Bier-Mania! Cultural Beer Tours

Tours Update

2011-02-11T10:03:00.002+01:00

Sorry guys, we still won't be doing tours in 2011.
Feel free to email us for advice, no probs.

Cheers,
Andy
andy@bier-mania.com

Kerelshof, Mont Cassel (France) REOPENED

2011-02-11T09:39:00.001+01:00

Good news people, Big Denis has reopened the Kerelshof in Mont Cassel in French Flanders. Probably one of my favourite drinking establishments......
Cheers!

Oktoberfest 2010

2010-09-18T12:23:00.002+02:00

It started 15 minutes ago CKT (Central Kraut Time).
The 177th Ofest, it all started in 1810.
Have a good time all of those who make it, my spirit is there....

Cheers,
Andy

No More Tours

2010-01-05T11:01:00.002+01:00

Hello Everyone,
After some very hard deliberation over the Christmas period, sadly we regret to inform you that due to the current economic climate we will no longer be doing any tours in 2010.
We will however be leaving the website online and hope that there is an economic upturn in 2011, our email addresses will also be active!

We wish you a very happy 2010.
Cheers,
Andy

Zoigl Windischechenbach (Germany)

2009-12-17T13:56:00.001+01:00

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

Zoigl Neuhaus (Germany)

2009-12-17T13:53:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:40:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:38:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:30:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:26:00.002+01:00

The original Pilsener!

Regent Pivovar (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:25:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:23:00.001+01:00

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

Sumava Region (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:21:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:17:00.002+01:00

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

The video! Excuse voice over!

Maly Pivovar Hotel (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:14:00.002+01:00

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

Lipan Pivovar (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:11:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:06:00.001+01:00

Great place with restaurant and cafe in Cesky Krumlov.

Dudak & Nektar Pivovar (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:05:00.001+01:00

Typical industrial Czech brewery!

Cesky Krumlov Town (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:03:00.002+01:00

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

Cesky Budejovice Town (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:01:00.001+01:00

Budvarka Beer House (Czech Republic)

2009-12-17T13:00:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T12:37:00.002+01:00

And the video...

Van Eecke Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-17T12:26:00.001+01:00

Huyghe Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-17T12:24:00.001+01:00

Het SAS/Leroy Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-17T12:23:00.001+01:00

Struisse @ Deca Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-17T12:22:00.000+01:00

Hertog Jan Brouwerij (Netherlands)

2009-12-17T11:55:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T10:53:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-12-17T10:42:00.004+01:00

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)

2009-12-16T20:00:00.000+01:00

La Villette Restaurant (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:58:00.001+01:00

La Roche en Ardennes (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:57:00.000+01:00

Kulminator Cafe (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:55:00.002+01:00

In der Vrede (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:54:00.001+01:00

Den Dyver Restaurant (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:53:00.002+01:00

Delirium Cafe (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:52:00.001+01:00

Bruxelles (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:51:00.003+01:00

Bouillon Castle (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:51:00.001+01:00

Bastogne (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:49:00.002+01:00

Bellevaux Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:25:00.000+01:00

Les Trois Fourquets Restaurant & Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:24:00.000+01:00

De Dolle Brouwers Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:23:00.001+01:00

La Rulles Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:23:00.000+01:00

Millevertus Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:13:00.000+01:00

Grain d'Orge Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:12:00.001+01:00

Timmermans Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:12:00.000+01:00

Du Pont Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:06:00.000+01:00

Frites Vans! (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:05:00.001+01:00

La Vieille Forge Hotel & Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:04:00.000+01:00

Cantillon Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:02:00.002+01:00

Rodenbach Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:01:00.002+01:00

Rohardushof Estaminet (Belgium)

2009-12-16T19:00:00.003+01:00

Ypres Area (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:59:00.004+01:00

Brunehaut Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:58:00.003+01:00

Rochefort Brouwerij (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:58:00.002+01:00

Achouffe Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:56:00.003+01:00

Drei Fonteinen Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:55:00.001+01:00

Silenrieux Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:54:00.001+01:00

Marckloff/La Ferme au Chene (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:52:00.003+01:00

Fantome Brasserie (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:52:00.002+01:00

Chimay Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:51:00.001+01:00

www.chimay.be

Orval Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:49:00.001+01:00

www.orval.be

Rochefort Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:46:00.001+01:00

Westmalle Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:45:00.003+01:00

Westvleteren Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:45:00.002+01:00

Achel Trappiste Abbey (Belgium)

2009-12-16T18:42:00.002+01:00

Achel Trappiste Abbey

Latest News - 2010 Tours

2009-12-08T12:43:00.017+01:00

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)

2009-12-07T16:29:00.004+01:00

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

2009-12-07T16:14:00.006+01:00

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

2009-12-07T15:53:00.002+01:00

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

2009-12-07T15:47:00.003+01:00

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

2009-12-07T15:16:00.009+01:00

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

2009-12-07T14:57:00.002+01:00

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!

