We decide to visit the local Half Moon Brewery for a tour. The 45-minute tour is fun but a little disappointing because, in 2004, they were no longer brewing beer at this location. In checking their website, though, I found they are now brewing and taste-testing a new beer, "Dilemma," at this location.
Nevertheless, the guide, who is actually a family member, puts out a lot of historical and brewing information. The tour features the old tradional brewing methods, and we see 200-year-old machinery and bottles from at least that long ago. It's hard to absorb it all. It is obvious the Belgians take their beer seriously.
We go all the way up to the roof of the old building, where we see an amazing panoramic view of Bruges.
The tour costs only 4 euros per person and includes a huge mug of their beer, drunk in the beer hall. While sipping our brews, we meet an interesting 30-something American couple who've carved a year out of their lives and careers to travel throughout Europe. I don't know if I would have had the courage to do that at their age.
Half Moon has a restaurant too, so it's a nice place to take a midday or mid-afternoon break. You can learn much more here.