Friday 29th April to Monday 2nd May 2011
This is a three night/four day tour taking in the biennial Toer de Gueuze. The lambic world has certainly not shrunk since we wrote the first edition of LambicLand in 2004. Indeed it is alive and well as you can witness at this great lambic-fest, armed with our new, completely updated edition of LambicLand, just out. We will be based at the luxury four star Hotel Keizershof**** in the well beer-stocked city of Aalst, perfectly situated for exploring the Payottenland. This special tour will include several meals and many beers, including a Lambic beer at each stop on the Sunday Toer de Geuze. On the first day of this Tour is we have a special visit to the top ranking De Ranke Brewery in Dottignes planned and we have just been especially invited to a pre-opening visit to the brand new Brouwerij Dilewyns in Dendermonde, producers of the award winning Vicaris beers. On the Saturday we will have visits and beer tastings at the small, but perfectly formed Den Tseut Brewery at Eeklo, the great Van Steenberge Brewery at Ertvelde and our old friends at the bijou Glazen Toren Brewery in Erpe-Mere. Inclusive in the tour price is a fantastic all you can eat Breughel Buffet of local delicacies at the Bierkamer in Kluizen and an evenings guided Pub crawl around the great drinking city of Aalst, with the first beer included. On the Sunday we embark, by coach, on the Toer de Geuze. On this special day these breweries and blenders open their doors to the lambic-loving public. There is an opportunity to have a look around each brewery plus sample some of their brews. We will be visiting nine brewery/blender members of HORAL (High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers) with a beer at each included in the tour price:-
- 3 Fonteinen, Beersel
- Brouwerij Boon, Lembeek
- Geuzestekerij De Cam, Gooik
- De Troch, Wambeek
- Geuzestekerij Hanssens, Dworp
- Lindemans, Vlezenbeek
- Mort Subite, Kobbegem
- Oud Beersel, Beersel
- Timmermans, Itterbeek
This fantastic lambic day will be rounded off with a full beer cuisine meal, included in the tour price, at the world-famous beer cuisine specialists Heeren Van Liederkercke in Denderleew. The good news is that due to the Royal Wedding the Friday we go out is now a Bank Holiday – and so is the Monday so you won’t need a day off work to go on this tour!
We will use a luxury coach throughout the Tour. Included in the price are coach travel from Colchester or Chelmsford in Essex, plus selected other joining points in Kent on the way to the coast, still and sparkling water on the coach, hotel breakfasts on Tour plus any/all items marked with an asterisk above. Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way from Colchester 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 which is available online, by phone or via the Post Office.
The price of this four day tour is £375 per person based on sharing a twin or double room, with a single supplement of £90 if you want a room of your own. Details of visits on this tour are still being arranged. If you would like to book a place please contact us now and send a deposit of £100 per person. The balance is due five weeks before departure. If you need more information on the tour or how to book and pay, please call Podge on +44(0)1245 354677, or send Podge an email.
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