PubsAndBeer.co.uk - Kulminator, Antwerp, Belgium

PubsandBeer

Kulminator (Free House)

Beer (sort)	Average Score (sort)	No. Samples (sort)
Brasserie d'Achouffe - N'Ice		1
Struise Brouwers - Tsjeeses		1
Brouwerij Het Anker - Bok		1
De Koninck - Tripel		1
Dubuisson - Bush de Noel		1

Visits Details

09 Sep 2006 (Ian)

It is almost impossible for me to say how much I love this bar. Dirk and Leen run it with such finesse. There is a huge beer list to choose from including some very old beers dating back to the 1970s. Bottles of Felix Kriek Special (1975), Cantillon Framboise (1979) and De Dolle Speciaal Brouwsel (1980) were all 4/5 beers. I was here for the Low Countries Ratebeer Meeting in the afternoon and after dinner of mussels and chips we came back to drink some beers. Carlo from the Struise brewery brought a barrel of his Christmas beer with him, that eventually we managed to convince Dirk to put on (we had to finish the Liefmans Kriek on tap first - oh what a hardship)

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Struise Brouwers - Tsjeeses	10.00		Cloudy copper colour with thick beige head. Spice and yeast aroma. Spicey lemon and raisin/sultana in mouth. Dry finish. Gorgeous. Love the tripel type fruit.

25 Feb 2006 (Ian)

Back here for the second day running and I'm sure that Leen recognised us. Again before choosing my bottled range (Pannepot and Saison Dupont) I had a couple of beers on draught. Stunning bar, with a longish bar on the left, lots of stripped bare wood, candle light and classical music. Doesn't really do food. Does do meat and cheese board and nuts.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Brouwerij Het Anker - Bok	6.50		Reddish brown with beige head. Some toffee on aroma. Quite a good bok, interesting with a bit of rubber and toffee and dryness on the end. Easy drinking, some perfume on the nose. Some plummy fruit
Dubuisson - Bush de Noel	12.00		Bit soapy. Deep reddy/brown colour, very bright. Lasting beige head. Slightly spicey as you would expect from a Xmas beer. Good graininess in mouth. Finish has spice hop mix. Rich malts throughout. Some rubber.

24 Feb 2006 (Ian)

My second visit here after my first back in November 2005, and I felt right at home. Dirk and Leen run a wonderful establishment. Leen in particular is very helpful and found some excellent beers for us to try. The draught beer list is on 2 boards with around 8 available at any one time. Then there is a huge list of bottled beers, some going back to the 1970s. We chatted to someone who contributed to the Tim Webb Camra book on Belgium. A definite for anyone interested in beer. Also had a 1990 Chimay blue, De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva and De Dolle Dulle Teve (Mad Bitch) 1996 in bottle.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Brasserie d'Achouffe - N'Ice	10.00		First beer here on the Friday (came back the following day) and whilst I was wading through the beer list, I had a draught beer just to keep me going. Deep copper/amber colour with lasting beige head. Choc/coffee and dark fruit aroma. But also quite fresh. Some spice and heat in mouth, slightly raisiny on end. Slight rubber on finish too.

22 Nov 2005 (Ian)

After driving round central Antwerp for 45 minutes looking for our hotel, we got here later than I had wanted, around 22.30 local time. However, that still meant I had until midnight to get a few good beers in. Only a handfull of customers including a table of Australians. Service is helpful and polite and the people behind the bar speak English. I had a wonderful time and will certainly be back before too long to have an extended session. I tried the Pannepot 2004, De Dolle Stille Nacht 2005 and Abbaye des Rocs Speciale Noel all in bottle and the De Koninck Tripel on draught.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
De Koninck - Tripel	8.00		Deep copper in colour with thick lasting beige head. Some tangerine, yeast and some lime on the aromas. Smooth in mouth with more tangerine/lime fruit on finish. Despite the use of cane sugar this doesn't become too sweet.

About the Kulminator

Summary of Beer Scores

	Total
	-
	2
	2
	1
	-

Website.

The pub is found in Antwerp, Belgium, 2000.

One of the best beer bars in the world. This has around 10 beers on draught and then a huge cellar of bottled beers. Only a selection (although admittedly a huge selection) is available at any one time. The rest is in storage and is selected for the main bar as the landlords feel like it. You can select your beer from the thick beer menus, or ask the knowledgeable staff to recommend something in the style of beers that you like. The full selection is listed in an inches thick book, open like a bible next to the bar. The speciality is aged beers. For instance you can have Chimay Blue from every year going back to at least 1981. There are also beers going back to the 70s as well. The bar itself is quite small with several tables and a yard at the back for better weather. Lots of exposed wood, candlelight and classical music.

We have visited this pub 4 times, seen 5 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: 2000