Our breweries

Located on the northernmost border with the Netherlands, this former hermitage near Hamont-Achel was already known as the "Achelse Kluis" in the 17th century. It was built under Pastor Tielens for Dutch Catholics, who at that time were not allowed to hold services in their own country. From 1731 onward, the convent lived according to Benedictine principles. However, this change did not save the congregation from closure during the Enlightenment reforms of the French Revolution.

It wasn't until 1846 that the remote village was revived. The Belgian Trappist Abbey of Westmalle saw the empty buildings as an opportunity to establish a daughter monastery, which became an abbey itself 25 years later. With the arrival of the Trappists, the monks also began brewing beer.

Closures during the two world wars, as well as the destruction of the monastery brewery in 1917, hampered the growth of this small, idyllic brewery. It wasn't until 1998 that the brewery was reopened with the support of the Westmalle and Rochefort abbeys. This temporarily secured the abbey's financial independence. However, in 2011, the monastery was officially dissolved and placed under the control of the Trappist Westmalle Abbey until 2018. The last monks left the abbey in 2020.

With the monks' departure, Achel lost its Trappist label and can now only call itself an abbey beer. However, the recipe and brewmaster have been preserved by the Tormans family, who took over the brewery in 2023.

Today, the former abbey, with its various Gothic styles, is located in the middle of the extensive nature reserve and can be visited on guided tours. A walk or bike ride through the surrounding fields, forests, and heathlands is also well worth the effort.

It all began with two brothers-in-law, Pierre Gobron and Christian Bauweraerts, who had the idea of ​​brewing their own beer in the small village of Achouffe in the late 1970s. In 1982, the first La Chouffe celebrated its premiere at a craft fair in Wibrin. The blond beer enjoyed immediate success. But the beer hadn't yet reached its final form. In 1983, Pierre Celis from the Hoegaarden brewery suggested that a spicy note would further refine the beer. So, after some deliberation, the brothers-in-law finally added coriander seeds, creating the perfect La Chouffe, which is so successful today.

1983 was also the year in which the gnome/dwarf became firmly established as the symbol of the Achouffe Brewery. A friend of the brothers-in-law, who worked as an art teacher, designed the brewery's logo, which soon became famous around the world!

Up until this point, however, the brewery was merely a side project for the family. It wasn't until 1986 that the brothers-in-law dedicated themselves fully to the art of brewing, quitting their jobs and purchasing the former farm that housed the brewery. Just two years later, they exported to Canada for the first time, opening up a large market for the Belgian specialty beer. This has been recognized internationally with numerous awards.

2005 was another innovative year for the Achouffe Brewery. Its importer planned an "Ultimate Belgian Tasting" event for the following year, featuring a new hoppy Triple, made from American hops and Belgian brewing techniques. And lo and behold, one year later, the first keg of Houblon Chouffe was poured in the Empire State Building!

Even today, the brewery is constantly expanding to increase its capacity and production levels. Along with the brewery, the gnome family has grown. Marcel (La Chouffe) and Malcolm (Mc Chouffe) have been joined by Matthew (Houblon Chouffe) and now Micheline (Cherry Chouffe)! Each gnome represents one of the beers in the range and has its own story.

The brewery is open to visitors from all over the world and beer tastings of the delicious varieties are also possible.

Felix Concordia - happy in harmony. This motto has accompanied the Benedictine abbey since its founding in 1074. Founded by six former knights in the village of Affligem, the monks made it their mission to live for the community and improve its lives. So, because the drinking water was unsafe due to germs and disease, they began brewing beer, supplying it to the village and pilgrims.

The abbey and brewery survived the next centuries virtually unscathed, steadily growing in productivity. Only when the brewery was destroyed in World War II did closure begin to be considered. Since reconstruction was not permitted, Father Tobias decided in 1956 to enter into a collaboration with the Opwijk brewery, located near the abbey. The historic recipe was written down as the "Formular Antiqua Renovata," adapted to modern technology.

The abbey and the brewery maintain a close relationship to this day. A portion of the proceeds from sales still goes to the abbey, which has always been open to visitors and guests.

A beer for friendship! So began the story of this (unusually Dutch) brewery. Charles de Pesters and Johannes van Marwijk Kooy, best friends and related by marriage, couldn't find a beer they both liked. So, in 1870, they decided to brew their own and founded the Amstel Brewery in Amsterdam, named after the nearby river.

