Was SUPER excited to go to Kulminator on my recent trip to Belgium. Have heard wonderful things…read moreabout the vast beer list, full of old vintages. Sadly it seems, the owner does not like business or money. Or perhaps he just enjoys treating Kulminator as his own private club, as opposed to a normal beer bar where everyone is welcome. The owner greeted us at the door, asking us why we wished to come in and we were denied entry upon our response. We later found out that if you do not give the very specific response of "being there to TASTE (not drink) beer", you are turned away. Pompous, and absolutely ridiculous. I have no interest in trying to go back.

I was very hesitant about visiting Kulminator as its fame and reputation far precedes it, having…read morewon accolades such as "the best place in the world to have a beer" and also known to have one of the most extensive collections of aged Belgian beers in the world. During the planning stages of my trip, a lot of the feedback I got regarding this place was that I should brace for some unparalleled (lack of) service, humongous wait times in between orders, and last minute changes to opening hours. If you haven't guessed it already, I was lucky enough not to experience any of the negative feedback enumerated above, and instead had such a great time that I somehow got back to my room in Brussels without a train ticket and don't quite remember how I managed such a feat. I got to Kulminator about 15 minutes after they opened at 4:15pm and the establishment was already half-full. Despite reviews saying that this place is super cramped and cozy, the interior is actually pretty spacious with seating available at the bar, behind it, and even across from it where two tables are partitioned off kind of like a small lounge; I opted to sit in the lounge area as I was planning to be comfortable for quite some time. Leen served me for the entire evening and she was very kind and patient with all of my orders. Despite some of my orders being slightly obscure--like the oldest vintage they had of Oerbier Special Reserva, for example--all my orders got out to me under five minutes, even at 9pm when the bar was completely packed, thereby debunking the "slow and bad service" portion of my expectations. Whereas different groups of people did join me at my table for most of the night, most of them were locals popping in for a drink or two and all minded their own businesses unlike what people say about strange encounters here, but that suited me just fine for my purposes; I wanted to try some Belgian gems that aren't available anywhere on the planet, and I'm glad to say I was able to achieve said feat. I don't think I have to describe the atmosphere as it's been done in such vivid detail in so many of the other reviews (grandparents' house, etc.) but be sure to grab a bite to eat prior to visiting this place and not make the mistake of thinking drunk you will be sober enough to find something to eat after leaving this amazing Cafe; food options are limited if not non-existent, and Leen is busy enough as is keeping everyone happy. And yes, Dirk will stare you down if you do anything out of the ordinary like take pictures of the establishment, but he means well... I think.

I first visited The Little One almost 18 years ago on my first trip to The Netherlands. It is the…read moreoldest bar in Eindhoven - and probably the smallest. Spacious is definitely not a word that describes this place! However, what it lacks in space it makes up for in character. They have a selection of whiskeys/malts that would satisfy most purists. Oh, and there is a lot of "stuff" hanging all over the walls and ceiling. Like musical instruments and farming tools. In here you will not find flat panel TVs or loud music like you find in other pubs/cafés. But you will find an interesting mix of patrons and one hell of a barman - who happens to be the owner. Wil Lange knows all about service - and a lot about whiskey and cocktails. He will take good care of you while you sit and chat with the locals and visiting foreigners. I noticed recently that The Little One has a presence on the internet now. They have their own Instagram account and a Facebook fan page with quite a following of loyal fans. They may brand themselves as a speakeasy bar now, but this place will always be a dive bar to me. Don't let that prevent you from visiting a place with great atmosphere and good people.

I don't even remember where I heard about this place, but it might be the original Dutch Dive bar…read more Living up to it's name, it has room for some 10 people at the bar and maybe 15 more standing. The bar is brown and smoking is not disallowed. The bartender has been working for something like 50 years, so this guy's got stories. Stop on by, but don't expect a great crowd. For the English speakers:probeer eens iets Nederlands spreken en misschien dat helpen.

If you love Delirium, you'll love this multi-level compound style pub…read more This is absolutely a must visit for any craft beer lover, especially Delirium. They've got so many offerings, quaint decor on every floor, various places to sit, including a rooftop. It's definitely a touristy thing to do but with over 2,000 beers to choose from, who cares? I loved every minute of it. It's crazy busy at times especially when live music events are taking place. We shared a Yard Stick which were multiple beers (smaller taster sizes). See my pics for exactly how many. Service was exceptional.

