Brewing is an ancient art that can be traced back to the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, mankind’s oldest civilization. When humans were first beginning their transition from hunters to an agricultural sedentary lifestyle approximately 10,000 years ago, the Sumerians started brewing. The first Europeans to make beer were the Germanic tribes of the Bronze Age, around 2,000-700 B.C. Much has changed since then but the basics of the brewing craft have remained the same.
Local brewers are keeping this ancient art alive. Their beer is the product of refinement over millenia of experimentation, tradition, and knowledge transmitted from generation to generation. Their beer has the true taste of the ages.
What is a craft brewery? A brewery must be independent, traditional, and small to be called craft. Small means a production of less than two million barrels of beer per year. Independent means that no more than 25 percent is controlled or owned by another company.
Brewing beer is an art form and it is the local brewers that help maintain this art. The real art of making beer is mastered by the local handmade breweries that make smaller batches of beer in a more traditional way.
These locally owned breweries deliver better social value than the global companies. From an economic point of view the local breweries have impact on the local communities contributing with wages, taxes, and expenditures to the economic well being of the communities. Local brewery ownership is a mean of community building.
From a social and cultural point of view the local breweries keep alive a tradition and an ancient craft. Local breweries are our neighbors. Some of them are also brewpubs, places where beer lovers can enjoy the beverage in their own neighborhood. A brewpub is not only locally owned but actually make the beers that it
sells.
The ownership of breweries by faraway global corporations is alienating. People would rather seek out the intimate experience provided by brewpubs. The majority of the patrons of those brewpubs appreciate the social interaction combined with the alcohol consumption.
Going local is a trendy concept and it applies to beer as well. You can help support your local breweries by buying local crafted beer at your local store or visiting one of their establishments.
Edmonton’s International BeerFest, TravelGurus.ca and Contiki.com are giving away an INCREDIBLE trip for two to Oktoberfest 2014. We are accepting entries online via our Facebook page but will also be taking entries at the show if you arrive before 7pm!
This amazing trip is valued at over $3000 and includes:
Exclusive Accommodations for 2
- 4 nights twin or triple-share hotel accommodation
- Regular free coach transfers from accommodation to festival site
- Return coach transfer from London to Munich including ferry crossings
- Contiki Oktoberfest t-shirt
Exclusive Team
- Experienced & professional Contiki Oktoberfest Team & Tour Drivers
- Day trip to the moving Dachau concentration camp memorial
- Guided walking tour of Munich: See Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, the Rathaus, Munich Residenz, Frauenkirche & Viktulienmarkt
Exclusive Food for 2
Exclusive Inclusions for 2
- See the White Cliffs of Dover
- Guided walking tour of Munich: See Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, the Rathaus, Munich Residenz, Frauenkirche & Viktualienmarkt
Day 1 LONDON TO MUNICH
Meet up with your Contiki team before we hit the road & get ready for a week of fun at one of the world’s most famous festivals, Oktoberfest. We’ll make our way through the English countryside past the White Cliffs of Dover to catch our ferry across the channel. Chat to your new travel buddies and catch up on some sleep as we journey overnight towards Munich, the home of Oktoberfest.
Overnight Coach
- See the White Cliffs of Dover
Day 2 ARRIVE MUNICH
Wake up in the pumping city of Munich, home to Oktoberfest. On arrival, we make a stop at the hotel, where we’ll stay for the tour. Later, if you’re feeling up to it, check out Munich & get the party started!
Hotel
Days 3-5 MUNICH
There’s so much to see & do in this city, so make the most of your time here. Oktoberfest has been an annual event in the Bavarian calendar for more than 200 years, so make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action.
Take your place at one of the festival tents & get into all that is Oktoberfest. If you’re feeling like going local then girls don a Dirndl & guys get into your Lederhosen (traditional costume) to really get into the spirit. Food is also a central part of the festival & not to be missed. Try some German treats like Pretzels, Wurst, Sauerkraut or pork knuckle, there really is something to tantalise any taste buds here. If you feel like a bit of time out from the buzzing beer halls, head to the market stalls for some other German treats. A huge amusement park is also a feature of the festival so don’t forget to jump on some rides while you’re here.
From the central Marienplatz (market square) there’s heaps of other things to do & see while you’re here. Located right in the heart of the city, it’s a hub for shopping, has a variety of places to eat & many historic sights within easy reach. Marienplatz is also home to the Old & New Town Halls, once the centre of the political heart of Munich. There’s also the spectacular Hirschgarten nearby, with its amazing 8000 seat beer garden. Don’t miss out on a visit to Olympic Park, home to the 1972 Olympic Games, where you can climb the Olympic Tower for awesome city views. There’s also the option to join a guided bike tour and see the famous sights as you learn the fascinating history of the city.
If seeing some history is on your agenda, then don’t miss the Alter Hof, Munich’s medieval castle, one of the most beautiful locations in the city, or you could Or ask your Contiki team for some other tips on things to do in the quaint nearby towns & villages.
