European Beer-cation?

If it's your first European beer trip, Belgian is probably the only real option. That said, I think there is more to be gained from a visit to England. 99% of the beers in Belgium make it to the US now, and Belgian bars are primarily about bottles, not taps. So you're mostly drinking the same stuff. Of course there is tons of value in the setting and historical nature of it all, but the beer is the beer. With England, you're getting all those glorious fresh cask ales that mostly don't make it to the US, or are just a shell of their former selves by the time they do.

 

I'd go to Prüm in the Eifel region of Germany where I could drink Bitburger on tap at some of the best Gasthauses on the planet! Of course Belgium is only a few short klicks down the road so I'd visit there also.

 

A loop through Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic is pretty easy to do and would be my choice. Start in Brussels, then a 2 hour trip to Cologne and Duesseldorf for fresh Kolesch/Alt, then down the Rhine a bit and east to Bamberg; from Bamberg to Prague and then maybe back through Leipzig for some fresh Gose (and, likely, some good Berliner Weisse); then hit Dortmund for a layover (and some good Dortmunder Export) on the way back to Brussels.

 

Hello. Scotland for me. I love single malts and of course there's BrewDog. Enough said. I could spend the rest of my life there. I also have a thing for redheads.....

 

Thank you for posting this! I found this link because I am trying to figure out where to take my first European beer vacation. I have narrowed it down to England-Belgium-Netherlands, and Germany-Czech Republic...focusing on festival dates respectfully. The problem for me is that all my friends are married or poor. So I might have to fly solo, or with a group tour of some kind. If anybody knows of any good options for a first-timer, please feel free to contact me. Thanks in advance!

 

Cool. If you need any Bamberg tips (beer-related or otherwise...accommodations, butchers, bakers, late-night surprisingly delicious pizza slices...) let me know.

 

Definitely Belgium and Germany for me.

 

This is the answer! If there is less time Belgium, Düsseldorf and Cologne work out nicely as everything is nice and close.

 

Belgium or the UK. The UK has some of the extreme brewing so common in the US, but tons of amazing real ale. Plus I love English and Scottish pubs.

 

Germany is top of my list, with the UK slightly behind. Belgium can wait.

 

Need an "all the above" button But I'd go Belgium and Germany. Prague was awesome and I would go back. Switzerland was great. London fantastic.

 

BELGIUM.

 

Denmark, for the opportunity to experience the craft beer subculture and taste many many beers on draught that never reach North America.

 

UK and Germany, wish Fuller's and Ayinger had pubs in Gettysburg.

 

UK edges out the Czech Republic by a hair.

 

Belgium - obvious.
Germany - The Abbey Weihenstephan looks so beautiful, and I think it would be an amazing visit, then theres the beer.
UK - I wanna have some true real ale

If I go to Italy, Itll be for wine and food. Plus my family already has been begging me. Free room and board

 

I think you might be disappointed. It's on a light industrial estate and isn't particularly scenic. At least not in the beer garden. I wouldn't have bothered going if I'd known what it looked like.

 

then ill go to that other huge castle, Neuschwanstein.

 

Stop at Kloster Andechs on your way then!