Groningen has hosted its fair share of beer festivals over the years, but this September, DOT will host the city’s first festival focused on cocktails (and beer).
Translation by Traci White
Sikkom reports that the free festival will be held between 7 and 9 September at DOT – Vrydemalaan 2 – and is being organised by Boilermaker, a Groningen-based company that specialises in beer, spirits and branding. Lovers of craft beers and spirits can sip on familiar and new beverages on the city beach while listening to DJs and learning more about local breweries and distilleries.
Merijn Goris, who is a member of Boilermaker’s three-man team, focuses on the conceptual and marketing side of the company – his colleagues are bartenders and sommeliers specialising in craft beers and cocktails. Gorijs told Sikkom that he has high hopes for the festival. “It’s a great location, and we’re going to have plenty of interesting groups represented with really delicious drinks.”
Boilermakers has previously organised other alcohol-focused events in Groningen, including pop-up bars, collaborations with local restaurants, and master classes featuring specific spirits.
DOT
On 16 July, RTV Noord reported that DOT would be one of seven local eateries that would be changing ownership later this year. Bos & Bos catering, a family catering company based in Groningen, has sold a number of local restaurants, including Huis de Beurs, several restaurants in northern museums, Bites&Flights at Groningen Airport Eelde, and fine dining establishment Paviljoen Sterrebos. As of 1 October, the dining establishments will be taken over by an Utrecht company called Vermaat.
Although DOT remains a popular spot in the city, especially since it opened its city beach in 2016, its future remains uncertain. Bos & Bos catering has a lease on the property for the next seven years, and the real estate could eventually become home to the new Oosterpoort performance venue. DOT opened its doors in 2016 inside the former Infoversum domed movie theatre.
