Podge on Beer

Tour dates for 2012

These tours are now ready for booking, so come and join us!

Tour 60 | Beer & Heritage 2012
Friday 24 August - Monday 27 August 2012.

Tour 61 | Abbey Beer Pilgrimage 2012
Friday 20 September - Monday 24 September 2012.

Tour 62 |  Christmas in Bruges 2012
Saturday 22 December - Wednesday 26 December 2012.
 Podge's Belgian Beer Tours at Rochfort Monastery & Brewery

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Tour 59 | Beer & Battlefields 2012

 

Thursday 3 May to Monday 7 May 2012 - 5 Day Tour

This will be our third Beer & Battlefields Tour. This year we return to the friendly Oude Abdij Hotel in Lo, which was one of the many Belgian breweries destroyed in the First World War. This Tour will centre on battlefields and breweries in the Ypres Salient in Flanders and will as usual include visits to well known and some less well known sites. We will have the services of Siobhan McGinn as our guide to Flanders Fields, and this year Siobhan will share her current interests in Tanks in Flanders and the Zeebrugge Raid 1918.

St Louis Brewery Lo. Destroyed in WW1 and now the site of our hotel on tour! Photo from "Bier aan het Ijzerfront " by Frank Becuwe. 2009. De Klaproos: Brugge.  Book available from De Snoek.

Thursday

• Outbound Eurotunnel on Thursday 09.20hr
• Full guided tour*, beer* and lunch* at the Museum of Thirst in The Great War at Alveringem, which has recently re-opened.
• Afternoon brewery tour* and beer tasting* at Van Eecke Brewery in Watou.
  Snoek Bier

• Check in at Oude Abdij Hotel for an evening meal.
• The bar at our hotel will not only be stocking excellent beers from local breweries Sint Bernardus &  Van Eecke but there may be a surprise or two as well.
• An evening introductory illustrated talk by Siobhan on the progress of WW1 in the Ypres Salient, to orient Travellers in the history and geography of WW1 in this area.*  

Friday

• Morning visit to National Hop Museum in Poperinge for an full tour* and an included Hommelbier*.
• Lunch in Poperinge.
• Siobhan will be giving an illustrated talk* after lunch on Beer in WW1, including what happened to beer in UK and in Belgium and the fate of Breweries in the German occupied area and the fortunes of those in the Allied held area.
• A visit to Elzenwalle Brewery Cemetery CWGC, named after a brewery which stood opposite in WW1 to hear about one of the Sherwood Foresters buried there, a relative of one of our Travellers.
• Stop at the excellent Vanuxeem beer warehouse to buy beers to take home.
• A guided walk* round the infamous Ploegsteert Wood.
• For the first time we will be visiting the imposing Ploegsteert Memorial for the monthly Last Post Ceremony held on first Friday of every month.  
• A visit to L’Auberge café for a beer or two chosen from a menu that includes all the beers from the Moortgat Brewery Empire. The café is directly opposite the imposing Ploegsteert Memorial.
• Evening free in Poperinge, armed with a copy of Podge's Poperinge Bar Guide*.   
  Hommelbier                                              Ploegsteert Memorial
  

Saturday

• In the morning we follow the journey which the famous Mark IV tank  F41 Fray Bentos took from Oosthoek Wood to Gallipoli Farm on 22 August 1917 to the spot where it ditched. We will hear from Siobhan the amazing story of the men who held out in for 3 days in the tank as an isolated pillbox in no-mans.  
• Visit to Tyne Cot CWGC, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world. We will hear from Siobhan the strategic part this hill had to play in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passendaele) and have a look at the German bunkers built into the cemetery, and hear what it cost to take them in November 1917. 
• Lunch at De Reutel, right on the old front line. Plenty of beers at this great little cafe.
• Call in at Poelcapelle where we visit the new Tank Memorial placed on the spot where D Battalion tank D29 Damon II went out of action and sat in the centre of the village outside the Zwaan Café as seen in WW1 photos. The cafe is still there (need it be said that we will be popping in for refreshment). The Tank memorial is next to one of the most beautiful personal memorials in the Salient, the Stork Monument to French Flying Ace Georges Guynemer, shot down near this spot.
• We are delighted to announce that Johan Vanbeselaere will be meeting us at Poelcapelle. Johan lives in Poelcapelle and is an expert on Tanks in the Ypres salient. He will talk to us about tank action in Poelcapelle, show us his unique collection of photographs and bits of tank he has dug up! His piece de resistance and long-term project is to build a full size replica tank to be placed in the centre of Poelcapelle. Johan will show us how this project is progressing together with the full size replica he has built of Georges Guynemer’s Spad plane!
• We will also have a look at the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient recently placed in the centre of Poelcapelle.
• Evening free in Ieper and an opportunity to attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menem Gate which has taken place at 20.00hrs every night since the Menen Gate was built. Copies of Podge's Ieper Bar Guide* and map will be provided.               
  Mark IV D29 Damon II Tank at Poelcapelle, now the location of the Tank Memorial. De Zwaan cafe in the background still stands.

