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“Twisting the Fate” tasting event at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen & lambik-O-droom this Friday and Saturday
If you are a beer drinker headed to Belgium in the next couple of days, you may be aware that there many beer events that will happen beginning this Friday, April 27. The Zythos Beer Festival (ZBF) in Leuven is Belgium’s biggest beer fest in terms of the number of beers on offer: 500+. ZBF…
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Two brew days at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
I visited the much-loved lambic brewery and blendery, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, during two brew days in 2017. My visits in early February and late November of last year were superb, as I was able to talk with most of the 3 Fonteinen team, and see the small brewhouse in action through the two long days.…
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Two brew days at Brasserie Cantillon
I visited the hallowed Brasserie Cantillon in Brussels in early February and late November 2017, to photograph and video two brewing days…and to sample quite a few of the magnificent beers brewed on site, of course. There’s no point in doing this kind of work if you can’t enjoy it! I have included lots of…
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Lambiek Fabriek and Belgoo: two new lambic producers in Belgium
I have some exciting news for those who enjoy lambic and geuze/gueuze, Belgium’s spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged masterpieces that set the worldwide standard for tart, funky, complex brews. “The Beer Country” has not one, but two new lambic makers. I visited both during a recent trip in November-December. These lambic producers work together, so I will…
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Weekend of Oude Geuze, Vini, Birre, Ribelli, and the Day of the Lambic
The last weekend of November and the first weekend of December 2017 will feature several superb events centering around beer (and wine) in Belgium, where lambic is either the main focus, or is an important part of the event. Read on for the details. On November 25-26, the city of Brussels will host an important…
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Toer de Geuze 2017 is May 6-7
Toer de Geuze, the biennial event that is quickly becoming the epicenter of the lambic beer world every odd-numbered year, is quickly approaching. The 2017 tour now is now officially two days instead one. Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, 2017, will see lambic beer lovers descend upon Belgium’s Payottenland and Zenne (Senne) Valley,…
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Amburon Belgian Craftbrewery opens in Tongeren
Belgium, like the USA, is awash in new breweries these days. The craft beer trend is alive and well, and the only real problem is identifying the breweries that are routinely making very interesting beers from those producing what might be considered good, but not great, brews. After all, Belgium has plenty of average to…
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New 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom site set to open September 1st
The town of Lot, Belgium, is sure to become famous in the near future. At least among lambic beer lovers. On September 1st, what is likely to become one of Belgium’s top beer tourism attractions will open to the public. Legendary 3 Fonteinen brewer/blender Armand Debelder, protege Michael Blancquaert, business manager Werner van Obberghen, and…
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Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen to open large new “Experience Center” with tasting rooms and barrel facility
For the lovers of lambic, the spontaneously fermented beer produced mainly in the regions of the Payottenland and Zenne Valley, in and around the Belgian capital of Brussels, there is great news. The much-beloved lambic brewery, 3 Fonteinen (“Three Fountains”) recently purchased a warehouse in the city of Lot, which is already being transformed into…
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De Struise Brouwers now selling growlers at the Old Schoolhouse brewery
De Struise Brouwers, the West Flanders brewers with great beers and a world-wide cult following, have started filling growers to go at their brewery/taproom in Oostvleteren. “The idea is to offer special beers only, ones that either we do not bottle, or which you’d have difficulty finding in bottles,” Urbain Cotteau, one of the several…