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John M. Esparolini | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Spirit of Belgium 2005: Celebrating Belgian and Belgian-Style Beers tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Spirit of Belgium 2005: Celebrating Belgian and Belgian-Style Beers

Every four years Washington, DC homebrew club Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), with the help of the Embassy of Belgium and other interested organizations, hosts a 3-day national conference celebrating the unique beers styles of Belgium.

This conference, the fourth since the first Spirit of Belgium conference in 1994, was held in Arlington, Virginia just two miles south of the Nation's Capitol.

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BURPers Steve Marler and Mel Thompson prepare taps for Friday night's reception featuring homebrewed Belgian style beers.
BURPers Steve Marler and Mel Thompson prepare taps for Friday night's reception featuring homebrewed Belgian style beers.		 BURPers Dave Pyle and Mark Hogenmiller set up jockey boxes.
BURPers Dave Pyle and Mark Hogenmiller set up jockey boxes.		 BURPer and Victory Brewing Co. (PA) rep Jim Busch stops for a sample of Dave Pyle's Orange Geuze ale.
BURPer and Victory Brewing Co. (PA) rep Jim Busch stops for a sample of Dave Pyle's Orange Geuze ale.		 The reception hall at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia
The reception hall at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia		 Jamie Langlie (R) works the registration table.
Jamie Langlie (R) works the registration table.
Homebrewer Ben Schwalb checks in.
Homebrewer Ben Schwalb checks in.		 BURPer Craig Somers checks out a book at the Brewers Publications table.
BURPer Craig Somers checks out a book at the Brewers Publications table.		 Ed Bielaus passing on a sample of one of his brews.
Ed Bielaus passing on a sample of one of his brews.		 (L-R) Bill Ridgely, Phil Spanel, and Betsy Kepler
(L-R) Bill Ridgely, Phil Spanel, and Betsy Kepler		 BURPer Janet Crowe, with beer writer and Belgian beer aficianado Chuck Cook
BURPer Janet Crowe, with beer writer and Belgian beer aficianado Chuck Cook
Paul Langlie watches Spirit of Belgium organizer Rick Garvin set up a presentation on Belgium and Belgian beers.
Paul Langlie watches Spirit of Belgium organizer Rick Garvin set up a presentation on Belgium and Belgian beers.		 Jean-Louis Dits (Brewer: La Brasserie a Vapeur in Pipaix, Belgium) with Dave Pyle and Rick Garvin
Jean-Louis Dits (Brewer: La Brasserie a Vapeur in Pipaix, Belgium) with Dave Pyle and Rick Garvin		 BURPer and MASHOUT host Chuck Pops Popenoe samples the eats at the reception.
BURPer and MASHOUT host Chuck "Pops" Popenoe samples the eats at the reception.		 Steve Gale and Dave Pyle enjoy some brew and camaraderie.
Steve Gale and Dave Pyle enjoy some brew and camaraderie.		 Dave Pyle visits homebrewer Wendy Aaronson's taps.
Dave Pyle visits homebrewer Wendy Aaronson's taps.
BURPers Becky Pyle and Betsy Kepler enjoy some homebrewed Belgian-style beer.
BURPers Becky Pyle and Betsy Kepler enjoy some homebrewed Belgian-style beer.		 BURPers Bill Ridgely and Lynne Ragazzini
BURPers Bill Ridgely and Lynne Ragazzini		 BURPer Scott Schabilon samples a homebrew.
BURPer Scott Schabilon samples a homebrew.		 BURPer Mel Thompson gives one of his brews to the thirsty photographer.
BURPer Mel Thompson gives one of his brews to the thirsty photographer.		 Homebrewers Jamie Langlie and Brian St. Clair
Homebrewers Jamie Langlie and Brian St. Clair
(L-R) BURPers Pat Crowe and Dave Bennett
(L-R) BURPers Pat Crowe and Dave Bennett		 (L-R) BURPers Andy Anderson and John Robinson
(L-R) BURPers Andy Anderson and John Robinson		 John Gardiner and Bruce Ng
John Gardiner and Bruce Ng		 Founders co-owner and brewmaster Bill Madden and friends
Founders co-owner and brewmaster Bill Madden and friends		 Herb Rose gets a Belgian-style homebrew from John Robinson
Herb Rose gets a Belgian-style homebrew from John Robinson
Lynne Ragazzini, Jay Adams, and Tom Cannon
Lynne Ragazzini, Jay Adams, and Tom Cannon		 (L-R) Barry Weinberger, Christina Allers, Chuck Popenoe, and Rick Garvin
(L-R) Barry Weinberger, Christina Allers, Chuck Popenoe, and Rick Garvin		 Barry Weinberger chats with Christina Allers
Barry Weinberger chats with Christina Allers		 Sounds like a great place to eat!
Sounds like a great place to eat!		 Spirit of Belgium organizer Rick Garvin welcomes the conference attendees
Spirit of Belgium organizer Rick Garvin welcomes the conference attendees
Homebrewers Phil Sides and Rob Hansen
