Belgian Beer Pilgrimage With Victory Brewing Co-Founder Bill Covaleski

Once-In-A-Lifetime Journey Offers Rare Access to Small Trappist Breweries, Lambic Producers and Farm Breweries That Define Belgian Beer Culture

Portland, OR (June 8, 2026) – The serious beer lover's dream vacation is here. This fall, boutique travel company Curiosity Roads invites a small group to experience Belgium alongside one of America's most respected brewers, Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Company.

Tracking The History of Beer: A Belgium Journey (September 25 to October 2, 2026) provides uncommon access to some of Belgium's most revered producers, including Trappist breweries, lambic blenders, abbeys and farm breweries whose beers are celebrated worldwide, yet often remain unavailable outside Belgium.

“Experiencing Belgian beer culture in a small group with Bill Covaleski is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Irene Squizzato, founder of Curiosity Roads, referring to Covaleski’s nearly three-decade career, which has been deeply influenced by the country's monastic brewing traditions.

Designed for travelers seeking depth rather than a checklist of brewery visits, the itinerary blends iconic landmarks—like the Belgian Beer Museum in Brussels—and more tucked-away secrets—like the Plantin-Moretus UNESCO site that served as the first large-scale printing press, helping codify brewing practices. “In Belgium, beer is intertwined with culture. This journey will uncover the traditions, people and places that have shaped brewing for centuries,” continues Squizzato, of the eight-day itinerary that takes guests to Brussels, Wallonia, Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges.

Highlights include:

• St. Sixtus Brewery, home of the legendary Westvleteren beers, considered by many enthusiasts among the world's most sought-after brews.
• 3 Fonteinen, one of the most respected guardians of traditional lambic production, where spontaneous fermentation and wild yeast continue to define a uniquely Belgian style.
• Maredsous Abbey, a Benedictine monastery where brewing, craftsmanship and monastic life remain deeply intertwined.
• De Halve Maan Brewery in picturesque medieval Bruges, an active brewing site for more than five centuries, now transporting its beer through an underground pipeline to a bottling facility outside the city walls. The current family has owned the brewery for six generations.
• Hof ten Dormaal, a family-run farm brewery growing its own grains and hops, offering a rare farm-to-glass perspective on brewing.

The immersive cultural experience extends beyond the brewhouse. Guests will stay in independently owned boutique hotels and enjoy local cuisine and exclusive pairing experiences that revere Belgian beer at the level often reserved for wine.

“If you have yet to experience an Orval perfectly poured by someone who understands how the beer is produced and carbonated, that experience is phenomenal,” says Covaleski. For Covaleski, the trip represents a return to the source of inspiration behind much of his brewing career, as well as a thirst for continued discovery.

As co-founder of Victory Brewing Company, Covaleski helped establish one of America's most influential craft breweries, and his admiration for Belgian brewing traditions is reflected throughout Victory's portfolio, particularly Golden Monkey, the brewery's iconic Belgian-style Tripel.

Curiosity Roads has built a reputation for thoughtfully designed international travel; the Belgian beer itinerary marks its first dedicated offering for serious beer enthusiasts. A future Belgian beer itinerary hosted by internationally certified beer judge and Little Beast Brewing founder Charles Porter is planned for 2027.

For more information, visit curiosityroads dot com.

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ABOUT CURIOSITY ROADS

Curiosity Roads designs immersive small-group journeys for travelers seeking meaningful cultural experiences and insider access. Each itinerary is built around local expertise, authentic connections and thoughtful exploration, creating opportunities to engage deeply with the people, traditions and stories that define a destination.

ABOUT VICTORY BREWING

Headquartered in Downingtown, PA, Victory Brewing Company is a craft brewery founded by Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet. Victory Brewing Company is part of the Artisanal Brewing Ventures family including Southern Tier Brewing Company, Sixpoint Brewery, and Bold Rock Hard Cider. Victory products are distributed to nine countries, over 30 states across the US, plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company, please visit victorybeer dot com.