It's a total tap takeover at the Muddy Pig. The 4th annual Belgian Beer Festival started Tuesday at the St. Paul beer bar.

The neighborhood pub is already known for its love of Belgian beers. But for the next six days, all tap lines (49!) will be dedicated to the strong, complex (and somewhat esoteric) brews from Belgium (and Belgian styles from the U.S. and elsewhere). More than 85 beers will be cycled through the bar's extensive tap system, with some beers previously unavailable on draft in this market. You can buy the beers in flights of three, 5-ounce pours. Ever had a De Ranke Guldenberg Triple? A Bourgogne Des Flandres Brune? A Ellezelloise Quintine Blonde? Me neither. The Pig will have these and many more flowing throughout the week. The fest runs today through Sunday.

  • Open 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Sun.-Thu. and 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
  • 162 Dale St. N., St Paul. 651-254-1030
  • www.muddypig.com

Also: It's a busy week for the Muddy Pig owners. They opened their second pub near the corner of 50th and France last Friday. The Pig & Fiddle leans a little heavier on the Belgian food, with about 30 taps dedicated to craft brews.

  • 3812 50th St. W., Mpls
  • 952-955-8385

(Photos by Tim Elm and Glen Stubbe)