6TownsMart
@6townsmart.bsky.social
Cyclist, beerlover. Stoke & Leeds
The final beer of the evening in Ghent is Troubadour Aura. Excellent and probably the closest good bar to Ghent St Pieter's before the train home
Also, imagine being able to get a train after 10.00pm for € equivalent of £8.00.
Also, imagine being able to get a train after 10.00pm for € equivalent of £8.00.
November 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The final beer of the evening in Ghent is Troubadour Aura. Excellent and probably the closest good bar to Ghent St Pieter's before the train home
Also, imagine being able to get a train after 10.00pm for € equivalent of £8.00.
Also, imagine being able to get a train after 10.00pm for € equivalent of £8.00.
It can be frenetic at times but Dulle Griet, Ghent is (relatively) quiet this evening. A convenient location on the Vrijdagmarkt. Enough time for a Westmalle Double. It breaks up the walk to Trollekelder too
November 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
It can be frenetic at times but Dulle Griet, Ghent is (relatively) quiet this evening. A convenient location on the Vrijdagmarkt. Enough time for a Westmalle Double. It breaks up the walk to Trollekelder too
Easy train journey from Ostend to Gent for my next stop. Bierhuis aan de waterkant, Ghent for a Het Anker Carolus Christmas. Busy but fast, friendly service & a classic beer.
November 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Easy train journey from Ostend to Gent for my next stop. Bierhuis aan de waterkant, Ghent for a Het Anker Carolus Christmas. Busy but fast, friendly service & a classic beer.
One day I'll visit Ostend in season, when the weather's better and there's more daylight. Superb Cafe Botteltje is almost guaranteed to have Strubbe beers on draft and their triple is very enjoyable. The hotel marion makes for a great base if you're exploring the coast using the kusttram
November 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
One day I'll visit Ostend in season, when the weather's better and there's more daylight. Superb Cafe Botteltje is almost guaranteed to have Strubbe beers on draft and their triple is very enjoyable. The hotel marion makes for a great base if you're exploring the coast using the kusttram
Got my timing right for De Garre and a classic van Steenberge house tripel before the train. Expect it to fill up quickly
November 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Got my timing right for De Garre and a classic van Steenberge house tripel before the train. Expect it to fill up quickly
Excellent. ØL in Ypres is open. Great choice of beers. I opted for St Bernardus Tokyo as I rarely see it. Service v friendly and I'd definitely visit again. The exposed brickwork is a nice touch
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Excellent. ØL in Ypres is open. Great choice of beers. I opted for St Bernardus Tokyo as I rarely see it. Service v friendly and I'd definitely visit again. The exposed brickwork is a nice touch
Not a huge fan of bistro style bars but I've not had a Poperinge Hommelbier this trip and it's on draft in Markt 22. Just under 8€ but it is tourist central virtually next door to The Cloth Hall
November 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Not a huge fan of bistro style bars but I've not had a Poperinge Hommelbier this trip and it's on draft in Markt 22. Just under 8€ but it is tourist central virtually next door to The Cloth Hall
Always have a plan B in Belgium on Mondays and to be fair plan B wasn't far (next door in fact) while I plan to revisit Øl later. Ypra has Ypres hoppy blond on which is very acceptable and has subtle marmalade notes. Beautiful Flemish architecture
November 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Always have a plan B in Belgium on Mondays and to be fair plan B wasn't far (next door in fact) while I plan to revisit Øl later. Ypra has Ypres hoppy blond on which is very acceptable and has subtle marmalade notes. Beautiful Flemish architecture
Ah! The quintessential Belgian experience. I was wondering when it would happen. Open from 3.00 apart from when it isn't open at 3.00
November 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Ah! The quintessential Belgian experience. I was wondering when it would happen. Open from 3.00 apart from when it isn't open at 3.00
Closed bars are an occupational hazard on Mondays but St Arnoldus, Ypres is open and has St Bernardus Extra 4 on draft. A perfect first beer
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Closed bars are an occupational hazard on Mondays but St Arnoldus, Ypres is open and has St Bernardus Extra 4 on draft. A perfect first beer
Fancy bumping into Dave Atkins in Belgium! 👇 Great to have a catch up with him
Christmas has indeed arrived (a bit early?) at De Dolle Brouwers. Great to see @6townsmart.bsky.social here.
