Photos and words by Cliff Lucas.
Edited by Breandán Kearney.
Café Society is a photographic series which celebrates the spaces at the heart of Belgian beer culture. See more here.
The barman at De Blauwe Kater says that you can’t stand on one leg. It’s a jazz and blues bar in Leuven serving specialty Belgian beers. Translating to the Blue Cat, the name might be inspired by the terms “blues” and “jazz cat”, but the barman neither confirms nor denies it. Sepia-toned portraits of B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, and James Brown—the genre’s legends—adorn the walls. There’s also a patchwork of slightly-torn event posters. But counterpointing this legacy, up-and-coming acts like Boogie Beasts fill the stage on Mondays for live music. The beer is counterpointed too: Stella Artois and its commercial entourage claim the taplines, but 100+ specialty Belgian beers—ranging from locally-brewed pale ales to strong, dark Trappists—provide a visual backdrop for those ordering at the bar. It wouldn’t make sense to serve good beer without good music here because balance matters in Belgium, and like the barman says, you can’t stand on one leg.
More info:
De Blauwe Kater
Mechelsestraat 51, 3000 Leuven
De Blauwe Kater is a cozy jazz & blues bar in the centre of Leuven.
