Once-In-A-Lifetime Journey Offers Rare Access to Small Trappist Breweries, Lambic Producers and Farm Breweries That Define Belgian Beer Culture
Portland, OR (June 8, 2026) – The serious beer lover’s dream vacation is here. This fall, boutique travel company Curiosity Roads invites a small group to experience Belgium alongside one of America’s most respected brewers, Bill Covaleski, of Victory Brewing Company.
Tracking The History of Beer: A Belgium Journey (September 25th to October 2nd, 2026) provides uncommon access to some of Belgium’s most revered producers, including Trappist breweries, lambic blenders, abbeys and farm breweries whose beers are celebrated worldwide, yet often remain unavailable outside Belgium.
“Experiencing Belgian beer culture in a small group with Bill Covaleski is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Irene Squizzato, founder of Curiosity Roads, referring to Covaleski’s nearly three-decade career, which has been deeply influenced by the country’s monastic brewing traditions.
Designed for travelers seeking depth rather than a checklist of brewery visits, the itinerary blends iconic landmarks – like the Belgian Beer Museum in Brussels – and more tucked away secrets – like the Plantin-Moretus UNESCO site that served as the first large-scale printing press, helping codify brewing practices. “In Belgium, beer is intertwined with culture. This journey will uncover the traditions, people and places that have shaped brewing for centuries,” continues Squizzato, of the eight-day itinerary that takes guests to Brussels, Wallonia, Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges.
Highlights Include:
• St. Sixtus Brewery, home of the legendary Westvleteren beers, considered by many enthusiasts among the world’s most sought-after brews.
• 3 Fonteinen, one of the most respected guardians of traditional lambic production, where spontaneous fermentation and wild yeast continue to define a uniquely Belgian style.
• Maredsous Abbey, a Benedictine monastery where brewing, craftsmanship and monastic life remain deeply intertwined.
• De Halve Maan Brewery in picturesque medieval Bruges, has been an active brewing site for more than 5 centuries, and now transports their beer through an underground pipeline to a bottling facility outside the city walls. The current family has owned the brewery for six generations.
• Hof ten Dormaal, a family-run farm brewery growing its own grains and hops, offering a rare farm-to-glass perspective on brewing.
The immersive cultural experience extends beyond the brewhouse. Guests will stay in independently owned boutique hotels and enjoy local cuisine and exclusive pairing experiences that revere Belgian beer at the level often reserved for wine.
“If you have yet to experience an Orval perfectly poured by someone who understands how the beer is produced and carbonated, that experience is phenomenal,” says Covaleski. For Covaleski, the trip represents a return to the source of inspiration behind much of his brewing career, as well as a thirst for continued discovery.
As co-founder of Victory Brewing Company, Covaleski helped establish one of America’s most influential craft breweries, and his admiration for Belgian brewing traditions is reflected throughout Victory’s portfolio, particularly Golden Monkey, the brewery’s iconic Belgian-style Tripel.
Curiosity Roads has built a reputation for thoughtfully designed international travel, the Belgian beer itinerary marks its first dedicated offering for serious beer enthusiasts. A future Belgian beer itinerary hosted by internationally certified beer judge and Little Beast Brewing founder Charles Porter, is planned for 2027.
For more information, visit curiosityroads.com