Sunday

• Morning visit to Vladslo German Military Cemetery which houses the emotionally charged statues created by German sculptor Käthe Kollwitz for her son who is buried there.
• A visit to the extraordinary preserved Belgian Army trenches at Dixmuide, known in WW1 and now as the Dodengang (Trenches of Death). The museum and trenches tell the story of how the Belgian Army fiercely defended this area of Belgium for 4 years against the Germans whose trenches were only feet away.
• Included in the Tour price is lunch* and a beer* at the Dodengang Café.
• An afternoon brewery tour* and beer tasting* at the legendary  De Dolle Brouwers in Esen.
• Visit to Lange Max Museum* in Koekelare to see the installation of the huge German naval gun used in WW1 with a 29 mile range.
• Call in at De Inktpot café in Koekelare (in a former WW1 brewery) for a local Couckelaerschen Doedel beer* included in the Tour price.
• Evenings free in Veurne, armed with a copy of Podge's Veurne Bar Guide*.                
  Costenoble Brewery, Esen c.1910 ...now De Dolle Browers, Esen 

Monday

• This morning  Siobhan will be sharing her interest in the little known Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids of 1918.
• First we go to Zeebrugge and the infamous Mole (sea wall) and follow the story of the incredible Zeebrugge Raid on St Georges Day 1918, and the role of the Mersey Steamers Iris & Daffodil, the amazing success of Submarine C3 and the limited successes of the block ships HMS Thetis, Intrepid and Iphigenia.
• We go to nearby Zeebrugge Churchyard to follow the fate of one brave individual amongst many, missing officer Frank Brock who was last seen on the Mole fighting Germans with his fists. We have a look at the memorial to him.
• We then move down the coast to see the prow of HMS Vindictive where it rests in Ostend and hear its fate from the first daring raid at Zeebrugge to its role in the Second Ostend Raid. 
• Lunch is at top beer cuisine restaurant Bistronoom in Ostende.
• Time for a few last beers of the tour at superb new beer cafe Toogoloog in Middelkerke.
• Inbound Eurotunnel on Monday 19.50hr. HMS Vindictive after the Zeebrugge Raid 23 April 1918

If any Travellers have special requests to see particular sites or memorials in the Ypres Salient linked to family members, please let us know and we may be able to accommodate them within the Tour. To see itineraries and photos from our previous two Beer & Battlefields Tours have a look in our Tour Archives for 2010 and 2011. 

Included in the cost of this Tour are:

• Hotel accommodation and breakfasts.
• Luxury coach travel on a 49 seater coach with toilet.
• Pick up from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway Chapel St South Layby) or Chelmsford (The Woolpack, Mildmay Road). Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way to Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel.  
• All Brewery visits, tours and brewery beer tastings.
• Entrance fees to attractions, museums and historical sites.
• All other items marked with an asterisk on the individual detailed tour itinerary.
• Copies of Podge’s City Bar guide and Map for the town or city where we stay or spend some time on Tour.
• Free still and sparkling water on the coach.

Tour Price: Held at last year's prices! £420 per person based on sharing in a twin or double room.

Single Supplement: Held at last year's prices! £120. If you are travelling alone and want to share a room with another traveller please contact Podge as we are regularly able to pair up travellers in twin rooms to avoid the need for payments of Single Supplements.

 

 All detailed itinerary times are local and approximate. All food and drink (apart from those marked with an asterisk on the detailed itinerary) and all passport and insurance costs are each traveller's responsibility. Personal insurance is not included in the Tour price, but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office. 

 

Podge’s Mons Bar Guide

View Podge's Mons Bar Guide in a larger map

Tour 58 | Best of Belgian Beer Tour 2012

Thursday 1 March to Mon 5 March 2012 - 5 Day Tour

This superb Tour is an opportunity to taste some of the best beers from the greatest brewing country in the world. This trip is for both beginners and experienced beer travellers alike. The five-day Tour is based at the fantastic four star Hotel Keizershof in the centre of the beery town of Aalst.

Thursday 1 March 2012

05.15hr    Coach pick up at Crown Street Layby, Ipswich.