However, the beer was to be bottom-fermented, not top-fermented like most breweries at the time. The problem with this idea was that bottom-fermenting yeast requires temperatures between four and nine degrees Celsius, which isn't possible without constant refrigeration. Cooling machines didn't exist yet, so the brothers-in-law got inventive! They came up with the idea of ​​using the Amstel River, which flows through Amsterdam, as a natural cooling system. This enabled them to brew a new Bavarian-style lager in 1872, which quickly became a new favorite not only in Amsterdam.

By 1968, industry giant Heineken also recognized the potential of the family brewery, and the companies merged. Just under 10 years later, production moved from Amsterdam to Heineken headquarters.

Averbode Abbey lies in the heart of what is now the Merode Forest, part of the Merode Landscape Park. It was founded in 1134 by Count Arnold II of Loon, and until the 13th century it operated as a double monastery – meaning both nuns and monks lived in the Abbey of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist. Through numerous donations from the surrounding landed gentry, the abbey was able to expand extensively and acquire larger tracts of land that could be farmed. The profits were used primarily to support the monks, but also for charitable purposes. In the midst of this economic boom, the Premonstratensians of Averbode began brewing beer in the 14th century.

At the end of the 14th century, however, this stability began to falter when the citizens of the Diocese of Liège, to which Averbode belonged, rebelled against John of Bavaria when he was elected prince-elect. This revolt was bloodily suppressed at the beginning of the 15th century. In the process, Averbode was plundered and the monks imprisoned.

The following decades and centuries were also marked by looting, the plague, fires, lightning strikes, and the French Revolution. Nevertheless, the abbey survived, as did the recipe for its once-popular blonde beer.

It wasn't until the 19th century that Averbode Abbey experienced a new golden age, and with it, a renewed brewing activity. Around 2014, the founding of "Averbode Abbey Products" marked another turning point for the abbey, as the production of this diverse range of products was no longer carried out in-house, but outsourced. The abbey's popular beer is now brewed at the renowned Huyghe Brewery. The recipe, however, hasn't changed.

A visit to the abbey is definitely worthwhile, if only for the beautiful baroque abbey church and the idyllic forests surrounding it.

This brewery is still relatively new in its history. Its founder, Frank Boon, grew up in a small family brewery in Brussels, which, however, had to close down during his youth. He eventually traveled through Belgium to get to know the regional specialties. He befriended Geuze master Joseph De Vits and, in 1978, took over his small Lambic brewery in Lembeek, also known as the birthplace of Lambic beers.

In the following years, more and more Lambic breweries closed, and the Geuze tradition slowly faded into oblivion. But Frank Boon didn't give up. He wanted to preserve and uphold this tradition. So he began building his own Lambic brewhouse at a new location in the center of Lembeek, which was completed in 1990. This later earned him the nickname "Savior of the Geuze."

It won't be long before he's been granted the TSG label, which was created specifically to protect traditional specialty beers and their breweries. Boon's Oude Geuze and Oude Kriek are, of course, produced according to traditional recipes and using authentic methods with bottle conditioning. Frank Boon is also Grand Master of the Knighthood of the Roerstok der Brouwers, the association of Belgian beer brewers.

Founded in 1791 by Jean-Baptiste Bosteels, this brewery brews unique specialty beers according to time-honored traditions. The brewery from Buggenhout, Belgium, is best known for its Pauwel Kwak.

This name goes back to a 19th-century innkeeper of the same name. Since his customers were primarily coachmen, he developed a special glass with a special holder that the coachmen could attach to their carriages. This allowed them to enjoy their beer on the coach box without spillage.

The aforementioned "stirrup glass" is still very popular today—especially among collectors! In the 1980s, Ivo Bosteel brought the strong beer back to market in commemoration of this story.

The brewery is open for tours and tastings are included in the tours ;)

Originally known as the "Den Os" brewery, the Van Houtryve family's brewing dynasty left its mark on the city of Bruges. It all began in 1765 in Loppem, where a certain Pierre-Jacques Van Houtryve ran an unnamed farmhouse brewery. It wasn't until 60 years later that his son received permission to open a brewery within Bruges' city walls, which he named "Den Os."

Shortly before the First World War, breweries in Bruges were at their peak. However, three of the 34 active breweries at the time were owned by Van Houtryves: "Den Os," "La Marine," and "Ten Ezele."

This period also saw the development of Bourgogne des Flandres, an authentic Flemish reddish-brown beer. Despite its popularity, the "Den Os" brewery was forced to close its doors 10 years after the end of World War II.

