Hotel Brouwerij Het Anker

I finally got to visit the brewery for a corporate event, with our own room upstairs. The food and service were very good, and the beer was amazing too. Most of it has a high ABV, so you need to take it easy.

The burger was juicy and well seasoned, and came with beer battered potato wedges, a nice little nod to the brewery’s roots. The meal was tasty and satisfying, if not revolutionary. Their Gouden Carolus Ambrio is really good too, smooth and rich, the kind of beer that makes you pause and enjoy the moment. Service was friendly and attentive without hovering. The place has a cozy brewery feel, with wood and warmth and enough bustle to feel lively. Easy to settle in for a meal and another round.

We ended up leaving hungry and going to the McDonald’s across from the brewery to get a proper meal. Our mood had been spoiled, and we’d only ordered a few dishes. We were a group of seven, but the waiter told us there was a rule limiting each group to four menu items, whatever the group size. The explanation was that it made things easier for the kitchen when they were busy. That’s hard to accept when much larger restaurants manage to serve groups without rules like this. We’d driven an hour from Bruges during our holiday after friends warmly recommended the brewery. The four item limit hadn’t been mentioned when we booked, and we couldn’t find it on the restaurant website either. We’ve eaten at dozens of restaurants at home and abroad, and had never come across a maximum order like this. We know some places require a minimum spend, but a maximum was a first. One star feels lenient, and I wish zero were an option. Future visitors should only go if their group has four people or fewer, otherwise you may leave hungry.

A really lovely distillery tour, with tasty samples and a beautiful look at local and industrial history. The guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and entertaining.