Farmhouse ale beer tour through Belgium and France

Farmhouse Ales of Belgium and France

$3,795.00

Be the first to leave a review.
Pay a deposit of $400.00 per item

* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.

Description

Farmhouse Ales of Belgium and France

A very beery exploration of northern France and southern Belgium — farmhouse ales, saison, Bière de Garde, Trappist traditions, small breweries, historic towns and generous tables.

11 Days | Maximum 12 Travelers | Brewery-Focused Cultural Travel

Upcoming Departures & Pricing

  • 2027 Tour | May 20 – May 30, 2027 | $3,795 | Single Supplement +$885 | Open
  • 2028 Tour | Late May / Early June 2028 | TBA | Single Supplement TBA | Interest List
  • 2029 Tour | Late May / Early June 2029 | TBA | Single Supplement TBA | Interest List

Tours begin in Brussels on Friday evening and end in Brussels after breakfast on Sunday.

Prices are listed by departure year and may vary based on hotel, transportation, supplier and currency costs. Your price is confirmed once your deposit has been accepted for a specific departure.

Please select your departure year when registering. Space, pricing and single-room availability are managed separately for each departure.

Join the Trip!

Trip Snapshot

  • Duration: 11 days / 10 nights, including overnight flight; 9 nights in Europe
  • Group Size: Maximum 12 travelers
  • Travel Style: Small-group, brewery-focused cultural journey
  • Start / End: Starts and ends in Brussels, Belgium
  • Transport: Private Beer Bus on key brewery days, rail, taxi/Uber and walking
  • Physical Level: Easy to moderate walking; cobblestones, hill towns and brewery stairs
  • Best For: Farmhouse ale fans, saison lovers, food travelers and culturally curious beer explorers

Why Travelers Love This BeerTrip

This journey combines brewery visits, regional food traditions, historic towns, classic cafés and scenic countryside into a relaxed small-group experience. Travelers explore northern France and southern Belgium through the people, flavors and brewing traditions that make this one of the most rewarding beer regions anywhere.

Beer is our lens, but the trip is broader than beer alone. Expect regional cuisine, Flanders Fields history, rebuilt medieval streets, hop fields, farm kitchens, village breweries and places you would have a hard time reaching on your own.

What makes this trip special: Northern France and southern Belgium share a meandering, often invisible border where saison, Bière de Garde, Trappist beer, lambic and farmhouse brewing traditions overlap beautifully. This is a route of small towns, country breweries, estaminets, hop fields and family producers — many of them too small, too rural or too special for ordinary beer travel.

Why Travel With BeerTrips in Belgium and France?

This BeerTrip explores Brussels, Ieper, French Flanders, Valenciennes and Mons through beer, food, history and everyday local culture. We visit breweries, classic cafés, estaminets, farms, historic streets and remembrance sites while traveling at a relaxed small-group pace.

Each day is designed to balance guided experiences with time to explore independently. You will enjoy structured brewery visits and cultural touring, along with free time for museums, cafés, beer bars, shopping or quiet wandering.

This BeerTrip Is Perfect For:

  • Travelers who enjoy beer, food, history and local culture
  • Beer lovers ranging from casual enthusiasts to serious farmhouse ale fans
  • Guests who enjoy small-group travel and a relaxed pace
  • Travelers comfortable walking through historic towns, brewery districts, hill towns and train stations
  • People who like a balance of guided experiences and free time

This Trip May Not Suit:

  • Travelers looking for a fast-paced party tour
  • Guests seeking luxury resort-style travel
  • People uncomfortable with walking, stairs, cobblestones or public transportation
  • Travelers who prefer every hour of every day to be fully scheduled

Beer Tour Highlights

  • 14 breweries in 9 days — well-planned and relaxed
  • Saison, Bière de Garde, lambic, Trappist and farmhouse brewing traditions
  • Classic beer cafés, estaminets and country brewery meals
  • Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper, Cassel, Mons and Brussels
  • Hop fields, farm breweries, steam-powered brewing and the Opal Coast
  • Small-group travel with experienced BeerTrips leadership

Signature Beer Experiences

  • Brasserie Vapeur public brew day at a working 19th-century steam-powered brewery
  • Brasserie Dupont, one of the world’s benchmark saison and farmhouse producers
  • Beck Farm hop fields, farm cooking and fresh hop beers
  • French-Flemish estaminet lunch in Cassel with beer, cheese and story-rich walls

Brewery & Beer Experiences*

  • Brasserie Dupont, Brasserie Vapeur, De Dolle Brouwers, De Ranke and Brasserie de Cazeau
  • Beck Farm, Thiriez, Deux Caps, La Choulette and Au Baron
  • Cantillon, L’Ermitage and an optional visit to Brouwerij Kerkom
  • Farmhouse ales, saison, Bière de Garde, lambic, Trappist beer and regional specialties

Food, Wine & Spirits Experiences

  • All-local lunch at Brasserie Vapeur
  • Classic French-Flemish estaminet lunch in Cassel
  • Farmhouse dinner at Beck Farm
  • Optional tastes of regional gin, jenever, country liqueurs or aperitifs where appropriate

Beer Culture, Food & Regional Traditions

Northern France and southern Belgium have a distinctive brewing culture shaped by farm ingredients, village breweries, monastic traditions, hop fields, estaminets and generations of social gathering around beer. During the tour, travelers experience both the brewing side and the everyday cultural side of beer: where it is made, how it is served, what foods accompany it and why it matters locally.

Farmhouse ales are expressive beers, but the places they come from are often rural, small and difficult to reach without a thoughtful plan. This trip brings together saison, Bière de Garde, lambic, Trappist beer, French-Flemish brewing, Belgian café culture, hop-growing country, generous meals and the remembrance landscape of Flanders Fields.

What’s Included

  • All accommodations in centrally located hotels
  • All brewery visits and tastings listed in the itinerary
  • All guided tours and cultural activities
  • Ground transportation during the tour
  • Daily breakfasts plus select lunches and dinners
  • BeerTrips tour leadership throughout the journey

Included Meals

All Breakfasts | 5 Lunches | 3 Dinners

What’s Not Included

  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses
  • Meals and drinks not listed as included

Trip Itinerary*

Click or tap each day to expand the details. Daily schedules may vary depending on brewery availability, local events and transportation schedules.

Day 0 – Thursday – Travel to Brussels

Fly to Europe and rest up for the farmhouse-ale adventure ahead.

Overnight: Plane

Day 1 – Friday – Arrival, Walking Tour, Pub Crawl & Welcome Dinner

Arrive in Brussels and transfer to our hotel near the Grand Place. In the afternoon, meet the group for a walking tour and pub crawl en route to our Welcome Beer Dinner. We will return to Brussels for two more nights at the end of the trip.

Overnight in Brussels | Meals: D

Day 2 – Saturday – Vapeur Brew Day, De Dolle & on to Ieper

Depart Brussels bright and early for Brasserie Vapeur to witness their historic steam-powered brew day. Enjoy an all-local lunch before continuing west to De Dolle Brouwers. Arrive in Ieper, our home for three nights, with an optional visit to the Menin Gate ceremony.

Overnight in Ieper | Meals: B, L

Day 3 – Sunday – Flanders Fields, Cassel Estaminet & Beck Farm

Visit the Flanders Fields Museum before crossing into France for lunch in a classic estaminet in Cassel. Continue to Beck Farm for a brewery visit, hop-field tour and farmhouse dinner.

Overnight in Ieper | Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 – Monday – De Ranke, Ferme de Balthazar & Brasserie de Cazeau

A farmhouse-beer-focused day visiting De Ranke and Cazeau, with a favorite restaurant stop for lunch.

Overnight in Ieper | Meals: B, L

Day 5 – Tuesday – Thiriez, Deux Caps & the Opal Coast

Cross into northern France for brewery visits at Thiriez and Deux Caps, plus time on the scenic Opal Coast.

Overnight in Valenciennes | Meals: B, L

Day 6 – Wednesday – La Choulette, Au Baron & on to Mons

Visit family brewery La Choulette and father-son brewery Au Baron with lunch before continuing to Mons.

Overnight in Mons | Meals: B, L

Day 7 – Thursday – Free Day in Mons

A relaxed day to explore Mons — historic sites, cafés and the lively Grand Place.

Overnight in Mons | Meals: B

Day 8 – Friday – To Brussels, Cantillon & L’Ermitage

Train back to Brussels before lunch, then visit iconic Cantillon and neighboring L’Ermitage. Evening free.

Overnight in Brussels | Meals: B

Day 9 – Saturday – Free Day or Optional Kerkom Visit & Farewell Beery Dinner

Free day to explore Brussels or take an optional trip to Brouwerij Kerkom. Farewell beer dinner tonight.

