We took a very full train from Antwerp to Sint Niklaas for the Zythos Beer Festival. We arrived at 12:04 p.m. Saturday; the festival started at noon. Figured at noon, there wouldn’t be many people. Nope. Quite a few, but not so crowded that the kids were scared. We parked it at a table near the food where it was less noisy and each took turns walking around with a kid to get beer. (Bonus of sitting with kids: no one sits next to you very long.)
Last year there was a kids corner where you could drop your kids off to play while you enjoyed the festival. This year they didn’t have it. Disappointing, but the kids were really good, especially considering we were there almost six hours. (And they didn’t have but a few tastes of beer!)
We played the Tombola several times. It’s a game where you pay 1€ to pick an envelope from a big box. If inside is a blue ticket with a number, you win a beer with the corresponding number. Jacob won a 750ml Boon Gueuze; Matt won a 750ml of something and I won a 750ml Scheldebrouwerij Dulle Griet. We probably played enough to where we could have just bought the beers for what we paid, but what’s the fun in that.
Good festival. Easily accessible by public transport, indoors, lots of volunteers, very well organized, food, kid-friendly (during the day). The beer list isn’t as exclusive as some fests, but still good things: De Dolle Verse Vis (“fresh fish”), Rodenbach Foederbier, De Dochter Embrasse Oak Aged Single Cask Peated Malt.
Will we go back? Probably not. With so many great fests in Belgium, why? Next year we’ll probably do the Alvinne Craft Beer Fest. With any luck we’ll have a babysitter nearby.
M O R E P H O T O S
From Zythos Beer Fest 2011. Shot March 5, 2011. Sint Niklaas, Belgium
