MAY 11 - 17, 2025
BIÈRES
ON THE
FRONTIÈRES
TOUR OVERVIEW
On a 1993 visit to Brussels, Joel Shelton “discovered” Cantillon lambic. The bottles he brought home inadvertently kick-started an importing phenomenon that introduced many Americans to their first real sour – or bitter – European ales. Today, his annual pilgrimage brings you face-to-face with key figures of Belgian and French brewing: world-renowned artisans specializing in a wide variety of indigenous styles, from lambics and trappists to the bières de garde, farmhouse saisons and hoppy blondes that define the region’s tradition and terroir.This intensive, one-of-a-kind trek offers more intimacy than a big-box package tour, while adding local history, world class gastronomy, insider irreverence – and now, a taste of genièvre! – to the mix.
DAY 1
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025
WHERE CAN YOU GET A BEER IN THIS TOWN?
This check-in day, but in the evening Joel and ICBT staff will lead all interested guests to the beer bar Moeder Lambic (Fontainas location) for a meet, greet and taste with the company’s founder Jean Hummler. Following our session there may be a further informal bar crawl through central Brussels.
DAY 2
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
Into West Flanders
Our tour begins first thing Monday morning with a short drive from Brussels to the Senne Valley, and Gueuzerie Tilquin. Here we’ll kick off our road trip with a tour and tasting of Tilquin’s unique lambic blends. We then continue west, soon arriving at the legendary Brouwerij de Ranke. We’ll get a private tour of the brewery and then sit down to a generous sampling and casual charcuterie lunch at the fantastic tasting room. Post-lunch we’ll head into West Flanders. Here we’ll pay a visit to the Belhop farm just outside Belgium’s hop capital Poperinge, learning about the local industry and sampling the growers’ own house-made ale in the characterful farmhouse pub. Then we’ll drive into Ypres for our hotel check-in.
In the evening, after witnessing the somber and moving World War 1 “Last Post” remembrance ceremony held nightly within the old city walls, we’ll have our tour’s opening dinner at Les Halles, a beautiful restaurant on Ypres’ historic main square.
DAY 3
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025
Flanders Fields
Before this very full border-crossing beer day, we’ll make a stop at the moving Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, one of Flanders’ many mass resting places for the fallen of World War 1. Following our visit, we’ll drive across the border, to the French-Flanders town of Esquelbecq, honored as France’s “Preferred Village” of 2023. Our own specific preferred attraction here is the placid Brasserie Thiriez. After a tour, tasting, and farmhouse lunch we’ll cross back into Belgium, soon arriving at the famous Trappist monastery Westvleteren. Here we’ll savor its extraordinarily rare ales in the lovely beer garden.
Having ramped up our ABV expectations we’ll make our final stop of the day at Brouwerij de Struise, where we’ll explore the schoolhouse-turned-brewhouse and sample a slew of mostly strong ales. A much-needed free evening in Ypres follows.
DAY 4
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
Concocters Without Borders
Departing Ypres and making our way back east, we’ll enter France again to explore the T.O.S. Distillery, recently founded by Brasserie St-Germain. After a nice little tasting of their revivalist genièvres, we’ll drive further east through the French countryside before arriving at the beautifully-situated Brasserie Au Baron, where we’ll have a tour, tasting and lunch, hopefully on the brewery’s idyllic riverside patio.
In the late afternoon we’ll cross back into Belgium and within a few minutes find ourselves exploring Brasserie de Blaugies. At the impressive state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the original kitchen brewery we’ll uncork some of the world’s most characterful bottle-conditioned ales with members of the family. From Blaugies it’s a short ride to Mons, where we’ll settle in for a dinner on the historic main square, later checking out the local taps or cocktails.
DAY 5
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025
The Wild And The Tamed
In the morning we’ll depart Mons for the short drive to the Lambik-O-Droom, Drie Fonteinen’s impressive blending and aging facility. Here we’ll learn about the company’s unique process, sample a range of lambics, and grab a casual lunch to balance the brew.
From there we’ll return to Brussels, check in, and make a quick turnaround to Brasserie De La Senne, the city’s premier modern-day craft beer producer and home to one of the world’s most highly regarded brewmaster-scholars. Maintaining the tour’s theme of world-class beers paired with casual but mouth-watering fare, we’ll taste some of Belgium’s best hoppy ales and lagers while enjoying the kind of elevated comfort food the region is famous for — at the city’s most exciting new brewpub venue.
DAY 6
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025
WHERE IT ALL STARTED, AND ENDS
Early-bird guests have a chance to explore Brussels’ fascinating neighborhoods, museums, shops, parks, and flea markets by day, while late-partiers finally have a chance to sleep in. But we’ll all need to be ready in mid-afternoon for the ultimate Belgian beer pilgrimage — the tour of Brasserie Cantillon. This always-fascinating exploration and tasting will be followed by a fun stop at nearby brewpub l’Ermitage.
Our tour farewell dinner will be held at Les Brigittines, a Brussels institution and longtime patron of both Cantillon and De La Senne. A celebratory bar crawl closes out the night and tour, traditionally culminating with a round or two at our go-to bar Booze ‘n Blues.
DAY 7
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025
FAREWELL
Our scheduling affords guests the opportunity to attend pre-or-post-tour weekend European beer festivals or spend extra time exploring Brussels. There is no shortage of attractions in the former capitol of Europe, and the city is a very convenient hub for destinations across the continent. Whether guests continue on their travels or return home to the US, ICBT staff will be on hand in the morning to assist with check-out and transit.
BELGIUM & FRANCE 2025 TOUR PRICING
$2100
PER PERSON, BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
(ADD $300 FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY)
**Tour prices are per person and do not include airfare.
*Single occupancy rooms are limited.
More information about the destinations
we'll visit on our tour
**Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented on this webpage. Inner Circle Beer Tours (ICBT) is not responsible for errors in or damages resulting from use of the information contained herein. Information contained on this webpage is subject to change without notice.**
