Brussels to host new craft beer festival in summer

A new craft beer festival is on its way to Brussels in 2017. The BXL BeerFest, scheduled for 26-27 August, will have as many as 50 different types of beer on offer to visitors, half of which are brewed in Belgium and the rest from the likes of the US, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden.

The organisers hope that the event will attract as many as 10,000 visitors to the Tour & Taxis site.

"Many of the world's capital cities already have an internationally acclaimed craft beer festival,” reads a statement on the festival website.

"Not only should Brussels be included in that list, but it should feature right at the very top. The BXLBeerFest aims to put it there."

The four founders of the event, Jean Hummler, Kevin Desmet, Olivier Desmet and Vincent Callut, are already well initiated in the Brussels beer world. Hummler is a co-owner of the renowned Moeder Lambic bar in Brussels. Kevin Desmet is a beer blogger, and brother Olivier owns the Nüetnigenough bar, also located in Brussels. Callut created his own communication agency to help independent breweries grow.

Soon, volunteers will be encouraged to apply to work the event.