6TownsMart
@6townsmart.bsky.social
Cyclist, beerlover. Stoke & Leeds
Sunday (Day 2) at Essen Kerstbier festival is just as busy as Day 1. 200+ Christmas beers of which most are still available. Vicaris Winter absolutely sublime. If you're in CAMRA they even extend the courtesy of a free token. Book a hotel in Antwerp 40mins away and enjoy great bars like Beerlovers
December 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Sunday (Day 2) at Essen Kerstbier festival is just as busy as Day 1. 200+ Christmas beers of which most are still available. Vicaris Winter absolutely sublime. If you're in CAMRA they even extend the courtesy of a free token. Book a hotel in Antwerp 40mins away and enjoy great bars like Beerlovers
Unmissable. Day one at Essen kerstbier festival has been excellent. So many good beers to choose from a list of 200+ but the classics are always the best. De Glazen Toren Canaster Scotch Ale is quality. As a courtesy to visitors the beer programme is also available in a translated English version
December 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Unmissable. Day one at Essen kerstbier festival has been excellent. So many good beers to choose from a list of 200+ but the classics are always the best. De Glazen Toren Canaster Scotch Ale is quality. As a courtesy to visitors the beer programme is also available in a translated English version
Sixth (final) stop Hasselt. De Hop Hemel, Bampslaan. Less than five minutes walk to the station for a direct service back to Antwerp. Adelheid Oaked Calvados Barley Wine perfect final beer before the train home
December 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Sixth (final) stop Hasselt. De Hop Hemel, Bampslaan. Less than five minutes walk to the station for a direct service back to Antwerp. Adelheid Oaked Calvados Barley Wine perfect final beer before the train home
Fifth stop Hasselt. Kaffee Ierse de egel pub (The Hedgehog). Gordon's Christmas on draft. Drink 3 & you get a 🎄 decoration. In a classic case of transactional anticipatory self defence they forewarned me cash only (so similar to Burley in Wharfedale then) . The bottle crown toucan is a work of art
December 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Fifth stop Hasselt. Kaffee Ierse de egel pub (The Hedgehog). Gordon's Christmas on draft. Drink 3 & you get a 🎄 decoration. In a classic case of transactional anticipatory self defence they forewarned me cash only (so similar to Burley in Wharfedale then) . The bottle crown toucan is a work of art
Fourth stop Hasselt. Stout beer shop (take away + you can drink here) Thank you Gemma & Marc @kingkonghasselt.bsky.social because it wasn't on my to do list. The Eylenbosch Shaarbeekse was excellent. Dry, ascetic with a hint of almonds
December 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Fourth stop Hasselt. Stout beer shop (take away + you can drink here) Thank you Gemma & Marc @kingkonghasselt.bsky.social because it wasn't on my to do list. The Eylenbosch Shaarbeekse was excellent. Dry, ascetic with a hint of almonds
Third stop in Hasselt is Brew Mine. V sad to see a business closed down when people have invested so much financially & personally. It happens every trip, hopefully my remaining bars will be ok
December 12, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Third stop in Hasselt is Brew Mine. V sad to see a business closed down when people have invested so much financially & personally. It happens every trip, hopefully my remaining bars will be ok
Second stop in Hasselt at cafe bierpunt and things are definitely on the up. An Ellezelloise Hercule Stout. One of the best Belgian stouts. A touch under €5 which is an absolute bargain. No bar service (it's screened off) so table service but v friendly & despite this it manages to retain ambiance
December 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Second stop in Hasselt at cafe bierpunt and things are definitely on the up. An Ellezelloise Hercule Stout. One of the best Belgian stouts. A touch under €5 which is an absolute bargain. No bar service (it's screened off) so table service but v friendly & despite this it manages to retain ambiance
First stop in Hasselt is Hemelrijk. V friendly, although I recall the beer list containing much more interest. An Ommegang tripel on draught. Perfectly ok & serviceable. V friendly but hopefully things will get a little more interesting beerwise
December 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
First stop in Hasselt is Hemelrijk. V friendly, although I recall the beer list containing much more interest. An Ommegang tripel on draught. Perfectly ok & serviceable. V friendly but hopefully things will get a little more interesting beerwise
Long overdue a visit to Hasselt and first stop is for coffee and to see Marc & Gemma at King Kong Koffee. A caffenation outlet. "One drug, one nation, one caffenation" superb espresso with a few bags to take home
December 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Long overdue a visit to Hasselt and first stop is for coffee and to see Marc & Gemma at King Kong Koffee. A caffenation outlet. "One drug, one nation, one caffenation" superb espresso with a few bags to take home
Always a good bet for a late arriving traveller - Paters Vaetje for a classic beer - Rochefort 10. A few more weeks until Antwerp Cathedral's nativity scene gets its VIP
December 12, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Always a good bet for a late arriving traveller - Paters Vaetje for a classic beer - Rochefort 10. A few more weeks until Antwerp Cathedral's nativity scene gets its VIP
Excellent. Managed to catch Café Pardaf before closing (9.00pm) for a first beer in Antwerp - De Ranke Pere Noel. No lack of Christmas activities alongside the river Scheldt outside
December 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Excellent. Managed to catch Café Pardaf before closing (9.00pm) for a first beer in Antwerp - De Ranke Pere Noel. No lack of Christmas activities alongside the river Scheldt outside
A metaphor for the UK. The train arrives in time to watch the bus leave (& in the 60's you could have stayed on the train to Bakewell). Nonetheless, always a pleasure to visit our Derbyshire neighbours. The Thornbridge/ Fullers ESB was excellent, quite malty but balanced. At the superb brewery tap
December 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A metaphor for the UK. The train arrives in time to watch the bus leave (& in the 60's you could have stayed on the train to Bakewell). Nonetheless, always a pleasure to visit our Derbyshire neighbours. The Thornbridge/ Fullers ESB was excellent, quite malty but balanced. At the superb brewery tap
Old expensive not too expensive tbh in The Burton Bridge Inn and excellent. Classic strong ale.
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Old expensive not too expensive tbh in The Burton Bridge Inn and excellent. Classic strong ale.
Cold and wet outside but the interior of Tower Brewery, Burton on Trent is much more inviting (inside Thomas Salt's brewery defunct water tower). This pint of Ale to The King with it's toffee notes is perfect for the weather
December 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Cold and wet outside but the interior of Tower Brewery, Burton on Trent is much more inviting (inside Thomas Salt's brewery defunct water tower). This pint of Ale to The King with it's toffee notes is perfect for the weather
"There's a Parkers Place for You" A ride out to The Mainwareing Arms, Whitmore, Staffs for a comparative photo with my 1930's Parkers Brewery (Burslem) Pub Guide. Not much has changed externally in circa 100 yrs.
November 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
"There's a Parkers Place for You" A ride out to The Mainwareing Arms, Whitmore, Staffs for a comparative photo with my 1930's Parkers Brewery (Burslem) Pub Guide. Not much has changed externally in circa 100 yrs.
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