Unique Beer Experiences

As you've been to Belgium let me suggest...

Oktoberfest might be an obvious solution, but it is kind of a bucket list item, and it would be awesome! You could all wear traditional Bavarian tracht, go to the fest for two days, and then spend a day or two in Munich and then head to Bamberg for some rauchbier!

Berlin also has a burgeoning beer scene and it's a great modern city...

and Rome has really come up. A trip to Rome is pretty excellent as is, but with all of the new breweries it's really something special. But let me not forget...

Barcelona! A beach town with an amazing gothic quarter, incredible food, and a rapidly growing beer scene - what's not to love? I'd suggest three days in Barcelona and then a flight to Rome for another three.

Prague can be fun as well, especially for New Years. U Fleku and U Medvídku are not to be missed, and Pivovar U Tri ruzi is nice as well, as is the Strahov Monastic brewery - lots of good stuff in Prague and you could also stop by Pilsen on the way if you wanted to.

Another option that I've only started looking into myself is Scandinavia. Apparently there's a beer revolution going on there as well in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

 

Within Bamberg you get the unique opportunity to stay at one of the breweries like Faessla and Spezial. Both operate in a pretty "old school" way (a chalkboard list of guests) and give you a room key and key that freely opens their front door. As a guest you can freely wander around and you get a little bit of a behind the scenes look at how operations work for a pair of family-operated breweries.

I can't think of anything I've experienced that's quite comparable. It isn't exactly life-changing, but it's unique.

 

Depending on the time of year, I would check out the Kellerwald in Forcheim. Easy train ride from Bamberg (or Nuremberg). Basically a 20+ brewery outdoor beer keller in the woods.

 

I don't know if this would be appealing for a stag do or even feasible with a group of that size, but what about a trip in search of the fabled Zoigl? Traditional communal brewing in Bavaria; it would certainly be a unique beer-centered experience.

More info here: http://zoiglbier.de/an-introduction-to-the-tradition-of-zoigl-beer/

This isn't something I've done, so I can't offer much insight. However, there's plenty of info out there for the intrepid beer traveller....

 

Bathing in beer?? Hmm, I'd much rather drink it, but it does fit the unique category!

Is a beer fest in Belgium out of the question? I mean, if I were to book a special trip, then I'd want to go try a lot of amazing beers!! For me, there is no better place than Belgium. Then perhaps some visits to some other breweries? Getting that many people around is going to be tough.

I did enjoy our trip to Rome and found enough of a beer scene there to not be bored. And there is a recent thread that covers this city in great detail.

Knowing the UK doesn't get a lot of beautiful days, I might be inclined to find something tropic.

Can we become quick friends so that I can join?

 

I don't know if tickets are left but the Kerstbierfestival (Belgian Christmas Beer Festival) in Essen (no, not that one, the one on the Belgian/Dutch border!) has always been a blast for me. 150+ beers, all brewed in Belgium and all Winter/Christmas seasonals.

 

This year it is Dec 16 & 17. Generally the 2nd or 3rd weekend in December, depending on the calendar. They try to be not too close to Christmas.

 

What date are you thinking OP??

 

Cologne? For its Festival? I'm unsure but think it's February mind you however when I've looked into it (a few years back hence my memory haze) it'll keep you all buzzing and the beer is decent if not knockout stuff.

Just a thought for you.