Borefts

It's considered to be the best craft beer festival in Europe by many, so it's really a damn shame to miss it if you're nearby and have the time. Sure, the Copenhagen Beer Celebration and the Swedish thing are bigger, but value-for-money wise Borefts takes the cake. You pay €16 for entrance, including a tasting glass and a few tokens. Here's the brewery/beer list (gets updated):

http://www.brouwerijdemolen.nl/index.php/nl/bierfestival/brouwers-en-bieren.html

So far they have Dutch, Belgian, British, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, French, American, Italian and German on the checklist The cool thing about the Borefts is that every brewery that wants to get in on it, has to brew a festival beer in the same style. This year's theme is whey beer.

 

I have been to many many beer fests and Borfets is tied for the best I have ever been to (The Belgian Fest at Ebenezer's pub does have a special place in my heart/liver). Bodegraven is a gorgous Dutch town and the brewer it's self is very nice. It's everything you can imagine in terms of quaint Dutch. It's a relatively small fest. Many american fests are all you can drink and they end up being sloppy as a result. It's a pay as you go event (tokens) which I really liked. Everyone there is into beer and super friendly. There is also a large group of NL/Belgian Beeradvocates that were awesome to meet up with too. Since it is very small you get some great contact with all the brewers. I was also amazed on how anglo-friendly the fest was. Everyone seemed to speak some English and there was basically no language barrier. Every brewer brought there A+ game to this one last year. So many good ticks and awesome beers.

I cannot reccomend this event highly enough. I am going again this year. LOL.

 

Any recomendations where to stay in Bodegraven for that weekend?

 

You could try this!https://maps.google.nl/maps?hl=nl&i...raven&ei=RO0rUMqDBaKZ0QWgvIGIDg&ved=0CLMBELYD

Thijs

 

Try staying in Leiden or Utrecht.
Borefts is great

 

I've been to the last two Borefts festivals and have enjoyed it tremendously. A nice location under the windmill and next to a canal, not overcrowded like some festivals, an interesting and high quality beer list with booths often manned by the brewers themselves, the people attending the festival behaving themselves nicely unlike some festivals I've been to, a great little beer shop at De Molen where you can pick up a lot of excellent bottles...

It breaks my heart that I won't be able to make it again this year, but I'll certainly try to make it to future Borefts festivals. If I were you, I wouldn't even think twice about going. GO!!! You won't be sorry.

 

You just show up. Not possible to buy tickets ahead.
Great decision, might want to get in some quality beers before you head out to October fest for crap quantity beer.

Wear something nice.

 

Hot diggity! I never understood why Americans were always so fascinated by Oktoberfest. It's just LOTS of swill lager and boobs. Surely, you can get that at Hooters?

 

I do believe that Americans in general look for holidays/reasons to justify their alcohol consumption. I am an American that has owned bars in the past and took full advantage of this need.

Let's be honest, who does not like to see a lovely pair of breasts on a dirndl shelf.

 

From what I read there seem to be way too many laws regarding alcohol consumption over there. Guess that's why so many Americans see Europe as their beer/alcohol Walhalla because they think anything is possible. I saw Jim Breuer (awesome comedian) live in Amsterdam and he had a hilarious bit about the stereotypical loud, obnoxious, drunk and/or high American tourists in Amsterdam. Guess that's how Americans are mostly perceived by us, but since getting into beers, I've met plenty of lovely Americans that have actually done a bit of reading up on Europe and don't have these weird expectations of Europe as one huge party continent where we do nothing but drink trappist, smoke weed and eat bratwurst with sauerkraut.

 

There is a huge difference between the average American beer drinker and the craft beer. I have ABSOLUTELY no desire to go to Octoberfest. If I want to swill lagers with drunk idiots I'll do it at a bar in downtown Boston. When I explain this to many of my friends who know I am into beer and know I am going to Europe in October they look at me like I am crazy. Don't get me wrong I am dying to get to Germany... But I want to go to Bamburg. The same people look at me even more crazy when I say that

I think visiting Belgium to drink beer is under the radar so to speak. There was no beer fest movie for Belgian beer. You basically have to be really into beer to plan a trip to Belgium. Thus you guys arn't gonna get a lot of the American frat boy stuff... Unless you go to Delierum Cafe of course

 

I still hate Kal Penn for being in that

 

but we all agree that Hooters is one of the greatest American contributions to the world.

 

I went to Hooter's in Shanghai. Boobs + Asian + beer = Heaven... I'm in Heaven...

 

I think both the Oktoberfest and the Borefts Festival are great. For very different reasons. You have to accept them as they are. The only drunk at my Oktoberfest table was me.

 

Edited for accuracy.

You'll be there again this year Mike? Friday at opening hour. Friday...

 

Last year I stayed at the tulip inn, but they might be booked now. I'll be taking the train from/to Amsterdamn this year.

Borfets is very small and I hope that it stays that way. I highly recommend it.

The low keyness makes it great to meet old and new friends too.

 

I will be there for sure. Not sure 100% on my plans exactly at this point. My best buddy in London is having some visa related issues and may not get them straightened out in time. He is my usual partner in crime. I may travel with some of his British friends or worst case roll solo. Friday at opening? Doesn't it run till 10 PM!!! Danger! ! !!