There are many reasons to love beer. From the delicious taste and alluring aroma to the way it brings people together to have a good time, beer is the best beverage in the world. Beer has some surprising health benefits, too, including strengthening bone health, reducing stress and helping to prevent kidney stones.

However, beer, as any other alcoholic beverage, can also have negative implications on our health if not imbibed in moderation. In particular, our livers take a beating with consistent beer (and alcohol in general) intake. The liver is roughly the size of a football (weighing about three pounds) and does 500 roles in our bodies. It produces bile, which breaks down fat, metabolizes carbohydrates and filters blood. Alcohol is broken down in the liver. And unfortunately, excessive alcohol intake can lead to liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), alcohol hepatitis and even liver cancer.

Walking the streets on a cool damp night in September, one can only be struck by the sheer beauty of historic Brussels, Belgium. Among its many charms, it’s clear that Brussels has beer running through its veins, so read on to delve into the top 20 places to drink beer in Brussels.

Belgium is one of the younger countries in Europe, which allows the city to display the splendor of a medieval European city mixed in with modern governmental center of the EU. Laid out with mosaic-like intersecting streets and lined with sidewalk cafés that circulate the smell of waffles into the air, there is an energy of a working international city built on the multicultural influences spread across centuries.

Stepping into the roughly 500 cafés or bars serves as an exploration of establishments that have, in some cases, survived for generations. As with the architecture, new and old cohabit the city in an ever evolving and reinventing manner. Belgians love their traditional Tripel but still embrace the influences of IPAs from overseas. Below are a handful on the seemingly endless list of places to discover and experience Belgian beer in Brussels.

Bars and Restaurants

In June 2020, national “neighborhood pub” Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will celebrate its 25-year anniversary, and in April 2020, Dallas gastropub Meddlesome Moth will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. These innovative restaurants have enhanced awareness about local craft beers from Texas to North Carolina. This year, the Flying Saucer and Meddlesome Moth are planning a slew of special events in honor of the milestones and offering anniversary beer experiences at each location.

Christmas and beer go hand in hand, but what about the mythical figure that makes the season truly special? I’m speaking of Santa Claus (or jolly old St. Nicholas or Kris Kringle, etc.), who holds the unenviable task of delivering presents to all the children on his list. Though he has a tough job, perhaps one thing could make his night better: Fine craft beer. Read on to explore this list of beers to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve night.

“Christmas time is here; happiness and beer; drinks for all and adults call their favorite time of year.”

While those might not be the exact lyrics from that beautiful piece of music from Vince Guaraldi in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the message works well for beer connoisseurs when the holidays roll around, as there’s something exquisitely special about beers at Christmastime.

With that in mind, there is one person that perhaps a deserves a beer more than anyone else around the holidays. You know, the guy known for his booming laugh, rosy cheeks and rotund figure with a penchant for magical abilities?