Jezza
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bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Jezza
@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
1.1K followers 220 following 1.9K posts
Norn Irish exile now living in Brugge after >33 years in London. Beer Guide researcher & author: www.BeerGuideBrugge.com. Co-founder of @beerguideldn. Cycles quite a lot.
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bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Jezza @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social · Nov 3
A new map showing all entries in Beer Guide Brugge is now available on Google maps, here:

tinyurl.com/mssm6ra4

Thanks to @musinganorak.bsky.social for his considerable help with setting this up. Hope you all find it useful.
St Bernardus Xmas, at 't Brugs Beertje
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
After the festival yesterday we broke our journey with a couple of hours in Antwerp. Second visit to Graan for excellent pizza & draft Cuvee de Ranke, then a couple in Beer Lovers - including the inevitable draft Avec Les Bons Voeux - before the train home.
A glass of draft Avec Les Bons Voeux at Beer Lovers, Antwerp. Exterior of Graan, Antwerp. A pizza at Graan, Antwerp. Exterior of Beer Lovers Bar, Antwerp.
December 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Our 17th year at Kerstbierfestival, Essen - the 29th in all. It's such a brilliant festival, always way more new beers than you could ever drink, plus old favourites. 200+ beers, perfect organisation & now opens at 12.30pm on the Saturday. What a great day out! 🍻
View of the hall at the Kerstbierfestival in Essen. A bottle of beer with Santa in green, with a glass of the same dark beer to the right.
December 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Views from Groenerei, Brugge yesterday evening.
The classic view from Meebrug, with floodlit buildings by the canal. Floodlit buildings by the canal at night. There's a floodlit bridge to the right.
December 13, 2025 at 7:33 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Stille Nacht 2025 at De Garre. Merry Christmas! 🎄 🍻 🇧🇪
A glass of amber beer with a big foamy head, on a wooden tray with paper doily. Behind the beer is a huge Christmas tree suspended from the ceiling.
December 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Club Brugge vs Arsenal ⚽️
Jan Breydel Stadion, Brugge. Floodlights are on, ready for the match.
December 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Reposted by Jezza
stubroos.bsky.social
Oh my. @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social was right. What a great Brown cafe, and the beer, well...
December 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Really sad to hear Bier Circus, Brussels has closed. Extract from 26 Nov FB post: 'A huge thank you to everyone who enjoyed the unique atmosphere of this establishment. The last few years haven't been easy, but I tried my best to save my baby. Some debts ultimately led to Bier Circus's demise.'
A photo of the (then) new Bier Circus bar in Brussels, taken in October 2005. Photo shows the exterior with a blue sign above the door.
December 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Another random closure at De Garre meant a good opportunity to visit visit Brouwerij Halve Maan this morning. Draft Straffe Hendrick Xmas Blend 2025 is fantastic. A pleasure to have a couple here with @birkonian.bsky.social.
Two glasses of dark winter beer on a table in a brewery tap.
December 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Jezza
beerguidelondon.bsky.social
Greetings!

I have created a new map concentrating on brewery information, and where to try and find their beers. Initially London only I will, over time, add other places on to it.

All feedback welcome!

www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...
Breweries & Outlets - Google My Maps
Brewery Only - No on-site drinking Brewery & Taproom - Brewery with on-site taproom Taproom - Brewery main outlet away from the Brewery Brewpub - Brewery with beers only usually available in the one v...
www.google.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Jezza
lynnnothegger.bsky.social
Achtung dual British and Irish citizens with an EU passport!

From February 26, 2026, you won’t be able to travel to UK on your EU passport as you can’t get an ETA if you are a British citizen.

If your British passport has expired, get it updated now!

