Never before have I been so convinced by the strength of the beer community. “How come, in these uncertain times?” you might ask. Let me tell you.

In December last year, I met Dutch beer sommelier Ferry Wijnhoven on a trip exploring beer in Belgium. In between brewery visits, he told me about a beer community he started back in 2013. Not often do I admit to being surprised by what I hear, but I was stunned by his story. Over the years, his humble Facebook group called Beer Geeks has grown into a community of more than 18,000 members.

Apart from sharing beer topics online, the group also organises for instance brewery tours, tastings and walks. A few couples have even met through these real-life meetings, but there’s yet to be a Beer Geeks baby, as far as we know.

This community is a safe space for many to share their thoughts on beer and more. In fact, the Beer Geeks also started a topic called de kroeg – meaning the pub – something that was particularly appreciated during Covid. Some members even told Ferry that they got through the pandemic thanks to this group.

Another Covid-related initiative was the #DAT calendar, with a different brewery per day to drink a beer from, to show support. Breweries started making #DAT boxes, followed by live streams where the Beer Geeks could enjoy the beers together, get a tour of the brewery and talk to the brewers online. “This was very helpful for many. Not only financially, but also mentally,” Ferry told me.

What’s even more impressive, the Beer Geeks started a brewing collaboration for charity in 2018. So far, they have raised more than 522,000 euro for the Dutch ALS foundation. Isn’t that just fabulous? Some 80 breweries have taken part this year, and the 2026 edition – No Time Like Now – is set to be released mid-March.

The power of a community doing it together like this is enormous. And since meeting Ferry and hearing about the Beer Geeks, I’m even more convinced that beer is not just about beer – it’s also about the people who enjoy the beer and what they can accomplish, together.

Malin Norman Booking.com

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