November 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Fancy bumping into Dave Atkins in Belgium! 👇 Great to have a catch up with him
Draft Stille Nacht is now otb at De Dolle Brouwers. Ho Ho Ho! VIP's have made the journey from The North Pole to Esen, W Flanders for the official launch
November 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Draft Stille Nacht is now otb at De Dolle Brouwers. Ho Ho Ho! VIP's have made the journey from The North Pole to Esen, W Flanders for the official launch
Today's visit to the coast has been postponed in favour of a revisit to De Dolle Brouwers. This Arabier is superb. Quiet at opening time but now the place is heaving
November 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Today's visit to the coast has been postponed in favour of a revisit to De Dolle Brouwers. This Arabier is superb. Quiet at opening time but now the place is heaving
It's time for the annual delivery of Titanic stout to Esen's De Dolle Brouwers. Highly regarded as a classic British stout by brewer Kris. I may have a beer while I'm here (just to make the trip worthwhile......)
November 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
It's time for the annual delivery of Titanic stout to Esen's De Dolle Brouwers. Highly regarded as a classic British stout by brewer Kris. I may have a beer while I'm here (just to make the trip worthwhile......)
Kapittel Blond at Terrastje Bar, Brugge. I rarely see it on draft so I'm not going to forgo the opportunity. What a beautiful exterior even by Belgium's high standards
November 14, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Kapittel Blond at Terrastje Bar, Brugge. I rarely see it on draft so I'm not going to forgo the opportunity. What a beautiful exterior even by Belgium's high standards
Well I think I timed that perfectly (for a change) as every bar seat was occupied within 20 mins. Cafe Rose Red, Bruges for a Vicaris Lino, blond, refreshing, subtle sweetness & brewed with flax (so it definitely has impeccable 'craft' credentials)
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Well I think I timed that perfectly (for a change) as every bar seat was occupied within 20 mins. Cafe Rose Red, Bruges for a Vicaris Lino, blond, refreshing, subtle sweetness & brewed with flax (so it definitely has impeccable 'craft' credentials)
Early arrival at brown Café Den Engel means a prime seat at the bar for a Bolleke of De Koninck. An amber beer synonymous with Antwerp. Good views across the Grote Market towards the cathedral
November 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Early arrival at brown Café Den Engel means a prime seat at the bar for a Bolleke of De Koninck. An amber beer synonymous with Antwerp. Good views across the Grote Market towards the cathedral
Stop 5 Antwerp. Paters Vaetje for a classic. De Ranke Noir de Dottignies. Superb complex, dry and roasted. A stones throw from the Cathedral
November 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Stop 5 Antwerp. Paters Vaetje for a classic. De Ranke Noir de Dottignies. Superb complex, dry and roasted. A stones throw from the Cathedral
Stop 4 Antwerp. The Northerner for a refreshing and dependable Saison Dupont.
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Stop 4 Antwerp. The Northerner for a refreshing and dependable Saison Dupont.
Stop 3 Antwerp. Somewhere under that camouflage canopy is the historic Antwerp Bar Quintin Matsijs. First Orval of the trip 👌
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Stop 3 Antwerp. Somewhere under that camouflage canopy is the historic Antwerp Bar Quintin Matsijs. First Orval of the trip 👌
Antwerp stop 2 via The Grote Market to Coaching Inn Café 't Waagstuk. Those days of draft Schelderbrouwerij Hopruiter and Zeezuiper are over I'm afraid but The Chimay Bruin is perfectly acceptable for a taste of nostalgia
November 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Antwerp stop 2 via The Grote Market to Coaching Inn Café 't Waagstuk. Those days of draft Schelderbrouwerij Hopruiter and Zeezuiper are over I'm afraid but The Chimay Bruin is perfectly acceptable for a taste of nostalgia
Sensible arrival time at beautiful Antwerp Centraal means time for a superb Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux at classic brown bar de Ware Jacob
November 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Sensible arrival time at beautiful Antwerp Centraal means time for a superb Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux at classic brown bar de Ware Jacob
Stop 5 Chester and perfectly located before the train home - The Olde Cottage for a pint of Wye Valley HPA. About as good as you can get cask beer. I'm not sure the fire needed to be lit but it certainly added to the atmosphere
November 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Stop 5 Chester and perfectly located before the train home - The Olde Cottage for a pint of Wye Valley HPA. About as good as you can get cask beer. I'm not sure the fire needed to be lit but it certainly added to the atmosphere
Stop 4 Chester - Joules Cross Keys for a 'novelty' beer: Moon Madness 'Luxury Mild'. You can't fault Joules pubs for reconstructed aesthetics
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Stop 4 Chester - Joules Cross Keys for a 'novelty' beer: Moon Madness 'Luxury Mild'. You can't fault Joules pubs for reconstructed aesthetics
Stop 3 Chester. The Albion. Called in early evening when it's uncrowded just after reopening (closes a couple of hours late Saturday afternoon). Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker otb. Nice retro Wem Ales signage
November 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Stop 3 Chester. The Albion. Called in early evening when it's uncrowded just after reopening (closes a couple of hours late Saturday afternoon). Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker otb. Nice retro Wem Ales signage