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Zythos, Lambic and Flanders!February 27 - March 8, 2008
Travel to Belgium to enjoy one the country's best Beer Festivals -- The Zythos Beer Fest, and dive deep into "lambic" country, with visits to a variety of brewers and blenders. Begin with four nights in Brussels and end in beautiful, beery Gent, with a stay in Poperinge and a foray into French Flanders in between. We'll cover about every style the Flanders region has to offer as we visit breweries big and small. Stay in fine hotels with perfect locations, travel by rail and private Beer Bus, enjoy beer cuisine and beer dinners, and do it with a bunch of other nice folks who really like beer! Includes many great meals (with beer), brewery visits, fine hotels, transportation, a couple of historic city tours, and more. It's not too late to come along! Daily Itinerary:Wednesday, February 27 - Your trip begins as you fly to Europe. Meals and overnight aloft. Thursday, February 28 - Upon arrival transfer to our hotel in the old center of Gent. After time to settle in we'll meet a local guide for a walking city tour/ cafe crawl, including the major sights and monuments and some good beer information. After the tour we'll enjoy a welcome beer dinner in Gent. Friday, February 29 - This morning is free to enjoy Gent. After lunch on your own, we'll make a visit to Bosteels, brewers of Triple Karmeleit, Kwak, and Deus. After the tour we'll stop for a beer cafe dinner, before attending the lambic lovers paradise, the Nacht van Grote Dorst (Night of the Great Thirst) in Eizeringen. Return to Gent later this evening -- Overnight Gent.
Sunday, March 2 - Today is totally unscheduled so people may pursue their own interets or return to day 2 of the Zythos fest. Overnight in Gent.
Monday, March 3 -Today
we transfer to beautiful Poperinge, but along the waywe'll visit Rodenbach
to see their awe inspiring collection of oak barrels and eat a unique
Tuesday, March 4 - After a free morning, we'll board the beer bus for a light lunch (with not-so-light beer) at the Westvleteren Cafe, In de Vrede. This afternoon we'll have a cafe and estaminet quest of sorts to discover some lesser known regional favorites. Evening free in Poperinge to have a few with the locals.
Wednesday, March 5 - A liesurely start this morning, before boarding the bus bound for Brussels. Along the way we will stop in Ingelmunster in the neighborhood of Van Honsebrouck for some Kasteel Beer. Following lunch we'll continue to Ninove to visit the proudly traditional Slaghmuylder Brewery, makers of the Witkap line. After time to settle we will meet in the hotel lobby for a walking/orientation tour of Brussels visit a couple famous cafes and bars to drink some great beer. Thursday, March 6 - This morning we'll board our private coach for a day of lambic brewers and geuze blenders, with visits to as many blenders and brewers as we can fit in. Evening free in Brussels. Friday, March 7 - Today is totally free until our Farewell Dinner at In t' Spinnekopke which is known for their cuisine a la biere. Explore the city, take train for a daytrip to Brugge or Antwerp, or crawl the many cafes in Brussels. Overnight in Brussels. Saturday, March 8 - Alas, time to go home. The trip ends today, transfers to the airport are easily arranged.
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Beer Highlights: Zythos Beer Fest - The reborn cousin of the 24 hours of Beer fest, offers a wide range of Belgian beer often served by the brewer. The city of Gent -- with it medieval center, rich history, and many fine beer diversions. Flanders -- and all things Flemmish. Estaminets, local beers, wind mills, and rich history -- ancient and recent. Breweries/Tasting Rooms: 3 Fonteinen, De Cam, Boon, Rodenbach, Slaghmuylder, Bosteels. Brussels: The Grand Place, where streets of fine restaurants, beer bars, cafes, and shops pour into the gothic, gabled splendor of Brussels' central square. Good folks to drink with and the rolling tasting room when we travel by private bus!Land Cost: $2795
$595 Trip Price Includes: 9 nights accommodation in fine, centrally located hotels, travel by private coach, rail and public transportation, brewery visits, beer tastings, entrance fees and tours as outlined in the itinerary, all breakfasts, 3 dinners, 3 lunches, and trip leadership. Airfare is not included in the trip price. The trip begins on Thursday afternoon in the hotel lobby in Gent. For Registration Policies & Details: Click Here.
Travel Details: Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please contact us to inquire about low fares from your city. Please confirm the trip's operation before purchasing air tickets. From the Airport to the hotel: The airport connects to Belgium's convenient rail line and thus Gent and Brussels. Tickets are available at the airport. Private taxis are available for siginificantly more money. Meet and greet arrival services are also available upon request at additional cost. Complete Details about how to get from the airport to the hotel will be included with your final trip documents. The trip officially begins at the first hotel, specific details including a map to the hotel, regional information and a detailed will be included with your trip documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the trip. 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. Travel between city and city will be done in our private motor coach and/or by rail. 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!
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Questions? Send us an email: beerguy@beertrips.com
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Millennium Three - The Official Millennium of Beer Travel!
All Rights Reserved, Beer Trips .com 1998 - 2007.
Saturday,
March 1 - This morning's bright and early option, is Cantillon's
open brew day, where the public is invited to watch the brewing first
hand as the liquid moves around this classic, old, Brussels brewery.
It is about 1 hour by rail and no doubt a pilgramage is in order.
This afternoon we'll travel bythe short distance by train to Sint
Niklaas for the start or the Zythos festivities. Return by rail to
Gent as soon as you have had enough.
beer
lunch. Later we drive into the heart of Flanders'
hop growing region bound for Poperinge, our home for the next two
nights. A four course beer dinner paired with beers
to match will cap off a fine day.
