Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November 2009.
This four day tour is based at the ever-popular luxurious four star Hotel Keizershof in central Aalst, one of the most attractive drinking towns in Belgium. All travellers on this tour will receive a copy of Podge’s Aalst Bar Guide, which includes over twenty recommended bars, cafes and restaurants.
Beer tasting at the new Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, West Flanders, Belgium.
Day 2 | Saturday
After our SeaFrance ferry crossing to Calais, we take up the invite from those really nice guys at Struise Brewery to attend the opening of their brand new brewery in Vleteren. This converted school will not only house their micro-brewery, but will also be home to the Oakroom (for ageing beers), the Struise beershop, for those bottled takeaways and the Pannepot Café Tasting room, where we can sample some of their beers and have one of Urbain’s hearty meals. We also call in on Den Eirekluts (‘The Scambled Egg’) in Serskamp, for a crack at their 140 plus beer menu and an afternoon pancake.
Brewery visit to Liefmans Brewery, Oudenaarde, East Flanders, Belgium.
Day 2 | Saturday
After a late start to take in the tremendous Aalst market, which surrounds our hotel, we travel to Zottegem to explore the town and its bars. We have a chance to buy beer from the now defunct Crombe Brewery and visit their small but perfectly formed brewery tap. In the afternoon, we have an appointment with the Liefmans Brewery in Oudenaarde. This is our first visit to the brewery since it came under new ownership, and it should be interesting to see what changes have occurred. The coach will then take us to Geraardsbergen; home of the Maatentaart, for an evening’s eating and drinking in its many quality bars.
‘T Brouwershof Zottegem next to the disuded Crombe Brewery, Zottegem, Belgium.
Enjoying a beer in ‘T Brouwershof, Zottegem, Belgium.
Day 3 | Sunday
Today will be devoted entirely to Bruges, where we will make a full days visit at the time of the superb Third Bruges Beer Festival which takes place under the historic belfry and this year features over 60 breweries with more than 200 beers to sample.
Cafe Nieuwege, Varsenare, West Flanders Belgium.
Enjoying the new St Feuillien Saison beer at Cafe Nieuwege, Varsenare, West Flanders, Belgium.
Day 4 | Monday
First visit of the day is to our friends at Dranken Geers in Oostakker to load up with beers to take home. We then we make our way to Ruddervoorde and the De Leite brewery, which also houses an art exposition. Here we will taste this relative newcomer’s two beers, Femme Fatale and Bon Homme. We then make our way to our last stop before the ferry at Bistro Nieuwege in Varsenare for our pre-booked food and a few beers from their 70+ menu.
Beer tasting at De Leite Brewery, Ruddervoorde, West Flanders, Belgium.
All above times are local and approximate. Food, drink, passport and insurance costs are your responsibility. We will try to make the cost of as many as possible of the items marked* inclusive of the tour price but some may cost extra.
