Bier • Pivo • Bière • Beer

Love beer and ready to travel?

Join us and a small group of fellow beer lovers on a trip to six exciting cities we're you'll be drinking the finest beers in the world with a variety of beer to suite everyone's tastes. Maybe you've had these beers at home, but there is no better taste than getting it fresh from the brewery.

Our tours are for the young and young at heart and we guarantee a great time for a great price. You'll have the flexibility to keep busy with the five included brewery tours, optional brewery visits, local sightseeing, and more beer tastings or choose to visit the breweries and then relax and see the sights at your own pace. This trip is more than just a great brewery tour, it's a great trip to Europe!

With hundreds of great breweries across Europe to choose from, we chose these five great breweries for their culture, tradition, history, and future of European brewing. Along the way, we'll go out and try other great local brews, some of which are considered the best in the world. You might be thinking, 'if the other local beers are better, why don't we go to the other breweries?' Breweries like Samuel Smith's (our staff favorite) and the Trappist monasteries in Belgium (Trappist ales are regarded by some to be the best beer in the world) are not open to public. Other beers such as Hoegaarden, Kölsch, Smithwicks, and Stiegl are located in smaller cities that are harder to travel to in a short period of time. Rest assured, you'll get to try fresh pints of all these beers and many more fresh from their breweries.

We proudly introduce the five breweries of The Great Brewery Tour

  Pilsner Urquell -  Plzen, Czech Republic

With a rich history of brewing, the Czechs drink the most beer in the world with a yearly average of 42 gallons per year. In Prague and Plzen, you'll get a chance to taste plenty of that history. In 1842, the forerunner to today's modern brewery produced its first "pale lager," later registered as "pilsner" in honor of the city of Plzen. By the late 1800's, this new style of beer became known by its now famous name, Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell). Although, the brewery was acquired by beer giant South African Breweries (SAB) in 1999, the brewery continues to carry on the tradition of producing the finest pilsner beer and remains the cultural center of Bohemia. Plzensky Prazdroj currently brews 6 different beer styles -  Pilsner-Urquell, Gambrinus, Kozel, Radegast, Birell, & Pivomaster.

  Weihenstephaner -  Freising, Germany

Home to the oldest existing and some of the finest breweries in the world, Munich couples the traditions and customs of the past with modern techniques to craft the highest quality of beer in the world. 30 miles north of Munich, Weihenstephaner has turned out the nectar of the gods for over 1000 years. The modern brewery joins other famous Munich breweries such as Spaten, Erdinger, Paulaner, and Hofbrau and turns out 12 different styles of classic German beer. Wheat, Dark Wheat, Light Wheat, Korbinian, Crystal Wheat, Original, Pilsner, Tradition, Festbier, & Vitus.While in Munich, we'll also visit the Hofbrau Haus, arguably the famous beer hall in the world.

  Stella Artois/ Leffe -  Leuven, Belgium

World renowned for its beer, Leuven has been the home of great beer since the mid 1300s and is known as Belgium's number one beer city. Lately, Leuven has been in the news for being home to the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. The companies most famous European product, Stella Artois was originally brewed as a Christmas beer in the 1920's. Stella Artois ('Stella' - Latin for star, 'Artois' - named after 1700's master brewer) has become a year long international success. Though the flagship product has been in production for less than one hundred years, making it the youngest of the beers on The Great Brewery Tour, it is produced from over 300 years tradition. In Leuven, they currently brew Stella Artois, Vieux Temps, & Leffe Radieuse.Those who prefer Belgium wheat's will prefer Leffe, which in its current form has been brewed since 1952 using a centuries old recipe saved from obscurity since the abbey was closed following the French Revolution.

After the brewery, we'll head to the Oude Markt (Old Market) to see Europe's 'longest bar' which is actually a collection of bars and restaurants where we'll be enjoying the best beers Belgium has to offer. Beers such as Chimay, Orval, Delirium, & Domus will lead us to a great night and dreams of hops & grains.