2009-12-03T11:46:00.010+01:00

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

2009-11-27T12:35:00.003+01:00

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

New Style Website!

2009-11-24T04:37:00.000+01:00

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

2009-11-17T13:01:00.005+01:00

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

Bruxelles Special Beer Tour (PM-091121) Final Itinerary

2009-11-17T12:54:00.009+01:00

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

2009-11-12T14:36:00.001+01:00

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

2009-11-10T13:19:00.004+01:00

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)

2009-11-02T08:01:00.005+01:00

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)

2009-10-30T16:11:00.007+01:00

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!

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

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

Bamberg Special Beer Tour (SB-091007)

2009-10-30T15:29:00.006+01:00

This tour was for the Thirsty Swagman and their no-holds-barred Euro Hard 'n' Fast tour, a 10-day tour across Europe's bars and clubs.
Thought we'd give 'em a bit of much needed Beer Culture and hooked up with them to show them around Bamberg's breweries and pubs!
Where did we go then?
Can't remember actually! Just joking....we had an evening out and a Bamberg 'walkabout' picking up the main places in Bamberg and yes, we even visited the rose garden (!!??).

Greifenklau Brauerei. The beer garden was excellent, weather just about okay to sit outside!
Schlenkerla Tavern. After Greifenklau it was time for some serious smoked beer (German=Rauchbier)!
St Michaelsberg. Great views from the beer garden and some great beer-Mahrs Ungespundetes (can you say that again?!).
Klosterbräu Brauerei. Lunch and a few wets at the famous monastery brewery in Bamberg. We made it just as/before the kitchen closed at 2pm! Brewing since around 1333.
Spezial Brauerei.

Cheers guys and good to meet you all!

Franconia Beer Run!

2009-10-30T15:27:00.001+01:00

After an awesome time in southern Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol, it was time to get back up to Franconia and return empty barrels from our August festival in Zwevegem/Belgium.
Barrels had been stored in Herr Scheubel's Sternbräu brewery in Schlüsselfeld and after loading up it was back to the windy country roads of Franconia or Franken in German!

First stop was Buttenheim and St Georgen brewery, then Hebendanz in Forchheim. Then it was onto Hofmann (Höhenschwarz), Kanone (Schnaittach) and Maisels in Bayreuth.

Final stop was Grasser brewery /Brauerei in Huppendorf, overnighting in their guesthouse and a few beers and some excellent food! Next morning after an early look around their brewery and it was onto Bamberg and Klosterbräu to return the last of the barrels, check-in and a few wets in Spezial before a much needed break for a day!

Cheers!
Andy@bier-mania.com

Oktoberfest 2009 & Alps Special (MB-091002)

2009-10-30T15:26:00.002+01:00

Our 4th and last tour of the 'Oktoberfest Season' was another 4-day tour taking in Andechs Monastery, Neuschwanstein and Höhenschwangau, Ettal Monastery, Oberammergau and Maximillians Brewpub, Munich and Oktoberfest 2009.
Servus!

Oktoberfest 2009 & Alps Special (MB-090925)

2009-10-30T15:23:00.003+01:00

Our 3rd tour of the 'Oktoberfest Season' was a 4-day tour taking in Andechs Monastery, Neuschwanstein and Höhenschwangau, Ettal Monastery, Oberammergau and Maximillians Brewpub, Munich and Oktoberfest 2009.
Servus!

Oktoberfest 2009 (MB-090923)

2009-10-30T15:20:00.002+01:00

This tour was our 2nd Oktoberfest tour this year and we were again in the glorious Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt!

Great European Beer Tour (PM-090911) Photos

2009-10-30T14:57:00.009+01:00

Where did we go?