However, Michel Van Houtryve couldn't bear the fact that the family beer would no longer be brewed. So, over several years, he initially signed contracts with various breweries so that the family recipe could continue to be brewed under his supervision. Finally, in 1985, he found a permanent partner in the Timmermans Brewery in Itterbeek near Brussels.

Since 2015, a new microbrewery has been operating on Kartuizerinnenstraat in Bruges, just five meters from the former "La Marine" brewery. Bourgogne des Flandres is once again being brewed. Here, you can marvel at the production of this traditional beer in the brewery room, where the master brewer himself will demonstrate the process. In addition to delicious beer and genever from the in-house distillery, finger food is also available.

This Icelandic distillery near Reykjavik was founded in 2018 by artist and designer Oskar Ericsson and Italian entrepreneur Junio ​​Carchini. The distillery began in 2013, when Ericsson first got the idea for a spirit during his fishing trips in the Icelandic wilderness. He was inspired by the wild herbs that grow along the riverbanks and produce an aromatic fragrance.

The name of the gin was also inspired by the flora and fauna of Iceland's fishing rivers. "Himbrimi" is the Icelandic name for the loon, which is not only featured on the gin's logo but is also a familiar sight in many waters.

By using natural geothermal energy, Himbrimi not only limits its impact on the environment, but also 5% of the profit from each bottle sold goes to Icelandic nature conservation.

This brewery began as a childhood dream. In 1980, Roger and Linda Caulier took over the beer business from Roger's father, Charles Caulier, who had resigned from his mining contract in 1933 and settled in the village of Bonsecours as a beer merchant.

The business expanded considerably thanks to the post-war economic boom. The couple followed this expansion and purchased the buildings of a former tannery in Perulwez, which are still in use today. It was in these very halls that their dream of owning their own brewery came true. In the early 1990s, the De Neve brewery in Schepdaal closed, and they sold their brewing equipment. This laid the foundation for their first own beer, "Bon Secours," which was first produced in the new brewhouse in 1996.

The next generation also ambitiously pursued this dream. In 2012, siblings Laurent, Bertrand, and Vincent invested in their parents' brewery and not only modernized the brewing equipment, but also expanded the product range with two additional beers: "Paix Dieu" and "Stuut." "Paix Dieu" is brewed once a month on the day of the full moon on behalf of the now-restored Cistercian abbey, the Abbaye de la Paix-Dieu.

Since 2023, the family brewery has been working to reduce its ecological footprint by bringing water treatment in-house. Further expansion and expanded exports abroad are also planned.

This Trappist brewery dates back to 1850, when Father Jean-Baptiste Jourdain and the Prince of Chimay, Joseph de Riquet de Caraman, commissioned a group of Cistercian monks to "support the Chimay region." On the wild plateau of Scourmont near Chimay, they built a monastery and a farm with a brewery and cheese factory.

Then, and still today, production is based on the three basic Trappist principles: 1. The beers and cheese are produced in the monastery itself or in nearby buildings. 2. Production is carried out by the monks themselves or under their strict supervision. 3. The majority of the profits from sales are donated to a social cause.

Future generations are very important to the monks, which is why the monastery invests heavily in renewable energies to reduce its ecological footprint as much as possible: photovoltaic panels, wind energy, recovery of the energy generated in the brewing process, etc.

The abbey with its beautiful garden as well as the brewery and dairy are of course open for visits.

In 1398, the brewing tradition of the Augustinian monks began at what was then the Corsendonk Monastery. Originally, beer production was intended solely as a meditative activity, offering a counterbalance to the spiritual work of the monastery. Even in these early days of the priory, Corsendonk boasted a significant brewery, and quickly became nationally renowned. The old monastery grounds are particularly beautiful in this copperplate engraving by Lucas Vosterman from 1659. The windmills, the granary, the malthouse, and the brewery with the adjacent well are clearly visible. This brewery existed in the idyllic Old Turnhout for almost 400 years.

The increasingly powerful Enlightenment movement ultimately led to the closure of all monasteries and religious houses under Joseph II of Austria, as he viewed them as "sources of superstition and religious fanaticism." This included the Corsendonk Monastery and its brewery.

It wasn't until 1906 that brewing operations could resume under the supervision of Antonius Keersmaekers. Since 2005, the brewery has been taken over by the Bocq Brewery, and the beers are now brewed there.

This brewery, named after a half moon and not, as the name might suggest, half a man, houses two of Bruges' city beers under its roof, each with its own unique history. Although the brewery has existed in Bruges since 1564, it only became one of the city's most successful microbreweries under the leadership of the Maes family in 1856.

