Jezza

@bonsvoeux1

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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Bluesky

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Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 25d

Carcassonne may have very few decent bars, but it really is a beautiful city.

The walls of the citadel of Carcassonne at night, floodlit.

The walls of the citadel of Carcassonne under a blue midday sky.

The Basilica de Saint Nazaire, Carcassonne.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 26d

Arrived in unbelievably humid Carcassonne, which apparently lacks good places to drink before about 7pm! Anyway finally found beer - from Narbonne. In these conditions it tastes close to perfect. Cheers! 🍻 🥵 🇫🇷

A bottle and glass of blond beer in a wine shop in Carcassonne.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 26d

Found it!

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 27d

My favourite photo from the top of the Hautacam is probably this one. The horses were pretty much in the same spot when we drove up again this pm. Their road, their space - not moving for anyone 🤣

Some horses on the final approach to the summit of the Hautacam in the Pyrénées, with an amazing mountain backdrop.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 27d

Today I did the Col de Tourmalet - thankfully by car, not bike 🤣. As you might imagine, the views at the top were unbelievable.

View of mountains and a windy road going down the valley, from the Col de Tourmalet in the Pyrénées.

View of more mountains in the Pyrénées, from the Col de Tourmalet.

View of mountains from the Col de Tourmalet.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 28d

Oh I cycled up the Hautacam this morning - representing West Flanders en route, of course 🤣 🚴‍♂️ 🇧🇪 🇫🇷

Me in a St Bernardus cycling shirt and yellow helmet, in front of the sign marking the summit of the Hautacam, a big mountain (1530m high) in the Pyrénées. I've just completed the climb.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 28d

Good morning! The view from our lodgings in the Pyrénées is even better this morning 🇫🇷

View of Pyrénéean mountains against a clear blue sky with early morning sunlight.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· 29d

Greetings from the Hautes-Pyrénées. Absolutely stunning scenery already 😎 🇫🇷

Some mountains in the high Pyrénées. There's some blue sky but quite a lot of cloud.

The summit of the Col d'Aubisque in the Pyrénées. There's a lot of cloud and it was relatively cool at the summit.

View of Pyrénées mountains from near the summit of the Col d'Aubisque.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 12

After a relatively cool 35c yesterday it's back up to 38c here - about 1 hour north of the Pyrénées. I've continued to find loads of beers from small local breweries, most of which are good, many excellent. Standout = Orge & Terroir ambrée. What a shame about the glass 😮

A blond beer from Brasserie du Bahus, glass on left, beside bottle on right.

A blond beer, glass on left, bottle on right, from Uby.

A glass of a dark-ish IPA on left with its bottle to right.

A bottle (L) of beer, with the amber coloured beer in a glass to the right. Unfortunately the glass was partly dirty, which is a shame as the beer was great.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 10

Left Bordeaux this a.m., headed south to Château de Malle (wine estate) & Château Fort de Roquetaillade, c.40 mins S of Bordeaux. We're now enjoying a rather good Chateau de Malle sparkling wine. We'll keep their sauternes for tomorrow. Cheers! 🥂

View of front of Chateau de Malle near Bordeaux.

View of Chateau Fort de Roquetaillade, south of Bordeaux.

A bottle of the extra brut sparkling wine from Chateau de Malle near Bordeaux.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 9

Haven't found many good beer bars in Bordeaux, but Space Factory & Le Sur Mesure appear to be two of the best in town. The latter wins for excellent aircon, essential when 40c today🔥 - & draft Bons Vœux, which I bravely resisted in the interests of keeping to the rules 🤣

Exterior of a craft beer bar in Bordeaux.

Exterior of another craft beer bar in Bordeaux.

A French west coast IPA on a wooden table in a bar.

Half of the beer board at Le Sur Mesure, Bordeaux.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 8

It's saying something when today's 38c in Bordeaux feels relatively cool. Yesterday it was 42c when we arrived 🥵. Thankfully we found places with aircon & great wines so it's been an excellent 1st full day in this wonderful city 🇫🇷

Two glasses of cremant de Bordeaux in Le Bar a Vin.

The monument at Quinconces, Bordeaux. Look out for this on Friday when the Tour de France finishes here.

Two glasses of gorgeous wine at L'Officine, Bordeaux.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 7

Stayed over in Orleans. Handy brewpub Well In Town & wine bar Le Cercle des Aromes provided an unexpectedly good haul of local Loire beers, so I ended up with 7 beers from 6 new-to-me breweries. Standout was this gin infused beer from La Brasserie des Ecluses, just outside Orleans.

A glass and bottle of amber, gin infused beer.

Exterior of a brew pub in Orleans, France.

Interior of a wine bar in Orleans, France.

A glass of beer from a brewery in the Loire, Art & Brew.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 7

1st two stops on the long road south yesterday were Chartres & Orleans, where we visited two of France's most magnificent cathedrals. Both absolutely stunning.