Frankfurt-Schlüsselfeld (Sternbräu Brewery)-Bamberg (UNESCO)-Kulmbach-Neuhaus-Windichechenbach-Overnight Zoigl Land (Germany)
Pilsen Urquell Brewery-Overnight Prague
Prague Castle-Strahov Brewery-PRague (UNESCO)-Overnight Prague (Czech Republic)
Zvikov Castle and Brewery-Lipan Brewery-Budweis Brewery-Overnight Cesky Budejovice (CZ)
Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO) and Eggenberg Brewery-Sumava Scenic Drive-Schnapps Museum!-Overnight Eck Brewery Guesthouse (Germany)
Zwiesel Brewery-Braunau-Salzburg (UNESCO)-Augustiner Brewery-Overnight Salzburg (Austria)
Kehlstein (Eagles Nest)-Tegernsee-Oberammergau-Overnight Zum Stern, Oberammergau (Germany)
Ettal Monastery-Plansee (Austria)-Neuschwanstein Castle-Andechs Monastery-Munich-Overnight München (Germany)
Munich walkabout and Hofbräuhaus-Overnight München
Oktoberfest 2009-Overnight München
End tour, München

Latest News

2009-10-30T14:26:00.005+01:00

Hello Everyone,
You must be wondering whether I came back from all our tours over the last 6 weeks! Well, I did, eventually!
Over the next posts we will be sharing our photos and experiences with you from all our tours, hope you enjoy them! We are now using just Flickr for our online photo albums from all our tours.

Photo is from Budweis Brewery in Czech Republic! Will the real Budweiser please stand up, please stand up...
So where did we go since the beginning of September?

The 1st tour was an 11-day classic Great European Beer Tour & Oktoberfest 2009. We visited Germany, Czech Republic and Austria and ended the tour in Munich and the first weekend of the Oktoberfest.

2nd tour was a 4-day Oktoberfest 2009 & Alps Special tour.

The 3rd tour was a 2-day Oktoberfest 2009 tour for 17 people from a UK company.

Our 4th and final tour in Munich was another 4-day Oktoberfest 2009 & Alps Special.

After a beer barrel run in Franconia when we dropped off 20 empty barrels from our August beer festival in Zwevegem, we reolcated to Bamberg.

Our final Bavaria tour and our 5th tour was in Bamberg for the Thirsty Swagman's Euro Hard 'n' Fast tour.

Finally we have just completed our 6th tour in 6 weeks-another 10-day Great Belgium Beer Tour to Belgium and Northern France.

Next.....a Belgium Beer Night in Germany tomorrow night!

So keep on reading over the next few days!
Cheers for now,
Andy@bier-mania.com

Responsible Drinking

2009-09-08T14:06:00.004+02:00

We're getting very excited about Oktoberfest this year, it is now our 3rd year running our Okoberfest & Alps Sepcial tours and we are very very excited.
It is now it is only 11 long long days until the 177th festival, we have already been traing at this yea's Annafest in the Forchheim's Kellerwald!
As part of this year's Oktoberfest Training Package (OTP), it is recommended that you learn certain things before the Big O and we believe it very important to drink responsibly.
This is important or certain things happen to your eyes (the lads at least!).......

Before 6 Mass beers (steins to you and me).....

After 6 Mass beers...

You have been warned!

Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt

2009-09-08T13:11:00.004+02:00

So where is the Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt then? For the lads, approach from the north, for the ladies turn left at the handbag shop by the large steeple on church, the sun shoud be behind you (if in the morning).
Hacker is the 4th tent on the right. Good luck and see you there!

Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special (MB-091002)

2009-09-07T22:34:00.003+02:00

For those of you on our Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special to the Bavarian/Austrian Alps and Munich's Oktoberfest from Friday 02-Monday 05 September 2009, the Final Itinerary is now out!
Looking forward to seeing you all in Munich!
Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest 2009 (MB-090923)

2009-09-07T22:31:00.002+02:00

For those of you on our Oktoberfest 2009 tour to Munich on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September, the Final Itinerary is now out!
Looking forward to seeing you all in the Hacker-Pschorr Fetszelt!
Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special (MB-090925)

2009-09-07T22:30:00.002+02:00

For those of your on our Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special, the Final Itinerary is now out.
Looking forward to the tour.
Cheers,
Andy

Great European Beer Tour (PM-090911) Final Itinerary NOW OUT!

