August 8, 2009
When the Hopduvel was saved from closure early this year by new owners GBG Belgium and others shouted hurrah and even snuck it into the latest edition. The beer range held up initially but was probably just using up old stock. Now it is plummeting. (What do they do that ? It seems dim.) This rating was not helped by only managing to be served two beers in 90 minutes, which was some sort of record. The food is blander and more Euro-bistro than it was too. Three readers have reported the same in the past 3 weeks.

July 17, 2009
A beer central. Yet it seems more of a restaurant than a beer bar. You will find beers here. Uncommon beers. But uncommon great beers are not likely. But the food is good, and in combination of food and beer this is a good place. Garden area is quite nice.

March 27, 2009
Has had a recent sprucing up, which does not seem to be fully complete as a couple of the rooms were not open. This meant it was very crowded and our party of 8 could not get seated together. The service was a little hassled on this visit - they seemed short handed to me. Despite the redecoration, the place doesn’t seem to have changed too much although the amibiance is more like a restaurant now than a drinking joint. The beer list is fairly strong - maybe 150 beers - but there was nothing particularly rare on offer. Food remains top notch - the Ribs A Volonte (as much/many as you can eat) were excellent. When I first came here years ago, with less Belgian experience under my belt, I was totally blown away. I’m less easily excited these days but it remains a super place and one that I always return to when in Gent. The Hoppetje house beer is just a rebadge of Val-Dieu Blonde by the way.

October 25, 2008
A small antechamber with a larger room, and terrasse, like a wooded medieval bar. A nice menu of beers, by province with good prices. Full, restaurant service, with cheaper prices than the center (2 euros cheaper for Carbonnade or Waterzooi). A nice relaxing place. Visited November 2006.

August 18, 2008
Quite hard to find even when you are standing in front of it. It looks just like a plain ol’ building. When you go inside you see a big pub, with lots and lots of rooms. Old-looking. The beer list is solid but really not outstanding. A decent place overall.

August 10, 2008
Multiple rooms, each with their own feel, and a courtyard with sculptures. Very cool atmosphere and a good collection of beers. I had a 1975 Mariage Parfait when I was last there in 06’. It’s a bit off the tourist path but worth it for beer lovers. Double check directions and hours before heading there.

June 27, 2008
For me it was 3 years ago, i’ll was here. It’s very nice to have fun an evening on their great terras - garden. Good beerlist, and the food is excellent. Never eat a lasagne like here: Amazing good ! The homebeer ’Hoppeke’ it’s a labelbeer from Val Dieu Blond ?

May 3, 2008
From outside this looked like an average drunkard pub, but inside it was quite different. A rather large place with a possibility to sit outside. It was really the selection that made this visit fantastic - they were exceptionally well equipped with good stuff. We chose to have a East Flanders theme and finished it off with some nice gueze.

March 17, 2008
Like others I was confused when I first arrived, I thought for sure I was going to open up the door into someones home, but it actually turns out to be a much larger bar than anticipated from the outside. A bit dark, but with plenty of nice dark wood throughout. Bar staff is a bit quiet and gruff during an early evening visit but efficient. Radio selection lacks the character of the music found elsewhere. Beer list is not bad, but is not particularly exciting. Perhaps I have been desensitized after a week in Belgium but theres little here that I have not seen on many other lists. Overall I am left with the impression that Hop Duvel is better suited as a watering hole where you enjoy a number of beers in a group of people over the course of the evening rather than the quieter sampling I was there for.

March 16, 2008
So far my favorite Gent cafe. Nice selection in bottles. A selected few, but delicious, items on tap. The Buffalo Stout on tap was wonderful. I wanted a small sandwich, but what I got I wasn’t even able to finish 2/3. A short 10-15 minutes walk from the St. Pieters train station. Also right on the tram line, if you can’t seem to find your footing -)