  Fuller's -  London, England

The English pub is a legendary drinking hole and there's no better place to sip the finest ales in the world. One local brewer, Fuller's has been brewing at the Griffin Brewery site for over 350 years. Fuller's today has become an international success and icon of English brewing. The Griffin Brewery currently brews London Pride, ESB, Golden Pride, 1845, London Porter, IPA. Not to be missed on a trip to London, we'll visit a pub that dates from the middle of the 17th century to down few from Samuel Smith's, one of the finest brewers of ales in the world and one of the last independent brewers left in England. In fact, Samuel Smith's IPA was voted NovoGuide Tours favorite beer in 2011!

  Guinness -  Dublin, Ireland

Finally, we head to the emerald isle where we end the trip with a tour of one of the most famous breweries in the world, Guinness at St. James Gate. The brewery started in 1758 and within ten years was exporting the 'black stuff' to other countries. It didn't take long for Guinness to spread around the world and 200 years later, Guinness has become the most popular stout in the world. Today, their Extra Stout is a decedent from the original recipe while Guinness Draught has become synonymous with dark beer. The St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin currently brews Guinness Extra Stout, Guinness Draught, Guinness Foreign Export, & Kaliber. At Guinness, we'll take a private tour, sample some fresh stouts, and end up with lunch in the famous Gravity Bar. We finish the tour with a trip to town to revel in the the fun and camaraderie of Irish drinking.

Optional Breweries

Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to visit other great breweries during your free time. These breweries include: Staropramen - Prague, Hofbrau - Munich, Spaten - Munich, Erdinger - Munich

There it is, The Great Brewery Tour. 9 days and 8 nights of the best beers and cities in Europe. An experience like none other, you'll go home happy and a true international beer connoisseur.

Tour Guide
A NovoGuide Tour Leader will meet you at the airport and will be with the group the entire way through the trip. Along with the included activities, the tour leader will also be taking interested members on optional activities throughout the trip and will be available to help each member of the trip have a great experience.

Group Size
Group size is limited from 5 to 16 participants. This insures a small personal experience that will allow us to provide each guest with a fun and unique trip.

Flights
Participants are responsible for their international airfare. If you are interested in including international airfare with your tour, please contact us for a price quote. Tours begin on a Saturday in Prague, Czech Republic and end on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland.

The following European flights are included in the trip price.

1.          • Munich (MUC) to Brussels (BRU)
2.          • London, England (LON) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB)

Trains
The following train tickets are included in the trip price. (Rail tickets are for 2nd class travel.)

1.          • Prague, Czech Republic to Plzen, Czech Republic
2.          • Plzen, Czech Republic to Munich, Germany
3.          • Brussels, Belgium to London, England

Public Transportation
Once in Europe, transportation is included to and from airports and train stations not within walking distance of the accommodation. In case of inclement weather where walking is not preferable, you will be responsible for public transportation. Generally, public transportation in Europe is very affordable.

Breakfast
Breakfast is included for each day of the trip. It is usually provided by the hostel and will consist of a European style breakfast.

Brewery Tours
Admission to the following breweries are included in the price. As good practice, each brewery tour usually includes at least one free beer

1.          • Weihenstephaner, Munich - Public Tour
2.          • Pilsner Urquell - Public Tour
3.          • Stella Artois - Classic Tour
4.          • Fuller's - Guided with taste test
5.          • Guinness, Dublin - Private Group Tour

Free Beer
In each of the following five cities, you will receive up to three free local beers to entice you to try other local specialties. I don't think we'll have to twist your arm on this one. If you do not have three drinks in a city, the extra drinks do not carry over to the next city.

1.          • Munich
2.          • Prague
3.          • Leuven
4.          • London
5.          • Dublin

Accommodation
1 bed in a shared and mixed hostel dormitory. See "Dates, Prices, & Reservations" for upgrade options & prices.

Taxes, Fees, & Surcharges
All government & travel taxes, fees & surcharges are included in the price. Once you receive your final itinerary, please check airline luggage policies for additional baggage fees. European airlines allow 1 checked bag up to 15kg (33lbs), participants are responsible for extra baggage weight costs.

Additional Costs
The following items are possible additional costs.

1.          • International airfare from the U.S. to Europe
2.          • Passport - Your passport must be valid at least 60 days prior to departure and 90 days after the tour ends
3.          • Travel Insurance
4.          • Lunch & Dinner
5.          • Spending money

 

Spaces are limited, reserve your spot today!