05.45hr    Coach pick up Southway Layby, Colchester.  

06.15hr    Coach pick up  The Woolpack, Mildmay Road, Chelmsford.

06.50hr    Coach pick up Dartford Service Station, 474 Princes Rd, Dartford.  

07.00hr   Coach pick up 7 Mays Siding, London Rd, Swanley, Kent.

07.50hr    Pick up at Stop 24, J11, M20, Kent.

09.20hr    Eurotunnel Train Crossing from Folkestone.

11.00hr    Arrive Calais.

12.00hr    Call in for a beer* with our friends at the award-winning Struise Brewery recently voted on Ratebeer as brewing 9 of the Top 100 Best Beers in Belgium. 

13.30hr    Lunch is at ‘t Rusteel in Gullegem, home of the tiny Gulden Spoor Brewery and one of the best restaurants in West Flanders. Here we have an opportunity to eat and enjoy a beer from their excellent 300+ beer menu that includes their own Netebuk beer and others. They have a very attractive terrace and garden – keep an eye open for the Llamas.

16.30hr    We pay a visit to world-famous beer cuisine restaurant and bar Heeren van Liedekercke in Denderleeuw. We will have an opportunity to sample some great brews from their beer list, which also has over 300 beers.

19.00hr    Arrive at the luxury four star Keizershof Hotel in the centre of Aalst. Information about the excellent bars of Aalst will be provided by way of an updated Podge’s Aalst Bar Guide* and map.

 

Rodenbach Brewery, Roeselare   Dubuisson Brewery, Pipaix

Friday 2nd March 2012

10.00hr   Depart by coach from Keizershof Hotel, Aalst.

11.15hr    Our first brewery visit of the day takes us to the outstanding Brasserie Dupont in Tourpes, which dates 1844 and is situated within an old farm. Their original beer is Saison brewed in the winter, to be drunk in the following summer by the field workers. Their current beers include Saison Dupont and Moinette Blonde  and a range of organic beers in their Bio range. We will have a Tour* and tasting*.

13.45hr    We arrive at Brasserie Dubuisson in Pipaix for our three course “Troll & Bush” meal prepared by the brewery using Dubuisson beers. This is followed by a guided full “Prestige” Tour* of the brewery and cellars with the oak vats for maturation of Bush Prestige. After the tour we go to the tasting room and sample their Cuvée des Trolls 7%*, Bush Blonde 10.5%* Bush Ambrée 12%* and finally their premier beer, Bush Prestige 13%*, as well as a gift of a ‘Bush’ glass*.

17.30hr    Call in at the brand new tavern attached to Brasserie Ellezelloise in Ellezelles for an opportunity to taste their range of five beers, including the famous Hercule Stout 9%.

19.30hr    We pay a visit to In Den Doorn Slaghmuylder’s flagship hostelry in Ninove. Here we have a chance to experience their Bier Cusine of Flemish Stew made with Belgian blue beef in a sauce prepared with Witkap Pater Dubbel, served with Frites and Vegetables. We will be able to try the full range of beers form the Slaghmuylder Brewery, including hopefully the seasonal Easter Beer, Slaghmuylder’s Paasbier 5.2%.

22.00ish   Return to Keizershof Hotel Aalst.

  

Struise Brewers, Oostvleteren     St Sixtus Abbey, Westvleteren  

Saturday 3rd March 2012

09.45hr    Slightly earlier start to get us to Brussels and the:         

10.45hr   Cantillon Public Brewing Session where we will have a guided tour* of the brewery in action, including a look at the lambic barrels used for maturing in this historic brewery based in the heart of Brussels, followed by a beer*.

13.15hr   Arrive at Alvinne Craft Beer Festival at their brand new brewery in Moen. This festival uniquely features some of the top brewers in Europe with an emphasis on quality UK craft breweries listed below: 

• Brouwerij Alvinne (Belgium)
• Struise Brouwers (Belgium)
• H.Ertie geuzesteker & lambic selection (Germany/Belgium)
• Brouwerij De Molen (Netherlands)
• Brouwerij Emelisse (Netherlands)
• Fano Bryghus (Denmark)
• Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
• Hair of the Dog (USA)
• Thornbridge (UK)
• Marble (UK)
• Dark Star (UK)
• Hawkshead (UK)
• London Brewers Alliance (UK)
• Twickenham Fine Ales (UK)
• Brew Wharf (UK)
• Redemption (UK)

16.30hr   Call in at Brouwerij ‘t Gaverhopke for a Gaverbroodje (a giant flatbread sandwich) and a chance to try some of their beers. Their Bruin 12 has been favourably compared to Westvleteren 12.

