Kurt & Yves nominated are the "Strafste Cafébazen van Vlaanderen"
Tourism Flanders was searching for four weeks the pubs with the most awesome interior, the nicest concept, the nicest location and the best pub owner. In this last category the Panneels brothers of the pub with the longest name and the shortest opening hours won.
After a thorough check of the casted votes, Tourism Flanders announced the winners: 't Veerhuis (best location), Cafe Modern (most awesome interior), De Gekke Haan (best concept) and In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst (best pub owners). Kurt and Yves got 5179 votes.
In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst, which dates from 1842, competed in the category "strafste cafebaas' against 't Dreupelkot from Ghent, cafe In den Hengst from Brakel,' t Hof van Commerce in Stavele and Sint Sebastian in Olen.
The pub is only open on Sundays and church holydays from 10 AM to 01.30 PM and when there is a funeral service at the Saint-Ursula Church, just as it was when the 85-years old Marguerite was running the cafe. Kurt and Yves took over the helm from her in 1999 and made sure that the typical village cafe survived. At Sundays they serve people from all over the world, enthusiastically and with knowledge of Lambic, Gueuze, Kriek, faro or raspberry Lambic. On other days, the cafe can be hired for various activities.
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One had to earn the title of "strafste cafébaas". That is the opinion of Kurt and Yves. Therefore, they offer to all those who casted their vote for them a small insurance against large thirst :-) Everyone who brings a print-out of the mail to the pub before 30 april 2009 will get a LAMBIC OR KRIEKENLAMBIC FOR FREE.
In addition they organised an special contest. These are the winners:
1. INSURANCE AGAINST LARGE THIRST
(= all drinks for free, valid for one person and for 6 months) : Rene Corstjens
2. INSURANCE AGAINST LARGE THIRST valid for 3 months: Matthias Hallin
3. INSURANCE AGAINST LARGE THIRST valid for 1 month : Aurèle Loomans
4. INSURANCE AGAINST LARGE THIRST valid for 1 month : Peggy Deridder
5. INSURANCE AGAINST LARGE THIRST valid for 1 month : Wanne Madelijns
6. GUEUZE & KRIEK PACK with 3 bottles Oud Beersel : Marleen Walckiers
7. GUEUZE & KRIEK PACK with 3 bottles 3 Fonteinen : Marc Nechelput
8. GUEUZE & KRIEK PACK with 3 bottles Cantillon : Tineke Aerts
9. GUEUZE & KRIEK PACK with 3 bottles Boon : Lieven Denewet
10. GUEUZE & KRIEK PACK with 3 bottles Lindemans : Arnout Deurinck
Congratulations! The winners of our contest insurance were personally notified. The winners of the Gueuze and Kriek packages can pick their price up in the pub until 31 May 2009.
Day of the Kriek
 The first edition of the Day of the Lambic turned into a great success. As Lorenzo Dabove, the famous beer critic and gueuze connoisseur, wrote: "The Day of the Lambic was an unforgettable day. I never had the great opportunity to sample 15 different lambic (young and old) plus 3 kriekenlambics in one single place!" This and many other positive responses have prompted us to make of the Day of the Lambic an annual event and to organize on June 6 the first Day of the Kriek. More info: www.dagvandekriek.be
Megablend Geuze & Toer de Geuze 2009
On Sunday, April 26 the pub will be open the entire day at the occasion of the Tour de Gueuze 2009. You will be able to savour the long-awaited Mega Blend Gueuze in the pub or at the participating breweries.
Grape Lambic fromCantillon
 Since a few weeks, the pub also has grape lambics in its selection.
Some of you will be surprised. Grape lambic? Indeed, decades ago, there were lambic brewers in the valley of the Ijse, a small river which has its spring in the Zonien Wood and flows through villages like Hoeilaart, Overijse and Huldenberg. In this valley the brewers made delicious lambic to which they added grapes that had been cultivated in greenhouses.
Nowadays, Cantillon is the only brewery that produces such beers. Saint-Lamvinus is a rare lambic beer with cabernet franc and merlot grapes from the region of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, whereas Vigneronne is made with white Italian muscat grapes.
Day of the Lambic
On Saturday 13 December 2008 The House of Gueuze organises in the pub 'In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst' (In the Insurance against Large Thirst) the first Day of the Lambic.
Most people don't not know anymore what lambic precisely is. Therefore, we want to put the oldest (still existing) beer in the world in the spotlight. Not that long ago, there were only beers of spontaneous fermentation. Lagers and high fermentation beers are of a much more recent date.
Lambic contains only four ingredients (wheat, barley, hops and water) and is the basic beer for the production of geuze, kriek and other spontaneous fermentation beers.
The event starts at 12h a.m. and ends at 10h p.m. In between there are readings on the Pajotse beer culture, history and literature.
