Jezza
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bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Jezza
@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
1K followers 220 following 1.9K posts
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.
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bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Jezza @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social · Nov 3
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.
St Bernardus Xmas, at 't Brugs Beertje
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Really enjoying Waregem Winters Bierfestival, yet another excellent, easy-to-get-to local festival (near Kortrijk). About 10 mostly local breweries, best so far is actually from Antwerp: Galea Craft Beer, whose 5.5% stout + draft Grand Cru both really impress.
A glass (L) & bottle (R) of blond grand cru beer. A can (L) & glass (R) of dark stout. View of the hall at the festival. Santa is to the right. Me (L) and Beasty (R) at the festival.
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Jezza
beesononbooze.bsky.social
Breal bought a slew of unloved brands and then engaged in a damaging race to the bottom. This was the inevitable conclusion and the only surprise is that it has taken this long.

My thoughts are with the blameless employees that will be affected by their failure.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/breal-b...
Breal-backed beer group Keystone Brewing on verge of administration
Keystone employs almost 200 people in the UK and owns two production sites in Yorkshire and Warwickshire
www.thegrocer.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
The only thing better than a glass of St Feuillien Cuvée de Noël at De Garre is...two glasses! In contrast to Tuesday, today we've got one of the best tables on the 1st floor. All three floors are, of course, completely rammed.
Two glasses of dark Christmas beer on a wooden tray covered in a white doily, with cheese cubes between the two glasses. In the background is an enormous Christmas decoration, suspended from the ceiling.
November 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Brugge Burg Christmas tree with town hall floodlit in a red/pink hue last night.
To the left, a large Christmas tree with white lights. To the right is the ornate Brugge town hall, floodlit in a reddish/pink colour for a change - it's normally floodlit white.
November 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Draft 12% Bush de Noël, perfect for a rainy late November afternoon in Brugge. What an outstanding beer 🍻 🇧🇪
A glass of dark Christmas beer with the traditional cheese portion beside, all served on a wooden tray with white doily. The bar is in the background.
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
I felt it my duty to return to De Garre to continue vital Christmas beer research. Draft St Feuillien Cuvée de Noël in the special 150th anniversary glass from 2023.
A glass of dark beer with small dish of cheese beside, served on a tray with white paper doily.
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk as seen from Minnewater, Brugge, 8.43pm last night.
A floodlit church tower with white clouds & dark night sky behind. The church tower is reflected in water in the lake in foreground.
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Day trip to Poperinge. First visit to Gast, excellent new-ish bar w/12 drafts & c.50 bottles. Modern yet comfortable, beer range here is way better than anywhere else in town. Spent 3.5 hours here & would've happily stayed longer.
A glass of St Bernardus Tripel on a table in front of the bar in a modern cafe.
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Jezza
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
News from classic Brugge brown café De Garre: sale process has now concluded & current owners leave end December. New owners from January = Brouwerij van Steenberge, brewers of the legendary house tripel. Two current staff will stay & no changes are expected, but I guess we'll see in due course...
A glass of house tripel at De Garre, Brugge. It's served with the customary small dish of cheese cubes, on a small tray with white doily.
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
News from classic Brugge brown café De Garre: sale process has now concluded & current owners leave end December. New owners from January = Brouwerij van Steenberge, brewers of the legendary house tripel. Two current staff will stay & no changes are expected, but I guess we'll see in due course...
A glass of house tripel at De Garre, Brugge. It's served with the customary small dish of cheese cubes, on a small tray with white doily.
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Christmas in Brugge officially started yesterday with the opening of the Xmas market & switching on of all the lights, including the spectacular tree on the Burg.
A large Christmas tree with white lights in front of the floodlit town hall.
November 22, 2025 at 8:10 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
The list of draft Christmas beers at De Garre isn't too shabby. Starting with 2024 Avec Les Bons Vœux & 2023 Stille Nacht 🎄 🍻 🇧🇪
A glass of draft Avec Les Bons Vœux beside a small dish of cheese. Blackboard showing draft and bottled Xmas beers. Draft 2023 Stille Nacht beside a small dish of cheese cubes.
