Nacht van de Grote Dorst

Overview

The Night of the Great Thirst, also known as the International Festival of Geuze and Kriek is an event organized by The Gueuze Society that aims to publicize and celebrate lambic both in Belgium and throughout the world. This festival was first introduced in 2004 and is held every other year in Eizeringen, Belgium. Beginning in 2011, a U.S. Edition of this festival was started during the off years and is hosted at Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell, Maine.

History

The event was originally organized as a protest, as the inspector of the federal food agency (Federaal Voedselagentschap (FAVV)) was not aware of spontaneous fermentation processes and was threatening to close a number of breweries. More than 700 people showed up, twice what was expected, and helped demonstrate to the government the importance of the survival and protection of this centuries-old brewing method.^[1]

With the success of the original event, subsequent events continue to draw attention to the importance of lambic and its Belgian heritage. Additionally, the Night of the Great Thirst also pays homage to spontaneously fermented beers around the world. While not lambic, these beers are an important piece to the revival of interest in spontaneously fermented beers.

In 2012, the Night of the Great Thirst won a bronze metal at the Belgian Beer Awards for Best Event of 2012.

Eizeringen, Belgium

The small village of Eizeringen hosts De Nacht van de Grote Dorst. The primary pub in the village, In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst serves as a focal point for the festival. Admission to the festival is free and beer tokens are sold. The lambic brewers and blenders represented at the festival in 2014 included Boon, Cantillon, De Oude Cam, De Troch, 3 Fonteinen, Girardin, Hanssens, Mort Subite, Lindemans, Oud Beersel, Tilquin and Timmermans.

Lovell, Maine

In 2011, the first edition of the Nacht van de Grote Dorst took place at Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell, Maine. This Night of Great Thirst featured both lambic beers from Belgium and spontaneously fermented beers brewed in the United States. The second edition of the festival took place in 2013 again at Ebenezer's Pub. As of early 2015, there is no word on whether or not this festival will be held in the spring.