We are hoping to see you, your friends and family on 13 December in the pub. If you place an order via www.thehouseofgueuze.be to take beers home with you, you can pick up your order in the pub.
www.dagvandelambik.be
Night of Large Thirst 2008
The 3rd edition of the Night of Large Thirst, i.e. the international gueuze and kriek festival of the Payottenland, will take place on that extra day of 2008: 29th February. On the Eizeringen Square one will be able to savour the outstanding products of the lambic brewers and gueuze blenders from our region. www.nachtvandegrotedorst.be
The pub is open at Christmas night
Traditionally the pub opens its doors at the occasion of the midnight mass in the church of Eizeringen. So, everyone is welcome on 24th December, from 11 PM onwards. This year, we will have again Eylenbosch 1994 (from the barrel) on our Christmas menu. Come and taste!
 Farewell, John
On July 2, 2007 world beer traveller John White passed away following a heart attack. John was one of the first foreigners who set foot in "In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst" since the pub became the property of the Panneels family.
The sympathetic Englishman organised about a decade and a half beer travels in Europe and North-America. Hij was also gifted writer with regard to everything which had to do with beer. His website is one of the best information sources about our Belgian beer culture. John always had his little black notebook and his digital camera with him to record the smallest details (as he was doing at the occasion of his visit to our pub on September 11, 2005, when Lorenzo Dabove was talking to Yves - picture courtesy of Rony Heirman).
It is also thanks to John's website that our pub became internationally famous. We will always remember him as a very kind person who was very keen on learning about our lambic beer culture. We offer his spouse Joyce our sincerest condolences. John will remain in our memory for always. www.whitebeertravels.co.uk
Toer de Geuze 2007
On Sunday 22nd April HORAL organises the 6th edition of the Open Brewery Day of the Payottenland and the Valley of the Senne. Being responsible for the public relations of the High Council, Yves is closely involved with the organisation of this event. Therefore he advises to take a look at the brewing kettles, cooling ships and barrel storage rooms of the participating lambic breweries and gueuze blenders and to get familiar with their fine products. On 22nd April the pub is exceptionally open till 8 PM. www.horal.be
Lindemans Oude Kriek Cuvée René 2006
Good news! The segment of the traditional lambic beers is expanding. After Mort Subite also Lindemans has issued an 'old' kriek. The Vlezenbeek-based brewery is particularly known for its sweet beers. The fact that Dirk and Geert Lindemans are producing aside the Oude Gueuze Cuvée René also a fine-sour cherry beer with no sugar added, is very praiseworthy. The traditional kriek, which was bottled on 21st December 2006, is available at the pub.
Vintage Grammophone Music
Since early 2007 the pub houses an original His Master's Voice grammophone, which is in perfect shape. Some customers have made sure that the collection of old 78 tours records is growing steadily.
The House of Gueuze: Your One-stop Online Lambic Beer Shop
Recently, BVBA Panneels & Partners started a new venture with "In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst" and established the House of Gueuze. This new initiative offers lambic beer lovers to order their favourite beers via the internet.
The House of Gueuze has the advantage that one can order at one spot all beers which are produced by the breweries of the Payottenland and the Senne Valley at a low price. Regularly, www.thehouseofgueuze.be will also offer special brews that are not available via drive-in drinks companies.
Once the ordered goods are complete, the customer receives an e-mail confirmation with the list of the ordered beers, the total price and the payment details (via IBAN or PayPal transfer or cash at pick-up).
Combine a Sunday Excursion in the Payottenland with Your Order Pick-up
The ordered beers will be shipped by courier service or can be picked up at "In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst" during normal opening hours on Sundays or church holidays. Appointments for pick-up are also possible.
At present, there is a beta version running at www.thehouseofgueuze.be, which is only available in Dutch. This version will be soon replaced by a complete new e-shop with an extensive product catalogue in Dutch, English and French.
Toer de Geuze 2007 on Sunday 22th April
The biannual brewery visit event organised by the members of HORAL (High Council for Traditional Lambic Beers), will take place on Sunday 22nd April 2007. That day, "In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst" will be open from 10 AM until 6 PM.
Mark 22nd April in your agenda!
Open on Christmas Night
The pub is open on 24 December from 11 PM onwards at the occasion of the midnight mass. Everyone is welcome. And we serve one barrel of Eylenbosch kriek 1994. Exclusively on Xmas night, exclusively at the "Grote Dorst"
Enjoy Mort Subite's Oude Kriek 2006 Limited Edition!
Bruno Reinders, the manager of brewery Mort Subite, succeeded to convince the senior management of Alken-Maes to make a traditional kriek. This was certainly not an easy task in such a large brewery group. This adds to his credit.
The freshly sour cherry beer was named “Mort Subite Oude Kriek 2006 Limited Edition”. The 37.5cl bottles carry a serial number. The cherries originated from the Haspengouw orchards. No sugar added. Just the way as it always should be!
Our pub is one of the carefully selected pubs, which are allowed to serve this beer. It goes without saying that we do it following the old traditions, including the bottle basket.
We have tasted this kriek and we can confirm that it is a fine product.
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