Du Bois Brewing

Give the gift of beer ... books

What’s a better gift than a case of beer? Well, not much actually.

But if you’re looking for a beer-related gift that doesn’t come in 24 neatly grouped, convenient 12-ounce packages, a book about beer is a pretty good option.

“Beer: A Genuine Collection of Cans” (ISBN 9780811875417, $19.95 from Chronicle Books ) is a slick softcover coffee table book that illustrates 60 years of beer can history. Authors Dan Becker and Lance Wilson gathered about 480 cans representing 30 countries from the collection of one man.

Who knew pictures of beer cans could be interesting. Some cans dating to the 1930s, 40s and 50s are pocked with rust and the graphics and color on many of the cans are surprisingly vibrant.

Some of them are pretty boring, too.

The Falstaff, Du Bois, Pearl and Pocono brewing companies each produced generic beer cans in the 1980s, each one white with little more than “Beer” on the can. Wilkes-Barre-based Pocono brewing, in fact, even reads “NO FRILLS.”

Conversely, a Grolsch can from the 1980s features a map of the town complete with street names, and the Reading Brewing Co. released its Bicentennial Collectors Series in the 1970s.

The Pittsburgh Brewing Co. put out a pretty sweet Robin Hood Cream Ale in the '70s and '80s, and August Schell Brewing’s Bock Beer can featuring a curly horned billy goat and wooden keg offers a timeless look.

And for all you Phillies fans out there, Richie Ashburn adorns a can of Casey’s Lager from the Valley Forge Brewing Co. on page 73.

The book doesn’t feature much text, but it’s still an interesting, uh, read?

An Unlikely European Destination

As a true Belgian is infinitely familiar with the taste of a good beer, they also know their nation boasts more than just 6 of the world’s 7 Trappist beers. From kite surfing to shopping, the unexpected European destination of Belgium holds some great coastal towns as favorite spots for locals.

I had the opportunity to find myself among few foreigners with the help of a Dutch companion who knows the ins and outs of the sea towns lining the border between Belgium and Holland. Traveling down part of the North Sea coast between the two countries, towns of great food, shopping, beaches and pubs await Belgians on holiday.

This town is located less than half an hour from Bruges and is much more laid back than neighbor town Knokke. It boasts a great boardwalk with a pier, plenty of shops, and restaurants. One of Blankenberge’s charms is the large boarder community the youth of the town take part in. Whether walking down the town’s main boulevard, the boardwalk, or hitting up the pubs at night, you’ll see scads of young people roaming about with skateboards in hand or under their feet, headed to their favorite hangouts. The other great thing: they all know each other. As soon as you walk into a club or bar, it’s obvious everyone is familiar with everyone. This isn’t a problem for outsiders though, and you’ll find yourself embraced by the community.

One of the best pubs to find local young people, with an intimate and casual feel, is , a restaurant located on the boardwalk known for its mega waffles. These large waffles are covered in powdered sugar and accompanied by a massive amount of fruit. Unbelievable as it is, most people each order their own plate!

Bruges is a popular town for many reasons, and rejects the notion of the sleepy town Colin Farrell gave it in the popular movie “In Bruges.” If you’re in Bruges, go along with the crowd of tourists and take the 366 steps up to the top of the Belfry because it’s worth it. The view is amazing and you should at least take in some history while in the city. For a light (and vegetarian!) lunch, go to , near the Grand Place on Sint-Jakobsstraat. This pub is simply a large room with a number of great tables, each lit by a candle, and a large back veranda for warmer days. To have a beer brewed in Bruges, take a taste of Brugse Zot.

Though I had the opportunity to stay in an apartment in Blankenberge during my last visit, most people’s best bet for a reasonably priced hostel or hotel would be in Bruges. Shop around for places and prices.

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