18.00hr   Arrive at Den Hert café in Vichte for a beer* or two. This is the brewery tap for Brouwerij Verhaeghe the historic family brewers who make the iconic Flemish Brown beer Duchesse de Bourgogne and the real cherry beer Echte Kriek. This café is a proper Flemish bar offering all the breweries beers and set next-door to the beautiful moated Verhaeghe family seat.

19.30hr   Pop in for a Cnudde Bruin* or two at the unpretentious Café Casino in Eine, the Cnudde Brewery tap.

21.00hr   Arrive back at Keizershof Hotel Aalst.

  

Quintine Blonde, Ellezelles      't Rusteel, Gullegem  

Sunday 4th March 2012

10.00hr  Depart by coach from Hotel Keizershof Aalst.

10.45hr  Stop at the friendly ABS Winksele beer warehouse to buy beers to take back to UK at great prices.

12.15hr  Call in at Brasserie Brouwershof, the Haacht Brewery Tap for a taste of the unfiltered Primus Yeast Beer, sent from the lower tank in the impressive Haacht Brewery over the road.

13.30hr  Lunch stop for our pre-booked beer cuisine meal at Het Anker Brasserie Mechelen, brewery tap for the mighty Het Anker Brewery. Here you can sample their beers from the Gouden Carolus Range, Lucifer and Maneblusser on draught and if we are lucky maybe some of their huge 10% Easter Beer. 

16.30hr  Pay a visit to café In de Linde at Vlezenbeek where they have a huge beer menu which includes lots of lambics, all available Trappists and nine beers on draught.

18.00hr  Drop in at the fantastic In de Verzekering Tegen de Grote Dorst a café run by the lambic campaigning Paneel’s family, who are kindly opening especially for us. They have a superb collection of Lambic beers including some aged beers from the long defunct Eylenbosch Brewery down the road in Schepdaal.

20.00hr   Arrive back at Keizershof Hotel Aalst.

  

Gouden Carolus, Het Anker     Cantillon Brewery, Brussels   

Monday 5th March 

10.00hr   Depart Hotel Keizershof Aalst.

11.00hr   Arrive at the great Rodenbach Brewery makers of the definitive Flemish Bruin beers. We will have a full guided tour* of this beautiful brewery including a walk round the malt kiln which is a listed building and the impressive cathedral of 294 giant oak vats ("foeders") and see the repair of these wooden giants in situ. During the tour, we hear about the illustrious members of the Rodenbach family who helped shape the history of Belgium and learn what makes Rodenbach beers unique. We will also have a tasting of Rodenbach* and Rodenbach Grand Cru*.

13.30hr   We make our way to the famous Sint Sixtus Abbey at Westvleteren and their café In de Vrede for a taste of their unparalleled Trappist Westvleteren 12, (bruin 10.6%), Trappist Westvleteren 8 (bruin 8%), Trappist Westvleteren Blond (blond 5.8%). This is the perfect opportunity to get some lunch from their tasty menu.

15.30hr   Make our way to the uitstekend Sint Bernardus Brewery on the outskirts of Watou for a brewery tour* and full beer tasting* in their smart new beer tasting room, overlooking the hop fields. We will each be given a substantial take home pack of beers and glass*.

18.50hr   Arrive Eurotunnel.

19.50hr    Leave Calais on Eurotunnel Train.

19.30hr    Arrive Folkestone.

19.45hr    Drop off at Stop 24, J11, M20, Kent. 

20.30hr    Drop off 7 Mays Siding, London Rd, Swanley, Kent. 

20.45hr    Drop off Dartford Railway Station.

21.30hr    Arrive Chelmsford, drop off at Mildmay Road.

22.00hr    Arrive Colchester, drop off.

22.30hr    Arrive Ipswich, drop off. 

 

Included in the cost of this Tour are:

• Hotel accommodation and breakfasts.
• Luxury coach travel on a 49 seater coach with toilet.
• Pick up from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway Chapel St South Layby) or Chelmsford (The Woolpack, Mildmay Road). Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way to Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel.  
• All Brewery visits, tours and brewery beer tastings.
• Entrance fees to attractions, museums and historical sites.
• All other items marked with an asterisk on the individual detailed tour itinerary.
• Copies of Podge’s City Bar guide and Map for the town or city where we stay or spend some time on Tour.
• Free still and sparkling water on the coach.

Tour Price:   £420 per person based on sharing in a twin or double room.

