After two years of being ‘dry’, the brewery in Emmen’s Grote Kerk is back to life. The Beer Festival had to drop out in 2020 and 2021 due to corona. On September 23 and 24, the Emmer almshouse will once again be transformed into a large beer tasting.
The ticket sales show that beer-loving Emmen is looking forward to it. About half of the 600 available tickets have already been sold. Frank Griemink, Davey van der Sluis and Christian Giezen of the organizing Tafelronde 125 Southeast Drenthe are happy that the festival, the fourth edition, can be held again.
“In the past two years, everyone has had to hold their own festival at home,” says Griemink with a laugh.
As with previous editions, seven regional breweries from the north of the Netherlands will again descend on the Grote Kerk. These are De Veteraan/Bartje Bier (Emmen), Grutte Pier (Wyns), De Gulzige Gans (Coevorden), Noarder Dragten (Drachten), Eggens Bier (Bad Nieuweschans), Hesseler Bier (Oosterhesselen) and Allema (Groningen/Zwolle). .
It has always been a requirement that the brewery comes from the region, says Giezen. The barley liquor must come from the North and be made according to traditional methods.
Visitors to the beer festival will receive a glass and, new this year, a card. You can then tick which beers you have tasted. “Then you know which one you have had afterwards, if you want to order again”, says Griemink.
“What do you get with a full card?”, Van der Sluis asks with a laugh. Griemink “Well, then I’ll take you home, because after eight specialty beers you won’t get up anymore.” According to Griemink, this is the reason why the number of participating breweries will not be expanded further. This is a tasting and not a drinking fest.
Like every year, the organization links a good cause to the Emmer beer festival. In this case it is an old acquaintance. Griemink: “This year the proceeds will go to Stichting Leergeld Emmen. We are aware that there are students who have no money for sportswear.”
The volunteers of the Round Table want to offer some solace there. In recent years, the festival yielded an average of 2500 euros.
In short, an extra reason for everyone to come by, according to the trio. “You drink a beer, you support a good cause and you come to church again.”