Next 21 and 22 May the city of Leuven turns into any beer lover’s dream. The Leuven Innovation Beer Festival (LIBF) will bring together 16 innovative breweries from all over the world to the beer city.
This year the festival has been given a new look, but remains true to its well-known taste: hidden beer gems from all over the world in one location. The location is right in the centre of the city and takes advantage of the nice weather announced for that period, being held in the open air at the Velodrome
Organizer Hof Ten Dormaal presents the most innovative artisanal breweries from all over the world. Representatives from Ireland, the Czech Republic, the US and even Chile can be met at the festival this year, making LIBF the perfect place for new ideas and collaborations to emerge.
1. Side programme
Bars in the area are taking advantage of the celebration and organizing events and tastings of their own, such as the Leuven Innovation After Party or beer cocktails at café Maltz, or Hops ‘N More exceptionally serving new beers from the guest breweries. In addition, there are still the Leuven classics: you can visit the Stella Artois brewery or take a guided beer tour at Leuven Leisure.
Malz Craft Beer Bar & Shop, Brusselsestraat 51 (100m from the festival grounds)
- 18.05: 19:00-22:00 | Hof Ten Dormaal Tasting
- 19.05: 19:00-22:00 | Beer dinner • Coeur de Boeuf + Land & Labour
- 20.05: 16:00-20:00 | Tap takeover Stu Mostów
- 21.05: 20:00-04:00 | Leuven Innovation After Party
- 22.05: 14:00-20:00 | Lazy Sunday • Beer cocktails
Hops ‘N More Craft Bottle shop, Parijsstraat 27 (300m from the festival grounds)
- 19-20.05 | Metaphore Tasting – By the Glass
- 20.05: 16:00-22:00 | Meet the brewer • Laugar
- 21-22.05 | Taste the beers
Leuven Leisure, Tiensestraat 5
- 20.05: 19:30 | Pub Tour
- 21.05: 13:00 | Brewery Ride
- 21.05: 14:00 | Leuven on tap
- 21.05: 17:30 | Chocolate and beer pairing
2. Investing in beer culture
The beer culture is a Belgian Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and to help the Flemish region access the full beer tourism potential, the Tourism Ministry of the region has recently allocated 3 million euros to help breweries attract more visitors.
The funds are supposed to help breweries enhance visitors’ experience and stand available for construction and renovation projects, but also digital and virtual reality projects that showcase the beer brewing craft.