www.gov.uk/guidance/ele...
Overview An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) gives permission to travel to the UK to visit for up to 6 months. You cannot get an ETA if you are a dual citizen with either: • British citizenship • Irish citizenship How to prove your permission to travel to the UK as a dual citizen Prove your permission to travel using one of these: • a valid UK passport • a valid Irish passport • another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement
December 8, 2025 at 11:43 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
View from Sint-Annakerkbrug, Brugge - 8.21pm Tuesday evening.
A canal at night with floodlit buildings to either side. The sky above is quite cloudy but the almost full moon is visible between clouds.
December 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Jezza
seatsixtyone.bsky.social
Headed south to one of Europe’s most beautiful stations, Antwerp Central. They basically wrote the text book on how to convert a historic terminus into a multi level through station.
December 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Draft 2025 Stille Nacht at the wonderful De Garre, Brugge. Making the most of the fantastic draft Xmas list, not least as we don't know what the range might be like a year from now...
A glass of draft blond/amber beer on a wooden tray with paper doily and small plate of cheese.
December 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Really enjoying Waregem Winters Bierfestival, yet another excellent, easy-to-get-to local festival (near Kortrijk). About 10 mostly local breweries, best so far is actually from Antwerp: Galea Craft Beer, whose 5.5% stout + draft Grand Cru both really impress.
A glass (L) & bottle (R) of blond grand cru beer. A can (L) & glass (R) of dark stout. View of the hall at the festival. Santa is to the right. Me (L) and Beasty (R) at the festival.
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Jezza
beesononbooze.bsky.social
Breal bought a slew of unloved brands and then engaged in a damaging race to the bottom. This was the inevitable conclusion and the only surprise is that it has taken this long.

My thoughts are with the blameless employees that will be affected by their failure.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/breal-b...
Breal-backed beer group Keystone Brewing on verge of administration
Keystone employs almost 200 people in the UK and owns two production sites in Yorkshire and Warwickshire
www.thegrocer.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
The only thing better than a glass of St Feuillien Cuvée de Noël at De Garre is...two glasses! In contrast to Tuesday, today we've got one of the best tables on the 1st floor. All three floors are, of course, completely rammed.
Two glasses of dark Christmas beer on a wooden tray covered in a white doily, with cheese cubes between the two glasses. In the background is an enormous Christmas decoration, suspended from the ceiling.
November 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Brugge Burg Christmas tree with town hall floodlit in a red/pink hue last night.
To the left, a large Christmas tree with white lights. To the right is the ornate Brugge town hall, floodlit in a reddish/pink colour for a change - it's normally floodlit white.
November 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Draft 12% Bush de Noël, perfect for a rainy late November afternoon in Brugge. What an outstanding beer 🍻 🇧🇪
A glass of dark Christmas beer with the traditional cheese portion beside, all served on a wooden tray with white doily. The bar is in the background.
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
I felt it my duty to return to De Garre to continue vital Christmas beer research. Draft St Feuillien Cuvée de Noël in the special 150th anniversary glass from 2023.
A glass of dark beer with small dish of cheese beside, served on a tray with white paper doily.
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk as seen from Minnewater, Brugge, 8.43pm last night.
A floodlit church tower with white clouds & dark night sky behind. The church tower is reflected in water in the lake in foreground.
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Day trip to Poperinge. First visit to Gast, excellent new-ish bar w/12 drafts & c.50 bottles. Modern yet comfortable, beer range here is way better than anywhere else in town. Spent 3.5 hours here & would've happily stayed longer.
A glass of St Bernardus Tripel on a table in front of the bar in a modern cafe.
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Jezza
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
News from classic Brugge brown café De Garre: sale process has now concluded & current owners leave end December. New owners from January = Brouwerij van Steenberge, brewers of the legendary house tripel. Two current staff will stay & no changes are expected, but I guess we'll see in due course...
A glass of house tripel at De Garre, Brugge. It's served with the customary small dish of cheese cubes, on a small tray with white doily.
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
News from classic Brugge brown café De Garre: sale process has now concluded & current owners leave end December. New owners from January = Brouwerij van Steenberge, brewers of the legendary house tripel. Two current staff will stay & no changes are expected, but I guess we'll see in due course...
A glass of house tripel at De Garre, Brugge. It's served with the customary small dish of cheese cubes, on a small tray with white doily.
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
Christmas in Brugge officially started yesterday with the opening of the Xmas market & switching on of all the lights, including the spectacular tree on the Burg.
A large Christmas tree with white lights in front of the floodlit town hall.
November 22, 2025 at 8:10 AM
bonsvoeux1.bsky.social
The list of draft Christmas beers at De Garre isn't too shabby. Starting with 2024 Avec Les Bons Vœux & 2023 Stille Nacht 🎄 🍻 🇧🇪
A glass of draft Avec Les Bons Vœux beside a small dish of cheese. Blackboard showing draft and bottled Xmas beers. Draft 2023 Stille Nacht beside a small dish of cheese cubes.
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM