Zoigl Windischechenbach (Germany)

Another of our favourite locations, it is what our tours are all about!

Zoigl Neuhaus (Germany)

The fabled Zoigl Land. What is Zoigl like? Just come on a tour....
We have now put Zoigl beer on in london twice, Bruxelles as well as in Zwevegem this year!

Zvikov Pivovar (Czech Republic)

This is a gem of a place, they even have a rooms where we sometimes stay on tours. the beer is awesome as is the food. What's it like? Come on a tour!

Zvikov Hrad/Castle (Czech Republic)

This is a gem of a place in the middle of Behemia!
Nice and relxing to walk around before a beer in the brewery!

Prague Town (Czech Republic)

Prague is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be careful Prague. Don't take for granted what you have, rip-off merchants beware we know our prices!
Apologies for the whinge but be warned.

Pilsen Urquell Pivovar (Czech Republic)

The original Pilsener!

Regent Pivovar (Czech Republic)

This is another traditional brewery located in Trebon, a gorgeous town in Bohemia.
Really good beer and a great cafe for some food and beer!

Strahov Pivovar (Czech Republic)

Situated at the top/back of Prague's castle area.

Sumava Region (Czech Republic)

The Sumava region is one of the most remote regions in central Europe. We have around a 2.5 hour scenic drive through this really gorgeous area, as you can see for yourselves form the photos and videos.

Platan Pivovar (Czech Republic)

Typical brewery from a communist era! Great place and great beer!

The video! Excuse voice over!

Maly Pivovar Hotel (Czech Republic)

The 'littel' brewery now houses one of the nicest hotels we use on our tours!
Awesome.

Lipan Pivovar (Czech Republic)

Awesome place in the middle of nowhere! Also has a distillery and rooms, yes you can even stay overnight after a few beers and schnapps! Em!?
The young brew master Jan, really knows how to brew, some of the finest beers in Czech Republic! Yes, really.
Closes Mondays....
First the video, please bear in mind the video was taken after a night 'researching' this place! And yes, I stayed in onbe of the rooms they have!

Eggenberg Pivovar (Czech Republic)

Great place with restaurant and cafe in Cesky Krumlov.

Dudak & Nektar Pivovar (Czech Republic)

Typical industrial Czech brewery!

Cesky Krumlov Town (Czech Republic)

This is a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very nice if there aren't too many tourists!

Cesky Budejovice Town (Czech Republic)

Budvarka Beer House (Czech Republic)

Located next door to the Maly Pivovar Hotel, this place is awesome!
Have a good night if you ever find yourself there!

Budvar Pivovar (Czech Republic)

And the video...

Van Eecke Brouwerij (Belgium)

Huyghe Brouwerij (Belgium)

Het SAS/Leroy Brouwerij (Belgium)

Struisse @ Deca Brouwerij (Belgium)

Hertog Jan Brouwerij (Netherlands)

This is the brewery, not to be confused with the Prouverij/cafe.
http://www.hertogjan.nl/site/



And of course the video, thanks Henk!

Hertoj jan Prouverij (Netherlands)

This awesome cafe was where we had the original idea to start up doing Cultural Beer Tours!
Thanks Henke, Bram and the team, inspiration!
http://www.hertogjanproeverij.nl/

 

And the video!

Limburgs Biercafé de Roeëje Lieuw (Netherlands)

Can you pronounce that!? That's why we just call it Limburgs Biercafe.
It's in Venlo, it's damn good and the only beers Louis and Eve sell are those from Belgian and Netherlands Limburg region, which is quite obvious I suppose as it is called Limburg's Biercafe!
www.limburgsbiercafe.nl
Closed Monday and Tuesday, open the rest of the week until late! See webite for opening times!



And of course there is the video....