Prices:

$2100 price with hostel accommodation   or   $2550 with hotel accommodation

2012 Trip & Payment Dates: A tour will be confirmed when the minimum of five people have signed up.
*August 3rd Trip does not tour London because of the Olympics. We'll spend an extra day and night in Munich and Dublin
**Special Oktoberfest tour!

Price Includes:

City to City Transportation, 8 Nights of accommodation (shared budget dorms), Breakfast, Brewery Tour Admission, Local Beers (at least 10 total), Tour Guide, Taxes, Fees, & Surcharges

---

Make a Payment:
To book your tour, select your tour type, dates, and then click on the 'Pay Now' button.
After payment is confirmed, you will be sent an electronic welcome package and invoice.

---

* Budget dorms are mixed and shared and contain 4-6 beds. We will book the smallest sized dorm when available.
** Based off of double occupancy

Additional Booking Information

Please note, there must at least be five participants signed up for each tour for the tour to be confirmed. If a tour fails to have five participants, you will be offered a 100% refund or will have the option to put your money towards another tour.

Once your payment has been approved, you will receive a welcome packet with detailed information about the trip. Once the trip receives five paid participants*, you will receive confirmation of the tour.

Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding bookings and the trip.

Travel Deals & Specials!

Up to $200 off for bar professionals*

Sign up a group of 10 and receive $100 off per person

Discount taken off final tour price. Discounts cannot be combined.
*Please contact a tour director for specific discounts

Tour Participants Responsibility and Behavior Guidelines

We expect appropriate behavior for each tour participant. We define appropriate behavior as, respect for other group members, respect for the country your a guest in, respect others encountered on the tour, and behavior that represents your country and NovoGuide Tours positively.
If the NovoGuide appointed tour leader deems an individual’s behavior to be inappropriate, they will be asked to leave the group. Our priority is the safety and welfare of the group. If you find that you get aggressive or obnoxious when you drink alcohol, we recommend you do not go on this tour.

Group Size & Age Requirement

Group sizes will range between 5 to 20 participants. When less than five participants sign up for a tour, NovoGuide Tours reserves the right to cancel the trip. For participants that have paid towards a canceled trip, they will have the option to put their money towards another trip date or be offered a 100% refund.
•Participants must be at least 18 years old by the day of departure.

Accommodation & Location

Tour participants stay in hostels or budget hotels for accommodation, which will vary by city. All accommodation will be located in the city center or closest to the major attraction when available.

Room Assignments

Tour participants will be randomly assigned to rooms with other participants of the same gender or mixed when single gender rooms are not available. You may request specific roommates and room types.  While it is our priority to accommodate friend/room requests, we cannot guarantee them.  In a hostel, beds are typically bunks and each individual will have their own bed.  Accommodations may be upgraded to smaller or private rooms for an additional cost.

Exchange rates

Foreign currency exchange rates are in constant fluctuation. Please be aware that some prices may change due to these fluctuations.  Check www.xe.com for the latest exchange rates.

Optional City Tours

Optional city tours may be available in each city for a broad range of activities. The participant will be responsible for covering the cost for transportation and admission when applicable. Your tour director will talk with the group to provide more information.

Food

Breakfast is included with the tour. Breakfast is generally served at the place of accommodation. Lunch and dinner will be paid for by the participant.  A participant has the choice to eat at a different place than the group.
•Breakfast will usually consist of a small meal at the hostel (cereal, bread, jam, fruits).

Travel Insurance

NovoGuide Tours recommends Travel Insured Intl. for travel insurance. Each participant is high encouraged to protect their trip with travel insurance. Those choosing not to purchase travel insurance must sign a liability release statement before departure.
•To qualify for pre-existing coverage or trip cancellation for any reason coverage, an insurance plan must be purchased within 14 days of the deposit payment. Coverage can be purchased as part of a tour package through NovoGuide Tours or from your local insurance agent.

Itinerary

The detailed itinerary is subject to change. Changes can occur due to weather, transportation strikes, or temporary brewery closings.

Luggage

1 piece of checked luggage is included in the price. The participant is responsible for paying for additional pieces. For ease of travel, we recommend the use of a large backpack (45+Liters) or a suitcase that is easily managed on the different types of transportation we will be taking. Participants are free to use any type of luggage they prefer.

