In many northern European countries, brew masters concoct a special type of beer just in time for the holiday season. Christmas beers are generally hearty and rather sweet, with aromatic hints of the season: think cinnamon, cloves, honey, ginger, nutmeg or citrus. How to pick a favorite? The Christmas Beer Festival in Essen, Belgium, on Saturday and Sunday gives visitors the chance to sample about 170 bottled beers and about 20 on tap.
Entry to the festival is free. A 15 cl sampling glass costs 3 euros, refundable to those who don’t keep it as a souvenir. Visitors use tokens that cost 1.70 euros each to buy beer and food. Batches of six sell for 10 euros. A glass of beer generally goes for one token, though sampling some of the pricier brews could cost up to three tokens. It’s also possible to buy a bottle for sharing on the spot or to enjoy at home. Foods to accompany the brews include beef stew, a beer-based soup and selections of cheeses and sausages.
Essen is about 27 miles north of Antwerp, close to the Dutch border. The festival venue is the Heuvelhal, at Kapelstraat 7. Shuttle service is available to and from Essen’s train station for 1 euro per passenger. The festival runs from 1:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. See www.kerstbierfestival.be, which has an English link.