Tuesday 22nd of June 2010 03:05:17 PM

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Brugge is a fantastic town to visit. This is, I believe, the last brewery left within the city itself. In terms of Brugge establishments, it felt commercial. Not as commercial as going to Miller or something of that nature, but relative to the medival city.

The tour was interesting because you get to go through different levels of the building and see some really old signs and glasses that have been collected through the years. You even get to go onto the roof and take a look at the city which was fantastic (because I didn't fee like climbing the tower in the center of the city). The tour itself is worth going on (only 5,50 euro). I went in November 2008.

They basically brew two beers, so don't go with the expectation of trying 16 specialty beers. But if you are in the city for an entire day it is worth an hour of your time.

Saturday 19th of June 2010 09:27:44 PM

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Halve Maan Brewery is one of the few places in town that you can take a brewery tour. We came here after our canal tour of Brugge and sampled the beer but did not take the brewery tour. The bar area is open and the service was OK. It was the first time I had the Bruge Zot but shortly after our visit they were importing to the states. This blonde ale is average for belgian blondes. If you are spending the whole day in Brugge then I would recommend going but if you are pressed for time I would visit the other establishments in Brugge such as the Brugge Bear or De Garre before coming here.

Sunday 12th of July 2009 01:24:01 PM

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I was a little disappointed with De Halve Maan. The bar is decidedly restauranty, being open-plan in a large room off a courtyard in a Bruges back street.

The brewery's best-known product, Straffe Hendrick, is no longer made here and the Bruges Zot beers, in my opinion, are a poor replacement.

I didn't do the brewery tour, so perhaps that's colouring my judgement, but as a place to just sit and have a drink, virtually any pub in Bruges is preferred.

Monday 12th of November 2007 03:38:00 PM

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I visited with my family during a European backpacking tour in the summer of 2007. We took the English-language tour and it could not have been more fun. Our guide was great, detailing each step in the beer brewing process as well as throwing in historical references while not boring people who perhaps aren't as intrigued with beer as us enlightened folks. I had both the blonde and the brown and I prefered the dark of the two. The tour cost 5 euros and included a free pint at the end so it really was a bargain.

Saturday 25th of August 2007 01:47:26 AM

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This is a quaint little brewery with a nice view of Bruges, and an even better Brugse Zot Brown. The tour is great, a Dumon chocolate retailer is across the street, and it is a short walk or bike ride from the center market square. There is a good collection of beer cans from the past, and they tell you the process of making their beer and their history. The blonde is a nice light style lager, crisp and clean, and the brown, a flavorable drinkable beer similar to a Newcastle with a Belgian twist. This brewery split some years back with the Alken-Maes family brewery.