2009-09-07T22:03:00.012+02:00

Well it's that time! Off on the road for a month of tours starting on Friday with the amazing 11-day Great European Beer Tour starting (Friday 11-Monday 21 September 2009).
For those on the tour, the Final Itinerary is now OUT!

So for those who aren't on the tour, a brief outline to what you are missing out on! Don't worry, we run the tours all year on demand, just shoot us an email andy@bier-mania.com
You will also be able to see tour photos via this blog.

Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Friday 11 September 2009
Frankfurt Airport-Sternbräu (breakfast)-Bamberg-Kulmbach-Zoigl @ Windischechenbach
Overnight-Windischechenbach
Day 2 Saturday 12 September
Pilsen (CZ)-Prague (CZ)
Overnight-Prague
Day 3 Sunday 13 September
Prague Walkabout!
Overnight-Prague
Day 4 Monday 14 September
Zvikov-Lipan-Budweis
Overnight-Budweis
Day 5 Tuesday 15 September
Cesky Krumlov-Sumava Scenic Drive-Eck
Overnight-Eck Brauereigasthof
Day 6 Wednesday 16 September
Zwiesel Dampfbierbraueri-Braunau-Salzburg
Overnight-Salzburg
Day 7 Thursday 17 September
Ber´chtesgarten and Eagles Nest-Tegernsee-Oberammergau
Overnight-Oberammergau
Day 8 Friday 18 September
Etal Kloster-Neuschwanstein-Andechs-Munich
Overnight-Munich
Day 9 Saturday 19 September
Munich Walkabout!
Over night-Munich
Day 10 Sunday 20 September
Oktoberfest @ Hacker-Pschorr beer tent
Overnight-Munich
Day 11 Monday 21 September
Tour ends!

Tour Map
See our tour map

View PM-090911 Great European Beer Tour in a larger map

Cheers,
Andy

Bier-Mania! Cultural Beer Tours-Latest News

2009-09-07T22:03:00.009+02:00

Hello Everyone,
Just to let you know what we are currently up to, gonna be a busy 4-6 weeks on the road!
Tours kick in Frankfurt airport this coming Friday morning with an 11-day Great European Beer Tour & Oktoberfest 2009 covering Germany, Czech Republic and Austria. We then have 3 further Oktoberfest tours in Munich after which it is Bamberg from 06-09 October, we finally come back on Friday 9th October to Düsseldorf!

Just for good measure we then have our 10-day Great Belgium Beer Tour the following week from Friday 16-Sunday 25 October, this tour starts and ends in Düsseldorf and takes in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France! Awesome!

Take it easy and be good to see you on a tour!
Cheers,
Andy

Postman Pat

2009-09-04T15:11:00.005+02:00

For those of you not from Blighty, you may be thinking what/who/why is Postman Pat?
Well, as his name suggests, he is a postman and his name is Pat. And he has a cat.
On our Franconia & Annafest tour in July we had a lovely lady from the States who was a postman/woman. I just couldn't stop singing the song as we drove merrily along Franconia's country roads....
So here goes, when you have your next German 'Stein', you'll find yourself humming the tune. Maybe!
Cheers,
Andy

Love this Job!

2009-09-04T00:33:00.004+02:00

Is this THE photo!
'Big' Mike and 'Big' Andy.
It was taken on our August tour to Franconia & Annafest and just about sums up our tours, great people, a good laugh and some awesome travel. Oh and of course beer!
Awesome job, love it!
Cheers!
Andy

International Streekbierenfestival 2009

2009-09-02T22:11:00.006+02:00

Hello Guys,
Well, we went to the International Streekbierenfestival. Was it good? Yes it was, very good in fact and we had a great time along with some 30 other brewers from both Belgium and the Netherlands.
Thanks go to Yvan and his team for organising one hell of a slick festival, again the weather was perfect, the music was good and the beer was flowing.
What was the my favourite beer we had on? Must be the Weissenhohe Altfränkische beer, absolutely delicious! Funnily enough the 15 litres sold out pretty fast.
Cheers and enjoy the photos!

Franconia & Annafest 2009 (SB-090801)

2009-09-02T21:32:00.006+02:00

Our second Annafest tour this year was from Friday 31 July (Friday was a 'training day' in Bad Windsheim!) and ended on Thursday 06 August. We have now finally got the photos online from the tour.
Another great tour, great weather, great people and hope to see you next year in Belgium!
Cheers guys.

Enjoy....