Chartres Cathedral on top of a hill above the city. The sign says Chartres in colourful letters.

Exterior of Orleans cathedral. The sky behind is clear, deep blue.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 4

I had to drop something into De Garre for @birkonian.bsky.social so obviously I was obliged to have a beer while there. It would've been very poor form not to, I reckon 😉

A glass of classic house beer at De Garre, presented on a small tray with paper doily. There's a small dish of cheese cubes beside the beer.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 3

Classic canalside Brugge pub 't Terrastje reopened today under its new ownership. Fewer beers but still some good ones incl. St Bernardus Abt van 't vat. Much longer opening hours (now only closed Wed). Still doing food, w/slightly wider menu. Interior looks decidedly bare! - but quite smart.

A glass of dark beer on a table outside a cafe.

The new, shorter beer list at 't Terrastje.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

7th & final stop in Brussels = La Bagarre taproom. I understand they brew at Co-hop, but the taproom is such a lovely space. Thanks again to @pisci.bsky.social for heads up. Their Kira IPA was fantastic.

A large glass of blond beer on a wooden table in a taproom.

Interior of a taproom including its beer board.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

6th stop in Brussels = Chez Mon Ex, Sint Gilles - recommended by @pisci.bsky.social & absolutely fantastic. Loads of local micros, plus (slightly bizarrely) Grand Dutchy beers on draft. Anyway my La Mule & La Flaque beers were both great.

A blond beer on a wooden table in a bar.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

5th stop in Brussels = Cantillon. I'd some beers to collect at the shop, so the bar was duly visited. La Corvée is another fantastic collab w/Jura wine legends Tissot.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

4th stop in Brussels = Mazette brewpub, Place de Jeu de Balle. With 8 of their own beers on draft, I quite enjoyed this second visit. Restons Zenne IPA was pretty good, & Beasty enjoyed his triple.

A glass of blond beer beside its pump clip.

The bar at Mazette, with a long haired gentleman at the bar.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

3rd stop in Brussels = Chaff, on Place de Jeu de Balle. Great to return & find same high quality offer - 6 drafts, c.30 bottles on an outstanding list. Loads of local micros incl. Illegaal IPA; loads from De Ranke incl. Kriek de Ranke on draft! Food also excellent, btw.

Kriek de Ranke draft pour, on a wooden table.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

2nd stop in Brussels = Le Marseillais, Place de Jeu de Balle. Right opposite La Brocante (RIP - though there's work going on there, so watch this space...). 3 drafts, c.30 bottles. Atmospheric & friendly, worth a look if passing.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jul 2

1st stop in Brussels = Addict Bar, Sint Gilles. 6 drafts, c.30 bottles on a decent enough if unspectacular list. Their own Rytma pils really hit the spot after a long uphill walk from Midi, though I've no idea where it's actually brewed.

A glass of blond beer on a bar in front of the taps.

Exterior of a bar. There's a long haired gentleman near the door.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 30

Draft Kapittel Prior at 't Brugs Beertje earlier. Not sure I've ever had this on draft before. Anyway, it was rather good. Cheers 🍻 🇧🇪

A glass of draft dark beer on a wooden table in a brown cafe.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 27

Intended to go to a beer festival in Diest today - 2 hours east, still 36c there today - so instead, more Dutch beers at 't BB (after earlier thunderstorm, temp 'only' 29c here). More great beers from Frontaal, Dutch Bargain & Moersleutel - I'm not too far from completing the list 😂

A can of imperial stout with a glass of the poured beer either side.

A glass of a blond beer and its can to the right.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 27

Yea Dries has done a great job with the beers. And the La Trappe bitterballen 😊

Five bitterballen with a small Dutch flag.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 26

Fantastic to have 19 Dutch beers this w/e at 't Brugs Beertje. Beers from Dutch Bargain, Moersleutel, Stadshaven (Rotterdam), Vandestreek, Kees, Jopen & others - 7 drafts, the rest in cans/bottles. Nine done today, the others (some, not all) tomorrow.

A draft imperial stout from Dutch Bargain.

A glass of blond beer on a wooden table.

The bar at 't Brugs Beertje with Dutch flags.

A glass and can of imperial stout on a wooden table.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 26

The shade for this morning's early cycle ride was provided by these wonderful trees alongside the Leopoldkanaal near Damme. Glad I went out when I did - it was already 29c when I got back at 9am! 🥵 🚴‍♀️ 🇧🇪

A canal with trees on either side. The sky appears partly cloudy but in reality it's hot & sunny.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 25

My phone told me it'd be slightly less scorching today. My phone was lying 🥵

Screenshot of a report of current weather conditions for Bruges. The temperature is 38c (again) and it feels like 44c.

Jezza@bonsvoeux1· Jun 25

Up early to get my cycling done in relative cool of 26c. Another 33km route through numerous shaded woods, out to Zedelgem & Loppem, back via Tillegembos. Beautiful.