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Return of the Belgian Beer Fest, September 17, 2016 in Portland, Maine

Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Boxes & Fests' started by Todd, Jan 28, 2016.

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  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader



    BeerAdvocate Brings its All-Belgian Fest to Portland, Maine

    (January, 27 2016 - Boston, MA) Witbier. Gueuze. Lambic. Dubbel. Tripel. Oud Bruin. Without Belgium, the modern brewing landscape would look very different today. So, to celebrate Belgian beer and its global influence, Jason and Todd Alström, founders of BeerAdvocate, are proud to announce the Return of the Belgian Beer Fest, a new take on their popular festival that ran for many years in Boston.

    The one-day, two-session event will be held on Saturday, September 17 at 58 Fore Street in Portland, Maine, and will feature hundreds of authentic Belgian beers and Belgian-inspired offerings. Once again, we are delighted to be sponsored by Allagash Brewing Company.

    "It's been nearly three years since we last hosted Belgian Beer Fest. During this time, we've seen disturbing trends and sameness flood the market as far too many people set aside their former passion for Belgian beer in favor of the flavor of the month. As honorary Knights of the Brewer's Mash Staff (Belgian Brewers' Guild), we feel it's our duty to revive this acclaimed fest," explains Todd Alström.

    "We're excited to be partnering with our friends at Allagash again," adds Jason Alström. "Our passion for Belgian and Belgian-inspired brews has only grown over the years, and we can't wait to share it with other beer advocates in Portland, Maine."

    Mission and Approach
    Return of the Belgian Beer Fest aims to bring greater awareness to Belgium's significant contributions to beer and brewing by celebrating both authentic Belgian styles and Belgian-inspired offerings. Brewer attendance is required to ensure the highest level of representation and education. And, as always, BA pays for the beer.

    Tickets
    Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 9 at noon EDT for $55 per person and include all beer tastings and access to one of two sessions on September 17: (1–4:30 p.m. and 6–9:30 p.m.). All attendees must be 21+ with a valid ID.

    For updates follow @BeerAdvocate and visit: http://www.beeradvocate.com/belgian/

    ###
     
    #1 Todd, Jan 28, 2016
    Justin207brew, EdmundExley, NTLOPE and 19 others like this.
  2. madtrixter787

    madtrixter787 Zealot (611) Oct 15, 2009 North Carolina

    hell yeah!
     
    #2 madtrixter787, Jan 28, 2016
    Todd and Jason like this.
  3. kfernandez3

    kfernandez3 Devotee (325) May 12, 2013 Connecticut

    Phenomenal opportunity to make bad decisions whilst drinking good beer with great company.
     
    #3 kfernandez3, Jan 28, 2016
    fehrminator, Mantooth, Todd and 1 other person like this.
  4. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,080) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is a very exciting development! Glad you guys are able to make this happen!
     
    #4 Sheppard, Jan 28, 2016
    Todd likes this.
  5. kalosjakar

    kalosjakar Initiate (0) May 5, 2014 Rhode Island

    Going to have to make this!
     
    #5 kalosjakar, Jan 28, 2016
    Todd likes this.
  6. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    I guess the strong dollar helped bring this one back...?

    Just curious, are there any funky Maine laws that influence how one runs a beer fest up there? E.g., MA has the 2oz rule.
     
    #6 emannths, Jan 28, 2016
  7. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Mostly our desire to bring it back brought it back.
    @Jason can better speak to this. He's been researching the innards and recent changes, however, many of our general fest rules may apply regardless.
     
    #7 Todd, Jan 28, 2016
    JrGtr and jbaker67 like this.
  8. Jbrews

    Jbrews Maven (1,478) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire

    As someone who went to the old Belgian fest, 2oz tasters with hundreds to choose from is about all you need. This fest can destroy you worse then EBF.
     
    #8 Jbrews, Jan 28, 2016
  9. K_Awesome_Mo

    K_Awesome_Mo Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2013 New Hampshire

    Super exciting news! Love a good reason to go up to Portland and I've heard so much about the fest in the past! Thanks for bringing it back!
     
    #9 K_Awesome_Mo, Jan 28, 2016
    Todd likes this.
  10. Jduche17

    Jduche17 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2015 Canada (QC)

    i might have to make a trip down to the US
     
    #10 Jduche17, Jan 28, 2016
    VTBrewHound and Todd like this.
  11. jmart1079

    jmart1079 Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Maine

    @Todd I'm just wondering how and where tickets will be available in April. Want to make sure to set a reminder! Thanks!
     
    #11 jmart1079, Jan 28, 2016
  12. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    They'll be at: http://www.beeradvocate.com/belgian/. As we get closer the URL will update with its own page and more info.
     
    #12 Todd, Jan 28, 2016
  13. AronL

    AronL Initiate (0) Nov 3, 2009 Massachusetts

    This is stupendous news!

    Going to make my first BA post to congratulate you guys on an excellent decision :slight_smile:
     
    #13 AronL, Jan 28, 2016
    klalemand likes this.
  14. caldenjones

    caldenjones Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2007 Massachusetts

    Ahhhhh I miss stumbling out of the Cyclorama after downing multiple, MULTIPLE ounces of Kasteel Rouge (among MANY MANY others)
     
    #14 caldenjones, Jan 28, 2016
    RBCORCORAN likes this.
  15. maybury617

    maybury617 Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2009 Massachusetts

    Excellent news! Attended the last one in Boston and was very sad to hear it wasn't being continued.

    Will definitely make the trip up to Maine to attend
     
    #15 maybury617, Jan 29, 2016
  16. MaineBeerMan

    MaineBeerMan Zealot (715) Sep 15, 2002 Maine

    This is great news! I'm certainly planning to attend, this will be my first BA event since the very first one at the Cyclorama. How many years back was that?
     
    #16 MaineBeerMan, Jan 29, 2016
  17. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Awesome. And that would be Art of Beer Festival (AOBF) on May 24, 2003. http://www.beeradvocate.com/events/info/368/
     
    #17 Todd, Jan 29, 2016
    F2brewers likes this.
  18. Mantooth

    Mantooth Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2011 North Carolina

    #18 Mantooth, Feb 2, 2016
    treznor likes this.
  19. bkbeerdude15

    bkbeerdude15 Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2015 New York

    I'm gonna have to make this!! Probably stops at Treehouse and Trillium on the way up. And stops at Bissell Brothers, MBC, and Allagash during non festival times.
     
    #19 bkbeerdude15, Feb 2, 2016
  20. VTBrewHound

    VTBrewHound Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2013 Vermont

    I Hope your province's Unibroue will be there!
     
    #20 VTBrewHound, Feb 2, 2016
  21. Schmizer

    Schmizer Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2015 Wisconsin

    I wish i could. Will be in MN:slight_frown:
     
    #21 Schmizer, Feb 2, 2016
  22. lodonoghue08

    lodonoghue08 Initiate (0) Jan 9, 2011 New Hampshire

    Will you be asking for volunteers for this fest? I volunteer at EBF and ACBF would like to volunteer for this one too! Thanks
     
    #22 lodonoghue08, Feb 2, 2016
  23. tasterschoice62

    tasterschoice62 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,523) May 14, 2014 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yaay! Festival without IPAs!!! Looking forward to Portland in September. Great time of year. Great town. Great Fest!
     
    #23 tasterschoice62, Feb 2, 2016
    Miccal, AronL and blisscent like this.
  24. LankFreudRyte

    LankFreudRyte Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2008 Illinois

    Lobster and beer, now that's a festival.
     
    #24 LankFreudRyte, Feb 3, 2016
    belljt33 likes this.
  25. deltatauhobbit

    deltatauhobbit Pooh-Bah (1,855) Dec 3, 2007 Maine

    A beer fest in Maine worth attending!
     
    #25 deltatauhobbit, Feb 3, 2016
  26. followerofmen

    followerofmen Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2012 Massachusetts

    This shall be my first BA fest as a paid attendee instead of volunteering. I was looking for an excuse to go to Portland this summer/fall. What a perfect birthday present to myself.
     
    #26 followerofmen, Feb 3, 2016
    papat444 and Jason like this.
  27. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    We'll try out best!!
     
    #27 Jason, Feb 9, 2016
  28. kalosjakar

    kalosjakar Initiate (0) May 5, 2014 Rhode Island

    Any idea on the venue? I want to get a hotel in advance, the closer the better.
     
    #28 kalosjakar, Mar 6, 2016
  29. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Venue info is listed in the post.
     
    #29 Todd, Mar 6, 2016
  30. kalosjakar

    kalosjakar Initiate (0) May 5, 2014 Rhode Island

    Fair enough, sorry.. I missed it the address is listed but the venue isn't I'll gooooooogle it. Thanks man.
     
    #30 kalosjakar, Mar 6, 2016
  31. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    It's the actual name of the venue too.
     
    #31 Todd, Mar 6, 2016
  32. bidou333

    bidou333 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2008 Canada (QC)

    Is the plan still to see something on this forum at noon on Saturday in regards to how we can purchase tickets online?
     
    #32 bidou333, Apr 1, 2016
  33. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yes. We'll be pushing an update before tickets go on sale.
     
    #33 Todd, Apr 1, 2016
  34. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Ticket Update: Ticket sales have been pushed to Saturday, April 9 at noon EDT. Before this we'll begin to update the fest website and post an initial list of confirmed brewers. http://www.beeradvocate.com/belgian/
     
    #34 Todd, Apr 1, 2016
    Britt likes this.
  35. bobhuddy

    bobhuddy Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2015 Maine

    How many tickets will be sold for each session?
     
    #35 bobhuddy, Apr 5, 2016
  36. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Subject to adjustments, but we're looking at selling no more than 2,500 tickets per session.
     
    #36 Todd, Apr 5, 2016
  37. Tbub18

    Tbub18 Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2014 New York

    Not sure if I missed it somewhere, but what breweries are in attendance? Would help make my decision easier regarding travel/tickets and such
     
    #37 Tbub18, Apr 9, 2016
  38. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Early days, but here's the current lineup: http://www.beeradvocate.com/belgian/beer/. We're aiming for over 70 brewery/importer booths.
     
    #38 Todd, Apr 9, 2016
    blisscent and Tbub18 like this.
  39. blisscent

    blisscent Savant (1,054) Aug 16, 2015 Rhode Island

    Hope somewhat locals like OEC and Hill Farmstead are able to make it, but whatever the exact lineup, I am sure this will be my favorite festival of the year.
     
    #39 blisscent, Apr 12, 2016
  40. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    #40 Todd, Jun 17, 2016
    Britt and F2brewers like this.
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