Eizeringen, Belgium
What it is: Ratebeer users call it the best beer bar in the world, which is daunting praise for the quaint little bar off the square in Eizeringen. But accolades aside, a quiet afternoon at Grote Dorst is a quintessential Belgian experience for lambic lovers. The leather-bound menu is legendary, featuring rarities and vintage lambic and gueuze that the Panneels brothers have stashed in the tiny cellar since taking the reins in 2000.
Why it’s great: For serious fanatics, the selection of lambic is hard to beat, but that’s only one part of the story. On any given Sunday, you’ll find three generations of the family working the bar and locals of all ages, from parents and kids to old timers, ordering everything from draft gueuze to locally brewed IPAs to the washed-rind cheese made with gueuze. The space itself is as quaint as it gets—rough-hewn ceiling beams, decorative tile, ancient-feeling wood tables inside, and café tables with umbrellas lining the sidewalk. It’s an experience whether or not you’re there for the beer. Service is unhurried and personal, but bring hard currency because they don’t accept credit cards.
DETAILS
Hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sundays only
Address: Frans Baetensstraat 45, Eizeringen, Brabant, Belgium
Web: dorst.be