The ABCD's of Beer:
Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne & Dusseldorf
October 23 -November 2, 2008

Join us on a classic odyssey of beer styles
and European languages and cultures. 

We'll travel from Amsterdam, through Belgium, via Brussels, to Germany -- exploring and enjoying several distinct styles of beer and the great cities where they grew up. Dutch Lagers and a number of emerging microbrews, Lambic and the cornucopia of Belgian selections in Brussels, Kolsch in Cologne and Alt in Dusseldorf. The cities each offer centuries of history, great architecture, and vibrant culture... and really great places to drink and brew beer. Stay in fine, well located hotels in each city.  Enjoy locally guided city tours, special brewing opportunities, and great beer meals. Travel by convenient public transportation, private beer bus and excellent international rail. Beer and rail and great cities -- a very good mix. Add special home brewer events, focused tastings, style seminars and a bit of brewing and you have a great trip made better with BEER!

Detailed Itinerary:

Thursday, October 23- Depart US

Your trip begins as you fly to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Meals and overnight aloft.

Friday, October 24- Amsterdam Walking Tour, Beer Dinner

Arrive in Amsterdam and settle into our hotel in the heart of the historic city center. This afternoon, we'll meet in the hotel lobby for a short city tour before our Welcome beer dinner and pub/cafe crawl. (Dinner)

Saturday, October 25- Amsterdam Beer Day

Today we'll visit Amsterdam's own Brouwerij t'Ij, with a possible opportunity to help brew a batch. The afternoon is free to explore some of Amsterdams many attractions, bars and cafes, cultural sites, and curiosities. This evening we'll have a focused all DUTCH beer tasting with a local expert. (B)

Sunday, October 26 - To Nijmegen, brewery visit, beer lunch.

On the Beer Bus today, our private motor coach transportation for the next couple days, as we travel to Nijmegen, The Netherlands' oldest city. Upon arrival we'll visit the city's brewery, which proudly limits its distribution to the immediate surroundings. We will have the brew master show us around, learn about other beer-dervide prducts and have a chance to taste all their fine beers with lunch in their fine cafe. The evening is free to explore the city and its several notable beer cafes. Overnight in Nijmegen.
(B, L)

Monday, October 27- To Brussels via Achel and Kerkom

Continue south this morning en route to Brussels. Along the way we will visit Achel and the excellent small brewery in St. Truiden - Kerkom, producer of the Bink family of beers. Late afternoon check-in to the hotel in the heart of Brussels. We'll take short walking tour en-route to our Cuisine a la Biere dinner. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, October 28 - AM Cantillon Tour, PM free

Cantillon's cob-webbed brewery awaits our exploration this morning as go to the source of true lambic. We will learn the finer points of production, tour the brewery, taste all their beers and enjoy a local lunch. The remainder of the day is free to explore Brussels. This evening we'll have an aged lambic tasting at Bier Circus. (B, L)

Wednesday, October 29 - Mystery Brewery Daytrip

We're keeping today open for a special event. We have a few plans in the works that can't be confirmed just yet, but we will know for sure by the time final itineraries are sent to trip participants. For now it is a mystery. Rest assured today will be a great opportunity to get a unique view of the brewing process of a fine Belgian Beer. (B, L)

Thursday, October 30- To Cologne, Kolsch crawl, Dinner

We take a morning Thalys train to Cologne where we will check-in and drop off our bags. This afternoon we will have a short walking tour of the old city, and some Kolsch Tasting in the Alt Stadt. This afternoon we have a Kolsch tour and seminar with a local guide. Tonight we'll enjoy a Traditional Local Dinner in local beer hall.(B, D)

Friday, October 31- Dusseldorf Daytrip

This morning we'll travel up the Rhine to Cologne's similar, rival city -- Dusseldorf, where we will visit an Alt brewery and learn the ins and outs of one of Germany's few ales. Enjoy a traditional lunch on your own. The afternoon is free to spend some time in an historic alt lodge or two (or six). Return to Cologne this evening. (B)

Saturday, November 1 - Free day in Cologne

A full day to spend as you wish in one (or two) of Germany's great cities. The Dom, the old city, and many markets offer a wealth of options. Tonight we'll gather again for our Farewell Dinner, in one of Colognes fine Kolsch establishments. (B, D)

Sunday, November 2 - Return home

Alas, we must leave beer heaven. Our hotel is very close to the rail station for train transfers to Cologne, Dusseldorf, or Amsterdam for flights home. (B)

Register Online

Highlights:

Really, Really, Great Beer: Dutch lagers, an all Dutch micro-brew tasting, Abbey, Trappist, Lambic, Saison, Alt, Kolsch -- all at their source. Plus the huge variety of Belgian and German styles

Brewery/Tap Room Visits to: Brouwerij t'IJ, Achel, Kerkom, Cantillon, PJ Fruh, Gaffel, Zum Uerige, and Im Fuchschen and more!

Amsterdam!: Canals, Diamonds, Nightlife, Van Gogh, lots of great beer, and other infamous stuff.

Brussels: The Grand Place, where streets of fine restaurants, beer bars, cafes, and shops pour into the gothic, gabled splendor of Brussels' central square.

Cologne and Dusseldorf: With a grand cathedral, the Rhine, historic city centers, Old-Town beer bars, great brewing traditions, and the historic home to Kolsch and Alt styles.

Great beer meals! Good folks.

Travel by Private Bus and International Rail.

Land Cost includes:

$2945
per person, double occupancy

$625
single room supplement

9 nights accommodation (w/private bath) in fine, centrally located hotels, travel by private coach, rail and public transportation, brewery visits, entrance fees, and tours as outlined in the itinerary, breakfast daily, 4 special dinners, 4 beer lunches, 2 beer tastings, and trip leadership.

Register Online

Travel Details and Air Options:

Air Travel to Amsterdam and from Cologne or Dusseldorf: This trip has been priced without airfare to enable travelers to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad.

From the Airport to the hotel: Amsterdam's Schipol International Airport connects to Holland's convenient rail line and the center of Amsterdam. Inexpensive tickets are available at the airport. Private taxis are available for about $45. Meet and greet arrival services are also available upon request at additional cost.

How we get around: For all included excursions and visits, transportation will be included as well. Within the cities, we will rely on walking and public transportation, as this is safe, convenient and inexpensive. Travel from Amsterdam to Brussels, and the Belgian brewery daytrip will be done in our private motor coach. Travel from Brussels to Cologne will be by rail (tickets provided).

Register Online (click for registration details).

Please Note:

The overall style of the trip is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events and excursions will, for the most part, be informal. Guided touring is generally the exception, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.

Please note also, that this itinerary is subject to change based on brewery availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Any substitutions will be as good or better than what we replaced. And don't worry, the beer will be great!