Le Bier Circus, Brusselsback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Shuts during the afternoon a bit like the old fashioned English closing hours
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Excellent session here with a fellow BITE reviewer. We began our crawl here for the food. Two of us had the CHI-MAY-charged spag bol, and one had steak tartare (prepared with ten seasonings and topped with a raw eggyolk). Just don't ask who had what! Good beer range again; BINK great as usual and "BRAVOURE" was a lovely hoppy/spicy/smoky beer. Prices were average for the food, but the beer wasn't that cheap.
Live music began around 8pm. Cannot say whether this is Bire Circus' regular music style but two ladies with rather good French singing voices performed some tuneful, if rather "samey" ballads accompanied by electric piano. Nice in small doses but the doses weren't small!
My fellow BITE reviewer and his wife were otherwise impressed with the place (or at least said they were - wait for the review!) and would go again. Was certainly as good a start as any to a crawl in Brussels. And definitely a pub to start, rather than finish, a crawl.
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Compared with the old premises this new bar lacks atmosphere, but the beer list is still excellent. Worth noting that there are some very reasonable restaurants around the corner.
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This was my first visit and it will not be my last. I was so happy I left a tip, something that I never ever do. The stouts are certainly worth trying....and the food was exemplary, not too filling but just right. Its about 20 minutes walk from the City or 5 minutes walk from Parc metro. Honestly, go. I will when I go back to Belgium again.
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Paid pilgrimage to this establishment on 13 Feb. Following on from my excellent introduction to the pub in 2006, I was not let down in any way.
In the background there was a good mix of 1960s to 1980s music, and this time I sat in the more spacious dining area.
Being on a crawl, I just had two beers here, namely BINK still the same as three years back; and Brouwerij den Hopperd KAMELEON GINSENG, 6%. Tastewise there were delicate ginseng, licquorice and cinnamon notes in equal measure competing for tongue space. Would make a good dessert beer, but the sweetness was not overwhelming giving it broader appeal.
Delicious food again. It was difficult to resist their house pasta, but sheer portion size ruled out two courses!
For Valentine's they had a fir tree normally used in December decorated with lights and red hearts, and one or two couples were indeed having a Valentine's meal here.
Note the window displays featuring Tintin amongst others, and a pillar decorated entirely with beer bottle lids.
A "must".
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Not fettered by knowing this restaurant as a cafe or bar I can only comment as a restaurant - that's what it is. A food place with a crackin' beer menu!
Was there last weekend and I think it smacked yellow off Delerium's teeth! But then that's comparing Gueuze with a Kriek. Had beautiful beers to accompany a perfect Chateaubriand. Oude Kirk Kriek De Cam, sour enough to burn through your tum yum yum.
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Was my favorite Brussels cafe before it moved.Now lacks character and too much emphasis on food.However the beer choice is stiil excellent(loved the Hopperd beers) and the food is very good, so still well worth a visit.My no 1 pub is now the Poechenellekelder on Rue du Chene
anonymous - 3 Jun 2007 12:02 |
I used to go to the famed Beer Circus when it was in it's old premises and thought it was the best bar in Brussels. I awaited the move to it's new site, just up the road, with excitement. I am really disappointed with it. The new place looks nice enough but the drinkers now are ushered into a narrow drinking area while the tables are reserved for those eating. We did eat there but the food wasn't up to the standard we expected. I hear that the business is having a few problems and is closing an extra day a week because of lack of custom. I hope they sort it out to everyone's satisfaction because it would be a shame to lose one of Brussels' institutions.
chick - 28 Dec 2006 15:58 |
This is a gem, purely for the obscure selection (see the vintages). Doesn't rival Delirium for beer numbers, atmosphere or location but almost makes up for it with the interesting vintages.
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Used to be the best beer cafe in Brussels, now threatenned by the
delirium. Speicalises in seeking out obscure Wallonian beers,
which makes it particularly worht checking out as most
vists to Belgium tend to focus on the Flemish region.
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A true gem.
I visited the pub for the first time last night; this was the highlight of a successful Brussels daytrip.
Within easy reach of Park and Madou metro stations, and within 30 minutes of Midi for the Eurostar.
Arrived at the pub at 1800 as it was opening, to be greeted by very friendly staff, fully conversant in French, English and Flemish.
The pub has a narrow, cosy drinking bar, and a spacious, comfortable dining area in which to enjoy its magnificent food.
The draught beers are from Belgian micro-breweries; last night I enjoyed Bink Blond (5%)from the Kerkom Brouwerij, and Zinnebir (6%) from the Sint Pieters Brouwerij. The Bink was sharp, bitter, extremely dry and for me one of the best Belgian beers I have drunk in or out of Belgium. The Zinnebir was cloudier, sweeter, maltier and delicately spiced. This made it a good contrasting complement to the Bink.
With these beers came superb food. From a menu bursting at the seams with delights it was hard to choose at first. I settled for the fish soup (a MUST) as a starter. Rather like a bisque with prawns, and plenty of spirits used in its production. For the main course I had their speciality - spaghetti bolognese with a "kick". A HUGE portion of al dente pasta under a generous serving of CHIMAY bolognese sauce surrounded by lashings of finely grated Belgian cheese.
If you are visiting alone, sit at the bar. Company is never far away, and all at the bar were very friendly including one or two English drinkers.
You MUST visit this pub - you will not be disappointed and, in case you're asking, I am not being paid a penny piece to recommend the Bier Circus!
Excellent!
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Premier gastro pub.
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