Belgian Beer Festival DO V in BRU, April 25-26, 2015
Feb 5, 2015, 8:48 am
#1
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Belgian Beer Festival DO V in BRU, April 25-26, 2015
It's that time again. A number of us went to BRU over the last few years for the ZBF, the biggest beer festival in Belgium. Belgian beers are considered perhaps the best in the world and we had excellent visits.
ZBF 2015 is coming the last weekend of April: http://www.zbf.be/index.php?lang=UK&page=1 You can see there the amazing beer list from last year. It's in Leuven in an top-notch non-smoking convention hall, a short train/shuttle commute from BRU.
Previous years' threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...27-2014-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...il-2013-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...be-longer.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...rch-1-8-a.html
KMA26 and I are staying at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, very near Luxembourg train station. The management knows us well and has been very hospitable. Walking distance to one of the best frites stands in the city! Rooms as low as 69 Euro on weekends, last I checked. There is a decent-looking Radisson Blu around the corner.
We are going a few days ahead and will likely head west for a bit and visit some breweries and famous beer restaurants/sites. Please consider joining us. Probably the cafe at Westvleteren (many consider the best beer in the world), St. Bernardus (with a great B&B next door), De Struise, and De Heeren van Liedekircke (repeatedly named best beer restaurant in the world; amazing and not to be missed if you have the chance). Google those for details.
The last few years, on the Wednesday before ZBF, there has been held the "Great Belgian Beer Dinner." Spectacular food/beer combos. About 99 Euros, but maybe 8-9 courses and one of the best meals you will ever have. polkacat went in 2013 and told me it lasted 7 hours! I have emailed the organizer to ask whether they will have it this year and am waiting for a response.
Links:
Video 2013 in Dutch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLqXx_iG4I
Video 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqiJlHqWEq4
The following weekend (May 3) is the Toer de Gueuze, where the Belgian breweries specializing in this sour beer have open houses. There are buses that run around.
If you want to try something extra, April 27 in Amsterdam is "King's Day," the annual monarch's birthday festival and it is pretty wild. You can get from BRU to AMS and v.v. by train easily. Several of our previous attendees went to "Queen's Day" in years past. http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/expe...y-in-amsterdam
If you'd like to join us in BRU, or might do so, please comment in this thread. Thanks.
ATTENDING
arollins +3
iflyua2
KMA26
leebailey1958
polkacat
QPProletarian
srletend
toomanybooks
MAYBE
NO, BUT LET ME KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR
nomadic.relief
ZBF 2015 is coming the last weekend of April: http://www.zbf.be/index.php?lang=UK&page=1 You can see there the amazing beer list from last year. It's in Leuven in an top-notch non-smoking convention hall, a short train/shuttle commute from BRU.
Previous years' threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...27-2014-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...il-2013-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...be-longer.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...rch-1-8-a.html
KMA26 and I are staying at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, very near Luxembourg train station. The management knows us well and has been very hospitable. Walking distance to one of the best frites stands in the city! Rooms as low as 69 Euro on weekends, last I checked. There is a decent-looking Radisson Blu around the corner.
We are going a few days ahead and will likely head west for a bit and visit some breweries and famous beer restaurants/sites. Please consider joining us. Probably the cafe at Westvleteren (many consider the best beer in the world), St. Bernardus (with a great B&B next door), De Struise, and De Heeren van Liedekircke (repeatedly named best beer restaurant in the world; amazing and not to be missed if you have the chance). Google those for details.
The last few years, on the Wednesday before ZBF, there has been held the "Great Belgian Beer Dinner." Spectacular food/beer combos. About 99 Euros, but maybe 8-9 courses and one of the best meals you will ever have. polkacat went in 2013 and told me it lasted 7 hours! I have emailed the organizer to ask whether they will have it this year and am waiting for a response.
Links:
Video 2013 in Dutch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLqXx_iG4I
Video 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqiJlHqWEq4
The following weekend (May 3) is the Toer de Gueuze, where the Belgian breweries specializing in this sour beer have open houses. There are buses that run around.
If you want to try something extra, April 27 in Amsterdam is "King's Day," the annual monarch's birthday festival and it is pretty wild. You can get from BRU to AMS and v.v. by train easily. Several of our previous attendees went to "Queen's Day" in years past. http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/expe...y-in-amsterdam
If you'd like to join us in BRU, or might do so, please comment in this thread. Thanks.
ATTENDING
arollins +3
iflyua2
KMA26
leebailey1958
polkacat
QPProletarian
srletend
toomanybooks
MAYBE
NO, BUT LET ME KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR
nomadic.relief
Last edited by toomanybooks; Feb 13, 2015 at 9:38 am
Feb 5, 2015, 10:23 am
#3
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Feb 5, 2015, 6:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
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We are in, and it will be a +2 as our nephew and wife will also come with us.
Arrive 04/23, leave 04/28. Staying at the Blu by Grand Central, close to the main train station.
Arrive 04/23, leave 04/28. Staying at the Blu by Grand Central, close to the main train station.
Feb 6, 2015, 6:00 am
#5
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Feb 7, 2015, 8:09 am
#8
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Feb 7, 2015, 2:22 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Suburban Chicago
Programs: United Mileage Plus; American Advantage; Marriott Rewards; Hilton Honors
Posts: 577
Reservations made -- I am in for this. Arriving Apr 21 - departing Apr 27.
Now it's time for planning pre-ZBF things!
Feb 9, 2015, 10:42 am
#11
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Feb 10, 2015, 11:14 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,120
Ohhh why do "real life" obligations have to get in the way?! This looks like something I'd definitely enjoy (especially with the Queen's Day add-on, took part in one of those celebrations about a decade back in Utrecht and was an absolute blast!), but this year is out for sure - certainly interested for next year!
Feb 10, 2015, 9:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CLL
Programs: CO Pres Plat, then UA Global Services--long expired : (
Posts: 80
IST 20 Apr - 22 Apr
Bruges 23 Apr - 24 Apr
BRU 24 Apr - 27 Apr
Park Inn Leuven for 25 Apr, but not sure if I'll keep it
Marriott and Ren in BRU
All subject to change depending on what else is happening!
Feb 11, 2015, 5:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD based - All opinions expressed on this forum are my own and in no way represent the views of United Airlines or its affiliates.
Programs: Hilton Gold
Posts: 689
I am coming with 4 friends, 3 of whom work up in the Ivory Tower
We are staying at the Renaissance as well, arriving on 4/24. We are going to Springfest in Munich from the 21-24. Hope to able to meet up with all of you!
Sue
We are staying at the Renaissance as well, arriving on 4/24. We are going to Springfest in Munich from the 21-24. Hope to able to meet up with all of you!
Sue