Beer Shops
These two are regular ports of call whenever we visit West Flanders. They stock a mind-boggling range of beers and glasses, and you can buy any
number, or mix, of beers at very reasonable prices.
(See also our other recommended beer shops in
Belgium.)
Nevejan Drankcentrale,Graaf van Hoornweg 16, 8972 Krombeke, West Flanders
Tel: (from UK) 0032 57 40 00 35
Check the website contact page for latest opening hours and email address
Euros only
When you enter the yard from the road the beer warehouse is on your right (top picture). It may look like a cold, concrete-floored warehouse, but to anyone who's at all interested in Belgian beer, it’s Aladdin’s Cave!
Standing with your back to the counter, in front of you are the stocks of lemonade, water etc, and beyond them, a closed off area where the bulk stock is stored. You need to go round to your right where you'll find the beers
There is normally a wide range of beers in stock, including some unusual types. We usually load up with the St Bernardus range and Trappists Rochefort, Orval and Westmalle. Nevejan often also keep Achel in stock these days and Chimay and sometimes have La Trappe from the Netherlands. (For the other Trappist - Westvleteren - you'll have to visit the abbey of St Sixtus which is quite close by, as it's only sold there and strictly rationed.)
If you like sour ales, Duchesse de Bourgogne, Rodenbach, and Vichtenaar are available, and for lambik fans Girardin, and Cantillon are usually on offer in corked bottles – better for laying down. Fruit beers? Verhaeghe Echt Kriekenbier uses more real cherries than most . And for something different try a honey-flavoured barley wine Zatte Bie. Fans of strong golden ales should look out for Duvel and for hop lovers, you must try therlocal Hommelbier. This is also where you can buy Nunnebier. It started as a joke, saying that there was a nuns' beer to counter the Trappists, but it didin't really exist. Then customers started clamouring to buy it! So, bowing to demand, a local brewery produced this tasty golden ale for Nevejan. It's deceptively easy to drink, so the 7.2 ABV could catch you out. We usually bring a supply back with us. And we always find room for a crate of Kasteelbier Bruin – a powerful (11%), dark, sweet beer, perfect as a nightcap.
A few tips
The warehouse is behind a car showroom. Look for the small statue which marks the way into the yard.
Follow Jeannette's example and wrap up warm if you go in the winter - it gets very chilly in the warehouse.
Update (October 2014): After going through a rocky patch when the owner became seriously ill, his daughter, Anne has decided to take on the business and is particularly keen to attract the custom of foreign beer fans. She told us that if you want a particular beer, email her (details on contact page of website) and she can get most beers for you.
As a good Kasteelbier
customer Jeannette was delighted
with the promotional scarf and hat to keep
out the cold!
There is a 'Gents' but no 'Ladies'. However, the Gents is outside - on the wall - in full view of any customers arriving! My advice is to hang on until you get to 't Jagershof, a very nice bar just along the road at Bankelindeweg 58! (pictured right - see their website for map)
Abelestationsplein 30, 8970 Poperinge West Flanders (on the D984/N38)
Closed Mondays.
Open on Sundays (but avoid lunchtime).
Now takes credit cards
Tel: (from UK) 0032 57 33 33 05
This is essentially a general store, selling tinned food, cheeses, sweets etc, - we particularly recommend Belgian cupasoups! - but it also stocks a vast selection of beers, along with many of their glasses.
In particular, you will find Wallonian beers here which are not so common elsewhere in Flanders, and Noël often has some of the enormous champagne-magnum-sized bottles of beer. I recently came across a magazine article which said that a London restaurant was offering these huge bottles to share with friends on special occasions at the knock-down price of several hundred pounds. Since you can pick them up in Noël's shop for around 20-30 Euros you’ve got to think someone somewhere is being ripped off!!!
The shop is surrounded by fields but you can spot it from the main road. Look out for the brewery signs and flags near the buildings.
Although the shop is open on Sundays, it's best to avoid Noël's lunch hour(s) on that day - never get between a Belgian and his Sunday lunch!
And concentrate while grabbing the bottles from the shelf - you might find you've picked up a furry feline who's very upset at your invasion of his cosy spot. Contentious note: the moggie clearly favours Hellekapelle from De Bie, whereas we prefer their Helleketel beer!
