Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions - September 2002
For my father's 60th birthday, I have been on a quest to find "his favorite beer of all time" as a present. The beer is a Greek beer called Fix (Hellas brewers) and I finally had some when I was in Greece this past summer and, he was right, it IS good. I have spent countless hours scouring every website, book, Q&A section, etc. to find out how to get this shipped to the States. No luck. All avenues seem to point to you as the guru of beer, can you help?
- Trish Mattoff
The easiest way to get Fix would be to have someone in Ontario send you a case of the stuff brewed under license by the Lakes of Muskoka Cottage Brewery. As for the real Greek beer, I'm afraid I don't know how you would get that.
i am in the early stages of planning a beer trip to belgium for the year 2003. i'm looking to you for a few tips. what time of year should i go? how long should i plan to spend in belgium? any pointers on bargain accommodations? should i rent a car or use the train? etc etc. any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. again, this trip is strictly
to visit breweries and experience the beers of belgium. thank you for your time.
- Dave Neheli
Belgium is easy: Go as soon as you can and for as long as you can! But seriously, the time of year shouldn't really matter if you're going for beer and breweries, since most of your time will be spent indoors. A rental car helps you get to out-of-the-way places, and will enable you to carry samples with you, but if you like traveling light and simple, then go for the train. It's cheap and fairly easy, and connects to many buses to get you to where you're going.
Your first task should be to get a copy of 'A Selective Guide to Brussels Bars' by Stephen D'Arcy. (Email Stephen at Stephen.D'Arcy@cec.eu.int for ordering info.) Then start planning your itinerary with specific breweries in mind - this will tell you whether or not you'll need a car. The rest is as easy as drinking beer. Hell, the rest IS drinking beer.
I am having quite a hard time finding organic beer companies in North America.
Do you think you can help? Are there many or only a few? I would love any input and information on the subject! Thanks for your help!
- Lina
There aren't too many organic breweries in North America, but one of the best is Wolavers. They started out as a contract brewing company, but have recently bought the former Otter Creek brewery in Vermont.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for the info about festival in Antwerp. I recall there is a festival in Brussels in early September. Is it Sept. 6-8, 2002? I may have the opportunity to visit Brussels in Sept. and would not want to miss it. I attended two years ago and it was WONDERFUL. Thanks for any info you can provide.
- Karen Bergquist
That's the fest put on by the Confederation of Belgian Brewers. You can find out more at www.beerparadise.be. (BTW, the fest in Antwerp Karen refers to is the 24 Hours of Belgian Specialty Beer, taking place this year on November 2 and 3.)
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