Today’s Brewery of the Day:
Huisbrouwerij Sint Canarus
Polderweg 2 Deinze-Gottem Belgium
We’ve just returned from France & Belgium where we met with some of the brewers and vendors for our upcoming October 27th –November 3rd Bon Beer Voyage beer tour: “Grand Crus to Farmhouse Brews- A Beercation Cruise through Belgium & France”.
During this trip we visited 3 fabulous breweries on the French side of the border, 5 on the Belgian side as well as one French genièvre distillery. In France, we visited Brasserie St Germain, Brasserie Thiriez & Brasserie Bailleux (where we had lunch in their magnificent restaurant Au Baron). In Belgium, wevisited Brouwerij Rodenbach, Brouwerij St Bernardus, Brouwerij Van Eecke, Huisbrouwerij Sint Canarus & Chimay.
Over the next few days we will be highlighting each of the breweries on our tour as well as sharing some beery cool information on the beer scene in Lille. For those who want a quick look at the amazing Day by Day Itinerary of the Grand Crus to Farmhouse Brews- A Beercation Cruise click here.
Brewery of the Day: Huisbrouwerij Sint Canarus
Sint Canarus is an extremely small brewery which makes really “big” beers. They are located about a half hour drive southwest of Gent in the small town of Gottem (for you Batman fans, you can call it Gottem City).
The owner and brew-master Piet Meirhaeghe – who is better known in the beer world as Dr. Canarus, has a very interesting sense of humor which he imparts on his brewery. Both Dr. Canarus & his brewery get their name from a local drinking club, called “Semper Canarus” which translates to always drunk. Also, the word canard meets duck, and if you see a duck walk we would say it waddles, or looks drunk, therefore the word canard is slang for a drunkard.
Below you will see Dr. Canarus hard at work serving up some of his fantastic brews
Beers available at Sint Canarus the day we were there included:
Export, his Pilsner is 4.6%abv
Sint Canarus Tripel 7.5%abv
Maeght van Gottem (which translates to the Virgin of Gottem) is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 7.0%abv and inside every bottle, placed by hand, is a single hop cone.
Potteloereke 8% abv a Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Pere Canard, which would translate to drunk father was originally brewed for Christmas and is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 9%abv.
Sint Canarus 10 jaar 8.72%abv, his 10th anniversary brew, is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Rule of Thirds (Import Series Vol 4) is a Tripel at 8%abv. A Saison Darkly (Import Series Vol 2) is a Saison at 8.0%abv. Both of these are collaborations with Stillwater Artisanal Ales and brewed here.
Here is Dr Canarus serving up Rule of Thirds (Import Series Vol 4)
Here is a peek at the “Large” brewery seen behind Ruth as she enjoys her Pere Canard:
Currently, Potteloereke & Sint Canarus Tripel are their only “non- collaboration” beers which are being imported to the USA (12% Imports) and they not too easy to find-so we hope you’ll join us for our awesome upcoming beer trip– “Grand Crus to Farmhouse Brews- A Beercation Cruise through Belgium & France” where you can enjoy these wonderful beers and experience the special humor of Dr. Canarus yourself!
Cheers from Mike & Ruth!
