Many consider Belgian beers among the finest in the world, and that’s why there’s so much excitement about the Belgian Beer Festival coming up Feb. 13-15 at Max’s Taphouse in Fells Point.
More than 120 authentic Belgian beers will be available on draft, including 30 new beers, with another 175 available in bottles. A full Belgian-inspired food menu will be available as well, including a free Belgian breakfast buffet Friday morning at 11.
This is the fifth year that Max’s is holding the festival, conveniently scheduled for Presidents Day Weekend, which for many comprises three consecutive days off. Hotel rooms are available for $129 per night at the Courtyard Marriott Inner Harbor East; callers should mention the Max’s Belgian festival when reserving rooms.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. each day. Admission is free, and two serving sizes — sample and full — are available for purchase.
Max’s general manager Casey Hard has obtained some rare beers that have never before been poured in the United States. Among them are Alvinne Kerasus; Hanssens Young Lambic and Old Kriek, which will be served from wooden casks; De Regenboog T’Smisje; Ellezelloise Quintine Blonde and De Glazen Toren Special Eindejaar.
Hard is expecting thousands for the three-day event, which he describes as the biggest and best yet. Obtaining these unusual beers, he said, required “six months of planning, a lot of help from my importers, along with three trips to Belgium in the last three years.”
“The beer selection for this year’s Belgian beer fest at Max’s is so extensive that it’s difficult to choose just a few exciting beers to mention,” said Chuck Cook, a Baltimore-based beer writer and blogger. His 3,500-word article about Belgian and Belgian-style beers appeared in the January 2009 issue of All About Beer magazine.
“I look forward to tasting the Hanssens Oude Kriek and Jonge Lambiek on cask (served from wooden barrels), as these are two very rare brews. I just visited the Hanssens geuze blendery in November, and enjoyed some other very special beers while there. These brews will likely be a sour beer lover’s dream,” Cook said.
“Allagash Fedelta, a collaboration beer between Allagash of Maine and De Struise Brouwers of Belgium, should be very interesting as well. Also, I would recommend nearly all the beers on hand from Alvinne, De Glazen Toren and Regenboog.”
