Belgium beer festival guide – what’s left for the summer

The end of the curfew and the slow opening up of Belgium this year has led to a few festival announcements as the beer starts to flow again. 

Of course there will be restrictions and barriers to full fledged festivals, but we are still hoping to have fun together again while tasting incredible brews.

We have already participated in a few amazing tap takeovers and tastings and look forward to more. Just check the Beer Idiots calendar for where to drink each week. You can also submit your events to us via the calendar.

However we note that scheduled festivals like BXL Beer Fest have already announced cancellations, so please keep checking! Here we list only the ones we are aware of in Belgium. Check the Covid-19 restrictions before you go and whether these festivals are still going to be held. Did I forget to remind you of Belgium Beer Week on 23-29 August? Anything that involves Beer Idiots is bound to be fun. Don’t forget to support your local bars. And if you are a bar or beer event organiser you can still register here and add events later.

Did we already say you can check out events calendar for other festivals? This includes popular ones in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy.

BXL Beer Fest – 21-22 August – Cancelled

The organisers had scheduled the festival and had even announced the participating brewers in July. On 27 July they announced it would be “postponed” until 2022 with tickets and tokens carried over until next year.

Razernij – Beerdrinkers & Hellraisers – 21 August

Punk rock and good beer will be featured at Rumst. On stage will be The Kids,  Rumjacks and The Wildhearts. 

Gents Bierfestival 2021 – 21 August

There’s not much information available on the Facebook page but organiser De Gentse Biervereniging seems keen on having it this year. More info is available here on the website.

Belgium Beer Week – 23-29 August 

Belgium’s beer culture is on tap with bars, brewers, beer experts, beer games, chocolate, food joining in the fun for a week. Join in the Beer Idiots support for all those we love in Antwerp, Brussels, Leuven, Bruges, Ghent, Mechelen, Liège, Namur and other venues. There are about 150 events and counting as more register! You can still sign up to participate here. The small fee collected from participants is spent to promote the weekand attract people to the venues. It’s free for drinkers (some events have a cost charged by the organiser). Find out what’s on here. The list is updated regularly as participants add more events!

Beer Lovers’ Marathon (5th edition) – 27-29 August

Liège, beer and running 42.195 km seem to go together. In addition to the usual water and food supply every 5 km, all runners can taste 15 different Belgian beers along the way. The running / dress theme this year is “circus”.

Summer Beer Lovers’ Festival – 27-29 August

Not running? Then this fest at Liège’s Place du Marché proclaims itself as the craft beer showcase for Wallonia.  

Bierfestival Bier van Olier  – 28 August

The brewery showcases 75 beers from local brewers in Sijsele.

Heavy Metal & Beer Fest in the Camion à Roulettes – 27 August

Beers and heavy metal videos from the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s feature at this festival in Walhain organised by Brasserie à Roulettes, which is releasing its third beer. The brewer is organising a heavy metal karaoke contest with prizes. 

13th Open Beer Days – 3-5 September

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen restarts its open beer days where you sit outside while tasting some extraordinary gueuze.  Food trucks will be serving an array of food at the brewer’s Lambik-O-Droom in Beersel.

Belgian Beer Weekend – September 3-5. Cancelled

Last week the Belgian Brewers cancelled the annual event citing the COVID-19 crisis and the “various related organizational constraints” for the cancellation. Drinking traditional Belgian beers for high prices in Brussels’ Grand Place will be a pleasure put off for another year.

Wanderlust – 11-12 September

Hoppy Days – Liege International Beer Festival – 15-17 October

Another festival in Liege with promises of three days of party time with DJ’s, live music in bars serving Belgian and foreign beers. 
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Billie’s Craft Beer Fest 2021 – November 12-13

One of the most amazing festivals in Belgium, Billie’s Beer Kafeteria and dog hosts this lineup of beer from around the world. Tickets are on sale for those who did not have one for the 2020 edition, which was cancelled due to you know who.

Oud Bruin FEST ’21 – December 10-11

Organised by super brewer Brouwerij ‘t Verzet this new beer festival in Kortrijk focuses on Flemish Red Sour Ales. More than 30 breweries from Belgium and other countries will bring their interpretations of the style showcasing 120 different beers. I’ve got my ticket for a day of sour.

OBER Christmas Beer Festival – Essen – 18-19 December