Single Supplement:   £120. If you are travelling alone and want to share a room with another traveller please contact Podge as we are regularly able to pair up travellers in twin rooms to avoid the need for payments of Single Supplements.

 

 All detailed itinerary times are local and approximate. All food and drink (apart from those marked with an asterisk on the detailed itinerary) and all passport and insurance costs are each traveller's responsibility. Personal insurance is not included in the Tour price, but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office. 

Tour 61 | Abbey Beer Pilgrimage 2012

Thursday 20th September - Monday 24th September 2012

5 Day Tour

We are pleased to announce a new themed Tour which explores the authentic Abbey beers of Belgium. In 1999 a Certified Belgian Abbey Beer (Erkend Belgisch Abdijbier) logo was introduced by the Union of Belgian Brewers. This is awarded and can be used on the labels of beers which comply with certain conditions including links with an existing or former abbey and payment of royalties for charitable purposes to the abbey.

We will aim to visit various locations associated with these beers to give Travellers a unique opportunity to attempt to try most or all of the "Erkend" Abbey beers of Belgium. We will be visiting some of the Breweries where they are brewed, some of the associated Abbeys and some other historic settings linked to the beer. Siobhan McGinn will be our guide to the historical and cultural elements of this Tour including sorting your Cistercians from your Benedictines, whilst on the beer front Podge will sort out your Dubbels from your Tripels. The first two nights Hotel accommodation will be in Wallonia at the centrally located Ibis Namur Centre Hotel followed by two nights in Flanders at Novotel Mechelen Centrum Hotel. Details of this Tour are still being worked on, but the following visits have been organised:

•  A meal and a beer at Gasterie Ten Duinen, the estaminet associated with the Ten Duinen Abbey in Koksijde.
• A tour and tasting at Brasserie de Brunehaut, brewers of the Saint Martin range of beers and maybe a taste of their new Abbaye de Saint-Martin Quadrupel beer if it's ready.
• A visit, tasting and meal at Val de Sambre  brewery which nestles in the heart of the Aulne Abbey.
• A visit to Abbaye Maredsous for a taste of the Maredsous beer range. 
• A snack and some beers at the Tournebride Taverne in the grounds of the Abbaye de Bon-Esperance.
• A brewery tour and beer tasting at St Feuillien in Le Roeulx which is currently in the process of having a new brewery built on their existing site.

We aim to visit and sample most of Belgium's true or "Erkend" Abbey beers in either brewery or Abbey settings.  Siobhan McGinn will be our guide to the historical elements of this Tour including   sorting your Cistercians from your Benedictines, whilst on the beer front Podge will sort out your Dubbels from your Tripels. The first two nights will be spent in Wallonia in the centraly located Ibis Namur Centre Hotel followed by two nights in Flanders at  Novotel Mechelen Centrum Hotel.

 More details on price and itinerary will follow soon. Included in the cost of this Tour are: 

• Hotel accommodation and breakfasts.
• Luxury coach travel on a 49 seater coach with toilet.
• Pick up from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway Chapel St South Layby) or Chelmsford (The Woolpack, Mildmay Road). Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way to Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel.  
• All Brewery visits, tours and brewery beer tastings.
• Entrance fees to attractions, museums and historical sites.
• All other items marked with an asterisk on the individual detailed tour itinerary.
• Copies of Podge’s City Bar guide and Map for the town or city where we stay or spend some time on Tour.
• Free still and sparkling water on the coach.

Tour Price:  To be issued in early 2012. Tour Price is based on sharing in a twin or double room.

Single Supplement: To be issued in early 2012. If you are travelling alone and want to share a room with another traveller please contact Podge as we are regularly able to pair up travellers in twin rooms to avoid the need for payments of Single Supplements.

 

All detailed itinerary times are local and approximate. All food and drink (apart from those marked with an asterisk on the detailed itinerary) and all passport and insurance costs are each traveller's responsibility. Personal insurance is not included in the Tour price, but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.  If you would like to join us or have any questions please call Podge on 01245 354677 or send Podge an email. Please also contact Podge to get details of how to send a deposit of £100 per person for this Tour. Full balance payable 5 weeks before departure.

