England, Germany and the Low Countries

[NTRabbit]

Yes that's right, I've finally scratched together enough cash to go to the EVE Online festival in Iceland in November!

Since I've flown all that way to get there, and I'm already stopping in the UK to visit a close friend studying at Oxford, I thought I'd make the most of the trip

After Oxford and Iceland, I'll be in the UK for another few days staying at a friend and colleagues place near Stoke - and we're going to Burton-on-Trent (he's never been before either) to do all the tourist beer things. Plus, you know, lots of quality pints.

There's no beer there, but I've got just under a week in France, visiting wine regions, Paris and Mont Blanc. After that though, Germany - after much consultation with a Dutch friend, my Germany trip is much shortened - pretty much just the sights, biergartens and breweries of Munich, the Porsche and Mercedes Museums in Stuttgart and maybe a little shopping lunch in Cologne on my way too... the Netherlands! I'll have an evening exploring Amsterdam, followed by a day going to Leiden, Den Haag and maybe Gouda, which will then be followed by a day in Brussels (and hopefully a visit to Westmalle) trying as many different excellent beers as I can manage.

After that, back to London, and then home.

Excitement

[KEG]

sounds awesome

take many photos, make many notes, and tell us when you get back

[Chris]

An evening in Amsterdam. Hmmm...

[homebrewer79]

My brother in law got back from a year long working holiday in Europe, reckons it was the best time of his life. You'll have a ball mate, and you gotta have a cookie when you get to Amsterdam

[drsmurto]

There ARE a few nice beers in France, you just have to search them out. I recall a dark beer in Rennes. In fact, there are 14 breweries in Brittany alone.

Make sure you check out the ciders as well in France, they are amazing. I fell in love with Breton Cider.

Oui! Je suis une francophile

[Bizier]

you gotta have a cookie

I assume you mean the dutch spiced biscuits - Speculaas

[warra48]

you gotta have a cookie

I assume you mean the dutch spiced biscuits - Speculaas

Ah, lekker, amandel speculaas, gember koek, pepernoten, drop, groene haring, & Grolsch Oud Bruin.
All the things I miss as a born clogwog.

[Kevnlis]

France is certainly known for their wine. But do not discount the beer. They make some excellent beers and most Belgian beers (which seem to make up the majority of what they drink) are cheaper than our Aussie megaswill! The French beers are normally very hard to find and the French are not very accomodating of tourists. Order a glass of Ricard or "51" (cinquante et un "sank-ount-eh-uh") depending on where you are as an appertif before your starter, it is great stuff! Also something like Calvados or Armagnac (like Cognac but better, the french dont actually drink Cognac much). These are usually drunk as a digestive after the meal is finished. Anything cooked with Sauerkraut (they pronounce it shoe-crew-t) in France is excellent with a glass of Reisling!

[Chris]

Good old speculaas- or spekulatius for those damn krauts. Damn those things are tasty!

Love the syrup wafers and breakfast cake too. There is some tasty stuff in that part of the world.

[Danis]

I've just spent 4 days in oxford, and its a fantastic city. There was a pub just off cornmarket st (thats the main street in the city) called the white horse (i think) that was really very good. It's sort of opposite the tourist centre, and its one of those places that have supposedly been around for centuries serving beers.