Lost luggage and/or personal items

Although uncommon, airlines and people lose luggage. NovoGuide Tours is not financially responsible for any lost or stolen luggage, documents, and personal items but we will work to make alternative arrangements/provisions for the duration of the trip. Travel Insured Intl. has policies to cover the loss of baggage of documents.

Passports and visas

Each tour participant is responsible for obtaining and maintaining a valid passport and/or travel visa 90 days prior to and for the duration of the tour. Passports must be valid at least three months past the end of the tour for precautionary reasons.

Special Requests

NovoGuide Tours will make every attempt to accommodate any reasonable special request. Contact your Tour Director or Sponsor for more information.

Payments and Pricing protection

The price you see is the price you pay. All tours include a 24 hours Tour Director from the U.S. and back, all transportation, entry into all scheduled attractions and the food outlined in your tour’s details. Participants do not need to tip for any services occurred during the tour.

Deposit and payment dates

A 15% non-refundable deposit can be paid at least six weeks prior to departure to reserve a spot on the tour. Total payment is due 6 weeks prior to departure. There will be a penalty assessed for all payments made within the last 6 weeks before departure.

Fees & Taxes

All travel taxes, fees, and surcharges are already included in the price.

Payment Protection

Per Illinois guideline for a travel business, at least 90% of your payment will be put into a special escrow type account to protect the funds in case of an unlikely event of a bankruptcy, insolvency or cessation of business. These funds will remain in the account until the travel is purchased.

Tour cancellation

NovoGuide Tours may cancel any tour for events beyond its control, including but not limited to instability in a destination country, acts of God, war, terrorist activities or any other event that would prevent an economically, commercially, or safe availability to conduct a tour. In these circumstances, NovoGuide Tours will refund all money recovered from commercial providers of travel and all tour expenses. These events also entitle holders of a travel insurance package to a full refund.

Tour Guides

A NovoGuide Tour Director will accompany each tour group for the duration of the tour.

Transportation

Airlines
NovoGuide Tours prefers to use major international airlines for trans-Atlantic flights including KLM, United, Air Canada, and American.  Airline tickets subject to airfare and price constrictions.  Within Europe, we use major airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Easy Jet, and Iberia Airlines.

City to City Transportation

When possible, each tour will travel from city to city using trains. Accommodation on those journeys will be on a standard seat, sleeper beds are generally available for an additional costs.
•On tours that require a large amount of train travel, each participant will be issued a rail pass. On some occasions, planes or ferries will also be used for travel.

Intra-city Transportation

When possible, all tour groups will use walking and public transportation to get around a city.
•All commercial and public transportation is subject to change at the will or availability of the service provider. Due to the flexible nature of a NovoGuide Tour, we will attempt to reschedule or adapt to any travel cancellation or delay that may occur. These changes may result in a change of the tour itinerary. We will also make every attempt when possible and financially viable to take direct routes to the destination.

Liability statement

By signing up for a NovoGuide Tour, each participant will agree to release and hold harmless NovoGuide Tours, affiliates, and personnel, from and agree not to sue the Released Parties for, any and all claims demands, actions, lawsuits, settlements, judgments, damages, losses, costs, and expenses of any nature whatsoever on account of or arising out of any and all personal injury, death, bodily injury, mental anguish, emotional distress, physical property or other damage that I may suffer from any cause whatsoever related in any way to my participation in any NovoGuide sponsored tour. I further agree to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all acts of God, war, terrorist activities or threats of terrorist activities, instability in a destination country, incidents of violence, public health issues or quarantine or threats of public health issues, substantial currency fluctuations, strikes, government restrictions, fire or severe weather conditions that make it impossible or commercially unreasonable in the opinion of NovoGuide Tours to conduct the tour or the acts or omissions of any other agents over which the Released Parties have no direct or indirect control, including, without limitation , airlines, railways, bus companies, hotels, hostels, guides and sub-contracted agents or tour operators. My participation acknowledges that NovoGuide Tours does not own or operate any entity that provides goods or services on tour. Tours are not officially sponsored by any brewery or government and are operated by a privately run company, NovoGuide Tours.