Tour 62 | Christmas in Bruges 2012

Saturday 22 December to Wednesday 26 December 2012  5 Day Tour

We are pleased to announce that oncw again rooms have been secured at Hotel Academie in central Bruges so get the dates in your diary and get your request for leave in! We have already been invited by the Waregem branch of Zythos to their special exhibition of Winter Beers - sounds good! The price of this five day tour will be finalized later in 2012 when we have fully organised and settled the itinerary. To get a feel of Christmas with Podge's Belgian Beer Tours have a look at our previous outings: 

Christmas in Bruges Tour 2009

Christmas in Bruges Tour 2010

Christmas in Bruges Tour 2011
Bruges Ice Wonderland Sculpture Festival 2011 

Included in the cost of this Tour are:

• Hotel accommodation and breakfasts.
• Luxury coach travel on a 49 seater coach with toilet.
• Pick up from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway Chapel St South Layby) or Chelmsford (The Woolpack, Mildmay Road). Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way to Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel.  
• All Brewery visits, tours and brewery beer tastings.
• Entrance fees to attractions, museums and historical sites.
• All other items marked with an asterisk on the individual detailed tour itinerary.
• Copies of Podge’s City Bar guide and Map for the town or city where we stay or spend some time on Tour.
• Free still and sparkling water on the coach.

Tour Price:  To be issued later in 2012. Tour Price based on sharing in a twin or double room.

Single Supplement:    To be issued later in 2012. If you are travelling alone and want to share a room with another traveller please contact Podge as we are regularly able to pair up travellers in twin rooms to avoid the need for payments of Single Supplements.

 

 All detailed itinerary times are local and approximate. All food and drink (apart from those marked with an asterisk on the detailed itinerary) and all passport and insurance costs are each traveller's responsibility. Personal insurance is not included in the Tour price, but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.  

 

If you would like to join us or have any questions please call Podge on 01245 354677 or send Podge an email. Please also contact Podge to get details of how to send a deposit of £100 per person for this Tour. Full balance payable 5 weeks before departure. 

Podge's Bouillon Bar Guide

View Podge's Bouillon Bar Guide in a larger map

Tour 57 | Bruges Hop Over 2012

Saturday 4 February to Monday 6 February 2012 

This three day, two night Tour takes in the Fifth Bruges Beer Festival and is based in Bruges. We also add in an optional Sunday jaunt in East Flanders to the great Bosteels brewery and a lunch stop in Flanders flower-growing district. Here is the detailed itinerary: 

Bosteels brewery

Saturday 4 February 

05.15hr    Coach pick up at Crown Street Layby, Ipswich. 

05.45hr    Coach pick up Southway Layby, Colchester.

06.15hr    Coach pick up The Woolpack Mildmay Road, Chelmsford.

09.20hr    Eurotunnel Train Crossing from Folkestone.

11.00hr     Arrive Calais.

12.00hr    The first stop will be at ‘t Potje Pate in Alveringem for a superb West Flanders lunch and our first Belgian beer chosen from their excellent beer menu. This is the café outlet for the famous and highly regarded "De Veurn'Ambachtse" pate and charcuterie makers. Owner Jan Missiaen is the fifth generation of fine butchers in this area and is famed for his high quality, handmade pates, Rillette, Potjesvlees, pressed meats and terrines.

14.30hr    Leave on coach for Bruges and the newest hotel in Bruges, a short walk from the centre of Bruges.

15.15hr    Arrive at Bruges Etap Hotel and check in. Copies of Podge’s Top Ten Bruges Bar Guide* and a City Map* will be provided. Afternoon and evening free to explore Bruges Beer Festival which takes place in the Halletoren in the Markt Square and maybe a café or two.

Tour of Bosteels brewery, Buggenhout
Sunday 5 February – Optional included Day Out

10.00hr   Leave Hotel Etap after breakfast and head off by coach for a special brewery tour.

11.00hr   Arrive at Buggenhout and the fantastic Bosteels Brewery, creators of the iconic Kwak, Karmeliet Tripel and Deus beers. We will have a brewery tour* and a beer tasting* in their comfy tasting room.

13.30hr   Call in at the lovely café restaurant Bloemenlust in Wetteren for lunch and a few beers from their superb menu of around 100 beers.

16.30hr   Arrive back in Bruges in plenty of time to enjoy the Bruges Beer Festival which closes at 21.00hr today and/or a wander round the great bars and cafes of Bruges.

Brewer Luc at De Leite brewery, Ruddervoorde
Monday 6 February

10.00hr   Leave Hotel Etap after breakfast. 

10.30hr   Call in at Drankencentrale Rotsaert one of Belgium’s top speciality beer warehouses for an opportunity to buy some specialist beers to take home at great prices.

12.00hr   On the way back to the coast we take in a visit to the bijou De Leite Brewery in Ruddervoorde. Here we have a brief brewery tour* and a beer tasting* which hopefully will include their new beer Ma Mère Spéciale.

