Blogger Picks: Hotels for World Beer Festivals

“If you’re reading this in the UK, there are probably a few key places you associate with serious beer – and it’s unlikely that Brazil or Spain are on the list. Which is exactly why you should pay attention to this edit. We’ve asked some food, drink and travel bloggers to recommend top stays for global beer events, and while there are a few familiar faces here (Hi Belgium!) you’ll also find a couple of curveballs. Bottoms up…

Our panel:

– Tendelle Sheu, Travel àla Tendelle
– Andreea Gulacsi, On Food and Wine
– Duncan Rhodes, Tapas & Beers
– Milly Youngman, Mini Adventures

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Plaza Blumenau Hotel, Itajai, Brazil
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Chosen by: Tendelle from Travel àla Tendelle

“Everyone knows about Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany… But in Blumenau, Brazil? The south of Brazil has a significant German immigrant population, thus in the city of Blumenau, Oktoberfest is an important annual tradition as well! To enjoy Oktoberfest, stay at the Plaza Blumenau Hotel, a four-star hotel with a pool and excellent breakfast buffet, right in the lively city centre. It’s by the XV de Novembro street, which is lined with traditional German houses and the main route of the Oktoberfest Parade. The main Oktoberfest venue, German Village Park, is only ten minutes by car.”

Have a look at our hotels in Blumenau page for more options.

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Pillows Grand Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
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Chosen by: Andreea from On Food and Wine

“Every September, Brussels hosts the annual Belgian Beer Weekend. This traditional beer festival takes places on the iconic Grand Place in the centre of town. Well-known Belgian brewers like Leffe and Duvel share stands alongside smaller and more artisanal brewers like Brasserie St-Feuillen or Brugse Zot. The festival is not only an opportunity to sample a whole range of Belgian beers, but also to get to know a bit more about the brewing process and chat with brewers. Being in the centre makes it easy to book a hotel, but a favourite of ours is Pillows Grand Hotel on Place Rouppe. It’s central enough that you can walk to the Grand Place and back, but just outside the busy tourist area to give you the opportunity to discover a bit of authentic Brussels.”

Have a look at our hotels in Brussels page for more options.

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H10 Casanova, Barcelona
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Chosen by: Duncan from Tapas & Beers

“Rewind five years or so, and it was hard to get anything other than a mass-market lager in Barcelona. But that was before the Catalan beer revolution got underway, with cervecerias and specialist beer bars cropping up by the dozen. The Barcelona Beer Festival showcases the region’s brewing talent and innovation. It has become so popular that it has moved out to the suburb of Hospitalet to accommodate the thousands of industry insiders and casual quaffers who descend each year. Tickets are inexpensive and come with a free beer – after that you run the gauntlet of 400 beers rotating on 100 taps. A great place to stay is the H10 Casanova. This four-star hotel with a rooftop pool is on the same metro line as the festival venue. The hotel is also bang in the middle of Barcelona’s ‘beer mile’, a stretch of awesome craft beer bars for city drinking.”

Have a look at our hotels in Barcelona page for more options.

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Park Inn by Radisson Leuven, Belgium
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Chosen by: Milly from Mini Adventures

“With a whole Beer Month hosting multiple festivals each year, Leuven’s the place to drink. The Park Inn Leuven is a simple and comfortable spot within easy reach of the train station and town – arrive, check in, and you’ll be sitting down with a full glass within the hour!”

Have a look at our hotels in Leuven page for more options.”