Craft brewing event planned for downtown Greenville pub. Fest to spotlight Belgium beer.

The Whale GVL, located at 1108 S. Main St., was selected as one of 28 locations in the United States to host "Zwanze Day" — a bi-annual craft brewing event that showcases unique beers from Belgium -- on April 20.

According to Jesse Van Note, co-owner of The Whale GVL, being chosen to host Zwanze Day is one of the biggest honors that a beer establishment can hope to receive.

Brasserie Cantillon is an internationally known Lambic brewery out of Brussels, Belgium, which specializes in creating small batches of one-of-a-kind beers for sale to a select group of breweries and bars across America.

In a one-day, two-session event, this "Zwande Day" will arrive in Greenville for the first time and showcase French Sea Lettuce as its 2024 unique flavor.

"This Zwanze 2024 exudes aromas of exotic fruit," said Jean Van Roy, owner of Brasserie Cantillon. "It has nodes of iodine with a slightly salinity reminiscent of oysters; a very different beer than we are used to discovering at Cantillon."

"Zwanze" is a Belgian term and referenced in a sarcastic and humorous sense, which aims to be reflective of the playful and exploratory nature of the beers on display.

The festival will have two separate sessions from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per session and can be found on the Eventbrite website.

The Whale GVL is a craft beer collective in downtown Greenville that opened in 2019 and imports beers from all over the world, and also offers wines, sake, mead and other non-alcoholic beverages. The Whale's original location is in Asheville, N.C.

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription. 

Writer's Note: The Greenville News does not encourage the excessive use of alcohol or any other substance. We advocate for healthy, clean and wholesome social experiences and encourage our readers to never drink and drive or consume alcohol beyond the legal limitations set by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Our coverage on food & dining may, at times, include adult beverages, to provide information on the budding social scene of Greenville.