Beer and Chocolate Lover’s Belgium Beercation Cruise

Welcome aboard!  Settle in to your home for the week, then join us for a welcome toast  while we meet our crew during the onboard briefing. Then it’s time to begin your immersion into the world of Belgian Beer and Chocolate!

Our introduction to chocolate will begin at Bruge’s Chocolate Museum: Choco-Story.  Our privately guided tour will take us on a journey of the senses through time – a feast for the eyes, the nose and the taste buds!  We’ll learn the story of the origin and evolution of chocolate through a unique collection of almost a thousand chocolate- related objects; and we’ll see how chocolate is made, from the variety of raw ingredients to the development of the production process.  We’ll uncover the secret of beautiful silky chocolate and finish our visit with a chocolate tasting!

After our visit at Choco-Story, we’ll head to Brouwerij Bourgogne des Flandres for a “brewnique” experience, designed exclusively for Bon Beer Voyage! This program will take us on a privately guided tour through the brewery and distillery, where you will enjoy a unique view of the brewing process. After the tour, you’ll be introduced to the magical world of beer blending. You will get to try your hand at blending your own Bourgogne des Flandres and see if you have what it takes when we compare it to ‘the real thing’ at the end of the blending session. Then we will finish our visit with a beer and chocolate pairing with these 3 beers along with 3 local artisanal chocolates!  Following our fabulous afternoon of beer and chocolate, we’ll head back to the barge for our welcome aboard dinner.

After dinner if you are not too jet-lagged from the trip overseas, you can join our beer guide for some beer hunting. (This could be visiting an historic pub or searching the local shops for rare and unique beers to sample or add to your collection). D

This morning we’ll enjoy a peaceful sail along the canals and breakfast on board. Make sure to pop up on deck to snap some photos and take in the view.

During our sail we will be treated to a special chocolate and beer orientation workshop with our guest host, Pete Slosberg,  founder/brewer of Pete’s Brewing Company and creator of Pete’s Wicked Ale.  What you may not know about Pete is that he is also the founder/creator of a chocolate company, Cocoa Pete’s Chocolate Adventures!

We’ll have a late morning brunch, then it’s off to visit Ghent where we will relax and enjoy the sights from the lively Graslei quay to the medieval castle Gravensteen during our private sightseeing cruise on the river Leie.

After our canal boat tour we’ll walk over to the the famous Jenever bar ‘t Dreuplekot for a taste of this local specialty drink. (The flavor options of this gin based liquor comes in a wide variety that run from straight up to – of course – chocolate!) Right outside is a patio overlooking the canal which is shared by the excellent Waterhuis bar so this is a great opportunity to chill and have a few beers from their extensive menu or head off to explore Ghent and taste some local fare during dinner on your own before heading back to the barge at your leisure.  B, L

This morning we channel our inner-chocolatiers during a hands-on private chocolate workshop. We knew we found the perfect hostess for our workshop in the passionate and welcoming Mieke, when we stepped into her atelier which was filled with chocolate benches, chocolate frames and other chocolate decor, along with the delicious scent of chocolate. Mieke, describing her passion for what she does says “Chocolate makes people happy, and I love to make people happy!” We certainly were happy when we went to visit her back in October! During the workshop, we will work together in small groups, so everyone can have a chance to try the techniques we will learn to temper the chocolate and then design our own chocolate creations, which we will get to bring back with us as souvenirs (or proof of our artistic ability 😉

After all of our hard work as dedicated chocolate makers, we surely will have worked up an appetite and a great thirst, so we will head to Brouwerij Het Anker to sample their delicious beers and enjoy lunch and a tour of their world-class brewery.

On our way back towards Dendermonde, where our barge will be moored for the evening, we are going to make a stop at Brewery VBDCK. The Verbeeck – Back brewery has been around since the end of the 19th century, when it became one of the most beloved independent breweries in the northern region of Belgium.  The brewery was, is and remains a family affair: no monks or big corporations in sight. The secrets of its successes were passed on from father to son until they became fathers themselves… and so on. However, the sons of the sixties-generation had other plans. In 1966, the brewery dozed off for a short nap.  In 2015, a new generation has risen and so has the brewery. The Verbeeck-Back family bloodline was reinforced by the De Cock family. Together, they have formed the formidable, reassuringly Belgian-sounding name Verbeeck – Back – De Cock. VBDCK. This new crop of VBDCK heirs to the family tradition of Belgian quality and craft has literally been digging up history by its roots. They make the delicious KEREL line of beers.

Dinner this evening is back on the barge, followed by optional beer hunting in Dendermonde, with Mike, your beer guide. B, L, D

This morning we will fuel up with breakfast onboard before heading to Antwerp  to  continue our education on chocolate and beer.  Today we will visit the Chocolate Nation Museum, which takes over the story of chocolate where Choco-Story left off; telling us the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the famous Belgian chocolate houses as well as countless other facts and info about chocolate, from bean to bar.  The amazing tasting – straight from the tempering machines -finishes this visit like a chocolate lover’s dream. After this, you will have free time for lunch and to explore Antwerp on your own… maybe you can work off your chocolate buzz with a visit to the zoo, or one of the many great museums or De Koninck – The Antwerp City Brewery.  And of course countless beer bars and shops await you.  We suggest if you are shopping for diamonds in the world famous diamond district, however, you do this before hitting the pubs!

Later this afternoon we will meet up and head over to visit Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie (Seef Brewery), where Johan Van Dyck revived a type of beer known as siefbier – a Belgian Ale made with buckwheat that was brewed in Antwerp prior to WWI.  Johan spent 2 years searching out and recreating the recipe which led to the award-winning Seef beer.  You can taste Seef, along with a number of other styles brewed here (including a chocolate beer!) during our visit. From Seef, we are just a few blocks away from our barge, where dinner awaits us this evening. After dinner, it is a short stroll to check out the view from the top of the nearby Mas museum… or a perhaps you are up for a little more beer hunting? B, D

After breakfast on board, we will head out to meet our guide,  for our Antwerp Chocolate Walking Tour.  Our guide is the very first tour guide in Antwerp to offer a delicious and entertaining walk on this tantalizing subject. We plunge into the history of chocolate and how it found its way to this part of the world. You will find out everything on these precious beans that were used as a currency in the world of Aztecs and Mayas, a strong medicine in the 16th century and an aphrodisiac at the court of powerful kings and emperors. Our guide will share (chocolate) tales and stories about Casanova, Madame de Pompadour, Louis XIII and many more. You will learn why it’s good to eat chocolate and how it can protect you from illness and despair. Not only will you live healthier when you eat chocolate every day, you will also look better since cocoa is wonderful for your skin.. You will also learn about the “praline” (filled chocolate)- the 1912 invention that put Belgian chocolate on the map. And of course you will get a chance to taste some of the most delicious pralines in town, – well, actually,  in the world!

After our tour we will grab a beer in one of the many cool local pubs Antwerp has to offer and then stroll over to the waterside port, which is located nearby a medieval castle, to meet our barge for lunch and an afternoon sail.   For those ready to get their hands dirty, Pete will be hosting an onboard chocolate workshop this afternoon, where we will learn the secrets of making mouth-watering chocolate truffles.

This evening, we will be docked in the harbor port of Sint. Amands.  Here, we can stretch our legs with a short walk through this quaint little town or perhaps meander over to visit the gallery of a local artist who makes unique sculptures and jewelry out of stone. After another incredible day, we’ll be treated to a delicious dinner onboard the barge tonight. B,L,D

This morning, we’ll be treated to a morning sail and breakfast onboard before we head out for our big day in Brussels!

We’ll start off our day with a visit to Brasserie de la Senne.  With a tag line on their website that says “Brasserie de la Senne is at the origins of the ’new wave’ of craft beer in Brussels. We have been working, among other things, at encouraging the taste for well-hopped beers before they became trendy. Next to hoppy ales, we produce barrel-aged mixed-fermented beers, as well as beers refermented with a local brettanomyces yeast.
We aim at brewing beers of character that are well-balanced, with a requirement for quality and consistency, absence of compromise, and a totally natural production, as well as an extremely sharp selection of raw materials in a direct relationship with the producer. ”   We are currently working up details for a special visit with this special brewery!

Brussels is a beer and food lovers dream, among other things!  After our visit at Brasserie de la Senne, we will experience the city with a local guide on a private walking tour highlighting some of the history, street murals and food specialty items (including beer, frites and chocolate!) found in Brussels.

Once we finish with our walking tour, you are free to explore Brussels on your own for a few hours before we meet up for our dinner at one of Brussels many excellent restaurants known for local Belgian fare.  If you are looking to experience “Mussels in Brussels” or other Belgian specialties, this is the place to do so!

After dinner we will return to the barge with our coach – full, relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep!  B, L, D

This morning relax on board and watch the scenery as we sail to Beernem on the way back to Bruges, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. An extended continental breakfast will be available for early risers and brunch will be available later in the morning through early afternoon.

Sufficiently charged up from a great morning, we will  to  head off to visit Westvleteren, where monks brew what is widely acclaimed as “the best beer in the world”. Here we will taste this famous Trappist beer in their In de Vrede Cafe, where you can also get some lunch. If we are lucky, they might even have some “westies” for sale in their gift shop. This makes for one serious beer geek souvenir!

After we leave Westvleteren we’ll head off to visit our friend Kristof Vandenbussche at his Fort Lapin brewery, where he has been brewing beer just outside the walls of Bruges since 2011. Kristof used to manufacture refrigeration and electrical installations, so he actually converted the building where he worked into the brewery where he now brews his delicious creations! Over the years things have gone so well and the business has grown so much that by the time we visit, we may be enjoying our tastings in a brand new expanded facility.

Recently, Kristof was approached by Dominique Persoone, the most famous chocolatier in Belgium and owner of the Chocolate Line chocolate shops, to brew a chocolate beer for him.  Kristof already makes a delicious chocolate stout, but that beer is made with chocolate malts, whereas the beer he is brewing for Persoone will be made with actual chocolate nibs.  Kristof will discuss the differences between the processes and profiles of these 2 beers during a comparative tasting.

We’ll head back to Bruges where you will have some free time to explore, grab a beer or maybe even stop off at the Chocolate Line for some last minute souvenirs, before making your way back to the barge for our Farewell dinner.

After dinner relax on the barge, head into town to explore on your own or join your beer guide for a final beer hunting expedition in the medieval city. B,D

All good things must come to an end … enjoy a final breakfast on board before disembarking our barge to depart for flights home or wherever your travels will take you!

The Ultimate Beer and Chocolate Lover’s Belgium Beercation Cruise 2023 on our Exclusive Private Canal Barge
October 8 – 15, 2023

Early Booking Pricing Only $3960 pp person Double Occupancy
Limited Single Occupancy at $4960 currently waitlist only

Book The Ultimate Beer & Chocolate Lover’s Beercation Cruise Now !