Beer-centric long weekend destinations in Europe

[DiamondEcho]

This has been split off from a topic on the craft-beer scene in Estonia, that continued onto discussing other European cities that would similarly make good long w/e destinations.
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10554

In the above post I listed:
-----------------------------------
'ideal candidate destination if anyone wanted to list beer-centric long-weekends on the continent, that combined:
- very good beer
- ditto history/culture/food
- decent hotels that needn't break the bank
- overall value for money
- simple/relatively simple access from the UK
Which brings to mind - beer being the primary driver - Berlin, Cologne, Munich/Nurenberg, Budapest, Riga (Latvia) - in no particular order. Each tick the top 4/5 of the^. 5/5, access varies according to where one might be based in the UK.
Oslo also has a great newly emerging craft beer scene but a trip there is not going to tick the 'value for money' box for most. Prague I've yet to get to.
In fact why don't I split this off into a separate topic for continental beer-centric long weekends? As I'm sure there are other suggestions that have yet to cross my radar.
--------------------------------------
Are there any other destinations that could be added? Anyone been to Poland - I've heard [spelling] Breslau/Wroclaw is a very nice city to visit, but is there any decent beer ie notably better than Tyskie/Zywiec. Maybe we could piece together a hypothetical continent-wide itinerary, and the next Lemon who wins the lottery can hire the coach

[JMN2]

Bruges: a fairy-tale place with canals, good food and beer.
Gent is very nice too and can be combined with Bruges (and Brussels).
Prague: good food and beer.

Hearty comfort food, good beer. All three have old world charm.

https://youtu.be/bDErK6iOG3Q

[Slarti]

I've heard some rumours that there are good selections for beers in Munich

There are also plenty of other things to see, like the German science museum, BMW Welt, The Residence/Treasury. Just avoid the Qctoberfest, in September.

Slarti

[BrummieDave]

For a different twist on an old friend, try Berlin; I don't need to add anything about culture, history or mainstream beers, but there are two other newer additions that I've enjoyed recently.

A Craft Beer Tour run by an American no less, who takes you on a journey, physically and in story, of the rise of newer brewers and their development against the backdrop of the major breweries protectionist activities: http://www.berlincraftbeerexperience.com/

And the daddy of all craft brewers, Stone, has chosen Berlin as its first non-US location and it's brewery is very much well worth the trip: http://www.stonebrewing.eu/

[DiamondEcho]

I've heard some rumours that there are good selections for beers in Munich
There are also plenty of other things to see, like the German science museum, BMW Welt, The Residence/Treasury. Just avoid the Qctoberfest, in September. Slarti

Ah yes Munich, something about Bavaria and a 500yo culture of brewing, or summink like that
Munich itself struck me as ultra-urban and interesting for a few days but there's reasons it's never made the status of a long-w/e destination in it's own right. I suspect it got bombed flat in WW2 and it shows, it can be pretty soul-less, the street vibe can be a bit edgy too. But, an hour away by train (like say London>Cambridge or Oxford) is Nuremberg and it is a gem of a destination. Small enough to be entirely walkable. Much lower-rise, more open space. Hotels much less than Munich prices. All the F+B you'll find in Munich, and often better/more authentic/less expensive. Just a *lot* more chilled out. Intact culture/history, wonderful HUGE castle, etc. I've been twice with my wife and a group of friends and it's been great; I'd go again 'any day'. Damn, those sausages!

[stewamax]

Bremen: Ryanair from Stansted and a cheap tram into the centre.
Becks and Haake Becks (made by the same monster brewery but different in taste and history) are, of course, everywhere. But, if you ignore their InBev provenance, Becks and many others - especially the weissbiers - can be enjoyed in the Viertel (the buzzy quarter), the old town around the RatHaus and Schnoor, and in summer idyllically along the Weser.

The trip around the Becks brewery (with sampling afterwards) is good value too.

[DiamondEcho]

Speaking of brewery tours I wondered if Czech Budweiser [Budvar] do one... yes indeed.
http://www.budejovickybudvar.cz/en/proh ... ovaru.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_ ... ohemi.html

[redsturgeon]

The Cantillon brewery in Brussels is worth a visit.

A small family run brewery making only lambic beers for over 100 years.


https://www.cantillon.be/visites?lang=fr

John

[AleisterCrowley]

I have been to Brussels a few times , mainly for beer, and enjoyed it. It's not the prettiest of cities

[DiamondEcho]

I have been to Brussels a few times , mainly for beer, and enjoyed it. It's not the prettiest of cities

Which reminds me, when Eurostar was quite new/novel I went on a day-trip to Lille, France. Living in London at the time it was simple enough. Interesting city, good food and a lot of good beer with plenty from Belgium. I'd do that again but make it into an overnight trip, if not a couple of night. Maybe book a nice hotel, research a few trad/local restaurants etc. hmmm yes, think that wld make a simple long w/e away...

What I'd AVOID doing is what unknowingly happened last time; visiting on a bank holiday. Perhaps 1/2-2/3 of local businesses were shuttered, and the place did feel rather rather like a ghost town

[JMN2]

I once had a weekend in Lille in the early 00's, nice food, nice beer bars, a brewpub and a good beer shop. Being close to Belgium there is Flammekuechen too.

[JMN2]

I once had a weekend in Lille in the early 00's, nice food, nice beer bars, a brewpub and a good beer shop. Being close to Belgium there is Flammekuechen too.

Flammekuechen being Alsatian dish of course.

[DiamondEcho]

Flammekuechen being Alsatian dish of course.

A staple of Berlin beer-gardens in the summer.

[AleisterCrowley]

I once had a weekend in Lille in the early 00's, nice food, nice beer bars, a brewpub and a good beer shop. Being close to Belgium there is Flammekuechen too.

Flammekuechen being Alsatian dish of course.

I prefer the version made with rottweilers - bit more 'meaty'

[dspp]

I'll second Bruges / Brugge, and Berlin.

Let me add in a non-city option. Go to Dorset or Somerset and spend a pleasant weekend visiting untied country pubs and microbreweries. Heaven.

regards, dspp

[swill453]

The Cantillon brewery in Brussels is worth a visit.

A small family run brewery making only lambic beers for over 100 years.

Yes, went there a couple of years ago. Love the way they put the brew mixture on a big tray in the attic and just open the windows so the airborne yeast can get to it.

In a nice and dodgy area of Brussels too, plenty of cheap Asian/African snack eateries around.

Scott.

[UncleIan]

Let me add in a non-city option. Go to Dorset or Somerset and spend a pleasant weekend visiting untied country pubs and microbreweries. Heaven.

Or a nice English market town with a fair selection of pubs, maybe tie it in with a beer festival or a real ale steam train or something.

[JMN2]

Let me add in a non-city option. Go to Dorset or Somerset and spend a pleasant weekend visiting untied country pubs and microbreweries. Heaven.

Or a nice English market town with a fair selection of pubs, maybe tie it in with a beer festival or a real ale steam train or something.

IIRC there is a beer festival in Norwich at the end of May.