Jezza
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bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Jezza
@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Norn Irish exile now living in Brugge after >33 years in London. Beer Guide researcher & author: www.BeerGuideBrugge.com. Co-founder of @beerguideldn. Cycles quite a lot.
Pinned
A new map showing all entries in Beer Guide Brugge is now available on Google maps, here:

tinyurl.com/mssm6ra4

Thanks to @musinganorak.bsky.social for his considerable help with setting this up. Hope you all find it useful.
The weather in Belfast is absolutely dreadful, but I've braved the rain to stock up on the essentials 😊
February 18, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Well that was an interesting crossing from Cairnryan to Belfast. Our seats at the front gave us a great view of the high seas 😮 🚢
February 18, 2026 at 2:56 PM
No beer for me yesterday but I've been comparing Scottish (L) & English (R) breakfasts. No contest: Scotland wins 😂
February 18, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Cask Jarl in a small town in south Derbyshire? Yes please. Great to see Melbourne's The Spirit Vaults so busy on a Monday evening mid Feb. A brewpub with 8 cask, 12 keg, almost 50 packaged beers & fantastic food, what's not to like? Brilliant place - a great example of quality winning through.
February 16, 2026 at 9:25 PM
2nd & final stop in Windsor = Windsor & Eton Brewery Tap. Third time here, second at this iteration of the taproom. It really is very good indeed & a model for others to follow. Pint of cask Conquerer black IPA was sublime.
February 15, 2026 at 6:55 PM
1st stop today = The George Inn, Eton, for my good friend Thom's 70th birthday do. A great afternoon with many of his friends & family we've got to know over the years, plus a few new (to us) folk. It's a Windsor & Eton Brewery pub so plenty of good beer.
February 15, 2026 at 6:52 PM
4th & final stop yesterday was to have been Indie Rabble, who'd a big imperial stout I wanted (£6 a third). Pitched up at bar, chap said it's comedy night or some such & he can't serve me till I pay £12 for a ticket! Told him I just wanted a third (of the most expensive beer) but no joy, so no beer!
February 15, 2026 at 8:38 AM
3rd stop yesterday = Two Flints, Windsor. Second visit in as many days, just a quick one this time for a third of this excellent NZ double IPA.
February 15, 2026 at 8:34 AM
2nd stop = @elusivebrewing.com taproom, again my second visit. Research included cask vs keg versions of Oregon Trail. Both great but cask won, of course - simply sensational. What a treat.
February 14, 2026 at 11:01 PM
1st stop today = Siren taproom, Finchampstead. Been once before, really enjoyed this 2nd visit. 10% ABV Mavka imperial stout nearly blew my socks off, what a fantastic beer! 🍻
February 14, 2026 at 10:57 PM
4th stop in Windsor = Two Flints taproom, immediately next door to Indie Rabble. No flights but thirds of helles, NZ pilsner & more west coast IPA. Love the beers here, wish the taproom was a wee bit warmer (like next door!)...
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
3rd stop in Windsor = Indie Rabble taproom. Four beer flight: pils, märzen, west coast IPA, stout. All good but pils & märzen both excellent. That said, the west coast IPA also very good & perhaps needs further research tomorrow.
February 13, 2026 at 9:42 PM
2nd stop in Windsor = A Hoppy Place. First time here, bottle shop bar with excellent range. Really enjoyed our visit. Photo = cask bitter brewed in Stardust Brewery, Maidenhead!
February 13, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Very strange being back in Blighty - had to correct myself when saying 'dankjewel' to the barman! Anyway, 1st stop in Windsor = The Corner House, previously a Big Smoke pub & still sort of connected. Three halves of 3 different cask beers. Best of the 3 = cask Bass! 🍻
February 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
On an otherwise murky day, some dramatic light over the Burg & Belfort on the way home.
February 10, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Meanwhile, at 't Brugs Beertje the last keg (for now) of Avec Les Bons Vœux is now on the bar. Might be a while till it's back so it was great to have a couple more glasses of this exceptional beer from this current batch.
February 10, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Quick visit to De Garre earlier. Still business as usual for current owners as they await completion of the sale to Brouwerij Van Steenberge. Might be another few weeks...
February 10, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Jezza
As promised, here’s the first part of the three part ‘mini-documentary’ I captured during a two-day visit to Thornbridge last October. Soon to be followed by a podcast and write up, also.
February 9, 2026 at 8:53 AM
New Antwerp Guide entry: De Vagant. A central Antwerp institution better known for its genevers, it nevertheless has a decent beer list as well:
www.beerguideantwerp.com/pubs.63
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 PM
New Antwerp Guide entry: Het Souke, a gorgeous brown cafe just round the corner from De Ware Jacob & another classic of this genre. A very good beer list too, as it happens:
www.beerguideantwerp.com/pubs.62
February 9, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Updated Antwerp Guide entry: Station 1280 - a modern bottle shop bar with a range of Belgian beers + a good selection from other countries:
www.beerguideantwerp.com/pubs.34
February 9, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Jezza
Very sad to learn the news about Des de Moor's passing. It's impossible to over-estimate the impact Des had on the UK beer scene. He was one of London's beer heroes- kind, generous, tireless- & we truly valued his friendship & support. We will miss him (& our doorstep chats) greatly. Go well, sir x
February 9, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Blimey, that last 19km into the wind from Esen to Lichtervelde was tough, but we made it in time for our train. Really glad I only had the one beer at De Dolle Brouwers 😂
February 8, 2026 at 4:14 PM
In today's least surprising turn of events, the train having terminated at Diksmuide we're having a quick one at De Dolle Brouwers taproom in Esen. Raising a glass of Arabier in memory of Des de Moor seemed appropriate. RIP Des.
February 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM