Brasserie Cantillon’s next Zwanze Day will take place in 2026 on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Once again, the event is planned for a full global scale.

What is Zwanze Day?

Zwanze day is a biannual event that Cantillon holds, in which they brew a small batch of an experimental beer and offer it for sale in a select group of pubs around the world.  This beer is usually a different style each time, and is something other than a traditional Cantillon lambic.  This allows the brewers to experiment and take part in the fun, semi-sarcastic humor of Brussels, the true meaning of the word zwanze.

Change to Biannual

In 2023, Cantillon decided to change the timing of frequency and timing of Zwanze Day in order to focus on the increased requirements to manage the production of their lambics during the autumn harvest period. Instead of hosting Zwanze Day every year at the end of September, the event will now alternate with Quintessence in April, with either Quintessence or Zwanze Day occurring each year.

Zwanze Beers

In 2026, Cantillon will do something new for Zwanze Day, with two different Zwanze beers being released on tap for the event. Both beers are vermouth blends in collaboration with craft vermouth producer Vermouth Sullivan from Besançon, France. There will be both a Kriek-Vermouth blend as well as a Lambic-Vermouth blend.

I visited the Cantillon brewery in Brussels a number of times throughout 2013, including a visit in September for their Zwanze Day event both at the brewery and at the Moeder Lambic pub in Brussels. One of the best benefits of visiting the brewery in person is that you can often sample beers that are not available for retail sale and take-home consumption, but only for sampling on site. You also have the opportunity to tour the working brewing facilities during your visit, which is quite a treat as this is a true visage of old-time brewing traditional methods.

Cantillon has seen a large amount of growth recently, including the use of Brussels’ old abandoned bomb shelter for cellaring their beers for up to thirty years and an expansion near their current brewing facility that doubled their brewing capacity.  They also recently purchased a large new addition of barrels in which to age their lambics.  This should lead to increased production of their current line of offerings, and hopefully new offerings in the future?

Cantillon Zwanze 2014 – Cuvee Florian

For 2014, the Zwanze beer was called “Cuvée Florian“, and is a blend of Cantillon Oude Kriek, with 40% less fruit, and Iris Grand Cru, aged for three years in a 400-liter cask, with no secondary fermentation.  This beer was initially made as a one-off for Jean van Roy’s son’s 18th birthday, and has now been elevated to Zwanze 2014.

Zwanze 2015 was a spontaneously fermented stout called Wild Brussels Stout.  The beer was initially brewed in March, 2013 and was a candidate for Zwanze 2014, but was held back in favor of the Cuvee Florian.

Zwanze 2016 was a fruity lambic blend of raspberry and blueberry, with the tartness offset by some natural vanilla. This beer seems to have been a predecessor of Magic Lambic.

Zwanze 2017 is going to be an Oolong Tea – Two-year-old Lambic blend, made in honor of the 18th birthday of Jean van Roy’s youngest son, Sylvain.

Zwanze 2018 – The 2018 Zwanze beer, Manneken Pise, is a blend of lambics aged for two years in Amarone, Chianti, and Sangiovese barrels. The barrels impart a woody, wine-like character, with flavors of mango and citrus. The beer is dedicated to the Italian friends of Cantillon who help them to protect the traditional Lambic heritage.

Zwanze 2019 – The 2019 Zwanze beer is a departure from prior years, and will be a unique new beer, a smoked lambic, made with a blend of classic pilsner malts and smoked malts. The beer was brewed in March, 2016 and kegged in January 2018.

Zwanze 2020 – The Zwanze 2020 beer is called Brettrave, which is a play on betterave, the French word for beet. This beetroot Lambic’s color is an intense, almost flourescent red, with a fruity yet quite earthy aroma. The palate is complex, balancing the acidity of the Lambic with the earthy roundness of the beetroot.

For 2021, the Zwanze beer was Parasol, a special blend of lambic and citrus, mostly oranges. This Zwanze is a throwback to a recipe attempted 70 years earlier by Paul Cantillon, the brewer of Cantillon in the 1950’s, and the great grandfather of the current brewing family. The beer will have a thirst-quenching mix of lambic acidity with fresh fruitiness from the citrus, contrasting with the bitterness of the citrus zest.

In 2022, Cantillon Zwanze was a blend of two-year-old lambic and Congolese black pepper. The pepper is called poivre de Gorilles and came from Misao: La Maison des Poivres in Brussels. The pepper is grown wild in the Likouala Forest in the northeastern region of the Republic of the Congo, The forest is home to a number of the endangered Lowland gorillas. As such, a portion of the profits from the year’s Zwanze event were donated to Gorilla, an organization dedicated to protecting the great apes. Poivre de Gorilles is aromatic, but not too spicy. The spice blends nicely with the acidity of the lambic. It will pair well with meat or fish dishes.

The 2022 Zwanze proved so popular that it has now become a regular release from Cantillon known as Ashanti Lambic, with a little more focus on the lambic than the 2022 Zwanze release.

The 2024 Zwanze was a new type of flavor profile for Cantillon. The primary addition to the Zwanze blend was a type of sea lettuce such as is used for abalone farming in Brittany in France. There is a special batch of a few dozen bottles of Cantillon Gueuze lying submerged, aging in the sea near Finistère. The beers are aging in harmony with the local mollusks, who feed on different sorts of algae. This sea lettuce is the best of these algae and seaweeds to bend well with a Lambic, resulting in a perfect reflection of the concept of Zwanze. The Cantillon Zwanze 2024 was a departure from normal lambics, offering more salinity and iodine reminiscent of oysters.

Zwanze Day Locations

The list of bars participating in Zwanze Day, 2024 was released on February 16, 2024. You can find the complete list below. Typically, there is an obligatory 9PM Central European Time start – but be sure to check the release time at the venue you plan to participate at,!

Jean van Roy, Master Brewer at Cantillon, typically leads the ceremonies from the Moeder Lambic – Fontainas pub in Brussels at 9 PM CET.

Here is the video of Jean van Roy introducing Zwanze 2013:

In 2017, the Cantillon, Moeder Lambic, and Magic Land Theater crews put on a rather ornate event surrounding the beer’s release:

Most of these bars will be selling tickets for the event, which often sell out quickly. Contact the pub where you wish to attend to see when tickets will be available and book yours as soon as you can.

Australia
• Wildflower Brewing and Blending – Sydney
• Belgian Beer Café – Westende – Perth

Austria
• Tribaun – Innsbruck
• Ammutson – Vienna

Belgium
• Moeder Lambic Fontainas – Brussels
• Moeder Lambic Saint-Gilles – Brussels
• Le Comptoir Mi-Orge Mi-Houblon – Arlon
• De Gebrande Winning – Sint-Truiden
• Café Pardaf – Antwerpen
• ‘t Brugs Beertje – Brugge

Canada
• Dieu du Ciel – Montréal, QC
• Birreria Volo – Toronto, ON
• Île Sauvage Brewing Co. – Victoria, BC

China
• Beer&Barrel谷木 – Shanghai

South Korea
• Coolship Korea – Seoul

Denmark
• Himmeriget – Copenhagen

France
• La Fine Mousse – Paris
• La Capsule – Lille
• Malt’In Pot – Viry
• Le Bièrographe – Toulouse
• Le Sur Mesure – Nantes
• Orgao Beer House – Lyon

Germany
• Café Herman – Berlin
• Mon Petit Café – Stuttgart

Great Britain
• six°north, The Marine Hotel – Stonehaven
• Moor Beer – Bristol
• That Beer Place – Chester
• Belgium and Blues – Southampton
• Hanging Bat – Edinburgh
• Beermerchants Tap – London
• Parish – Huddersfield
• The Free Trade Inn – Newcastle

Greece
• The Hoppy Pub – Thessaloniki

Italy
• Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà – Roma
• Abbazia di Sherwood – Caprino Bergamasco
• LambicZoon – Milano
• The Drunken Duck – Quinto Vicentino
• Bluebeat – Lecce
• Birre & Mondo Crudele – Crema
• Storie di Pinte – San Lazzaro
• Mosaik Beer House – Catania
• Diorama – Firenze

Japan
• Cafe Lembeek – Nagoya
• Champ de Soleil – Tokyo
• Craft Beer Base Mother Tree – Osaka

New Zealand
• Garage Project – Wellington

Poland
• Biala Malpa – Katowice
• Szynkarnia – Wroclaw

Portugal
• Catraio – Porto

Spain
• Masia Agullons – Sant Joan de Mediona
• Chinaski Lavapiés – Madrid
• Homo Sibaris – Barcelona
• Cierzo – Zaragoza
• Desy, Donostia-San Sebastián

Sweden
• Zum Franziskaner – Stockholm

Switzerland
• Bière Café Au Trappiste – Bern

United States
• Armsby Abbey — Worcester, MA
• Beer Study — Durham, NC
• Beer Temple — Chicago, IL
• Bottlecraft Little Italy — San Diego, CA
• Brick Store — Atlanta, GA
• Craft Wine & Beer — Reno, NV
• Crooked Stave — Denver, CO
• De Garde Brewing — Tillamook, OR
• DeCiccio’s — Somers, NY
• Delaware Supply — Albany, NY
• Great Northern Bottle Shop — Bellingham, WA
• Holy Grale — Louisville, KY
• Lupulo — Santa Cruz, CA
• Monk’s Café — Philadelphia, PA
• Novare Res Bier Café — Portland, ME
• Pour Company — Moscow, ID
• Redlight — Orlando, FL
• Russian River Brewing — Santa Rosa, CA
• Sante Adairius Portal — Oakland, CA
• Schera’s — Elkader, IA
• Side Project Brewing Cellar — Maplewood, MO
• Silver Stamp — Las Vegas, NV
• Spuyten Duyvil — Brooklyn, NY
• The Sovereign — Washington D.C.
• The Veil Brewing Co. — Richmond, VA
• The Whale — Greenville, SC
• Village Beer — Honolulu, HI
• Yazoo — Madison, T

What is Open Barn Days?

Boerenerf Open Barn Days, or Open Schuurdagen, is the September release of lambic beers and meads by Boerenerf. Boerenerf is one of the oldest names in lambic brewing that returned to the scene in 2020. This weekend-long event, timed in conjunction with the nearby Open Beer Days at 3 Fonteinen. At the event, visitors can visit the historic Boerenerf farm in the Zenne Valley and taste and purchase their wide range of lambics and meads.

When is Open Barn Days, 2025?

Boerenerf Schuurdagen, or Open Barn Days, will take place from September 5 – 7, 2025. The farm will be open for the autumn release each day from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Will there be exclusive beers at Open Barn Days?

There will be two special bottles released at the brewery only available for tasting on-site during the event. One of these will be a ginger Gember Geuze, and the other will be an Ambrosia Raspberry blend.

Will the normal beers also be available at the Autumn Release?

Yes, at the Boerenerf Open Barn Days, in addition to being able to taste the two exclusive, special blends at the event, you can also buy bottles and packs of the normal classic range of Boerenerf lambic blends and meads. You can also pre-order packs to be delivered or picked up in person at the event.

Boerenerf
Sollenberg 3
1654 Huizingen

How to get to Boerenerf

Boerenerf is a 2-minute walk or a short-drive from 3 Fonteinen lambik-O-droom. Or, you can take the R10 bus from Lot station or on the walk between the breweries.

What is 3 Fonteinen Open Beer Days?

Open Beer Days is an annual event that is held by 3 Fonteinen Brewery at the lambik-O-droom in Lot, Belgium. The event dates back to 2010. This is the best opportunity for the general public to visit and tour the brewery and barrel house while taking in the offerings of the public tasting room and shop. The event started at the old brewery in Beersel, moving to the lambik-O-droom in 2016.

When is the 3 Fonteinen event?

The Open Beer Days take place on the first weekend in September each year. The 2025 3 Fonteinen Open Beer Days will take place from Friday, September 5 – Sunday, September 7, 2025. This will be the 17th edition of the event. The Open Beer Days take pace from noon until 8:00 PM on these days.

What to expect at Open Beer Days?

Open Beer Days at 3 Fonteinen is the perfect opportunity for the public to tour the workings of one of the best lambic houses in the Pajottenland. There are tours over the entire weekend where you can explore the 3 Fonteinen brewery and barrel house. Lambic lovers from around the world gather in Lot over this weekend to catch up with each other, visit the brewery, and sample some special beers that are made available just for the event. Admission including the to the Open Beer Days, including the tour, is free. Guided tours take place each day at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM.

In addition to the normal fun of sitting with fell beer enthusiasts sampling some of the outstanding range of 3 Fonteinen beers or enjoying a tour of the brewery, there will also be two workshops if you are looking in enhance your knowledge and skills at blending geuze. In the “Blend Your Own Geuze” session, you get to blend ad take home bottles of your own private blend, and there will also be a workshop on whisky cask finishes. Follow the Open Beer Days Facebook page for more information on this workshop as it unfolds.

The beers available for drinking at the lambik-O-droom during “OBD” are usually more exclusive than the normal menu offerings. Along with the normal offerings, there are often special and vintage editions of beers such as Zenne y Frontera and the Spelling van het Lot (Twist of Fate) series of special experimental batches. In 2025, there will be four Cash Finishes releases, of unique geuzes finished in barrels that previously held a local spirit from around Europe, as well as a new release called Zotte Kadeeën. Zotte Kadeeën is a la,bic-cider blend, with a rhubarb-macerated lambic blended with Famille Dupont’s Triple Cider.

There are also often vintage and exclusive bottles available to buy in the shop during the event. While the lambic world has changed a bit and lineups such as the one at the 2013 Open Beer Days may never be seen again, great bottles will definitely be available during the weekend.

Also, in addition to the beer, there are also food vendors and entertainment to make this more than just a beer tasting, but a full-scale weekend event!

How to get to 3 Fonteinen lambik-O-droom

The 3 Fonteinen lambik-O-droom is located in Lot, Belgium, around 10 miles southwest of the center of Brussels. You can get there by train in under 30 minutes. You can also drive there, but parking can get crowded during the event.

By Train, take the S2 Hal / Halle & Braine-le-Comte / ‘s-Gravenbrakel from Brussels Central Station or Brussels Zuid/Midi Station to Station Lot (4 stops from Central, 3 stops from Zuid/Midi), then it is a short 5-10 minute walk to the lambik-O-droom.

How much does 3 Fonteinen Open Beer Days Cost?

Admission to the Open Beer Days at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen is free. The tour of the brewery is also free. Workshops are ticketed events, with a fee of 90 euros for the “Blend Your Own Geuze” workshop. Bottles for drinking at the event can be purchased with cash or credit card inside the lambik-O-droom and picked up at the tent outside. Bottles are also available for purchase to take home in the shop. Bringing outside beers is discouraged, at times even forbidden, so it may be wise to leave your own bottles at home.

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen | lambik-O-droom
Molenstraat 47, 1651 Beersel, Belgium

Erin’s piece inspired me to finally put together a post discussing the six different Trappist monasteries in Belgium that produce the world-famous Trappist beers.  So far, I have visited five of the six Trappist monasteries / breweries in Belgium. And I plan to complete my Belgium Trappist beer tour with a visit the sixth monastery (Orval) sometime this summer. (Note: We finally visited Orval in September, 2017, following the 2017 Cantillon Zwanze Day at Moeder Lambic in Brussels)

Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

The six Trappist breweries in Belgium are:

• St. Benedictus-Abbey (Achelse Kluis) in Achel, Belgium – Achel Beer (NOTE: No longer an official Trappist brewery as they no longer have any monks supervising the beer production and the brewery has since been sold to a private party)
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Chimay, Belgium – Chimay Beer
• Abbaye d’Orval in Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium – Orval Beer
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy in Rochefort, Belgium – Rochefort Beer
• Sint-Sixtusabdij in Westvleteren, Belgium – Westvleteren Beer
• Abdij van de Trappisten van Westmalle in Westmalle, Belgium – Westmalle Beer

As seen from the Belgian Trappist breweries map, the six breweries are evenly split between the French-speaking Wallonia and the Dutch/Flemish-speaking Flanders regions of Belgium. Achel, Westmalle, and Westvleteren are from Flanders, while Chimay, Orval, and Rochefort are in Wallonia.

Visiting Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

The only one of the five monasteries / breweries I visited where you can actually visit the brewery itself was Achel, which is also the closest to where I live in Eindhoven, making it for me the best Trappist brewery to visit in Belgium.

Rochefort was the only other monastery where I was actually able to visit into the actual monastery, but that was a very special open-house event where the monastery was raising funds for renovations, which may require to buy items from sites like Concrete Polishing Perth. On my previous visits to the abbey, I was not able to get any further than the front gate of the monastery.

At Chimay, Westmalle, and Westvleteren, a visit is actually a visit to a cafe / visitor’s center located in close proximity to the monastery and brewery. Both Westmalle and Westvleteren have cafes located just across the street from the monastery. Chimay’s Espace Chimay, or Chimay Experience, is 250-meters away from the abbey. Achel also has a cafe within the walls of Achelse Kluis. There was no cafe or visitor’s center of any sort at Rochefort, but we found a great cafe in town, La Gourmandaise.

One of my favorite aspects of visiting the cafes at the monasteries is that you can try the normal beers of the brewery, and occasionally, you can also experience special beers not produced for commercial distribution. The cafes also usually offer other products produced at the abbey, such as the monks’ cheese and pate.

Plus, there’s something special about trying these great beers straight from the source.  The beer is fresher and straight from the brewery.  You get to build that special connection that you can only experience by visiting the grounds where the beer is born.

Authentic Trappist Products

Those new to the Trappist name might wonder what it actually means and why should you care? Products that appear with the official Trappist label mean they “measure up to the quality and traditional standards rooted in the monastic life of a real Trappist community.”

Belgium Beer Road Trip

If you’re looking to plan a Belgian Monastery beer tour road trip, pick up a Belgium beer route map. You can find these in many of the beer stores. As you’re traveling between the monasteries, there are a number of other great breweries you can stop at as well.

Have you visited any of the other Trappist breweries outside of Belgium? If you didn’t know, the total count of Trappist breweries is currently at 11, including the five official breweries remaining in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, and one each in Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France.  

The change in the timing of the Zwanze Day is due in part to the effects of the timing of the annual fruit harvests, which are now coming earlier in the year, during the late summer months. This means the brewery is in full swing of their annual production process of fruited lambics making use of the grape harvests from countries like Italy and Spain, who are now providing their grapes already at the end of August.

Cantillon will resume Zwanze Day on April 20, 2024, and will alternate the event with Quintessence which will next occur in 2025. It is not yet known if Quintessence will occur during April or return to the usual pre-pandemic May 1 date.

If you were planning to be in Brussels for Zwanze Day, or for BXL Beer Festival taking place at the end of September now on the normal Zwanze Day weekend, you are still in for a treat. Moeder Lambic Fontainas, the normal host of the Cantillon crew for Zwanze, is still celebrating Zwanze with a No Zwanze Day event. This event will feature a full run of Zwanze Beers from 2013 – 2022 on draft, and a bottle selection that is still to be announced. Perhaps the 2008-2012 editions will be available there as well?

The Toledo District is one of Belize’s lesser known areas, and receives far less tourism than other parts of the country. Its relatively remote location is ideal for travelers looking to road trip through Belize, and what better reason to head south than for a chocolate festival?

If you’ve never had Belizean chocolate, you are missing out. Cacao is native to the Americas and the southern part of Belize is renowned for its superior cacao. While chocolate, such as THC Chocolate Bars Canada, is certainly an important local product, it’s not surprising that cacao beans also provide an excellent export crop for Belize.

The Chocolate Festival of Belize is a three day festival typically falling later in May, the same weekend as the Commonwealth Day Holiday.

Wine and Chocolate kick off the event on Friday night with a variety of fine wines, Belizean chocolate, and even a specially brewed Belikin Chocolate Stout. You’ll need to purchase tickets in advance for this event to save $10 BZ. The festival website has a list of all the phone numbers you can call to order tickets in advance.

In conjunction with the festival, you’ll find the Taste of Toledo street fair in Punta Gorda town. This pedestrian only street fair is held on the Saturday of the festival weekend, and showcases art, food, and music from the five primary cultures that make up the Toledo District. These ethnic groups include: Garifuna, Maya, Kriol, Mestizo, and East Indian.

Booths will feature some awesome food, chocolate of course, crafts, and other interesting local products. Look for a chocolate connection on many products, be it chocolate soap or hand-carved masks depicting cacao. Some of Belize’s best chocolatiers will be in attendance answering any questions you may have on the chocolate making process.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Taste of Toledo cooking competition — with prizes given for the best use of cacao in both savory and sweet creations.

If you can stay the whole weekend, the finale takes place on the last day (Sunday) of the festival. There are live musical performances throughout the day, Garifuna drumming, Mayan harp groups, and more. Be sure to purchase artisan souvenirs like baskets, hammocks, carvings, and of course, lots of chocolate for your family and friends back home!

Traveling with kids? There will be a Cacao for Kids section where kids can be left supervised in a safe environment while you go explore the street fair. Activities for kids include face painting, finger painting, handcrafted jewelry making, and more.

Wondering what makes Belizean chocolate some of the best? Like other food products, and most certainly wine, soil and climate play an integral role in the success of cacao growth. This is typically referred to as terroir, and if you’re an oenophile like myself, you know that terroir is a very important part of growing grapes.

Aside from its superior quality, I love Belizean chocolate as it’s all produced by local, “mom and pop” type businesses. There are four main producers in Belize, several of which you may already be familiar with. These include Ix Cacao (San Felipe Village), Kakaw Chocolate (San Pedro), Goss Chocolate (Seine Bight), and Cotton Tree Chocolate (Punta Gorda).

If your Belize road trip includes a boat ride or flight out to Ambergris Caye, be sure to stop by the Belize Chocolate Company on Front Street and enjoy some freshly made chocolates, and other sublime treats like chocolate coffee, chocolate cheesecake, and more. Sit inside where it’s cool, or enjoy the sea breeze and people watch from the outdoor bench.

The 2016 Chocolate Festival of Belize takes place on May 20-22. For more information, be sure to visit the Chocolate Festival of Belize’s website, stop in at the Belize Chocolate Company in San Pedro for more information, and read My Beautiful Belize for more festival updates.

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This post was in partnership with Alamo Rental Car, but as always, thoughts and opinions are my own. 

While you may think Oktoberfest is the perfect spur of the moment trip, I must warn you, this is not the case!  I truly suggest that you do all the proper preparations if you want to have a problem-free Oktoberfest memory!

Here are a few tips to help you through your first visit to Oktoberfest:

1.  Ensure You Have a Hotel Reservation

Oktoberfest is not a weekend in Las Vegas. The festivities do not run all night, in fact, the tents close at 10:30PM every night, so you will need to have something in line for the late-night hours and when the tents officially open at 9 (sat/sun) or 10 the next morning.  If you wait too long to find a hotel, you may find yourself out of your budget, or staying very far out of the city, with an hour+ train ride back to your hotel.   Some hotels fill up a year+ in advance of the event, so if you are thinking of attending Oktoberfest, book your hotel as soon in advance as you can.  If you can find a hotel in the center of town, you can more easily enjoy the post-fest activities in Munich itself, such as the original Hofbrauhaus in the city center.

2.  Book Your Seats

Especially if you have a large group you are traveling with, and even more so on the weekends, you will want to reserve seats in a tent a few months in advance, otherwise you will find yourself scrambling to find a seat in one of the hugely crowded tents at the festival.  Remember, if you’re not in a seat, you won’t be served!

3. Be Flexible!

So you’re not in a tent…so what?  It just so happens that the month of September tends to have some very nice weather, and both times I have attended, the weather has been perfect the entire time I was at the festival.  While seats within the beer tents may be very hard to come by, it is often much easier to find seats outside the tents in the beer gardens of each of the tents.  While you may miss out on some of the formal entertainment (brass bands), all of the other elements are available at the outside seating, including the large Maß of beer, served by an official “beer wench”, with the same food choices and most of the rest of the ambiance (i.e. loud mobs of drunken fellow celebrants).  On weekdays, you can often even manage to visit multiple tents in a single day if you make use of outside seating instead of waiting for seats inside each of the tents.  There are six official Oktoberfest beers, Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, and Löwenbräu, so this is the way to go if you want to try all six in a single short visit.

4.  Eat! Eat! Eat!

Remember, each Maß of beer is 1 litre in size, and if you go through a couple of these, you will feel it!  Be sure to eat and drink other fluids (i.e. water) throughout the day to ensure you can enjoy the full experience.  Oktoberfest is known for its food as well as its beer.  Be sure to try a half-chicken, giant soft pretzel, and/or weisswurst!

5.  Be Safe

Remember, Munich is a large city, and aside from the celebratory atmosphere within the festival grounds, you are within a major metropolis when outside the grounds.  Be aware of your surroundings, and know where you are, and where you are going.  While the increased tourism is accompanied by increased security, you should be sure to ensure your own safety and secure your belongings at all times.  Don’t let the party ruin your experience!

Be sure to start your planning now for Oktoberfest in the coming years.  Dates are:

• 2020: Oktoberfest cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Instead WirtshuisWiessn was held.
• 2021: Oktoberfest cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
• 2022: September 17 – October  3
• 2023: September 16 – October 3
• 2024: September 21 – October 6
• 2025: September 20 – October 5

Be sure to check out the official Oktoberfest website for detailed information: http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/

2020 marked the first time since 1948 that Munich’s Oktoberfest has not been held at the Theresienwiese. In April, Bavaria’s Minister-President Markus Söder made the historic announcement that due to the pandemic, the 2020 festival would not be held. In the past, Oktoberfest has been canceled a handful of times due to wars and Cholera epidemics, but few people expected the need for such a cancellation in the 21st century.

However, while it is not possible to ensure the safety of visitors in the confined tents and alleys of the Oktoberfest fairgrounds, it is easier to control smaller groups of people within the beer halls and restaurants of Munich. As such, Oktoberfest did still continue in 2020 in Munich, in a smaller, more spread out format. Enter WirtshausWiesn 2020.

From September 19 through October 4, 2020, Oktoberfest moved into the beer halls of Munich, where controlled groups of revelers were still able to don their lederhosen and dirndls and partake in their Oktoberfest beer, pretzels, chicken, and fill of Bavarian music. Of course, all while masked up and maintaining the rules of social distancing.

All six Oktoberfest breweries, as well as a number of other local breweries and restaurants and bars participated in 2020’s Bavarian pub Oktoberfest. 18 brewhouses of the Oktoberfest hosts along with 36 pubs in the city center joined in the event. 54 locations in all. Plenty of options to find a Maß of Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, or Spaten.

Hopefully, we will have a vaccine for the current pandemic in time for the 2021 festivities to resume in a more traditional (though surely a bit more virus-preventive) manner.

Some locations that participated in the WirtshausWiesn in 2020 are:

WirtshausWiesn 2020 Locations

Hofbräuhaus

No trip to Munich is complete without a visit to the city’s most famous beer hall. The Hofbräuhaus was one of the participants in the 2020 Wirsthaus Wiesn, though there was definitely far less seating available in the famous Schwemme main hall. Some benches were taken out between tables, other tables marked off, and there were limits on how many people you could have at your table.

The Hofbräuhaus had a bit of a line on Saturday throughout the day and into the night, so we came back on a Sunday evening when it was much quieter. While the crowd was smaller, there is still quite a festive vibe inside. Masks were required walking in and out, and any time you got up to use the bathroom.

Platzl 9 – Hofbräuhaus Website

Augustiner am Platzl

Augustiner has a number of locations throughout the city that participated in the event. One of the most convenient locations is their restaurant located as well on the Platzl square, right across the street from the Hofbräuhaus. They were full for dinner reservations on Saturday night, but we managed to visit on Sunday at opening and there was no line (those waiting around to get in at 11 were in line for Hofbräuhaus). They also have some tables outside on the street if you don’t wish to dine inside. Since we were alone and it was pretty cold out, we opted for an inside table.

Orlandostr. 5 – Augustiner am Platzl Website

Löwenbräukeller Am Stiglmaierplatz

Löwenbräu is one of the hosts of the Oktoberfest, and their main wirtshaus at Löwenbräukeller Am Stiglmaierplatz, is one of Munich’s most famous beer gardens. Even when it’s not Oktoberfest, you should visit the main wirtshaus.

Nymphenburger Straße 2 – Löwenbräukeller Am Stiglmaierplatz Website

Paulaner am Nockherberg

Paulaner am Nockherberg offers a special treat. Not only is this a large beer garden, but there is a brewery onsite, so the beer is especially fresh.

Hochstraße 77 – Paulaner am Nockherberg Website

Spatenhaus an der Oper

The Spatenhaus an der Oper is located on the Opera House Square, and is more a restaurant than a brauhaus. Though definitely still with a Wiesn vibe. Along with the Spaten Oktoberfest beer, we had some excellent Bavarian dishes. This was the only place we visited where we were able to find the Bavarian Cream dessert, which was excellent! They were pretty full, but tables were all spread apart and plastic dividers between each. People were respectful, and everyone wore their masks getting up to use the bathroom—even those who had been obviously celebrating for quite a few hours.

Residenzstraße 12 – Spatenhaus an der Oper Website

Der Pschorr

Der Pschorr is the large Hacker-Pschorr beer hall and Bavarian food restaurant located on the Viktualienmarkt in Munich center. They focus on locally-sourced food from the nearby region, along with fresh beer tapped direct from the barrel.

Viktualienmarkt 15 – Der Pschorr Website

Schneider Bräuhaus

While not one of the six official Oktoberfest breweries, Schneider Weisse is one of the best Bavarian Weissbier producers out there. And one of our favorite things about this brauhaus is that it opens early, 8AM, for breakfast. This central location is the perfect place for an early morning weisswurst, pretzel, and weizen. It was definitely a different experience than usual though. Gone were the baskets of pretzels on each table and the communal Bavarian mustard containers. Utensils came individually wrapped.

Tal 7 – Schneider Bräuhaus Website

For full information about the WirtshausWiesn 2020, including lists of all 54 locations that participated, visit the home page of Oktoberfest. We hope that next year’s full Oktoberfest will be back on. However, if it’s not, we suspect there will be WirtshausWiesn 2021! Note: In May, 2021, it was announce that Oktoberfest will be cancelled again in 2021. There are no plans at this time for a replacement WirtshausWiesn 2021.

Long-awaited beer released by lambic producers and blenders such as Antidoot, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Tilquin, and Bokke had to be moved online, or were even limited to local Belgian customers only. And events such as Cantillon’s Quintessence and the Night of the Great Thirst were postponed, with Quintessence being moved into 2021 and the Night of the Great Thirst currently being scheduled for September 11. Other events such as 3 Fonteinen’s Lambik Tastings from March and June have also been moved into September, surrounding this year’s Open Beer Days, while the BXL Fest scheduled for August has been cancelled for 2020 (though the Exclusive Beer Packs will still be released and will be available for pickup at Moeder Lambic Fontainas after August 24, 2020.

The fate of Cantillon’s Zwanze Day 2020 is still up in the air, with a final announcement expected by August as to whether there will be an event this year at all, and if so, will it be able to be organized globally or just more localized in Brussels or in Europe.

However, all is not lost for the lambic lover in Europe. Over the past month, restrictions have started to loosen, and many producers and blenders are now able to open their doors again for sales, and now even for tasting. Unfortunately, it is not quite as free and easy as it was before the pandemic. Hours are more restrictive than they were in the past, and reservations are required to visit some locations. If you are lucky enough to be able to get to Europe this summer, here’s some helpful information for planning your visits.

Cantillon Brewery/Brussels Museum of the Gueuze

On May 11, Cantillon reopened the doors of their shop for takeaway only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, which until June 15 meant for Belgian customers only as the borders were closed between Belgium and the rest of Europe until then. As from June 20, Cantillon has also reopened their bar and the Museum of the Gueuze on Saturdays only, however reservations are required. Tours and the bar both start at 11AM, bar reservations can be made by email to info@cantillon.be, and tours can be booked on the Cantillon Website. The bar closes at 5PM, with the last orders at 4:15 PM.

I visited Cantillon for takeaway on Friday, June 26, and also the bar on Saturday, July 4. There was an excellent selection of bottles available for take away. the bottle list for on-site consumption on the 4th was nothing short of outstanding. the new upstairs bar area is set up for customers. There is adequate space for social distancing and it is marked you can see if you click here, and a maximum of 10 persons per table.

Cantillon does still recognize the social aspect of a visit to Cantillon. You are still allowed to share bottles with others, as long as you use clean glasses and limit the movement around the bar area. If your group does grow, they will also accommodate with a larger table (if available) to help limit the need to walk or pass bottles between tables. They require the use of a mask when you are not seated at your table, and request that only one customer walks up to the bar at a time to order.

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom

Also on May 11, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen reopened their shop in Lot, again, at first only possible for customers within Belgium to Visit. As from Friday, June 12, the lambik-O-droom has also reopened for on-site consumption. The lambik-O-droom is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 Noon until 8:00 PM. Guidelines for visiting, as well as the current offerings available for on-site consumption, can be found on their website, however their on-site beer list is not always up to date, so you’ll want to scan the QR Code on your table to access the latest menu.

I visited the lambik-O-droom on Friday, June 26, and found it to also be quite well organized. Seating was only available outside on the grounds but it was covered and there was plenty of seating for a group (up to 10 people) to sit together and share. The beer selection was outstanding, with a number of the Twist of Fate (Spelling van het Lot) beers that would have been released in May being available for on-site consumption. Packs were also available for sale in the shop, with the same basic packs that were also made available on the webshop, as well as individual bottle sales.