Homebrewers Phil Sides and Rob Hansen		 Chuck Popenoe serves up a Belgian-style homebrew
Chuck Popenoe serves up a Belgian-style homebrew		 At the end of the reception, homebrews and equipment are relocated to a hospitality suite for further analysis.
At the end of the reception, homebrews and equipment are relocated to a hospitality suite for further analysis.		 Jamie Langlie and Janet Crowe with Belgian flags
Jamie Langlie and Janet Crowe with Belgian flags		 A guest checks in for the Sunday afternoon beer tasting
A guest checks in for the Sunday afternoon beer tasting
BURPer Christine Johnbrier shows a special t-shirt designed for Spirit of Belgium 2005
BURPer Christine Johnbrier shows a special t-shirt designed for Spirit of Belgium 2005		 Some of the Belgian beer-related merchandise for sale at the conference
Some of the Belgian beer-related merchandise for sale at the conference		 Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association, with some BA books and brochures
Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association, with some BA books and brochures		 At the Brewers Association table
At the Brewers Association table		 Belgian beer and cooking author Guido Deboeck autographs a copy of one of his books
Belgian beer and cooking author Guido Deboeck autographs a copy of one of his books
Guido Deboeck with wife Hennie and copies of his popular Belgian beer cookbook.
Guido Deboeck with wife Hennie and copies of his popular Belgian beer cookbook.		 BURPer Brian Matt pours a commercial Belgian-style American microbrew
BURPer Brian Matt pours a commercial Belgian-style American microbrew		 Sampling some commercial American Belgian-style beers
Sampling some commercial American Belgian-style beers		 Pizza Port (Solana Beach, CA) brewer Tomme Arthur with several of his Belgian-style beers
Pizza Port (Solana Beach, CA) brewer Tomme Arthur with several of his Belgian-style beers		 Pizza Port brewer Tomme Arthur
Pizza Port brewer Tomme Arthur
Tomme Arthur pours one his beers
Tomme Arthur pours one his beers		 Belgian beer aficianado Chuck Cook samples one of Tomme Arthur's brews
Belgian beer aficianado Chuck Cook samples one of Tomme Arthur's brews		 Tom Cannon with Andy Anderson
Tom Cannon with Andy Anderson		 (L-R) Scott Bickham, Dave Pyle, and Steve Piatz
(L-R) Scott Bickham, Dave Pyle, and Steve Piatz		 (L-R) New York craft brewers Phil Markowski and Scott Morrison
(L-R) New York craft brewers Phil Markowski and Scott Morrison
Becky Pyle and Carl Mellisas
Becky Pyle and Carl Mellisas		 Craig Somers and Phil Sides
Craig Somers and Phil Sides		 Victory Brewing's Jim Busch promotes some Victory Belgian-style ales
Victory Brewing's Jim Busch promotes some Victory Belgian-style ales		 Jim Busch talks about Victory beers
Jim Busch talks about Victory beers		 u16/sloopjohne/medium/39116773._PHOTOLABDIGITAL_DUMPSOB_2005011605LoResIMG_0275.jpg
(L-R) Dietmar Francke, Tim Weil and Guido Deboeck
(L-R) Dietmar Francke, Tim Weil and Guido Deboeck		 Brewer Tim Sauerwein (L) has a lively chat with Mid-Atlantic Brewing News writer Martin Wooster.
Brewer Tim Sauerwein (L) has a lively chat with Mid-Atlantic Brewing News writer Martin Wooster.		 Brian Matt, appropriately dressed for the Belgian beer banquet
Brian Matt, appropriately dressed for the Belgian beer banquet		 Just a few of the Belgian and Belgian-style beers served at the banquet
Just a few of the Belgian and Belgian-style beers served at the banquet		 An artsy Belgian beer label
An artsy Belgian beer label
BURPer David Derricotte pours one of the many Belgian beers included with the meal.
BURPer David Derricotte pours one of the many Belgian beers included with the meal.		 BURPers Wendy Aaronson and Ed Bielaus
BURPers Wendy Aaronson and Ed Bielaus		 Rick Garvin thanks the banquet chefs for a great Belgian feast.
Rick Garvin thanks the banquet chefs for a great Belgian feast.		 (L-R) BURPers Christine Johnbrier, Kathy Koch, Andy Anderson, (BURP Fearless Leader) Colleen Cannon, Becky Pyle, and Janet Crowe
(L-R) BURPers Christine Johnbrier, Kathy Koch, Andy Anderson, (BURP Fearless Leader) Colleen Cannon, Becky Pyle, and Janet Crowe

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John M. Esparolini10-Mar-2006 19:19
WOW! Lucky you, Naomi! :-) I'd be happy just to spend nine *days* there. LOL This conference was indeed a lot of fun, and the beers were nothing less than phenomenal, including the homebrewed ones.
Naomi 10-Mar-2006 16:39
This looks like a lot of fun! I lived in Belgium for about nine months back in the 80's, and tried some of the beers there. Good stuff, especially with frites and mussels.
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