Small is Beautiful
“No rest for the wicked” the saying goes. That is probably why I have less and less leisure time to visit festivals, or other beery gatherings. Though it could be discussed whether going to a beerfestival constitutes “rest”… I consider it hard work, but my MIO doesn’t tend to look at it that way.
Whatever, I “managed” another festival this weekend. Not even a Zythos (*) festival, but one organized by, and cared for by students! Vilvordia, a High School students’ fraternity organized the fifteenth VBPF on the premises of the Erasmus/VUB campus, on the outskirts of Brussels. To tell it all, it’s a bout of nostalgia to me, as I used to study there as well, a lifetime ago, and even had lodgings some 250 meters from the festival location… I wish somebody had organized something similar in my days. Then again, that might have proven dangerous…
It is interesting to see that two worlds met: that of the students (on one hand, happy to drink, on the other hand all the same interested in the unusual), and that of the usual suspects one meets at every festival. Ach, the latter tend to flock together – we know one another too well. One might be tempted to suspect that the beerlist would not divert too much from that in a usual Belgian café with a good menu. Think again. The 81 beers-rich list featured some absolutely unique items, and even had surprises in petto – near every time I went to the counter in order to get me a beer, something hitherto unexpected appeared in the see-through fridges. Annoying for somebody trying to make a structured approach to alcohol indulgence, as me – joke.
The visitors weren’t deluded: in the short hours that I was able to spend there, I met with Brits, Dutch, Americans – and none of them students. If people from far and abroad will flock to such a modest event, the offering must be worthwhile. Want some examples? Let’s start with Aphis, a beer specially ordered by the students themselves, from the kettles of Marc Struyf, from Triest fame (pun intended). Or Toetëlèr (yes, that’s Flemish to you), from the brand-new brewery of the same name, made with elderflower. Brussels Calling, the new light beer by the stars from de la Senne – or the special German (!) bottling by h. ertie of the Straffe Winter. This definitely single German lambicblender, brings me to another item.
I have gone to this cosy festival before, and already two years ago, I encountered rare Italian, and other exotic brews, there. Knowing the Belgian chauvinistic approach to foreign brews, that is remarkable – certainly for young people. More of the same this year: Danish (Virklund), American (Anchor), Dutch (De Molen, but also La Trappe) or Scottish (inevitable BrewDog, ànd Harviestoun); beers for those wanting to look over the borders. In this, they remarkably got themselves in line with similar festivals by Zythos branches, that have seriously broadened their horizons, the last five years.
They had, however, another feature, that is not only unusual in festivals, but where it happens, is in average a fairly large festival: they had a side-tasting, guided by a lambicspecialist from the Bierpallieters’ branch, of three very unusual lambicbeers; draught Girardin lambic, a special blended gueuze from the same brewery, and a 20 year-old Sélection Lambic with De Neve origins. This guided tasting was repeated twice. No necessity to confirm they were well-attended, I suppose?
I had to leave fairly early, so I suspect the hall got filled up more afterwards. In any case, during my stay I seldom had to queue for long, and even when not all servers were obviously professionals, they were satisfyingly efficient. Maybe some of them might have had some more ample info on the beers they were pouring, but that is a minor criticism, as a very good deal of info could be found in the brochure (€ 1.20), to be had at the pay desk. And of course, Praesens Honoris causa, Steven Vermeylen (head culprit of this terrific tradition-in-spe), was walking around, helping out anybody with questions.
If Vilvordia goes on in the same vein, I predict that in a few years’ time, they will have outgrown the small Erasmus cantine. That is the ransom of success. Yet, I wish them growing success – for as long as they can manage the volunteers to keep the show going. If you’re in search for a cosy, interesting spring festival in this neck of the woods, I seriously suggest VBPF!
Vivat, crescat, floreat! in international students’ slang… If young people can organize this kind of event, there remains hope for the Flemish beerscene!
(*) Zythos is the Belgian beerconsumers’ organization, set up on regional branching. Most branches run a yearly festival or suchlike. Zythos is part of the European BeerConsumers’ Union.