If you’re feeling like a day out & about, explore even more of Europe while you’re here. A day trip to the Dachau Memorial Concentration camp is just one of the options Contiki offer if you feel like something different.
Hotel Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast
- Guided walking tour of Munich: See Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, the Rathaus, Munich Residenz, Frauenkirche & Viktualienmarkt
- Optional trip to the moving Dachau concentration camp memorial
- Munich Bike Tour
Euro 20.00
- Munich Bike Tour
Euro 20.00
Day 6 MUNICH TO LONDON
Say farewell to the fun times had in Germany as we head back to Calais to board the ferry back to England. Your tour ends upon arrival in London where its time to say farewell to your new friends.
Breakfast
For more details check out the package on Contiki.com:
** Airfare to London is not included, $250 airfare credit is provided for each person.
Our friends at Gadventures and Travel Gurus are giving away a trip for 2 to Thailand! Visit the Gadventures & Travel Gurus Booth at the 2018 Edmonton International Beerfest or fill out the entry form below for your chance to win an exciting 10-day Thai adventure for you and a friend!
Read below for an overview of the trip, or check out the full details here.
Enter to Win
The Trip – Northern Thailand Adventure
Don’t just visit Thailand; find yourself on a once-in-a-lifetime, genuine cultural experience you’ll talk about forever. This 10-day adventure throughout Northern Thailand will give you amazing stories to share. Explore the ruins of the former Thai capital city of Ayutthaya, spend a night in a floating rafthouse, and take a local train up to vibrant and unforgettable Chiang Mai to trek into the hills surrounding the city. Get to know the people of the hilltribes who live there who don’t often get to meet travellers. This immersive experience will take you back to a simpler time that you might not want to leave.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Bangkok
Arrive at any time.
Day 2 – Bangkok/Kanchanaburi
Enjoy a klong boat tour of Bangkok including a visit to Wat Po. Travel to Kanchanaburi and head to your floating rafthouse accommodation. Enjoy free time to explore.
Exclusive Inclusions:Local Living Overnight Rafthouse Excursion
Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 3 – Kanchanaburi
Enjoy a day of sightseeing at Erawan Falls and the Bridge on the River Kwai. Explore the Allied War Cemetery, the Thai-Burmese Railway Centre and the JEATH War Museum to learn more about the area’s history.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 – Kanchanaburi/Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Travel to Ayutthaya and visit the historical sites of the old capital city. Opt to visit Chan Kasem National Museum and Chao Sam Phraya Museum.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya/Chiang Mai
Spend a full day exploring Ayutthaya before boarding an overnight train to Chiang Mai.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 – Chiang Mai
Arrive in Chiang Mai and explore the city. Visit Doi Suthep in the afternoon.
Day 7 – Chiang Mai/Ban Pha Mon
Drive from Chiang Mai to the trailhead. Trek through farmland and bamboo and teak forests. Learn about bush food and medicinal plants. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing through rice fields and valleys to reach the first village of a Lahu tribe. Assist with food prep and cooking, learn about weaving and embroidery or check out a local Lahu massage.
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8 – Ban Pha Mon/Ban Muang Pam
Trek between villages, over farmlands and grasslands, and ascend to the ridge line. Learn about bush medicine and seasonal fruits as you make your way to the lunch stop. Go for a swim and help the local guides prepare lunch. Continue on to the Karen village and spend the night. Opt to learn about medicine from a shaman or play football with the locals.
Exclusive Inclusions: Get Active Hilltribe Trek Day 2
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 9 – Ban Muang Pam/Chiang Mai
After breakfast, leave the village and continue on, trekking beside the Pam River through lush jungle. Arrive at Tham Lod, a 1666m deep cave. Enter by bamboo raft and move to different chambers – a truly unique experience. After lunch, drive back to Chiang Mai for some free time to explore.
Exclusive Inclusions: Get Active Hilltribe Trek Day 3
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 10 – Chiang Mai
Depart at any time.
Meals included: Breakfast
View more details about this trip here
Every year we run our famous Beer School and always want to make it an unforgettable experience for our beer lovers. This year is no different and we will be unveiling more great news as we get closer to the event.
Edmonton’s International Beer Fest and Liquor Depot are very happy to announce Patrick McMurray as one of our Beer School teacher at this years festival. We are looking forward to having Patrick McMurray teach us about oysters, oyster shucking and beer pairing.
Patrick McMurray
Patrick is a World Champion Oyster Shucker, and author of a book on oysters, entitled “Consider the Oyster – A Shucker’s Field Guide.” He is the proud owner of Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill restaurant in downtown Toronto. Patrick has been bringing oysters and fresh fish to the city for the past 7 years for all to enjoy.
You can check out more at: Shucker Paddy
Stay tuned to find out when and how to sign up for this incredible experience!