14.00hr   Arrive at the friendly Bistro Nieuwege in Varsenare opposite the canal for a cracking pre-ordered Flemish lunch and some great quality beers. Their food is excellent and includes Flemish Beef Stew made with Westmalle Dubbel, Ham Knuckle in Mustard Cream Sauce and the ever delicious Spare Ribs. They also have a great beer list of more than 150, with always something special on draught

16.45hr   Finally on this tour we are delighted to be calling in at an excellent brand new beer café just outside Veurne at Steenkerke. The Kunstemaecker has around 50 beers, all superb quality, no fillers, including eight from Struise Brewers, three De Ranke beers, four Het Anker beers and a good range of lambic beers. They also have two unique beer selling points in West Flanders which is to offer Girardin Lambic on draught which they collect from Girardin themselves and also Valeir Blond on draught.

18.00hr  Leave Kunstemaecker for Eurotunnel, Calais.

19.50hr  Leave Calais on Eurotunnel Train. 

19.30hr  Arrive Folkestone. 

21.15hr   Arrive Chelmsford, drop off at Mildmay Road. 

22.00hr  Arrive Colchester, drop off. 

22.30hr Arrive Ipswich, drop off.

Lunch at Bistro Nieuwege, Varsenare
All above times are local and approximate. Food, drink, passport and insurance costs are your responsibility. The items marked* are inclusive of the tour price. This tour fits in nicely with Chelmsford Winter Beer Festival which starts on Wednesday 1st February 2012. Our map of Central Chelmsford shows the location of the Winter Beer Festival, the Travelodge and The Woolpack, our Chelmsford pick up point for Tours. For those of you coming from out of town there are special deals to be had at Travelodge if you are staying overnight. 

Kwak at Bosteels Brewery Buggenhout 

The price of this three-day tour is £235 per person based on sharing a twin or double room, with a single supplement of £60 if you want a room of your own. Included in the Tour price are coach travel from Ipswich, Colchester or Chelmsford, still and sparkling water available on the coach, hotel breakfasts on Tour and brewery visits and tastings and all items marked with an asterisk. Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway) and Chelmsford (Woolpack, Mildmay Road) to Dover/Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel. Personal insurance is not included but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.

Podge's Poperinge Bar Guide

View Podge's Poperinge Bar Guide in a larger map

Podge's Ieper Bar Guide

View Podge's Ypres Bar Guide in a larger map

Podge's Watou Bar Guide

Brouwershof, Douvieweg 4

Open 10.00 – 22.00. Set next to Van Eecke Brewery, round the corner from Watouplien this brewery tap features most of the brewery’s available beers including Hommelbier and the Kappitel range and beers from the associated Leroy brewery in Boesinge. It is a small, quiet place and has a terrace hidden away from the market which gives a view of the brewery. Under new ownership November 2011. 

De Eendracht, Watouplein 7

Good locals bar serving Watou Wit and other local beers, but probably no food. May still have eccentric spinning dart board.

 ‘t Hommelhof, Watouplein 17

Closed Mon and Tues evening, Wed, Thurs evening, but in Jul and Aug open every. Possibly one of the greatest bier cuisine restaurants in Belgium, run by the fantastic and talented Stefaan . Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours highly recommends this place, and visits as often as possible on Tours.

 ‘t Ovenhuis, Watouplein 1

Sept – July closed Mon evening, Tues, Wed and Thurs evening. 7 July 2012 - Sun 2 Sept 2012 only closed Tues. Annual Holiday Closing 22 Dec 2011 - 11 Jan 2012. Café on the corner of Douvieweg and the main square, just down from Brouwershof. Was previously a bakery, hence the name. Now specializes in the local beers from Watou, namely Van Eecke and St Bernardus. Inside is traditional, with much carved wood. St Bernardus Wit & Triple on tap and the full range in bottles. Also bottles from other breweries outside Watou. Food from bread with goat cheese, steaks, fish stew and rabbit in St Bernardus beer.

Boltra Café St Georges, Watouplein 3

15 April – 14 September open every day except closed Friday until 17.00hrs. 15 September – 14 April closed Thursday daytime until 17.00hrs. New café in town which has a Boltra court for that traditional Flemish bowling game. Food available, but beer list unknown.

Tussen Dag en Morgen, Watouplein 15

1 Apr- 11 Nov Mon – Fri 0900 – 1200 and 1300 - 1700. Sat and Sun 0900 -1200 and 1300 – 1600.  12 Nov – 31 Mar closed Sun. Mainly a restaurant, but has a selection of beers, an outside terrace and they do smaller snacks.