L'Estaminet Bouillon (Belgium)

La Villette Restaurant (Belgium)

La Roche en Ardennes (Belgium)

Kulminator Cafe (Belgium)

In der Vrede (Belgium)

Den Dyver Restaurant (Belgium)

Delirium Cafe (Belgium)

Bruxelles (Belgium)

Bouillon Castle (Belgium)

Bastogne (Belgium)

Bellevaux Brasserie (Belgium)

Les Trois Fourquets Restaurant & Brasserie (Belgium)

De Dolle Brouwers Brouwerij (Belgium)

La Rulles Brasserie (Belgium)

Millevertus Brasserie (Belgium)

Grain d'Orge Brasserie (Belgium)

Timmermans Brouwerij (Belgium)

Du Pont Brasserie (Belgium)

Frites Vans! (Belgium)

La Vieille Forge Hotel & Brasserie (Belgium)

Cantillon Brasserie (Belgium)

Rodenbach Brouwerij (Belgium)

Rohardushof Estaminet (Belgium)

Ypres Area (Belgium)

Brunehaut Brasserie (Belgium)

Rochefort Brouwerij (Belgium)

Achouffe Brasserie (Belgium)

Drei Fonteinen Brasserie (Belgium)

Silenrieux Brasserie (Belgium)

Marckloff/La Ferme au Chene (Belgium)

Fantome Brasserie (Belgium)

Chimay Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

www.chimay.be

Orval Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

www.orval.be

Rochefort Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

Westmalle Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

Westvleteren Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

Achel Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

Achel Trappiste Abbey

Latest News - 2010 Tours

Hello to all of you who take the time to read our blog.
So what are we up to then? What's on in 2010?

We have just restructured our tours and in 2010 we are now offering 7 x 10-day tours as well as 4 x 3-day tours.
We have also teamed up with The German American Connection and now offer tours to the former East Germany, pretty exciting tours and very different.
For those who are interested, we are also offering tours on demand to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, think whisky, beer, scenery....you got it!

In summary, we generally offer a selection of 10-day tours every month, just pick where you'd like to go and let us know. 
Dates on our Tour Schedule.
Photo right - cleaning the barrels, Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
Lower left - Bahler Zoigl house, Neahaus, 'Zoigl Land' (Germany)

January 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)
Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)


February 2010

Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)
Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)


Photos
Right - Charles Bridge, Pargeu (Czech Republic)
Below - Den Dyver restaurant, Bruges (Belgium)



March 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)

Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)

April 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)
Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)
 Photos
 Right - Sumava region (Czech Republic)


May 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)

Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)

June 2010
Colorado Byways & Beer Tour (WWBT)
 Photos
 Right - Continental Divide, Colorado (USA)

July 2010
Colorado Byways & Beer Tour (WWBT) 
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB) Annafest 2010

August 2010
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB) Annafest 2010
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Photo
Right - Annafest, Forchheim (Germany)
September 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)
Oktoberfest 2010 & Alps Special (MBA)


October 2010
Oktoberfest 2010 & Alps Special (MBA)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)

November 2010

Great European Beer Tour (GEBT)

Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB)
Bohemia Czech Special (BC)
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB)
Go East Special (GE)

December 2010
Great European Beer Tour (GEBT) Xmas Special

Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT)
Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB) Xmas Special
Bohemia Czech Special (BC) Xmas Special
Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special (MB) Xmas Special
Go East Special (GE) Xmas Special
Photo
Ardennes (Belgium)

If a weekend away interests you then we have tours in the Lower Rhine/Düsseldorf area, the Ardennes as well as West Flanders/French Flandres and the Lorraine and Verdun region of north France.

Photos copyright Bier-Mania! Cultural Beer Tours

Oktoberfest 2010 & Alps Tours (MBA)

Our other tour to Bavaria and the Alps is the upbeat 4-day Oktoberfest 2010 & Alps Special tours which starts and ends in Munich.

All tours cost €780.00 per person and we think are extremely good value, remember we only have 8 people per tour. We include the main meal every day, hotel and breakfasts, leader/guide who is also the driver (Andy) as well as beer tent reservation (confirmed around May 2010) including 2 litres of beer and a half chicken! Oh, and we are also in a 4-star centrally located hotel when we are in Munich.

By the way, we have now completed a total of 13 Oktoberfest tours since our first tours to Munich in 2007, so that is an average of 4.3 tours per year! Was anyone on the .3 tour?

So, next year we have a total of 5 Oktoberfest tours which not only introduce you to the world renowned annual Oktoberfest in Munich but also shows you something of the rest of Bavaria and Munich, we think that's a good idea!
And we know you'll have a good time!

