What's the buzz?
Stu Stuart became an Honorary Knight of the Knighthood of the Brewers Mash Staff in an enthronement ceremony that took place Sept. 8, 2018, in the Brewers Guild House on the Grand Place of Brussels. This exceedingly rare honor was bestowed upon him for rendering loyal service to the brewers of Belgium. It is reserved for those who make an important contribution to the Belgian beer industry, either commercially, politically or socially, and who can therefore present themselves as an ambassador for Belgian beer. Typically Honorary Knights are importers, grocery store chain owners, politicians and an occasional beer writer. This is the first time a member of the beer tourism community has been recognized with an invitation to become an Honorary Knight. Stu is the third person from Michigan to receive this honor. For more images the enthronement ceremony click here and for images of Belgian Beer Weekend click here.
David Landau, Lionel Van Der Haegen, Stu Stuart & Didier Van Der Haegen at Château d’Enghien.
Stu Stuart became an Honorary Knight in the Brotherhood of Double Enghien, aka, the Confrerie de la Double Enghien, in a ceremony on Oct. 14, 2023, at the Château d’Enghien, located in the city of Enghien in the province of Wallonia in French-speaking Belgium. The motto of the Confrerie, established in 1984 by Didier Van Der Haegen, is “In Bono Promptus” (do what is good and enjoy what is good). Its purpose is to promote the beautiful, historical city of Enghien, its rich culture and especially the Enghien Blonde Ale, once brewed here by Brasserie Tennstedt-Decroes and now proudly brewed since 1975 by Brasserie Silly in the nearby village of Silly, Belgium. The BBM! Best Damn Farmhouse Ale Tour of Belgium has been visiting Brasserie for more than 10 years. It is run by cousins, Lionel and Bertrand Van Der Haegen, sixth generation Belgian Family Brewers.
The proud medallion of Confrerie de la Double Enghien.
Stu Stuart became an Honorary Knight in the Brotherhood of the Pink Elephants of Melle, Belgium, aka, the Confrerie De Roze Olifant, in a ceremony on Aug. 27, 2022, in Sint-Martins Church in Melle. The Brotherhood is a circle of friends who discover, enjoy and promote gastronomic and folkloric heritage of Belgium and neighboring countries. It is also a philanthropic organization contributing a portion of its proceed to help the community such as the child psychiatry department of the “Caritas” clinic in Melle. The name of the confrerie is a reference to Delirium Tremens beer brewed by Brewery Huyghe, near Gent. BBM! Tours is a regular visitor to the brewery.
Travel with Rick Steves radio and podcast interview with Stu Stuart: Release date: 06-01-2013
Read about the behind-the scenes of the interview in the Beer Santa blog.
The video above was shot and produced by London-based videographer Yoel Kamara, who along with Jeff Bradford from Drink Destinations were on the Christmas Beer Festival & Markets Tour. They did a nice job of capturing the essence and spirit of me while I led the tour. The camera doesn’t miss anything!
Join Stu as he is interviewed on the popular podcast Rails, Ales & Old Towns, by travel writer Scott Hartbeck. Learn about some of the many aspects that make Belgium, France and the Netherlands such attractive destinations, including, Trappist Beer, the perfect potato, dirt roads and dogs. Hear some personal stories never revealed until this interview. Listen until the end. There’s a nice payoff! Mar., 2024.
Photojournalist Ashley Joanna and Stu Stuart at Trappist Orval.
Stu Stuart was featured in the Belgian Smaak series The Humans of Belgian Beer, Dec. 12, 2023, by photojournalist Ashley Joanna. The interview took place at Trappist Orval in September of 2023. It’s a three minute read. Here’s an excerpt, “I wanted to see it all for myself, just once. I thought that would be it. But I fell in love with not only the country, but also the people and culture. I kept coming back.”—Stu Stuart.
To read the fascinating entire Humans of Belgian Beer Series. Also, visit ashleyjoannaphoto.com to view more of Ashley’s photography.
“Originally from New York, Ashley Joanna now resides in Belgium. She possesses a talent for capturing people's photographs, coupled with a genuine interest in their stories. Her portfolio includes subjects ranging from renowned chefs and athletes to artists and indigenous tribes.”—ashleyjoannaphoto.com. Image by Stu Stuart taken at Trappist Orval.
Breandán Kearney, host of Belgian Smaak Podcast.
Take a listen to BBM! Founder Stu Stuart on the Award-Winning Belgian Smaak Podcast with Breandán Kearney as they talk about how the history of Belgium, and particularly stories of war, from the country’s world renown beer culture. Both are inextricably linked and each offers an insight into the other. Sit back, listen, and enjoy Stu Stuart of Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours. Release date: 1-1-22
smaak [noun] /flemish/
(1) taste: the ability to discern what is of good quality;(2) taste: the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth.
Watch BBM! Founder Stu Stuart as he joins the distinguished panel for the Lambic Round Table held April 29, 2022, at Brewery Boon as a lead up to the Toer de Geuze.
The Toer de Geuze began in 1997 as a cultural celebration of the centuries old tradition of spontaneously fermented Lambic beers.
