By Renske Wienen
Do you like beer? Does the thought of one of the Elliott bartenders tapping a glass full of golden ‘boredom-be-gone’ bright up your entire day? Is a night out with friends not complete without some beautifully brewed cold ones? Or are you more of a connoisseur, appreciating the specialty beers? If you have answered yes to any of these questions you should definitely be reading this article, because we are discussing a festival that is very, very relevant to you.
This year will be the first time the Middelburg beer festival (Eerste Middelburgse Abdij Bier Festival) is organized. No one is completely sure what to expect, but according to the program that is published on the Dutch website of the festival (www.abdijbierfestival.nl), there is no way this festival will not be appreciated.
The festival consists of different lectures, workshops and beer tasting. There will be nineteen Dutch and Belgian brewers, amateurs giving you the opportunity to taste their beer and rate their skills, and the Beer Guild of Walcheren will also be attending to show what they can provide us with. Apart from that, some Dutch lectures will be given by some of the most prominent beer connoisseur in the Netherlands. For example, have you ever wondered what the relationship between beer and chocolate is? You can find out at the Beer Festival! If this did not peak your interest yet, there is also the opportunity to witness some of the finest glasses, beer labels other beer attributes in the exhibition specifically made for this event.
The organizers are thrilled to host this event for the first time in Middelburg. The Beer Festival is an initiative of the ‘Bier In Zeeland’ association to promote the beer culture in Middelburg.
After all, it is an important – and fun- part of Zeeland! They state the festival will be “the event where beer enthusiasts can meet in a unique environment”.
You are probably thinking about where to sign up, when to be in Middelburg and where you need to go to fulfill your alcoholic needs. Worry not, we have the answers. The event will occur on the 8th and 9th of May, a week before the semester comes to an end. Luckily, the Festival starts at three in the afternoon both days and will go on until approximately ten o’clock in the evening. It will take place around the cloisters of the Abbey Square and the entrance of the Lange Jan.
Time to support your inner beer enthusiast and the beer culture in Zeeland we all appreciate so much. A lot of work has been put into the Festival, and the organization is confident it will be a blast. If you are interested in looking at beer, listening to lectures about beer, smelling beer or drinking beer, this is the festival you want to attend. We hope to see you there!
Renske Wienen, class of 2017, is a Science major from Rotterdam, the Netherlands