If you love beer, this place is a MUST when visiting Brussels! We stopped by Delirium Café and…read morewow... the selection is insane. They're known for having one of the biggest beer selections in the world, and you can literally spend hours just reading the menu. We ordered their famous beer flight that comes with 10 different types of beers. Each one was completely unique, different flavors, colors, and strengths. It was such a fun way to try a variety without committing to just one. Some were light and refreshing, others were strong and bold. I loved that every glass felt like a new experience. The service was great! The staff were friendly, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. They also have a photobooth inside, which was such a fun surprise. Perfect spot to make memories with friends. If you're in Brussels and want the full Belgian beer experience, this spot is a must-visit. So worth it!

Great tiny alley bar in Brussels! Bartender was friendly and the beer options were limited but…read moregreat choices. Really enjoyed the age of the place and the people we met while inside drinking.

Coolest ancient bar around! Great beer selection as well. C'est magnifique! Het is prachtig!read more

Underground, historic bar in the middle of Bruges. Such a fun vibe and they have wonderful…read moredecorations and lights around Christmas. You'll have to walk down about ten steep stairs to enter and then enjoy drinks in a cave-like setting. A must-visit in the city!

Of all the beer bars in the world, you had to walk into mine. It's ok if you walk into this one…read morethough, because I want to tell everyone about this place! While a lot of folks visiting Bruges stop off at 't Brugs Beertje (as you should), my favorite hole in the wall bar (LITERALLY! a hole in the wall) is this place. Since the door isn't at eye level, it's easy to miss. It's an underground bar that is a little dark, a little dank but all sorts of good. The beer selection is awesome (some really select beers you can't find in the States) and the bartenders are fabulous. The beers here tend to be 10-20% cheaper than 't Brugs Beertje. Grab a seat, order a fantastic Belgian beer and relish in the fact that you're hanging out in one of the coolest bar and city in Belgium.

The ONLY place to catch live blues music in Ghent! It is a bit like a dive bar, but the place is…read morepacked whenever there is live music. Of our 3 evenings in the city, we spent 2 of them here! The open mike night is incredible, with a rock solid opening band that then backs up solo musicians. We could easily have stayed until closing, but after a few Belgian beers and jet lag, we reluctantly bid our farewell. The drinks are great here too, plus there is food to be had.

So many good beers on tap. All of them are Belgian. Highly recommend the sweet cherry beer (#8 at…read morethe bar). Bar tender is really nice too

It's dark as fuck and cozy as hell…read more It's filled with locals and everyone is pretty friendly and chill. I had the: - Taras Boulba - St. Bernardus Abt 12 - Chimay Grande Reserve - Westmalle Yup, you can get the real good stuff over here.

Decent café in Brussels centre. Broad beer selection both on draught and in bottles, cosy and…read morefriendly atmosphere.

Under no circumstances you should go to this place. First of all, their food menu is very limited,…read moreit is incredibly overpriced, and they must buy their cheese from a supermarket and just plop it on a plate. Second, the waiters are very rude. Their English is very limited and I have just witnessed one of them yelling at a customer. Third, while their beer is extensive, most of them are way overpriced compared to the rest of Ghent. This place is famous for serving over two hundred beers but honestly who wants to be treated poorly with mediocre service and terrible and overpriced snacks?

We came here for a beer and some snacks after touring Gravensteen castle. It was Assumption Day so…read morethe place was packed and they definitely did not have enough staff working. We snagged a table closer to the water and ordered a Delirium Tremens, a Chimay, a dry sausage, and their cheese spread. The beers, of course, are the best, as they have been this entire trip. The food was subpar. The sausage was hard and quite chewy and while we enjoyed the three different cheeses, the bread seemed like it came out of a bag. Needless to say, service was harried and everything took forever. Still, this was a nice place to sit by the water and watch the people go by. You better love people smoking in your face though. Three stars.

Definitely a dive bar... smoky and loud when we were there. Bavaria is their draft beer. They…read morehave live music occasionally, and a pool table and dartboard. If Bill is behind the bar, ask for Scotch whiskey. He'll love you for it!

Ok this does come across as something of a 'dive bar' in Yelp American parlance, but in a good way!…read more It's got some charm, a great terrace outside in summer (not just in front of the door but also across the street behind the church) and some good value drinks including decent cocktails. You don't come for a sparkling clean table - you come for the atmosphere, casual drinks, and particularly if you are coming as a group. A recommended experience!

This is the extension of my living room! In summer you find me sitting on the colourful chairs…read moresipping one blanche after the other (or a Ricard for a change) from after work until they close the terrace, in winter I'll be tucked inside drinking one of the beers from the long list. It's not the usual bar, you'll find the alternative crowd from the theater school in front to the Eurocrats who fell in love with this litlle gem.