Overnight in Brussels | Meals: B, D

Day 10 – Sunday – Departure Day

Enjoy breakfast before making your way to the airport or onward European travels.

Meals: B

Ready To Experience Belgium and France Farmhouse Ale Culture?

Join fellow beer travelers for breweries, historic towns, regional food, scenic countryside and unforgettable farmhouse ale experiences.

Join the Trip!

Cities, Breweries & Regional Culture

Brussels

A European capital with a village heart, Brussels offers classic cafés, grand squares and access to some of the world’s best beers. It is the perfect staging point for our farmhouse circuit and a great place to return to at the end of the trip.

Ieper, French Flanders, Valenciennes & Mons

Ieper is home to the Menin Gate, Flanders Fields Museum and a quiet yet powerful atmosphere. Across the border, French Flanders brings small towns, estaminets, breweries and the nearby Opal Coast into the story. Mons, the provincial capital of Hainaut, adds medieval streets, café-lined squares and an easygoing Wallonian pace.

Beer Styles & Brewing Traditions

This route is rich in saison, Bière de Garde, farmhouse ales, lambic, Trappist beer and French-Flemish brewing traditions. Travelers encounter benchmark producers, family breweries, hop farms, steam-powered brewing and modern Belgian beer culture along the way.

Where We Stay

  • Brussels: Centrally located hotel near the Grand Place — 1 night at the start, 2 nights at the end
  • Ieper: Historic town hotel within walking distance of the center and Menin Gate — 3 nights
  • Valenciennes: Comfortable city hotel in northern France — 1 night
  • Mons: Hotel near the Grand Place and historic core — 2 nights

Final hotels may vary by departure year but will always be of equal or greater quality.

Why Travel With BeerTrips?

  • 25+ years of brewery-focused cultural travel
  • Small groups with a maximum of 12 travelers
  • Carefully selected breweries, taverns and local partners
  • Balanced itineraries with guided experiences and independent time
  • Beer, food and history woven into every journey

Practical Notes

Group Size & Pace

Small-group travel allows for flexibility, easier logistics and a more personal experience in breweries, restaurants and historic neighborhoods.

Mobility & Walking

Breweries on this itinerary may include working farms, village breweries and historic buildings with uneven floors, low doorways and narrow stairs. Towns like Ieper, Cassel and Mons also feature cobblestones and occasional hills. Travelers should be comfortable walking several miles at a relaxed pace.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all BeerTrips departures.

Responsible Enjoyment

This tour is built around appreciation, culture and discovery. Tastings are designed to showcase local beer traditions, not to create a party atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click or tap a question to expand the answer.

How physically demanding is this BeerTrip?

This tour involves easy to moderate walking, including historic towns, brewery visits, train stations, cobblestones, hill towns and occasional uneven surfaces.

What beers will we try?

The final brewery lineup varies by departure, but travelers can expect saison, Bière de Garde, farmhouse ales, lambic, Trappist beer, Belgian classics, French-Flemish beers and modern craft producers.

Can non-drinkers join?

Yes. BeerTrips journeys are equally focused on food, culture, architecture, history and regional experiences.

What airport should I fly into?

This tour starts and ends in Brussels. Arrival and departure airport recommendations will be provided before the tour.

How do I choose a departure year?

Please select your preferred departure year when registering. Each departure has its own pricing, availability and single-room inventory.

Is this a party tour?

No. This is a beer-focused cultural travel experience. The tour emphasizes breweries, food, history, local traditions and responsible enjoyment.

Will there be free time?

Yes. Most BeerTrips include a balance of guided activities and free time so travelers can explore museums, cafés, shops, beer bars or local neighborhoods independently.

You May Also Like

Helpful Travel & Beer Resources

Ready To Join This BeerTrips Adventure?

Explore farmhouse ales, small breweries, local foods, historic towns and unforgettable beer culture with fellow travelers from around the world.

Join the Trip!

*Final brewery lineup subject to confirmation. Substitutions will always be of equal or greater quality.

BeerTrips has been crafting small-group beer, food and cultural journeys for over 25 years.

Additional information

Room Type

Sharing, Single

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Farmhouse Ales of Belgium and France”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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 confirm the trip’s operation before purchasing air tickets.

Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you’ll receive 2 – 3 weeks before the trip.

How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.

REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:

We don’t mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants — tried and true — have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please – including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy — a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.

PLEASE NOTE:

A BeerTrips beer tour 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, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally “guided”. Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.

THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel 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. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don’t worry, the beer is always good!

Related products