 Brew
Your Own Beertrip #2
Homebrewer's
Best
of Belgium
September 21 - October 1
On
this trip we will wander around lesser-known Belgium, visiting a wide
variety of breweries incorporation an even wider array of styles.
We'll stay in beery Brussels, and the towns of Brugge, Tournai and
Bouillon as we meet and visit some innovative commercial brewers.
Discover the secrets of lambic brewing and blending, visit classic
saison and farmhouse ale producers and attend the Brassigaume micro-brewers
festival in Rulles, featuring some of the finest small breweries.
Along the way we'll check out fortified castles, hop fields, windmills
and traditional beer cafes and Flemmish estaminets with seemingly
endless beer lists. All the while we travel aboard a private coach
- a mobile beer bus! If you love brewing and Belgian beer, this unique
homebrewer's tour is for you!
Daily Itinerary:
Thursday,
September 21 - Depart the US, bound for Brussels, Belgium for
the start of our beer pilgrimage.. of sorts.
Friday,
September 22 - Upon arrival in Brussels, check into our hotel
just steps from the Grand Place. Meet this afternoon for a guided
walking tour/cafe crawl en route to our welcome beer dinner.
Overnight in Brussels.
Saturday,
September 23 -This morning, we'll start at the beginning of beer,
with a visit to Cantillon - a very traditional lambic brewer in the
Anderlecht part of Brussels. We'll tour their brewery/working museum,
learn the finer points of lambic brewing, taste all of the beers they
have available and enjoy lunch in their tasting room. The afternoon
and evening are free to explore Brussels many fine beer cafes. Overnight
in Brussels.
 Sunday,
September 24 - Today we wake in Brussels and sleep in Brugge,
and the day will be devoted to lambic's close cousins, gueze and kriek.
We will learn all about the art of blending and tasting lambic characteristics
from two devoted blenders, with visits to 3 Fonteinen and De Cam.
We will also enjoy a fine lunch of traditional Payottenland fare.
This evening we will check into our hotel in the heart of historic
Brugge. Overnight in Brugge.
Monday,
September 25 - A full day to enjoy Brugge, starting with a short
guided walking tour this morning. Nothing is planned for the afternoon,
but countless beer cafes and cultural attractions are worthy of exploring.
Tonight we'll enjoy a gourmet beer dinner featuring seasonal and regional
cuisine. Overnight in Brugge
Tuesday,
September 26 - We drive very close to the French Border today
ending up in Tournai, a classic Belgian city with few tourists and
a couple of fine beer cafes. Along the way we'll stop to visit (and
likely assist the brewer) Abbaye des Rocs and Blaugies, two farmhouse
style brewers with great vision and excellent beers. We'll spend plenty
of time seeing the breweries and tasting the beers, with a lunch along
the way. Evening arrival in Tournai. Overnight in Tournai.
Wednesday,
September 27 - A short guided tour of Tournai this morning, before
we travel the short way to a fine cluster of three breweries in a
15 mile radius -- Dupont, Bush, and Vapeur. We'll tour and taste,
and see brewery operations from the brewers perspective. Our last
stop, Brasserie Vapeur , will host our dinner of fine local fare.
Overnight in Tournai.
 Thursday,
September 28 -This morning is free to explore Tournai before our
early afternoon departure to Orval, and the eventually the town of
Bouillon, perched on the Semois river with its scenic chateau. Overnight
in Bouillon.
Friday,
September 29 - Today is completely free to enjoy this beautiful
small town. The chateau is definitely worth a visit and there is a
local brewery and couple of good cafes with fine beer lists. Overnight
in Bouillon.
Saturday,
September 30 - Today we move on to Brussels, but first we'll visit
one of Belgium's great small beer festivals -- the Brassigaume featuring
many small, fine and emerging breweries as well as local foods. Evening
return to Brussels where we'll check in to the hotel and regather
for our farewell dinner.
Overnight in Brussels.
Sunday,
October 1 - Alas, we must leave beer heaven. Brussels Zaventem
International Airport, is served by a variety of transfer options
including a very convenient rail transfer.
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Beer & Trip Highlights
* A huge variety of styles to
explore enjoy, and learn how to brew.
* Special Homebrewer events:
Gueze Blending "seminar", brew day visits to smaller breweries,
with opportunities assist the host brewer
Brewery/Tap Room Visits to: Cantillon,
3 Fonteinen, Abbaye des Rocs, Blaugies. Dupont, Bush, Vapeur, and
Orval.
* Overnight stays in Brussels,
perfectly preserved Brugge, lesser-known Tournai, and Bouillon with
its medieval chateau fort.
* The "Brassigaume"
micro-brewery festival in Rulles, featuring many great, small
breweries
* Our Beer Bus - a traveling
tasting room of local products and flavors of all types* Good folks
to travel with and share the adventure!
Land
Cost
$2495
per person, double occupancy
$565
single room supplement
Trip
Price Includes
9 nights accommodation in fine, centrally
located hotels; travel by private coach, rail and public transportation;
brewery visits, beer tasting, entrance fees and tours as outlined in
the itinerary; all breakfasts, 4 lunches, dinners; and trip leadership.
Airfare
is not included in the trip price.
Travel
Details
Air Travel
is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards,
travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad
to make the most out of the trip. Please contact us to inquire about
low fares from your city. Please confirm the trip's operation before
purchasing air tickets.
The trip
officially begins at the first hotel, specific details including
a map to the hotel, regional information and a detailed will be included
with your trip documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the
trip.
How we
get around: For all included excursions and visits, transportation
will be included as well. Within the cities, we will rely on walking
and public transportation. Travel between city and city will be done
in our private motor coach and/or by rail.
For
Registration and Policies & Details: Click
Here. |