This success was mainly due to the beers Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik.

The story behind the name "Brugse Zot" begins in the 15th century. The strict rule of Emperor Maximilian of Austria sparked such outrage in Bruges that people rebelled against him. When the emperor came to Bruges in 1488 to put down the rebellion, the people of Bruges took him prisoner. After his release, the emperor banned all festivals and fairs in revenge against the city and its citizens. To reverse this decision, the city held a grand festival in honor of Emperor Maximilian and asked him to build a new "Zothuis" as part of the celebration. The emperor is said to have replied: "Close all the gates of Bruges and you'll have a madhouse!" Bruges's humorous commemoration of this story is the city's beer, "Brugse Zot."

The story of "Straffe Hendrik" is set somewhat more recently. Commissioned by the mayor of Bruges, this special festival beer was developed in 1981 by Véronique Maes, who was one of the first female brewers in the country at the time, and her father. The name is a tribute to the many "Hendriks" within the brewing family, as the first four generations of De Halve Maan all shared the same first name: Hendrik.

In 2016, an underground beer pipeline was even built, connecting the brewery to its bottling plant 3 km away. At some points in the sidewalk, this pipeline is visible to everyone through "street windows."

What began over 200 years ago as a carriage stop is now Antwerp's oldest city brewery. Officially founded in 1833 on the southern outskirts of Antwerp, the De Koninck Brewery was originally called "De Hand" Brewery. This name was derived from the nearby border marker featuring a hand as a symbol, which can still be found in the De Koninck Brewery logo. It only received its current name after World War I, when the de Koninck family officially took over the brewery.

The brewery became particularly famous for its "Bolleke," which is still brewed today in the traditional Belgian style as a "Spéciale Belge." This style was originally invented to compete with imported German and Czech pilsners. In 1905, the resulting "Bolleke" was first tasted at the World Exhibition in Liège.

In 2010, the De Koninck brewery was acquired by the Duvel-Moortgat brewery. However, it continued to operate under its original name and at the same location.

Today, this historic brewery is open to visitors. The brewery grounds also house several restaurants, which are available for tastings and workshops.

This brewery from Bruggenhout in East Flanders can look back on a long tradition—even though its official founding date dates back to 1997. Founder Emmanuel De Landtsheer comes from a family of master brewers. From the cultivation of barley and hops, the family's brewing tradition dates back to the early 18th century.

But the original brewery was closed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It wasn't until the death of Emmanuel's father in 1991 that he began to realize his dream of owning his own brewery. Following his grandfather's recipes, he blended barley with malt and hops, which were supposed to be blended from two harvests. Thus, he began a new era with his Malheur beer.

This brewery is still relatively new in its history, although (one of) its locations has deep historical roots. The former Brewery des Géants stands on the foundations of the Castle d'Irchonwelz, a former military fortress belonging to the Trazegnies family, dating back to 1161. It was named after the local tradition of the Ducasse d'Ath, a traditional Walloon town festival dating back to the 14th century with processions of giants. In 1997, the two engineers Pierre and Vinciane Delcoigne bought the castle, which had previously been used for agricultural purposes, to fulfill their dream of owning their own brewery. It took three years to complete the restoration and construction of the brewing facilities, allowing the first beer to be launched on the market at the turn of the millennium.

In 2005, the brewery expanded to include the Beauregard family farm so it could grow its own barley. The fact that the entire production chain is controlled solely by one brewery is unique in Belgium. The slogan "From the soil to the glass" is fitting here. In 2006, the brewery now known as the "Brauerei des Légendes" was finally created through a merger with the Ellezelloise Brewery, originally founded by Philippe Gérard in 1993. This brewery also placed particular emphasis on regional folklore, which is reflected in its beer, "Quintine." It is named after the witch Quintine from Ellezelles, who was burned at the stake in 1610 and still plays a role in the witches' sabbath festival. This also explains the new name of the merged breweries, which will retain both locations: Brewery of Legends: Brasserie des Légendes.

So it's no surprise that the brewery's newest beer is called 'La Corne du Bois des Pendus'. Translated, the name means "The Horn of the Wood of the Hanged Man," which refers to the legend of the brewing monk Cornelius. He supposedly brewed a beer so perfect that it was so addictive that people couldn't stop drinking it. For this, he was sentenced to eternal damnation, but he tried to escape it by playing pranks. Traditionally, these beers are served exclusively in a horn glass on a wooden stand, in keeping with their name.

