iapetus

I will have a completely free Saturday while traveling in Belgium in June. Being a fan of the Belgian beer (my local pub maintains a rather impressive inventory of Belgian brews, if I do say so myself ), it occurred to me that a rather fun way to spend my free day would be to visit a brasserie.

My business will have me in Liège. Unfortunately, I won't have a car. And renting a car would seem counterproductive for beer sampling. The research I've done so far seems to suggest that not having a car may seriously limit my possibilities ... which has led me here.

Do any of my fellow FTers have any suggestions for a fun day trip to a brasserie via public transportation that I can make from Liège? I'd prefer to stay in southern and eastern Belgium (i.e. not to far from Liège), but I can be flexible about that.

Any other general suggestions about Liège would be most welcome, too!

Ghentleman

I'm sure you can find some fine brasseries in Liège. Or you could go to Leuven by train, home of Stella and with the "biggest terrace in the world" on the "oude markt".

Giggleswick

If you're in Liège on Sunday morning, the weekly market, La Batte, is massive--about a mile long, stretched out along the Meuse quays--lively, very popular, and lots of fun. It's supposedly the largest and oldest market in Belgium, FWIW. If you like museums and history, I recommend the Grand Curtius, for archaeology, arms, religious and decorative arts, etc. http://www.grandcurtiusliege.be/?set_language=en

iapetus

I'm sorry. I wasn't sufficiently precise in my language. What I meant by a brasserie is a brewery, such as the Brasserie d'Achouffe or the Brasserie de Val-Dieu. Although it looks like there are some excellent places to find some great Belgian beer in Liège, -- and believe you me, I will visit them! -- I'd like to tour the source of such fine beer. But those are exactly the types of places I fear are out of (easy) reach of public transportation.

Thanks! Those are great recommendations! I have to depart for Holland on Sunday, but perhaps I can leave late enough in the day to visit la Batte.

Ghentleman

Here's a map with "all" active breweries. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...kybL0&hl=en_US
But those that take visitors usually require a minimum group size.
If you don't mind the longer train ride and have never been to Bruges, I can recommend a tour of "Brouwerij De Halve Maan", has tours every 45 minutes. You can book online (make sure to do this, as Bruges in spring is crazy busy)
http://www.halvemaan.be/en/brewery-visit

Giggleswick

On second thought, I should clarify that la Batte is not a market devoted to local produce and growers (unless you consider waffles and frites to be local produce). It's more of huge general market, ranging from spices and cheeses to cut flowers to cheap clothes to vegetables to plastic toys. But it is quite a lively scene.

polkacat

If you're up for some reading, I highly recommend . It will help you figure out which breweries can be reached by public transit (sometimes in combination with biking).

My general impression, though, is that public transport in the Ardennes is not that dense or regular and a car is required.

iapetus

Thanks! ^ I'm definitely amenable to using a bike to get around for this purpose. I won't have my own in Liège, of course , but I suppose it won't be too hard to find a rental.