Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours

forthcoming tours

Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours was founded by Podge, aka Chris Pollard in 1994 and is now run by his wife, co-beer-writer and co-traveller for thirty years, Siobhan McGinn. Podge was famous for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Belgian beers, breweries and culture, but Siobhan was never far behind him. On a recent Tour one traveller was overheard saying to a fellow traveller ‘Siobhan – she knows her stuff’. She and Podge travelled in Belgium for almost thirty years, first alone, then with Tours and visited hundreds of Belgian breweries and probably thousands of cafes.

Podge & Siobhan at Leuven Innovation Festival 2016.

As well as a Belgian beer expert, Siobhan is a historian and an expert on beer in the First World War in Flanders. She has a Master’s degree from Birmingham University in First World War Studies (2014). Siobhan personally conducts each Tour and loves to tell travellers on the coach microphone about Belgian culture, cow breeds, Flemish dog carts and the meaning of obscure Flemish road signs. Given that Siobhan also has a degree in English Law, another two Masters degrees in Victorian Studies and English Literature and is an Egyptologist, she is rarely short of subjects to talk about! You need a vacation. You need a beer. You need a beercation. Come and join us on one of the following great tours. We have pick up and drop off points in Suffolk, Essex and Kent as can be viewed on our joining points for Podge's Belgian Beer Tours Map.

Christmas in Oostende 2026

Wednesday 23 December - Sunday 27 December 2026

This five day, four night Tour is based at the luxury four star Hotel Cocoon**** in Oostende. We will manage to fit in a brewery visit or two, some great meals in top beer/restaurants and plenty of visits to interesting cafes across the coastal region. All from the comfort of our luxury 49 seater coach.Join us. Read more.

The Black Beer Tour 2027

Wednesday 10 March – Sunday 14 March 2027

This is a five day, four night Tour based at the luxury four star Hotel Van der Valk in Mechelen, a five minute walk from the Het Anker Brewery and Tap. This is a unique beer Tour focussing on Belgian Dark Beers. Join us. Read more.

Beer & Monasteries Tour 2027

Wednesday 12 May – Sunday 16 May 2027

This five day, four night Tour is based at the Hotel Monasterium PoortAckere in central Gent which is only an 8-minute walk from the great beer café Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant on the River Leie (Fr. Lys). This Tour is all about Belgian beers with religious connections. Join us. Read more.

Beer by the Seaside 2027

Wednesday 16 June - Sunday 20 June 2027

This five day, four night Tour is based in Blankenberg on the Belgian Coast, a lovely coastal resort with the only pleasure pier on the whole coast. This Tour is all about having fun with Belgian beer all along the 42 mile Belgian coast. Of course we will visit the Beer By The Sea Festival in Middelkerke and have a chance to ride on the longest tram in the world, the incomparable Belgian Coastal Tram! Get your flip flops on - we're going in! Join us. Read more.

Beer on the Sambre-Meuse (The Wallonian River Tour)

Wednesday 08 September - Sunday 12 September 2027

This five day, four night beer tour is based in Namur, the capital of Wallonia. This picturesque city with its citadel and Merovingian castle perched on top of limestone cliffs is nestled at the join of the two mighty rivers in Belgium, the Sambre and the Meuse, the theme for this beer tour. We are based at Hotel Ibis Namur Centre, nice and handy for the beer cafes in town. This Tour combines the beers of Wallonia with the two rivers which dominate this pretty area – the Sambre-Meuse Valleys. We will explore the breweries, beer cafes, towns and villages in this lovely area of Belgium. Join us. Read more.

Questions?

Questions?

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Tour archive

Browse past tours here. You can also browse previous tours on our old website here.