Cheers,
Andy@bier-mania.com

More information on our website.
Photo
Top right - Hacker Festzelt, September 2009. The lady in the photo is Anna. She could carry 6 litres of beer. Good girl!
Bottom right - our final 2009 Oktoberfest tour in Hacker Festzelt. Another year to wait!

More photos.

Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special Tours (MB) 2010

Our incredible NEW Bavaria & Tyrol Alps Special 10-day tour shows you not only Munich but also the rest of Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrolean Alps.

The tour starts in Munich or Frankfurt airport and then takes in König Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein, a trip up Zugspitz mountain, the Austrian Tyrol, Salzburg & the Eagles Nest, the Bavarian Forest and then onto Regensburg and the Danube where we spend the night at a brewery guesthouse in the Altmühltal region.

Finally we end up in Munich for the weekend and during the September 2010 tour we also visit Munich’s Oktoberfest.

The tour is usually 10-days long with the September 2010 tour being 1 day longer. We only have only 6 people maximum so book early!

Experience the Alps, the beer gardens, beer halls as well as some great architecture, oh and of course some great beer!

More information is on our website, Bavaria and Tyrol Alps Special
Photos
Top right - Mittenwald night 3.
Bottom left - Augustiner Beer Garden, Salzburg (Austria)


More photos






Zugpitzbahn Video

Bohemia Czech Special (BC) Beer Tours 2010

This amazing 10-day Bohemia Czech Beer Tour takes us from Germany’s Zoigl Land and on into the Czech region of Čechy (Bohemia), where we visit and stay overnight in Plzeň (Pilsen), Prague and Český Budĕjovice (Budweis). Along the way we see some of the Czech Republic’s amazing micro-breweries, this tour really is a contrast between large and small breweries!

We also travel through some stunning areas including the remote Sumava region of Czech Republic as well as visiting 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites-Prague, Český Krumlov as well as Bamberg.

The tour then goes into the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian forest) and Oberpfälzer Wald (Palatinate Forest) and then on to Franconia and Franconian Switzerland. We have 2 nights in Bamberg with our final night in Bad Windsheim before the tour ends in Frankfurt.



Cheers!
More information on our website, Bohemia & Czech Czech Special.

Photos-top right Pilsner Urquell cellars (original)
bottom left Budvarka Beer House, Cesky Budejovice
More photos

Franconia & Bamberg Special (SB) Tours 2010

This tour, the Franconia and Bamberg Special is now a complete 10-day tour. These tours run all year and every month and in July/August 2010 we will also be visiting Annafest 2010!
Included is also a visit to the Pilsner Urquell brewery in the Czech Republic, a good tour and one we have visited twice this year, well worth the trip. We also go to the Bavarian Forest staying in Eck Brewery Guesthouse the night-a unique brewery and guesthouse, Mike normally shows us a around the brewery as well! 
Oh, and not to forget an overnight in Zoigl Land!

What do we do?

• Regensburg UNESCO Walkabout & Regensburg‘s Steinbrücke and Old Town
• Visit a Schnapps Museum!
  
• Schneider Weisse Brewery & Weltenburg Monastery
• Burg Randeck/Zoigl Land
• Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Bavarian Forest/Sleep in Brewery guest houses
• Forchheim's 4 breweries Annafest 2010 & 23 Cellar 'bars'!
• Franconia Country Breweries/Fränkische Schweiz
• Medieval Pottenstein/Meet Franconia‘s female brewer!
• Maisels Steam Brewery Museum Bayreuth
• Weissenhohe and Vierzehnheiligen Monasteries
• Bamberg's Smoked Beers and 10 breweries/Bamberg UNESCO Walkabout
• And much much more.......

Pretty awesome tours!
More information is on our webiste, Franconia and Bamberg Special.
Photos
Pottenstein, July 2009
More photos

Great Belgium Beer Tours (GBBT) 2010

Our Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT) is the classic gourmet and beer tour through the whole of Belgium and north France! This really is THE way to see Belgium, even if you aren't that interested in beer (!) then it is still a great way to see the country.

Tours run all year and every month on demand (except September=Oktoberfest!) and generally start in Düsseldorf in Germany where we recommend you have a Day Zero 'training day' to get over jet lag and relax before the tour. We normally meet you for an Altbier or 2 in Düsseldorf that evening...