 ‘t Wetshuys, Watouplein 2

15 Apr - 15 Sept open every day except Friday open from 1700. 15 Sept - 15 April closed Mon, Friday open from 1700. Annual Holiday Closing 20/01/2012 to 10/02/2012. Comfy modern café/restaurant housed in the former courthouse of Watou, and you can see the old (17th - 18th century) stone pillory with chains still on the front of the building. Albert Van Eecke, of the local brewery was responsible for the original renovation of this building.  Only around 20 beers, but these include Hommel and St Bernardus Tripel on draught. Snacks and main meal cuisine menu available, including hop and beer cuisine and savoury beer pancakes! 

 

Podge's Veurne Bar Guide

View Podge's Veurne Bar Guide in a larger map

Tour 60 | Beer & Heritage Tour 2012

Friday 24 August - Monday 27 August 2012 - 4 Day Tour 

We have once again secured the services of our friend and Archaeologist, Dave Buckley to act as guide on our popular annual Beer & Heritage Tour. This year we are based in the historic city of Leuven at the luxury Novotel.  Commandery Alden Biesen, Bilzen.

We are still working on the detailed itinerary for this Tour, but here are the highlights of the Tour arrangements so far:

§    A fully guided visit* of the beautiful castle and Commandery Alden Biesen at Bilzen, built by The Teutonic Order of monks who nursed wounded Crusaders.

§    A fully guided tour* of  the Flemish Coal Mining Museum Vlaams Mijnmuseum at Beringen which commenced mining in 1901 and where the last truck of coal came to the surface in 1989. The mine was subsequently turned into this fascinating Museum and visitors are guided round by an ex-miner.

§    An extended visit to Palm Brewery at Steenhuffel. This will include at introductory film*, tour of the brewery*, a look round the famous stud farm for Palm's Brabant Draught Horses at Diepensteyn Castle* and finally a taste of their beers!*. This is followed by a meal at the brewery tap Brouwershuis across the road.

§    A visit to Herkenrode Abbey* with an audio guide in English for their exhibition on the abbey. We will also have a tutored beer tasting* and explanation of Herkenrode beer, we will taste two of their beers* together with a tasting of their Abbey Cheese with herbs*.

§   A visit to the BRAND NEW!  Au Phare Stadsbrouwerij in Tongeren for a Beer tasting and meal. The building of this brand new brewery is still being completed and it is due to open later this month in the centre of this historic City associated with Ambiorix, leader of a tribe of north-eastern Gaul (Gallia Belgica), where modern Belgium is located. He is a national (and local) hero for his stance against Julius Caesar.

§     A visit to the Kunstemaecker just outside Veurne where we will have our first meal after crossing the Belgian border. This is an excellent new find and although they only have around 60 beers available, every one is a cracker. They also have some great beers rarely found in this area, including a draught lambic.

§    A meal and a beer at Het Vijgeblad in Beringen, one of the very best bars in Limburg. Here we will have a beer or two chosen from a menu that has nine on draught and 70 outstanding bottled beers which include some of the best Belgian Geuzes & Krieks.  

   
Herkenrode Tripel Abbey Bier. Belgian National Mine Museum at Beringen. 

Included in the cost of this Tour are:

• Hotel accommodation and breakfasts.
• Luxury coach travel on a 49 seater coach with toilet.
• Pick up from Ipswich (Crown Street Layby), Colchester (Southway Chapel St South Layby) or Chelmsford (The Woolpack, Mildmay Road). Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way to Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel.  
• All Brewery visits, tours and brewery beer tastings.
• Entrance fees to attractions, museums and historical sites.
• All other items marked with an asterisk on the individual detailed tour itinerary.
• Copies of Podge’s City Bar guide and Map for the town or city where we stay or spend some time on Tour.
• Free still and sparkling water on the coach.
  Brabant Draught Horses from Palm Brewery.

Tour Price:  Held at last year's prices!  £380 per person based on sharing in a twin or double room.

Single Supplement: Held at last year's prices!  £94. If you are travelling alone and want to share a room with another traveller please contact Podge as we are regularly able to pair up travellers in twin rooms to avoid the need for payments of Single Supplements.

 All detailed itinerary times are local and approximate. All food and drink (apart from those marked with an asterisk on the detailed itinerary) and all passport and insurance costs are each traveller's responsibility. Personal insurance is not included in the Tour price, but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.  

 

If you would like to join us or have any questions please call Podge on 01245 354677 or send Podge an email. Please also contact Podge to get details of how to send a deposit of £100 per person for this Tour. Full balance payable 5 weeks before departure.