The location is called Antwerp Brewing Company, their terrace is great indeed! You can also order some typical Belgian/pub food dishes made with their beers and you can even have a bbq there if you reserve ahead of time.
As for my personal preference: Tripel d’Anvers by Brouwerij De Koninck or Nonkel Pater by ABCompagnie. The best Belgian beer overall is Westmalle tripel though.
I can’t tell you which one is the “best” beer, but Antwerp has the “De Koninck” (aka “bolleke”) brewery. If you want a beer from Antwerp, that’s the most famous one.
Een bolleke will get you a De Koninck when ordering in Antwerp, but outside of Antwerp in Belgium, een bolleke is some fruity sweet beer and to get a De Koninck outside of Antwerp, it is een Koninktje, I think.
Een bolleke is only a De Koninck in Antwerp and in the rest of Belgium, een bolleke is a different drink.
Both drinks are served in a glass shaped like a "bowl", with a stem on it.
I think bolleke refers to the shape of the glass.
Go visit Mechelen also, just south of Antwerp and get him a Gouden Carolus Whisky Infused. Warning though, one of these is as strong as half a gallon of American beer.
Carolus trippel and classic are different things. Maybe you haven't tried a classic but I do find it very special. After living 2 years in Belgium I haven't found another one I like more. To each his own, that's what makes the beer culture in this country so rich.
I am aware that they are different. Just wanted to add that the trippel also is good but when I see my response it’s clear how that didn’t come across correctly.
Koninck, Seef, those are the big ones brewed in Antwerp. Try going to Bieren Cabardouche, Gistgeest, Station 1280, or Speciale Belge Taproom,. Those are all microbreweries.
Imo it would be more interesting to get a bear each of different beer styles/brewing processes, which can of course also come from different areas. e.g. one tripel, one double, one geuze, one oud bruin, one lambiek,, one oude kriek, etc etc.
the gouden carolus whiskey infused mentioned elsewhere is indeed amazing.
you can DM me about this if you want :)
Cheat - a little - and take home a Gouden Carolus from Mechelen (like said in other comments), or have one of the smaller, and better, breweries in the city: Cabardouche, Gistgeest, SE10, and - the best one imo - Uncharted. This last one is hard to find 'not on tap'.
[https://www.instagram.com/bierencabardouche/](https://www.instagram.com/bierencabardouche/)
[https://www.instagram.com/gistgeest/](https://www.instagram.com/gistgeest/)
[https://www.instagram.com/se10\_brewing/](https://www.instagram.com/se10_brewing/)
[https://www.instagram.com/unchartedbrewco/](https://www.instagram.com/unchartedbrewco/)
Good luck, and cheers!
There are 2 big city breweries: De Koninck & Seef. I suggest you visit them and pick the one you prefer. Seef has a really cozy terrace!
The location is called Antwerp Brewing Company, their terrace is great indeed! You can also order some typical Belgian/pub food dishes made with their beers and you can even have a bbq there if you reserve ahead of time. As for my personal preference: Tripel d’Anvers by Brouwerij De Koninck or Nonkel Pater by ABCompagnie. The best Belgian beer overall is Westmalle tripel though.
I can’t tell you which one is the “best” beer, but Antwerp has the “De Koninck” (aka “bolleke”) brewery. If you want a beer from Antwerp, that’s the most famous one.
Adding on that the Seefbier brewery is also Antwerp specific (https://seef.be/en/) and has multiple beer types that can be sampled.
It’s such a wonderful beer. Cheap, not stupid strength and just tastes fab.
Een bolleke will get you a De Koninck when ordering in Antwerp, but outside of Antwerp in Belgium, een bolleke is some fruity sweet beer and to get a De Koninck outside of Antwerp, it is een Koninktje, I think. Een bolleke is only a De Koninck in Antwerp and in the rest of Belgium, een bolleke is a different drink. Both drinks are served in a glass shaped like a "bowl", with a stem on it. I think bolleke refers to the shape of the glass.
Really? Never lived in Antwerp but if I hear ‘Bolleke’ I think about De Koninck & nothing else. Splendid beer btw
It depends how far from Antwerp you get.
I have never heard of asking for a bolleke outside of A and receiving fruity sweet beer. Source: I live in the parking lot in Vlaamsbrabant.
Go visit Mechelen also, just south of Antwerp and get him a Gouden Carolus Whisky Infused. Warning though, one of these is as strong as half a gallon of American beer.
I second this suggestion! Carolus is amazing. Although I personally find a classic Carolus tastier. Try and see
Gouden Carolus Trippel is also very nice, but the whisky infused one is something special and unique. Think his father would love special ones.
Carolus trippel and classic are different things. Maybe you haven't tried a classic but I do find it very special. After living 2 years in Belgium I haven't found another one I like more. To each his own, that's what makes the beer culture in this country so rich.
I am aware that they are different. Just wanted to add that the trippel also is good but when I see my response it’s clear how that didn’t come across correctly.
I was looking for this comment 😂 I'm not much a beer guy but whiskey infused is the goat
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Imperial Dark, and let it rest for at least 6-8 years before drinking.
Tripel d'Anvers! Also from De Koninck, the same brewery that brews "Bollekes" Personally, I would get these 2
Koninck, Seef, those are the big ones brewed in Antwerp. Try going to Bieren Cabardouche, Gistgeest, Station 1280, or Speciale Belge Taproom,. Those are all microbreweries.
De Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie is where they brew Seef, so I wouldn’t really call that a micro brewery anymore.
oops. edited, lol.
I got him a bottle of seef! I tried it in Leuven once and really liked it and it has a cool story. I think he’ll enjoy it.
Imo it would be more interesting to get a bear each of different beer styles/brewing processes, which can of course also come from different areas. e.g. one tripel, one double, one geuze, one oud bruin, one lambiek,, one oude kriek, etc etc. the gouden carolus whiskey infused mentioned elsewhere is indeed amazing. you can DM me about this if you want :)
Triple D'Anvers, Seef, DeKoninck, Orval, Duvel, Triple Karmeliet, Omer* These are my favorite
Big up Orval , classy beer
Galea craft beers is a Craft brewery. When I come to antwerp, I taste every time one of beer. Galea is a Master for brewing stout!!
Cheat - a little - and take home a Gouden Carolus from Mechelen (like said in other comments), or have one of the smaller, and better, breweries in the city: Cabardouche, Gistgeest, SE10, and - the best one imo - Uncharted. This last one is hard to find 'not on tap'. [https://www.instagram.com/bierencabardouche/](https://www.instagram.com/bierencabardouche/) [https://www.instagram.com/gistgeest/](https://www.instagram.com/gistgeest/) [https://www.instagram.com/se10\_brewing/](https://www.instagram.com/se10_brewing/) [https://www.instagram.com/unchartedbrewco/](https://www.instagram.com/unchartedbrewco/) Good luck, and cheers!
My German friends love Tripel d'Anvers and I bring some to them whenever I visit and they make sure to bring home some when they visit.
Tripel d'anvers ofc