We’ll be celebrating the third birthday of Belgian Smaak with a party on Friday 3 February 2017.
We’ve teamed up with four breweries – two from Belgium and two from Ireland – to bring you 8 exciting beers, two of which have been brewed especially for the event.
It all takes place 10km outside Bruges on the eve of the annual Bruges Beer Festival so those travelling for the evening from afar can enjoy both events and experience a fantastic weekend of beer culture in Belgium.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION
*Ticket only (limited numbers)*
Date: Friday 3 February 2017 (18.00 – 23.00)
Location: Siphon Restaurant, Damse Vaart-Oost 1, 8340 Damme
Tickets cost €24 (inclusive of booking fees and taxes).
We have capacity for only 130 people so early booking is encouraged.
WHO’S POURING?
THE BEER LIST
FAQs
What do I get for my ticket?
The price of the ticket includes:
→ Entry to the event at the beautiful Siphon restaurant in Damme.
→ 8 tastings x 15cl (8 different beers):- 2 of the beers are new beers, collaborations brewed especially for the event. Each of the collaborations has been brewed around the theme of ‘THREE’. There will also be 2 special beers from Irish breweries not available to purchase anywhere else in Belgium.
→ The chance to see the brewing system of Siphon Brewing in a converted goat shed at the restaurant.
→ Shuttle bus (free for ticket-holders) from Bruges train station to Siphon (and back again) – see information below.
→ The opportunity to meet the brewers of each of the beers.
→ Event programme with more information on the beers, the breweries and the story of Belgian Smaak.
→ The chance to celebrate with Breandán and Elisa on Belgian Smaak’s third birthday.
Will there be food at the event?
We won’t be offering meals so please eat a substantial dinner before you come.
Special chocolates from chocolatier Katleen Vanderlinden of small-scale artisanal producer Chocobolic will be available to purchase on the evening.
On hand to guide you through the chocolates and help you pair them with the beers being poured is Werner Callebaut of Bierolade. Werner has completed courses in chocolate processing and beer knowledge and guides culinary walks through Belgian cities, visiting authentic beer cafes and artisanal chocolatiers and organising beer and chocolate tastings throughout Belgium.
How do I get there?
The Siphon restaurant sits at the junction of several dramatic waterways outside the picturesque village of Damme in the West Flemish polders.
Check out the map for more information on where exactly the restaurant is located.
We have organised a shuttle bus from Bargeplein (near Bruges train station) to Siphon (and back again). The shuttle bus is free for ticket-holders (information below).
You can also find a list of taxi services here (fare is generally €30 from Bruges to Siphon one-way to share between a group): https://www.brugge.be/taxi
There is ample parking space at the Siphon Restaurant for cars.
What about the Shuttle Bus?
We are running a bus from Bruges to the Siphon (and back again) to make it easy for you to get to the event.
The bus is free of charge for those with a ticket to #SMAAKDOWN17.
It leaves at 17.45 from Bargeplein, 10 minutes walk from Bruges train station.
It will depart the Siphon at 22.20 so that those travelling by train have the opportunity to catch the last train back to Brussels, Ghent etc. and to make it easy for those staying in Bruges to get back to the city.
As a number of people may be relying on it*, the bus will leave immediately on time so it is strongly suggested that you arrive at the bus pick-up at least 10 minutes earlier than departure time.
Those who choose to stay on at the Siphon after the bus leaves at 22.20 are very welcome. The evening finishes at 23.00. A list of taxi services can be found here (fare is generally €30 from Bruges to Siphon one-way to share between a group): https://www.brugge.be/taxi
*While we can guarantee the bus will transport ticket-holders from Bruges to Siphon (and back) at times chosen to enable onward travel from Bruges, we cannot guarantee – given a range of factors – that the shuttle bus will be delay free. For this reason, we are unable to take any responsibility for people missing their trains or onward transport.
BUS TIMES
Dep Bargeplein: 17.45 / Arr. Siphon: 18.25
Dep Siphon: 22.20 / Arr. Bargeplein: 23.00
Bargeplein is a short walk from both Bruges train station and from Bruges city centre:
Can I buy extra beers (in addition to the 8 in the ticket price)?
Yes. You will be able to buy extra beers to taste as well as snacks on the night and you will be able to buy some bottles to take home. PLEASE BRING CASH as we will not be able to take card on the evening.
Can I bring a designated driver?
Admission is by ticket only. Unfortunately due to space limitations, we are unable to offer discounted tickets to those not drinking (i.e. designated drivers, BOBs). If you would like to come in, please buy a ticket.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
We will be serving alcohol so tickets are suitable for those legally permitted to consume alcohol. We reserve the right to ask for ID should we feel it necessary, so don’t feel offended.
What’s the refund policy?
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this event, we’re not able to refund any tickets.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Please email us with any questions: taste@belgiansmaak.com
THE COLLABORATIONS
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THE BREWERIES
The four breweries pouring at #SMAAKDOWN17 are:
BROUWERIJ ALVINNE | Moen, West Flanders
Alvinne are an innovative brewery based in Moen, a small village outside Kortrijk.
They are Marc DeKeukeleire (yeast and hygiene management), Davy Spiessens (brewmaster, manager), Glenn Castelein (barrel managment, PR) and Jorre Vanhemmens (brewer).
Alvinne are known all over Belgium and internationally for their creativity in recipe formulation, their use of wood for fermentation and flavour development, and their own cultivated yeast strain, which goes by the dramatic name of ‘Morpheus’.
KINNEGAR BREWING | Donegal, Ireland
Rick LeVert and Libby Carton met in New York 25 years ago.
Rick – originally from Boston – was studying film at NYU and Libby was working in design. They then moved to Germany in the 1990s, where Rick studied brewing at the University of California’s Technical College of Berlin.
After moving to Ireland, the couple started a tiny pilot brewery in 2011 which two years later was expanded into a purpose-built 10HL.
The facility is tucked cleverly into the existing farmhouse environment where Libby grew up, at Kinnegar Strand, near Rathmullan in Co. Donegal.
BOUNDARY BREWING | Belfast, Northern Ireland
Boundary Brewing is a Cooperative Brewery in Belfast which is owned and run by its members. Opening their doors in 2014, they were the first brewery in Northern Ireland to bring together modern US styles with more traditional Belgian style beers.
Their brewer, Matt Dick is from Belfast but worked in a brewpub in Reno, Nevada, for a few years before returning home to set up the brewery.
Boundary were named the ‘Best Brewery’ in Northern Ireland and the ‘Best New Brewery’ in Northern Ireland by Ratebeer in 2016. Their Export Stout was named the ‘Best Beer in Northern Ireland’ in 2016.
SIPHON BREWING | Damme, West Flanders
Siphon Brewing are a microbrewery on the grounds of a four-generation-old family restaurant in Damme.
The brewery opened its doors in July 2016. Their brewers are Franklin Verdonck and Breandán Kearney, who work together with the Callewaert family in the old Siphon restaurant, famous for its smoked eel. The eel even makes its way into the brewery’s logo.
SEE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR
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