Antwerp

Billie’s Bier Kafetaria

Billie is the resident French bulldog of this gastropub with excellent craft beer. Every year it hosts one of Europe’s great beer festivals – catch the next Billie’s Craft Beer Fest at the Waagnatie exhibition centre over 29-30 November.

Spéciale Belge Taproom

The menu of this taproom showcases both contemporary and traditional Belgian brews: compare a full-bodied tripel (strong pale ale) from Westmalle (notes of candied bananas) with De Ranke’s dry, bitter, apricot-tinged Guldenberg.

Bruges

In’t Nieuw Museum

In its warmly lit, country home interior, I wolfed down a charred aged steak with a bottle of vintage Chimay Grande Reserve. As it conditions in bottle, it forms aromas of dried raisins and liquorice. The place gets its name from the museum-like collection of brewery plaques, money boxes and other vintage mementos on the walls.

De Republiek

This space was built with the creative beer drinking classes in mind. It’s home not only to a beer cafe that serves seasonal dishes, but also pop-up areas for local entrepreneurs and craftsmen to showcase their work.