Antwerp was the last city I explored before I went back to the Philippines at the end of my 70-day solo backpacking trip in Europe in 2012.
Second only to Brussels in population, it is best known for its beautiful architecture (their railway station, cathedral, and marketplace are definitely worth a visit!), numerous diamond shops, and its vibrant fashion and art scene.
I was very impressed with the railway station (Read: 10 Memorable Train Stations in Europe) and the Grote Markt (post to follow…someday). Coming from a country where saving old structures is an uphill battle, seeing all those beautiful buildings in Antwerp made me wish that the Philippine government held the same regard for heritage structures.
After hours of walking around with my ex-friend K, however, all I wanted to do was sit down somewhere, put my feet up, and eat something. I was starving. K being Belgian, he wanted a drink, and negotiated going to the beer bars first before having dinner. There were a lot of these near the main square.
Perfect, I thought. In the Philippines, whenever people drink–whether beer or some other alcohol–there would always be food. It can be anything as simple as a pack of nuts, but mostly, we would have a dish of pork or chicken to eat with the beer. (I prefer having tuna and tofu.) I thought then that I would have the same thing in the beer bars of Antwerp.
The street we went to were full of these pubs, small locals’ places where you can have beer on tap and good conversation. K chose ‘T Antwaerps Bierhuiske (Antwerp’s Little Beer House), a small place which he said had a good selection of both Belgian and foreign beers. Prices seemed to be okay, too.
Frankly, I didn’t care that much about the beer menu or its prices. All I wanted was food. Belgian servings are typically huge, so I was looking forward to a good meal already.
Unfortunately, there was no food to be had! There was nothing on the menu except small packs of chips and servings of cheese. We ordered them and I scarfed them up even before my bottle of Kwak beer came. I was just so hungry!
My craving for food initially sated, I took a closer look at Kwak. I chose it not because of its taste but because of the unique shape of its glass and its glass holder. My friend said that the name comes from the sound the glass makes when you drink it! I tried it, and I did hear a kwaking sound. I think. 🙂
Kwak is not the only beer with a special glass, even though it’s more unique than most. In a country where beer is not just a drink but a culture, it follows that even the glass which it is served has to have meaning.
According to K, the shape of a beer’s particular glass enhances its flavor, so you can’t serve Kwak, for example, in a glass made for Westmalle, and vice versa. (I think only Belgians would appreciate this statement.)
That cold afternoon in Antwerp, I didn’t really appreciate the cultural lesson very much. After all, I had never had so much beer in my life than when I was in Belgium. We had beer with lunch (thank God, even Belgians think breakfast is too early for beer), midday snacks, dinner, after dinner snacks, and just before going to bed.
I was just hungry then, and looking at all the drinks in the beer bar without any of the food accoutrements that you can find in the Philippines made me miss my country all the more.
Still, I enjoyed drinking the Kwak. Once you get over how beautiful the glass is (and my hunger, in my case), you can truly appreciate its taste.
Kwak Beer.
‘T Antwaerps Bierhuiske
Hoogstraat 14 (near Grote Markt and the Cathedral)
Antwerp, Belgium
Open from 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Have you had Belgian beer? What’s your favorite? Mine’s Westmalle!
31 Comments. Leave new
Aaaah, Belgium. Did they have any frites at the restaurant? The frites (or french fries) are easily the best I have had anywhere in my travels and they go perfectly with a nice cold beer. That Kwak glass is crazy and make no mistake they are very very serious about the glass thing, I once had a bartender in Brugges take my beer away from me and replace once he saw I poured it in the rival beer’s glass. Great post!
@ Dana: Yes, it’s a really beautiful city. Too bad you didn’t visit it when you went to Europe!
I’m not much of a beer drinker, but when in Rome…right? Antwerp looks like a beautiful city to explore.
@ Penny: Yep. When in Belgium, drink beer! Lots of it!
@ Lillie: Not necessarily for drinking right? It would also look great as a vase.