The tour is an anti-clockwise loop starting in Limbourg and Antwerpen Province the first day and visiting Luxemborg Province at the end of the tour before we drop you off back in Düsseldorf.

• Visit all 6 Belgium Trappiste Abbeys
• Visit all 9 of Belgium‘s Provinces
• 4 Countries - Belgium, France, Netherlands and Germany
• Drink every style of Belgium beer
• Cafe Culture of Antwerpen and Bruges
• Bruxelles for 2 nights
• Beer Dinners
• Visit French Flandres
  
• Biere de Garde region of Northern France
• Saison Country
• Lambic Country
• Brewery visits
• The Ardennes

 
As with all our 10-day tours, we restrict the maximum number of people to 6, although if you do have a large group then feel free to contact us for a quote.

Cheers,
andy@bier-mania.com

More information can be found, Great Belgium Beer Tour.
Photos
Top right - La Villette, restaurant (Bruxelles) October 2009
Bottom left - Rodenbach brewery tour, October 2009
More photos

Great European Beer Tours (GEBT) 2010

New for 2010, we are  now offering the 10-day Great European Beer Tour (GEBT) as part of our regular packages.
Tours run all year and every month, we just need a minimum of 4 people, we only have a maximum of 6 people per tour so book early.
As we have done 3 of these awesome tours already we have now decided to have them as a regular tour! 
Our standard Great European Beer Tour is advertised on our website and is also downloadable as a complete document for you to print off and peruse over a beer or 2.
Where?

• Frankfurt-Bamberg-Kulmach-Zoigl Land
• Pilsen-Prague
• Prague 2 nights
• Zvikov-Budweis (the real one!)
• Cesky Krumlov-Sumava-Eck
• Zwiesel-Salzburg
• Mittenwald & the Alps
• Neuschwanstein-Andechs-Munich
• Munich 2 nights

Other options for this tour are available.

Cheers for now,
Andy



Tours run all year every month, more information Great Eureopan Beer Tour.

Belgian Roads!

For those of you considering a Belgain tour with us in the future this was just published on Expatica-

http://www.expatica.com/be/news/community_focus/Belgian-roads-relatively-safe-.html

Belgian Roads are Relativley Safe

According to a study published by the motoring organisation Touring, Belgium's roads are amonst the safest in Europe.

Belgium comes third only to the Netherlands and Switzerland when it comes to road safety.
The study looked at the number of accidents on a total of 140,000 kilometres of Belgian roads.
There was striking evidence that the number of road traffic accidents in Belgium has fallen dramatically in recent years.
A Touring spokesman told journalists:“Recent policies to promote road safety are showing dividends.”
The regional governments have invested heavily in making accident black spots safer.
On average, the chances of being involved in a serious accident are forty times greater on a so-called “dangerous road” than on the country’s safest roads.

A total of two million people have died on Europe’s roads during the past ten years."

So, there we go! 

Photos by Bier-Mania!
Bier-Mania!'s Great Belgium Beer Tour, a 10-day adventure around Belgium and Northern France runs all year.

Bruxelles Special (PM-091121) Photos

A day out drinking 'strage' tasting beers! Cheers!

New Style Website!

Hello!
Our new style websire is now online.
See www.bier-mania.com

Hope you enjoy the site!
Cheers,
Andy

Bruxelles Special Beer Tour Map

View (PM-091021) Bruxelles Special Beer Tour in a larger map

Bruxelles Special Beer Tour (PM-091121) Final Itinerary

Locations for this Saturday's Bruxelles Special Beer Tour have now been finalised.
Pick-up is 11.45am in Bruxelles and we go straight to our first location-a brewery in Itterbeek in the Payottenland region to the west of Bruxelles and commonly known as Lambic Land!
Enjoy your day.

Timmermans Brewery
Tour, beer.
We have a tour of this awesome brewery at 1215,  naturally followed by a couple of the beers they brew! Welcome to Lambic beer!

De Cam Volkscafe
Lunch, beer.

After a short journey from Itterbeek, we then have a traditional Flemish lunch at the traditional De Cam Volkscafe in Gooick along with a few beers. Next door is also the Lambic blender, De Cam as well as a museum of traditional Flemish musical instruments! There we go!






