Where Ghent drinks local: brewpubs, taprooms and the new wave.
Taprooms, brewpubs and the local beer scene in Ghent worth taking a tram to.
Gruut is Ghent's own city brewery, producing five herb beers from a medieval recipe that has never used a single hop. Instead, a blend of herbs including.
Tip: Saturday brewery tours include all five house beers; book ahead in summer. The taproom serves all five on draught daily.
Dok Brewing occupies the converted Hal 16 metal workshop at Dok Noord with 30 taps: house brews alongside Belgian craft guest beers. The long communal.
Tip: Open Thursday to Saturday until 01:00; the Thursday evening session is the quietest way to visit the brewery without a weekend crowd.
Stroom was started by a Belgian-American duo bridging traditional Belgian brewing with American craft influence; the Forelstraat taproom opens Fridays.
Tip: Tours available at weekends; the taproom on Friday evenings is one of Dok Noord's most casual craft beer experiences.
De Hopduvel has been one of Belgium's premier specialist beer shops since 1892. The Dok Noord location stocks more than 900 Belgian beers: obscure lambics.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-18:00; ask the staff to pack a mixed half-dozen for the evening.
The Dok Noord complex concentrates several brewing and beer retail operations in one cluster, ideal for sampling by flight on a Saturday afternoon.
Tip: The Dok Noord area is best visited on a Saturday afternoon when Stroom, Dok Brewing, De Hopduvel and OR Coffee are all open simultaneously.
Brouwerij De Leite brews spontaneously fermented ales near Ghent in Oostkamp. The small production volumes and wild-fermentation approach place it.
Tip: The brewery is not open to the public for casual visits; bottles are best sourced from De Hopduvel at Dok Noord.
De Dulle Griet is not a brewery but is the city's most complete reference for Belgian beer styles, with a 500-bottle list covering every major category.
Tip: Ask for the draught list: around 12 beers are on tap and rotate seasonally.
Waterhuis aan de Bierkant carries 170 Belgian beers with 14 on draught and a canal-facing terrace that is one of the most visited beer spots in Ghent.
Tip: Open from 11:00 daily; the terrace fills by mid-afternoon on sunny days.
Het Trappistenhuis is a brown beer cafe south of the city centre run by a beer expert, with over 170 Belgian specialties anchored on the full Trappist lineup.
Tip: Westvleteren XII is on the menu when stocks allow: ask the bar staff what is in the cellar that week before ordering.
The Gruut brewery terrace by the Reep canal is one of the most relaxed afternoon beer destinations in Ghent. All five house beers are available; the tasting.
Tip: Friday and Saturday evenings the terrace stays open until 23:00; other days it closes at 18:00.