The title of this review is deliberately typed in capitals to emphasise my sentiment.
We visited Bruges with our daughter and her husband. They had visited previously and we implored them to show us this cafe bar. We visited twice during our trip. You really need to want to visit this place; word of mouth brings lovers of authentic Belgian Double and Triple beer; blink and you’ll miss the entrance, which is down a narrow alley way unadvertised, off a link route between Bruges’ two main squares The Markt and The Burg.
The bar is small and situated on three levels with the usual excellent table service by friendly professional knowledgeable and cheerful staff, who appear to really enjoy the work.
It’s great with a rustic charm and if one engages with the ambience the reward is to be had.
This reward is the renowned de Garre beer!
Savour it because it’s not for the faint hearted. It’s served with young Gouda cheese, deliberately to provide the salt part of the three taste sensations, that the beer can not provide. The others obviously being sweet, sour and bitter.
I personally do not like Gouda but the thought process is superb.
Be reverential in your tasting and sip, because it’s 11%. Take your lead from the staff and build up; start with a “low alcohol and build up to the holy grail. The head is deliberately thick and has a creamy like consistency to accentuate the flavours as the beer passes access ones taste buds and the aroma wafts into ones nostrils.
If one is respectful and quiet, staff will accommodate.
Warning; if all you want is to drink strong beer, please avoid this bar and frequent the more touristy bars in the Markt, thus leaving this place untainted.
In closing, truly, the best beer to date, served in best location, by great staff.
All in all a great experience never to be forgotten.
Thank you.
Carl Jacobs