I don’t usually post about upcoming beer events but one is happening this weekend (March 6, 7, and 8) that is one of my all time favorites. In fact when people ask me what my favorite beer event of the year is, I always mention Coasters Belgian Beer Fest. This is the sixth year that Coasters has had the fest and I’ve been to the previous five. Heck I even remember a few of them.
First some information. Coasters Pub is located off A1A in Melbourne Beach. I would call it a beer bar/sports bar/gastro pub. They have really good food and a great selection of beer (35 taps). For one weekend a year they change all of their taps to different Belgian beers. Most are from Belgium, but occasionally there are some ‘Belgian style’ beers brewed by non Belgian breweries (for example Ommegang or Unibroue).
Now the words ‘beer fest’ usually throw people off. They picture standing in lines under white tents while drinking 2 oz beer samples for three hours. This ain’t one of those fests. I would call it more of a Belgian Beer Appreciation Weekend. Your not standing around in a parking lot or in a field, instead your sitting in the pub or biergarten enjoying a wine glass size pour of Belgian beer. Its your chance to try different Belgian beers that we usually don’t see on draught (at least here in Florida). Add in some great Belgian inspired food (cheese, chocolate, pomme frites, etc) and you’ve got the makings of a wonderful afternoon or evening. And since they open at 11AM on Saturday you could have a wonderful morning as well. Plus it runs three days .
We travel over from the Orlando area, get a room at either the nearby Radisson or Hilton (both on the beach), and walk to and from Coasters. Its like a beer vacation to Belgium, without the security lines.
Here is a list of 10 things I really enjoy about this event:
1. The Belgian beer.
2. The biergarten. This really opened things up when they added it a few years ago.
3. No cost for the event. Just pay for what you eat and drink.
4. The food.
5. Great hotels on the beach within a 5 minute walk. No one has to be the designated driver.
6. Friendly and efficient staff.
7. People who drink Belgian beer are more fun and friendly. I have no scientific evidence for this of course, but I’m sure its true.
8. Spring time weather in Florida. In a biergarten. With beer. Need I say more.
9. In case #8 isn’t that good, there is a nice sized ‘inside’ to enjoy the beer and food.
10. The Beer.
Disclaimer: I’m not on the payroll of Coasters Pub, the Radisson, or the Hilton. In other words I pay my way and have not received any freebies. That being said, with some light arm twisting I will accept a free beer or hotel room :).
Visit Coasters web site for more details : http://www.coastersbrewpub.com/
Following is the preliminary lineup of Belgian beers for the 2015 Coasters Belgian Beer Fest. Note that not all are available at once. As one runs out they will replace it with another from the list.
Abbey de St Bon Chein, Champagne barreled
Affligem Blonde
Alvinne Melchior
Bink Hop Verdomme
Blanche De Brussels
Blauges De Moneuse Special Winter
Bradderie de Vapeur La Potironne
Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen Zwet.Be
Brugges Zot Dubble
Chimay White
De Dolle Oerbier
De Dolle Stille Nacht
De Proef Draekenier
De Ranke XX Bitter
Delirium Red
Duchesse De Bourgogne
Dupont Triomfbier Vooruit
Duvel Single
Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor
Grimbergen Dubble
Hoegaarten Witbier
Ichigems Grand Cru
La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux
Leffe Blonde
Lindeman Framboise
Lost Coast 25th Anny Belgian Ale
Maredsous Blonde
Maredsous Brune
McChouffe
Mort Subdit Blanche Lambic
Palm Amber Ale
Piraat Belgian Ale
Piraat Triple Hop
Saison D’erpe Mere 2013
Saison Dupont
Scaldis
Slapmutske Organic Triple
St . Bernardus Abt 12
St Bernardus Extra 4
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
St. Bernardus Prior 8
Struisse Black Mes
Struisse Cuvee Delphine
Struisse St Amatus
Struisse XXX 2013
Taras Boulba
Timmerman Strawberry Lambic
Triple Karmeleit
Unibroue Maudite
Val Dieu Christmas
Val Dieu Triple
Vapeur Cochonne 2012
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