De Lambikstoempers "Beer Weekend" festival

De Lambikstoempers, the premier Zythos-affiliated beer appreciation and promotion club in Belgium’s lambic country, organizes several events throughout the year. For the first time, I attended their “Bier Weekend” on August 30-31. This beer festival usually occurs during the last full weekend of August, and features over 100 different brews.

De Lambiek, The Lambic Beer Visitor’s Center.

The new venue for this year’s fest was De Lambiek which is the now three-year old Lambic Beer Visitor’s Center in Alsemberg, not far from the revered beery village of Beersel.

De Lambikstoempers President, Johan “Wanne” Madalijns, with the Cuvee Lambikstoemper Oude Geuze.

There was a press conference before the festival began, as 2014 is the 15th anniversary of the Lambikstoempers club. The speakers featured luminaries from the Belgian beer world, including club President Johan “Wanne” Madalijns, as well as Armand Debelder of 3 Fonteinen, and Sven Gatz, former Director of the Belgian Brewers Association. Afterwards, all of the speakers were presented with a 75 cl bottle of Cuvee Lambikstoemper, the 15th anniversary beer of the club. Cuvee Lambikstoemper is an Oude Geuze that is a blend of three different Boon lambics.

Some of the lambic beers at the fest.

About Cuvee Lambikstoemper, from the club: “This is a blend consisting from 6 hl from foeder nr. 36 (brew W82, 11/01/2012), 10 hl from foeder nr. 102 (brew W144, 24/03/2012) and 4 hl from foeder nr. 13 (brew W76, 04/01/2010). The blending took place on 20/03/2013 and the bottles were filled on 29/03/2013. After 6 months of refermentation on bottle at brewery Boon and at least 6 months in the cellar of Lambikstompers it is ready now to be consumed.”

Only 2,665 bottles of Cuvee Lambikstoemper were produced, and some of the bottles that remained after the festival are on offer here

Lots of Geuzestekerij De Cam beers were on hand. The Oude Geuze was as well.

Most of the regularly available Belgian lambic beers were on offer, as well as some specialties. De Lambikstoempers, based in Halle, also created two exclusive beers for the event: their Lambooske, a blend of one year old Lindemans lambic and raspberries. A fresh version was offered on tap, and one year old bottled version was available as well. The bottled version was more complex and mature, though the young one was also interesting. Another special brew was Cuvee Lambikstoemper, the 15th anniversary beer of the club. It is an Oude Geuze that is a blend of three different Boon lambics.

Beer fest here!

A goat cheese producer from the Payottenland was also on hand, selling delicious cheeses. Other foods included various grilled sandwiches and quiches.