Drei Fonteinen Brewery & Restaurant

Look around, beer.
Our last stop of the day is the Lambic brewery Drei Fonteienen (Three Fountains) in Beersel. After a look around the brewery (you'll be experts by now) we have a tasting in the cellar after which we can a further few beers in the excllent resaturant/cafe.

Drop off is in Fat Boys Sports Bar and Grill! Cool.

Cheers and looking forward to seeing you all.

This Bier-Mania! Bruxelles Special is a custom made tour put together especially for a group from the UK.. Should you wish to do a tour with us then feel free to contact us, andy@bier-mania.com or phone +49-(0)2157 810558

Bier-Mania! Facebook Page

Hello Everyone!
Yep, Bier-Mania! Cultural Beer Tours are finally on Facebook.

Link is also on the left of this page.
Cheers,
Andy

Colorado Mountains Scenic Byways & Beer Tours 2010

Next year 2010, we have 4 awesome tours to the Colorado Mountains in the USA during June and July.

All tours are 8-days/7-nights long and start on Fridays and Mondays from Denver.

• Friday 04-Friday 11 June 2010 (WWBT-100604)

• Monday 14-Monday 21 June 2010 (WWBT-100614)

• Friday 25 June-Friday 02 July 2010 (WWBT-100625)

• Monday 05-Monday 12 July 2010 (WWBT-100705)

These tours are for small groups (8 maximum) with typically 6-8 people.
Book soon to reserve your place on one of these unique tours.
Tour price is €1560.00 per person and includes accommodation & breakfasts x 7, evening meals x 7, transport within the tour, leader/guide/driver and a great time!

Cheers,
Andy@bier-mania.com

Belgium Beer Night (PM-091031)

Great night on Saturday at the Altes Brauhaus, when we put on over 51 Belgian and French beers during our Belgium Beer Night!
Photos are now online as is the Beer Menu.
Thanks to all those that were there and hope you had a great time.
Prost!

Belgium Beer Night Beer Menu

Great Belgium Beer Tour (GBBT-091016)

The 'Zuiper' Tour
Our 10-day Great Belgium Beer Tour and 6th tour in 6 weeks (!) has just ended in Düsseldorf on Sunday afternoon.
The tour kicked off with a 'training' evening on day zero in Düsseldorf's Altstadt with a beer (or 2) at Schumacher, Füchschen and Uerige, prost!
Where did we go then? We basically did an anti-clockwise loop of Belgium also taking in Northern France (Flandres and Pays de Meuse) and transitting Germany and the Netherlands, took in every Belgian Province and drank at every Belgian Trappiste Abbey! Whoopee!

1. Düsseldorf (Germany)-Achel Trappiste Abbey-Westmalle Trappiste Abbey-Antwerpen & Pelgrom beer dinner-Overnight Antwerpen
2. Bosteels brewery-Bruges (UNESCO)-Bruges Beertjes & Den Dyver-Overnight Bruges
3. Hill 62 & Ypres-Westveleteren Trappiste Abbey-'T Rohardushof Estaminet-Watou-Thiriez Brewery (F)-Mont Cassel, Trois Moulins, Kasteelhof-Overnight Cassel (France)
4. Brunehaut Brewery-Frites!-Rodenbach Brewery-Bruxelles-Overnight Bruxelles
5. Bruxelles-La Villette beer dinner-Overnight Bruxelles
6. Cantillon Brewery & Museum-Silenrieux Brewery-Chimay Trappiste Abbey-Bouillon & Castle-L'Estaminet cafe-Overnight Bouillon
7. European Brewing Museum-Chateau Chamois Brewery-Vauquois Hill (WW1)-Verdun-L'Estaminet Brewpub-Le Lapin que Fume-Le Clapier restaurant-Overnight Verdun
8. Verdun WW1 sites-Orval Trappiste Abbey-Bastogne-La Vieille Forge beer dinner-Overnight Achouffe-Mont
9. Rochefort Trappiste Abbey-La Ferme au Chene Brewery-Fantome Brewery-Achouffe Brewery-La Vieille Forge Beer Dinner-Overnight Achouffe-Mont
10. End tour in Düsseldorf!
    

To all those wonderful people we met along the way, thanks for your hospitality and kindness!
Cheers!