Antwerp - Thursday 21/6/2018

The Parcel Yard, the Fuller's pub inside Kings Cross station, was the rendezvous for our group before catching a lunchtime train from St Pancras International to Brussels Midi.

Arriving at Brussels later in the day than for previous years we decided to catch the first train to Antwerp.
Andrew, Richard and John got off at Antwerpen-Berchem station, convenient for their hotel (Tryp by Wyndham Antwerp) while Simon and I continued to Antwerpen Centraal where we checked into our rooms at the nearby Ibis Budget hotel.

Our first stop,  on the way to Antwerp's historic centre, was at Cafe Oud Arsenaal, Maria Pijpelincxstraat 4, 'authentic pub since 1929'.

Simon ordered a draught Rodenbach and my choice was a draught Musketeers Troubadour Blond costing 2.60 / 2.90 euros for 33cl respectively.

While enjoying our beers it was interesting to look around this much appreciated bar with the bar counter in one corner and only a few tables to choose from. Brewery signs and old photos adorn the walls and ceiling!

The bar front has contrasting wood layers in a geometric pattern. A brass rail runs around the base of the bar and a selection of bottled beers are displayed on the counter top.

A cat was resting in a raised basket at the back of the pub, underneath the front wheel of a dangling old bicycle. A tall blackboard lists some special bottled beers in 75cl and 37.5cl sizes.

Ian McCallum at Oud Arsenaal

Ian McCallum, a recent Twitter acquantaince, joined us, having flown from Edinburgh to Charleroi and on by train to Antwerp via Brussels today. Ian was looking forward to his first visit to BierPassie Weekend festival tomorrow when his friend from Rotterdam would join him. 

With a name 'Run through a Field of Wheat', echoing Theresa May's self-confessed past misdemeanours, this bottled beer from The Musketeers Brewery bucketlist series (No. 1), caught my attention and proved to be one of my favourites on this visit to Belgium.
We got a text message from the main group that they would meet us in Cafe Kulminator so we said goodbye to Ian and the cafe cat!

We imagined meeting up with Ian again at the festival but it turned out that our times there never coincided with his - perhaps we'll meet again next year! However, it was nice to be able to keep up with Ian's posts and photos on Twitter and find out that he would visit De Koninck Brewery and enjoy 'awesome beers' at Cafe Kulminator.

The venerable Cafe Kulminator, Vleminckveld 32, is only half a mile west of Oud Arsenaal.

We found our group around a round table in the raised rear level of the cafe with a view of the conservatory at the back.

From the list of draught beers (van 't vat) chalked on the Erdinger board, I chose Malheur 6° (4 euros). 

There was time for a (bottle) of 9% ABV Musketeers Troubadour Magma Maris Otter before we left in search of a meal closer to the historic centre.

Thanks to Keith who led us to WoW Wok, Oude Koornmarkt 4, less than a 100 metres from the eastern end of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. 
The simple ordering process involves choosing rice or noodles, chicken or pork and type of sauce. The chef got straight to work and soon our bowls of food were ready. 

We caught the No. 11 tram, a 1.60 euro fare when validating a Lijn Card in a yellow machine mounted at each entrance. We were heading to Dageraadplaats - known by our group as 'Argument Square' from previous visits, notably including one on the day that the EU referendum results were announced in 2016.

On arrival at Dageraadplaats stop we crosed the square to reach Cafe ZeeZicht,
Dageraadplaats 7-8. 

We sat outside for our first beer and I enjoyed a draught Chimay Triple, an authentic Trappist beer
produced by Scourmont Abbey's 'Bières de Chimay' brewery. 

Also known as Chimay White (its bottles have white caps) this is listed for 3.50 euros in the beer menu.

With the temperature falling we moved to some seating on a raised level before ordering our next beer. 

A chalked up seasonal offer above the bar for a bottle of De Ranke Saison de Dottignies caught my eye. When in Belgium I enjoy trying Saisons / Farmhouse Ales although not keen on Lambic or Geueze which are more sour. 

Keith Morore - Homebrewer - Cafe ZeeZicht

It was now well after midnight and although we had been chatting there were no major arguments on this occasion and we made a major decision concerning the next day - Friday's lunchtime rendezvous would be at Café De Smoutpot, Zwijndrecht, on the western side of the river Scheldt. 
Eventually Simon and I would say goodnight to Keith, John, Richard and Andrew before walking back to our hotel, less than a mile away.