Bodegraven beer festival
posted August 19, 2012 3:23 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sat September 29 at 12:00 PM, Brouwerij de Molen
Overtocht 43, 2411 Bodegraven, The Netherlands (Map & Directions)
On 28-29 September the Bodegraven Beerfest will be held. Anybody want to meetup on Saturday?
For the past few years brewery De Molen has been organising a beer festival, featuring small and independent brewers from the Netherlands and abroad. Entry price is 16 euros, which gets you a glass, 5 beer tokens, a festival programme and a bottle of water. Adittional tokens are 1.50. The festival starts at 12:00, ends at 17:00.

Bodegraven is a small town between Leiden and Utrecht, can be reached by train, with the brewery only a couple of minutes by foot away; directions.
posted by MartinWisse to Meetup (39 comments total)

I am interested in this "beer" idea and would like to try it.
posted by digitalprimate at 9:02 AM on August 19, 2012


A novel concept. I concur.
posted by likeso at 10:24 AM on August 19, 2012


Festival actually finishes at 10pm both days, so twice as much drinking time!
posted by daveje at 1:00 PM on August 19, 2012


Initial line-up of brewers and beers
posted by daveje at 7:18 AM on September 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


I will be near Utrecht on that day. I would like to try this (if possible, since I am not yet in The Netherlands)
posted by infini at 10:47 AM on September 15, 2012


I'm in, barring any crazy personal/professional blindsidings.

I haven't been to it before -- have any of you? For example, how easy is it for us to set a meeting point?
posted by knile at 7:50 AM on September 22, 2012


I'm drinking one of the beers of Brouwerij de Molen at the moment: definitely worthwhile. So I'll be there.

And..eh...I'm looking forward to seeing youlee as well of course. (youlee is plural you as borrowed from Dutch. The use of y'all shows that English craves the existence of a plural you)

Some of these beers are quite powerful. So one shouldn't come by car I don't think.
It's 19 mins by train from Utrecht btw.
posted by joost de vries at 9:21 AM on September 22, 2012


We were there last year. Most amazing beer festival we've ever been to.

Just get the train, it's only 10 minutes walk from the station.

It's not a big event, there are two smallish locations, about 100 metres apart. I think we'll be there the evening before, so how about we scope the place out and suggest a meeting point/time?
posted by daveje at 10:05 AM on September 23, 2012


That'd be great, Dave! Most of us should recognize each other, as well, but for any new folk, we should go easy on them. ;-)

I'm likely bringing a colleague who likes beer & stimulating conversation. I think he'll fit in swell with our crowd.
posted by knile at 10:09 AM on September 23, 2012


I'm easily recognisable: a fat bloke in his mid thirties with a ponytail and a beard... wait
posted by MartinWisse at 2:03 PM on September 23, 2012


I'm easily recognisable as well: I look apparently very Dutch.
Oh, hm.

I'm in favour of exchanging some mobile nrs beforehand through mefimail. If only as a backup.
posted by joost de vries at 2:29 AM on September 24, 2012


Whoa, this came along faster than I'd realized - way behind on memail to other possible attendees sans alerts... We'll see who can make even at late notice - the more the merrier!
posted by likeso at 4:27 AM on September 25, 2012


Sorry, I won't be able to make it due to other obligations in a different part of the country. The festival sounds very nice and I'm sorry to miss it, and I'm sure you'll all have a great time.
posted by rjs at 10:48 AM on September 26, 2012


Ok, let's meet tomorrow at 2pm, at the windmill. There's a courtyard, with two tents. Lets try to meet under/near the tent next to the road.
posted by daveje at 10:49 AM on September 28, 2012


Infini and I are going to meetup at Utrecht Centraal and travel together - but there are some challenges, so if we're not at the windmill on the dot of two, know that we *will* be there soon.
posted by likeso at 12:11 PM on September 28, 2012


Sounds like a plan. I will be there from about twelvish to erm make sure the beer hasn't gone off yet.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:15 PM on September 28, 2012


Directions:

Come by train. If you're arriving from Utrecht, get off the train at Bodegraven, and keep going along the platform. At the end, cross the road, and keep following the road until it becomes the Doortocht. After a few minutes, it curves round to the right, and the first beer festival location will be across the street on the left. You need to pay for entrance (glass/tokens/water/guide) here. The windmill (the second location) is just another 100m further along.

MeMail is too braindamaged to allow me to send a bulk email, so my phone number is 06 28 525 312.
posted by daveje at 1:57 PM on September 28, 2012


2pm! I was all set up for noon! I'll be hopped up on... hops.. by 2pm. But I'll be at the Windmill then.

My friend and I will be on the 11:25 out of Utrecht, iNShallah. (See what I did there?)

I'll check the thread when we get there to look for updates. I've got daveje's mobile & joost's. Some of y'all have mine. See youlee when ik see youlee, I suppose.
posted by knile at 3:06 PM on September 28, 2012


I just about managed to get the same train, the NS being cooperative for a change.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:26 AM on September 29, 2012


Train service between Amsterdam and Utrecht is - interesting, today. One track is out due to scheduled maintenance (via Schiphol/Zuid/etc), just saw that another (via Breukelen) is experiencing outages, so fewer trains and delays.

Welp.
posted by likeso at 2:29 AM on September 29, 2012


Lucky, Martin! Hope my train materializes...
posted by likeso at 2:30 AM on September 29, 2012


On our way to Utrecht now, should be on the 1155 to bodegraven, assuming it leaves on time....
posted by Elizabeth the Thirteenth at 2:53 AM on September 29, 2012


Main intercity line to utrecht is running.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:55 AM on September 29, 2012


We're at the tent (knile and me plus company)
posted by MartinWisse at 3:05 AM on September 29, 2012


I'm out the door - see y'all soon, NS willing.
posted by likeso at 3:27 AM on September 29, 2012


I'm out the door too, see y'all soon.
posted by Blasdelb at 4:16 AM on September 29, 2012


We're in the tent by the mill with knile and daveje and elizabeth.
posted by MartinWisse at 5:22 AM on September 29, 2012


I'll be getting into the Bodegraven train station at 18:14
posted by Blasdelb at 6:16 AM on September 29, 2012


From the train go to entrance, we're nearby.
posted by MartinWisse at 8:23 AM on September 29, 2012


Have met and have drunk some great beer - "christmas eve in a new york hotel"was my favourite. Have reached hotel in one piece, with a close shave at some unknown station where I jumped back on in time.
posted by infini at 11:53 AM on September 29, 2012


This was fun indeed.
posted by infini at 11:54 AM on September 29, 2012


Now, this was a proper meetup with proper beverages and properly sauced company. So good to see you all again as well as meet some new folks. :)

And though I hear your love for Christmas Eve, infini dahlink (yikes, glad you were still clearheaded and nimble enough to hop back on that train) - and I have love for a few others as well - my absolute favorite was the Rasputin Laphraoig. My god.

Thanks to daveje for this great idea - and guidance in the tasting. This is gonna be an annual, two-day meetup from now on, I know. Next meetup in near future involves some investigative work on coffeeshops, a visit to Arendsnest and the whisky pub near Leidseplein. Whee!
posted by likeso at 3:47 PM on September 29, 2012


Hey, everyone - sorry I missed it! We had to get some big ticket items for our renovated house, and had to do it yesterday to make it on time for our move in date. So I wan't done in time and too exhausted to make it by the time I got home.

Next time for sure!
posted by digitalprimate at 12:03 AM on September 30, 2012


Great time had by all! Lovely to see everyone, hope to see you all soon.

For reference, my score card:

Browerij de Molen, Hemel & Aarde Bowmore/Caol Ila BA
Browerij de Molen, Rasputin Laphraoig BA (twice)
Browerij de Molen, Sodom & Gomorra BA
Browerij de Molen, Hel & Verdoemenis Islay BA
Browerij de Molen, Mout & Mokka Bourbon BA
Buxton, Tsar Bomba
Emelisse, XXV Imperial Russian Stout
Evil Twin/De Molen, Whisky BA Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room (twice)
Ganstaller-Brau, Dol & Dwaas real German
Haandbryggeriet, Odin's Tipple
Jester King, Funk Metal
Jester King, Gotlandsdricka
Kernel, Pale Ale Galaxy
Mikkeler, SpontanDoubleBlueberry
Mikkeler, SpontanDoubleCherry, 1 year
Mommeriet, Milk Stout
Mont Saleve, Tourbee
Narke, Black Golding Starkporter
Narke, Konjaks! Stormaktporter
Narke, Rainbow Warrior
Narke, Jolners Dricka
Narke, Tanngnjost & Tanngrisnir (twice)
Thornbridge, Beadeca's Well
posted by daveje at 3:08 AM on September 30, 2012 [1 favorite]


yes, Odin's Tipple was a top runner in quality and taste.
posted by infini at 3:35 AM on September 30, 2012


Blasdelb and I are hitting the Bierkoning shortly (whoop), and will report back on which of the goodies they had in stock. Daveje, what hast thou wrought?!
posted by likeso at 4:40 AM on September 30, 2012


Great time yesterday! Great to see some of you again & meet some more of you.

Can't imagine why my immune system seems compromised today...
posted by knile at 4:53 AM on September 30, 2012 [1 favorite]


My nearly-complete list of tastes, including everything I had full samples of & a few sips of others' :
Picobrouwerij Alvinne - Naked Ladies
Närke Kulturbryggeri - The internationAle
De Struise Brouwers - Bompon 2012
Picobrouwerij Alvinne - Undressed Bordeaux Barrel Aged
Gänstaller-Bräu - Green-Gold Imperial IPA 104 Germany Meets USA
Evil Twin Brewing - Christmas Eve At a New York City Hotel Room (my favorite as well!)
Brouwerij De Molen - Nacht & Ontij Cognac BA
Jester King Craft Brewery - Weasel Rodeo
Jester King Craft Brewery - Whiskey Weasel Rodeo
The Kernel Brewery - Imperial Brown Stout London 1858
Bierbrouwerij Emelisse - White Label Imperial Russian Stout (Caol Ila BA)
De Struise Brouwers - Rio Reserva (2008)
Thornbridge Brewery - Black Harry
posted by knile at 8:12 AM on September 30, 2012


My list of consumed beers (also available at my blog, with links to twitter pictures), excluding the rauchbeer I blagged at the very end:

Haandbryggeriet Fyr & Flamme IPA 6.5 abv
Narke Rainbow Warrior
Undressed bordeaux Flemish red sour ale 6.9 abv
Gänstaller-BräNaturtrub Zoiglbier 5.8
Burton Smokey and the bandaid 7.5 abv
Evil Twin Danbic Gooseberry lambic alike
The Evil Twin Danbic cranberry version 5.0
Jester King Funk Metal 8.2 abv sour stout
Emelisse Earl Grey IPA 6.8
Imperial Brown Stout London 1856 from Kernel
Christmas Eve in a New York hotel room 2011
Whisky Barrel Rodeo, a co-op between Jester King and Mikkeller, 12 abv
SpontanDoubleCherry 1 year from Mikkelle 8.5 abv
Rasputin Laphroaig BA 11.4 abv
Narken Macpeat 7.something very very peaty
Cuvee de Montagne 14 abv
Narken Black Golding starkporter
SpontanDoubleBlueberry 8.5 abv from Mikkelle

The two danbics were great, so was the Undressed Bordeaux, so was basically everything else on the list, with the exception of the Burton Smokey and the Bandaid, which tasted like a flat, bogstandard, stout.

Incidently, the Kernel brewery is a finalist in the BBC's food and drinks awards, or so I learned yesterday from Radio 4.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:35 AM on October 1, 2012



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