What fun! I definitely need those glasses…
I”m not really a beer drinker, but when in Belgium…
@ Terry: I thought it had something to do with ducks too haha
@ Gran Canaria Local: It’s very hot and humid here now in the Philippines, and I would love a Kwak too. It’s not available here though, more’s the pity.
Wow, we’d love to knock off work right now and enjoy a Kwak. Sadly, that’s not an option for us. Unless we jump on a plane to Antwerp. Something we’re sorely tempted to do after reading your excellent post.
What an amazing beer glass! And I love how Kwak is named for the sound it makes when you drink it, though it makes me think of ducks.
@ Elle: Mussels or fries served with beer would have been glorious!
@ Bianca: Chocolates and waffles and fries and mussels hahhaha Lots of delicious stuff in Belgium.
Beer has never really been my thing but I think a trip for some Belgian chocolate is in order 😀
We had a great little bar in Portsmouth (Southern England) when I still lived there. They sold a number of Belgian and Czech beers. We used to head in for a couple of beers and a big bowl full of mussels. Lovely!
@ Marisol: Antwerp is BEAUTIFUL. Too bad you didn’t make it there. I can drink wine without anything, but drinking beer for me is still a social thing. And you know Filipinos–if there’s any socialization done, there’s always food!
@ Andrea: Yep!
Yum – love Kwak!
Hi Aleah, I been to Belgium but didn’t make it to Antwerp. It seems like an interesting city. I’m more of a wine person but I don appreciate beer culture. I find it interesting that people in beer countries would take it seriously as to what kind of glass shape to use for a particular beer. Ha! Ha! Isn’t it interesting that the lack of pulutan would make you miss the Philippines? I felt the same way when I just moved in the US where people would just sip wine or beer or anything without food. I’m used to it but still prefer to have food in my stomach with any libation. Nice post!
@ Agness: Have fun in Antwerp! There are a lot of things you’d enjoy doing there aside from their beer bars. 🙂
@ Mary: I’m not much of a wine drinker, but yeah I agree about their care for details too.
I love how Belgian beer is on par with French wine- where every detail is important, including the glass.
I’m not a big fan of beer, but the beer glass in the last picture is so AWESOME!! I wish I could drink some wine from it. I’m off to Antwerp this summer, so wish me good luck with finding it :)!
@ Shailesh: Thanks for dropping by!
@ Bronwyn: Love it, too 🙂
Love the beer holder! (And the Belgian style of beer 🙂 ).
Don’t know about the taste of beer but I am very much impressed with glass and this drinking style.
@ Mike: Oi, thanks for the heads-up! Am so glad to be included in the post with Tom Cruise. So gorgeous 😉 Being Filipino, I agree with you there about having food with drink!
@ Valen: It would make a nice souvenir, wouldn’t it?
I’m not much of a beer person, but you made it look good. Love the glasses!
Hi Aleah! Hey, sent you an email about 5 days ago that Phoenix and I gave you a shout out personally in our post prior to our current one (re: Tom Cruise Top 10 Movies)! Hopefully you can check that out 🙂
Wow, on the Kwat beer…that thing is huge! I had never heard until reading this post that the shape of the glass can enhance a beer’s taste. I’m soooo with you…the alcohol, ok…but there better be plenty of good eats to go with it or I’m not interested in the place. Personally, that’s just part of the joined food/drink experience for me. Good post! 🙂
@ Kara: As much of a beer lover you are, you’d definitely love Belgium! I’m pretty sure you’ll consider it your idea of heaven haha
@ Pabitra: I haven’t had that. I think. I drank so much there I couldn’t keep track! And thanks for the reminder about the address. I put it in already.
My fav is Hooegarden, Citroen.
You did not give address of the pub you visited.
“I never had so much beer in my life then when I was in Belgium.” Jealous much. Haha. I should really save up for a beer tour of Europe. That might take a while though :p
@ Jessie: They must have a special cleaner haha
@ Photo Cache: Maybe they do? Am not sure. There were lots and lots of beer though!
i wonder if you could get wine there at all 🙂 i’m not a beer drinker so i may need other forms of adult libations.
That’s a crazy glass! I wonder how they wash it. What a fun tim – and now we know to eat first! 🙂