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
View from Rosenhoedkaai, Brugge - 16.54h this afternoon.
Classic view over a canal junction to typical Flemish buildings, duly refected in the calm water. There's a dramatic orange glow from the otherwise white clouds, with blue sky above.
November 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
5th stop in Gent = 't Kuipke velodrome for the legendary 6 daagse Vlaanderen-Gent cycling event. First time here - it's quite the experience...
Cyclists on the track in Gent. Advertising board outside the cycling event. Elia Viviani being interviewed at the cycling event. Cyclists on the track in Gent.
November 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
4th stop in Gent = Edelrot, a classy bar near the cathedral serving quality wine, beer & food. This is such a fine place, we really enjoyed this second visit.
A blonde beer in its glass (L), and the bottle to the right. They're on a red table. Exterior of Edelrot, Gent. Beer list at Edelrot, Gent. Six bitterballen on a white plate.
November 19, 2025 at 5:54 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
So good to meet up with @whatjoewrote.bsky.social in Gent, especially as it was unplanned. Honest, I didn't force him to have an Avec Les Bons Vœux 🤣
whatjoewrote.bsky.social Joe Dick @whatjoewrote.bsky.social · 10d
Sometimes there's only one beer for the job. Especially when meeting @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Me and Jezza with a glass of Bons Vœux
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
3rd stop in Gent = Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant. There are many worse ways to spend time sheltering from heavy rain than enjoying a draft Gouden Carolus Christmas. Thanks @6townsmart.bsky.social for heads up 🎄 🇧🇪 🍻
A glass of dark draft beer. A sign advertising some Xmas beers. One is rather expensive 😮 View of the bar and its taps. Exterior of a pub in the rain.
November 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
2nd stop in Gent = first visit to 't Oud Clooster - restaurant w/ decent list c. 30 beers. Draft Moeder Overste & a stonking stoverij. Excellent place - been on my list for years, good to finally get here.
Exterior of 't Oud Clooster, Gent. A glass of blonde beer with a big foamy head. Flemish beef stew to the left, frites to the right. Beer list at 't Oud Clooster.
November 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
1st stop in Gent = MSK (Museum of Fine Arts) for a photo exhibition of seascapes by Stefan Vanfleteren. Absolutely stunning work, highly recommended.
A black & white photo of a stormy sea. Transcripts of the Sea, exhibition intro. Exterior of Museum of Fine Arts, Gent. A bleak seascape photo, mostly black and white.
November 19, 2025 at 12:38 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Sint-Annarei, Brugge - 12.15am this morning.
A canal at night, with buildings to either side. Some street and buildings lights illuminate the scene, including the sky/clouds.
November 18, 2025 at 7:46 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
The end of an era at 't Brugs Beertje on Saturday: after 10 years, the last shift for Thomas (pictured, on left). He started under Daisy & so was the longest serving current member of staff. We'll miss his calmness, good humour, beer pouring skills & excellent service.
A bottle of beer and two glasses. To the left is staff member Thomas.
November 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Brugge Belfort, 23.59h last night, about 10 seconds before they turned the lights off.
Brugge Belfort in the mist at midnight.
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
After the brewery visit, we were hoping for a quiet beer at 't Brugs Beertje...🤣
A Flemish gentleman with long grey hair grabbing four draft glasses of Bons Vœux. There's an English gentleman in the background.
November 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
First draft Arabier of the day at the wonderful De Dolle Brouwers' taproom in Esen. Great to be here with @6townsmart.bsky.social 😊
A glass of draft Arabier at De Dolle Brouwers, Esen.
November 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Better early than late, I guess 😊
Side of the house by De Dolle Brouwers in Esen, covered in Oerbier men. Front of De Dolle Brouwers in Esen. Another view of front of the brewery. Blue sky with some cloud on a fine and very mild autumn day.
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM