other patrons. I put some loud and fat British blowhards in their place, much to the pleasure of the locals present who seemed to have a particular disdain for the drunken Englishmen that frequent Bruges. And we had a fine chat with some Japanese beer connoisseurs.

The Little Bruges Bear was like that. Just being there was akin to attending a planned gathering of the worldwide beer geek society. It was wonderful. With more than 200 exquisite beers to choose from, fair prices, an atmosphere of a quintessential old school Belgian bar, and impeccable service how could it not be.

Before we left the entire family from De Dolle walked in to celebrate their matriarch's birthday. She was turning 91, 92, or 93. I forget exactly. I bought grandma Herteleer her first beer, an Ara Bier of course, and thanked the wonderful family again for the kindness they had shown us the previous evening.

't Brugs Beertje is a must for any true beer enthusiast. One of the best beer bars in the world.

07-26-2010 19:26:17 | More by DaPeculierDane