Brian C. wrote: > > I am visiting Charleroi in Belgium in a couple of weeks time. > > Does anybody out there have any recommendations for the best > beer spots in Charleroi? > > I would also be very interested in any restaurant recommendations, > especially for local cooking? My wife and I didn't make it to Charleroi on our Belgium trip last year, so I have no personal info/anecdotes. Michael Jackson mentions but one "beer cafe" -- Beau Lieu, located at 3 Rue du Commerce. He says they have 100+ beers (not all on tap, I'm sure). Phone no. is 071-32.89.69 Charleroi itself has but one brewery, though a rather large one by Belgian standards. The Brasserie de l'Union (actually just outside Charleroi in Jumet) is an Alken-Maes brewery and as such brews a wide variety of beers, among them the Grimbergen line and the Cuvee de l'Ermitage. The excellent book, Beers of Wallonia, isn't particularly fond of the Union brewery's output (I trust the authors enough to definitely stay well clear of the Ciney range of beers also brewed by Union). The beer cafe that Jackson mentions is not listed in this book and one suspects that Charleroi, a fairly industrialized town, might be a little lacking in interesting places, by Belgian standards, that is. I would recommend a side trip to the larger Namur, just east of Charleroi. While there you should try either L'Eblouissant at 27 Rue de l'Armee Grouchy (081-73.71.39) where they have lots of Wallonian beers, or Les Artisans Brasseurs at Place de la Station 2, home to the excellent Brasserie Mibrana (try their Aldegonde Cuvee and Speciale and the La Marlagne Blanche; the Cuvee is only available on draft at this location and they apparently have a decent restaurant in-house as well). Hope that helps and definitely report back with your experiences. From [email removed] Wed Mar 31 10:09:48 EST 1999 Article: 7122 of alt.restaurants
Belgium