Gueuzerie Tilquin

Gueuzerie Tilquin reopened their shop on June 6, and the shop and taproom are currently open on Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, though they will be closed from July 15 to August 15. Tilquin has a number of interesting packs available for purchase, including their recently released Grape Lambic packs, with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling lambics.

Visting a Belgian Lambic Tasting Room This Summer

We recognize this is a very unique time in the world right now, and our American readers cannot visit Europe under the current travel restrictions and ban. We are not advocating putting yourself at risk to travel, and we wholeheartedly believe in wearing a mask, and social distancing is still the best course of action. Our new cases in the Netherlands are minimal and some rules have relaxed even further as of July 1, 2020. We also drove to the brewery in our private vehicle and took proper precautions. We suggest following the regulations for the location where you live in Europe and adhere to all the rules that each brewery asks you to abide by. As the situation with COVID-19 is ever-changing, we also recommend you confirm the locations are open as you plan your potential visit to any Belgian brewery right now.

Lviv Ukrainian Beer Breweries

Pravda Beer Theater

Pravda Beer Theater is located at the northwest corner of Rynok Square. When we stopped by, they had a limited selection of their beers available on draft. They did, however, have quite a selection of bottles available. Bottles were available both cold for immediate consumption as well as for takeaway. They had their selection of political-leader themed beers, as well as a number of interesting brews. Pravda Beer Theater beers are also available at a number of other bars and gift shops around the city.

Pravda Beer Theater
Torhovyy Dim Tsipperiv, Rynok Square

Stargorod

Stargorod has an enormous beer hall and beer garden on the site of their brewery at the southeast of the main center. Their beers are German beer hall themed, with a collection of German beer styles available. They have a large menu of snacks and lunch/dinner dishes as well. The beer hall is open 24/7, though do note that it does seem that in the evenings, there is live entertainment that may be a bit more on the risque side.

Stargorod
Rymlyanyna St, 1

Kumpel

Kumpel is another very large beer hall, located right across Mytna Square from Stargorod.  Kumpel is also open 24/7, and is known for their large selections of local food offerings as well. They serve traditional beer styles as well as craft beers. Their beers are also available at a number of their restaurants around town as well.

Kumpel on the Mytna Square
Volodymyra Vynnychenka St, 6

Other Ukrainian Beer Breweries in Lviv

Tsypa – Stefana Yavorskoho Square, 1 — Tsypa has been brewing traditional beers since 2015. From the small village of Kvasy in the Hutsul region of Carpathian Ukraine, they are now also located in Lviv.

Royal Brewery – Староєврейська вулиця, 9 — Beer was an important part of the old royal customs of Lviv, and the tradition continues at the Royal Brewery in Lviv.
Booking.com

Lviv Ukrainian Beer Bars

Alongside the beer halls and brewpubs mentioned above, Lviv also has a nice collection of craft beer pubs. Most of the pubs focus on Ukrainian beer. Though a few also offered other beers imported from around the world.

Varka

Varka is a nice craft beer bar located at the northwest end of the city center, headed towards the opera hall. They offer eight taps of local Ukrainian beers as well as a decent selection of bottled beers as well.  Prices are quite reasonable…around $1.50 – $3.00 for a 0.33 l bottle or 0.3 l draft.

Varka Craft Beer Bar
Корнякта, 1

Choven / Човен

Choven seems to be one of the most popular craft beer bars in Lviv. We encountered quite a crowd on a Tuesday evening but were lucky to find a seat inside. The outside seating seems to be closed after 10 PM. Choven has 16 taps of mostly Ukrainian craft beers, with a nice variety of breweries and styles available.

Choven
Virmens’ka St, 33

Other Ukrainian Beer Bars in Lviv

Drunken Duck – Brativ Rohatyntsiv St, 45, 9 taps of craft beer and a patio.

Bierlin Lemberg – Chaikovs’koho Street, 18 12-15 taps of mostly Ukranian beers, all served at 0.5l for very affordable prices.

Beer Set – Open since June 16 at Kniazia Romana St, 6. This is a shop that also seems to have a nice selection of taps inside.

Beer Stone – Pekarska Street, 34 A good beer selection of local beers as well as local menu options.

Have you visited Lviv? What’s your favorite spot to grab local brews? We’re looking forward to hopefully going back again in a few months and adding more options!

Where to Stay in Lviv, Ukraine

There are lots of reasonably priced places within a few minutes walk of the center of Lviv. We booked the Etude Art Hotel. This hotel has 19 rooms with three different categories. We weren’t aware we booked the cheapest “economy,” but it was enough room for two people, had free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and the rate included breakfast as well. We used Uber between the airport and the hotel, and it’s even closer to the train station. There is English speaking staff on site as well.

Booking.com


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