As part of the Toer de Geuze’s rich and diverse program of events in 2022, HORAL created a new livestream event called The Lambic Round Table. Lambic personalities sat down to discuss key issues relating to Lambic’s history, culture, and production. On the Lambic Round Table:
Gert Christiaens, President of HORAL
Frank Boon, Founder of Boon, Brewer and co-founder of HORAL
Kloris Devillé, Brewer at Den Herberg, HORAL’s newest member
Stu Stuart, Founder of Belgian Beer Me! Tours
Breandán Kearney, Writer, Editor and Podcaster at Belgian Smaak. Moderator of this event
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper from Australia recommends Belgian Beer Me! and the Lonely Monks Trappist Tour as a great way for beer enthusiasts to visit Belgium. Aug. 11, 2023.
May 1, 2021 • Story by Jim Dykstra
Editor’s Pick: European Beer Tour Company
The historic harbor at night on the River Leie in Gent with the Graslei on the right and the Korenlei on the left. Image by Stu Stuart, Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours.
As you might be able to guess, Belgian Beer Me! (BBM!), run by beer and Belgium expert Stu Stuart, specializes in tours of Belgium. Tours usually average 14 guests and run at a comfortable pace, which emphasizes quality of experience over quantity, with a dose of humor for good measure. Custom tours from this Michigan-based company are also available for groups of six or more.
The special focus on Belgium allows BBM! to gain access to certain breweries and experiences that other tours may not be able to provide, and all tours will be relatively specific, lasting around a week on average … Professional brewers may qualify for a discount, and you will even get your own BBM swag! Stu and his team of two other beer tour leaders make it their mission to share the joy of Belgian beer and travel, making this a great choice for anyone who loves beer, Belgium or both.
"The greatest places in the world to drink beer." August 2018 by Will Hawkes
The front door at Gaststätte Lommerzheim, Cologne’s most charismatic pub, has barely shut before it swings open again. A middle-aged couple hurry in, share a joke with the blue-shirted bartender and weave their way between tightly packed tables in search of seats. They’ll be lucky. It’s just gone 6pm on a Wednesday but the place is full of customers contemplating fist-thick pork chops and slim, cylindrical glasses of Kölsch, the pale, delicately floral beer that is native to this Rhineland city. Read more...
"Visit our members during an exclusive ten day tour"
June 2018 by Annelies Geneyn
What if you could walk on the holy grounds of the Brewery Duvel Moortgat? Visit the world famous beer pipeline in Bruges at Brewery de Halve Maan? And, meet Frank Boon, mastermind behind the famous Geuze Boon, all during one spectacular beer tour? Beer tour producer and guide Stu Stuart, and his Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours can make your dream come true with his special annual tour, Belgian Family Brewers Beer Tour of Belgium. Read more...
Lonely Monks Trappist Tour: Celebrator Beer News Edition
Celebrator writer Big Mike Moore recounts the tour..."This tour has been on my bucket list since I first homebrewed back in the late 80s, and had my first Chimay."
"When Stu Stuart of Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours of Belgium (BBM!) asked me to be a guest host on one of his “Wild & Spontaneous Beer Tour of Belgium,” I gladly accepted. I normally plan my own tours to Belgium and can safely say that organizing them is a very intricate, time consuming process. Planning brewery visits, planning meals at various beer cafes and restaurants, and arranging transportation and accommodations can take months of preparation. Having someone else do the planning and arrangements for you, and making the tour turn out to be great fun in the process is, well, almost priceless." Read more...
Celebrator June/July 2015 - Two great articles not to be missed.
Belgian Beer Tour - Celebrator Readers Gather In Belgium by Tom Dalldorf
"Some 28 beer enthusiasts joined us on the Celebrator Belgian Beer Tour, held April 22–26, 2015, and organized by the capable and well-traveled Beer Santa Stu Stuart of Belgium Beer Me! Tours." Read More | PDF
Sour Fest in Belgium by Chuck Cook
The June/July issue of Celebrator Beer News is on the 2015 edition of Belgium’s Toer de Geuze. In fact, you might as well call it “Toer de Geuze Weekend” from now one, as there are so many events taking place at the lambic breweries in the days leading up to the event, which is always held on a Sunday in late April or early May, every odd-numbered year. Read More
BBM! is proud to be the only American beer tour company featured in the 2009, 2014 & 2018 Good Beer Guide to Belgium by Tim Webb & Joe Stange. We highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Belgian beer travel. It makes the perfect stocking stuffer.
Belgian Beer Journal and Gordon Ponce do a "Brewview" of Wesvleteren 8 and document the history of this famous Trappist Brewery. See images of BBM!'s Trappist Tour in progress. Be sure to follow the Belgian Beer Journal on Facebook, too.
Independenttraveler.com, a division of TripAdvisor, featured BBM! in their 9 Best Experiences in Belgium. In addition to enjoying beer, did you know you can visit a spa in salt cave in Belgium? They say salt has restorative and therapeutic powers. I know beer does, but salt? Read more...
JAN-FEB 2010 issue
• Imbibe Jan-Feb 2010 Uncorked - Vacay? Okay? "Cold, dreary weather have you singing the wintertime blues? Plan your summer vacation before the final frost. You'll thaw out justing thinking about ..."
The Beer Review Journal celebrates the world of Belgian Beer…and Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours. Thank you, Gordon Ponce. Be sure to read his latest beer reviews.