Over the next 15 years, the brewery not only expanded to include a new brewhouse and a building for automated bottling, labeling, and storage, but also a chocolate shop, a distillery, and an attached bar and restaurant.

The environment, sustainability, and ecological footprint are also extremely important to the brewery. This includes the short supply chains for the barley grown on-site, the resulting malt, and the brewing water from the nearby spring. Also revolutionary is the reuse of excess heat generated during fermentation. Up to 80% of the heat required for heating comes from the fermentation of the beer! Additionally, the electrical system is powered by over 200 solar panels.

The origins of this Pernode brewery lie with farmer Martin Belot, who began brewing his first beer in the winter of 1858, since there was no fieldwork at that time. He didn't limit himself to one type of beer, but offered a wide selection from the very beginning: table beer, strong beer, or wheat beer. Belot not only organized the brewing process but also the distribution of his beers, which is why he initially only covered a small area around his farm. During production, he benefited from the astonishingly good water quality of the surrounding spring water, which he could use perfectly as brewing water.

This brewing and distribution system only changed in 1949, when the brewery became a public limited company and the farm was closed. They no longer distribute their beer themselves; they contract with supermarkets, liquor stores, and national distributors, and from then on, they sell nationwide. International exports began in the mid-1980s after a complete modernization of the brewery. The du Bocq brewery exports primarily to Europe, but countries such as the USA, Brazil, Australia, and Japan are also among their customers.

As recently as 2019, their signature beer, Blanche de Namur, was awarded a gold medal in the Brussels Beer Challenge. This beer shares its name with the former Queen of Sweden and Norway: Blanche of Namur (or Blanka av Namur). The daughter of the Count of Flanders married the King of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson, in 1335 and was crowned King and Queen of Sweden and Norway just one year later. The Belot family seemed to have a keen interest in regional history and commemorated this queen with their beer.

The brewery is no longer owned by the Belot family. They sold their shares to the Keersmaekers family, who have further expanded the brewery and its product range over the past 30 years. For example, they acquired the license to brew the popular Tempelier on behalf of Corsendonk NV.

Founded in Hainaut, Belgium, this oldest brewery in Wallonia has existed since 1769. The location of the brewery has not changed since then.

Back then, however, brewing was even more limited than today, consisting primarily of beer for farmworkers and local residents. Nevertheless, the Dubuisson Brewery survived the centuries, with all their challenges, such as the French Revolution and the two World Wars, without stopping brewing for even a single day.

In 1933, Alfred Dubuisson created a beer in the then-popular English style in memory of the English Liberation Battalion at the end of World War I. He named his beer "Bush Beer," the English translation of "Biere Dubuisson." This beer, whose recipe has remained unchanged for 90 years, is one of Belgium's oldest beer brands and is still marketed today – even as far away as America (here, however, under the name "Scaldis").

Since 2013, they've also been paying more attention to their ecological footprint. They now grow their own hops near the brewery. Energy and water collection systems, as well as solar panels, were installed in the modernized brewery.

2019 marked the 250th anniversary of the traditional brewery. A brand-new visitor center was built so visitors could discover the craft and passion behind the beers.

This brewery owes its origins to the experimental spirit of its founder, Jan-Jeonard Moortgat. When Jan-Léonard Moortgat and his wife founded the Moortgat Brewery in 1871, they sought to create a top-fermented blond beer. His roots in a family of brewers were evident here, and he passed this passion on to his two sons.

The success continued even after the move to Brussels. After the First World War, Albert set off for Scotland, from where he brought back a special yeast that would prove key to the success of the new beer brewed in the English tradition. Even today, the yeast used still comes from the region around Scotland.

When tasting this new "ale," several tasters reportedly described the flavor as "devilish." Thus, "Duvel" was born.

Today, the family business is run by the fourth generation. The brewery has grown enormously and now has 11 breweries worldwide: 4 in Belgium, 3 in the USA, 1 in the Czech Republic, 1 in Italy, 1 in the Netherlands, and 1 in the UK.

Like a phoenix from the ashes. This saying perfectly reflects the history of Grimbergen Abbey. Since its construction in 1128, the abbey has burned down three times and was rebuilt by the local Norbertine Order.

The first destruction occurred less than 20 years after the abbey was built. The Norbertine Order rebelled against the Duke of Brabant, which culminated in the Grimbergen Wars and the complete destruction of the abbey. In 1566, the brothers were forced to flee to Brussels during the Wars of Religion and were only able to return to Grimbergen 30 years later to rebuild the destroyed walls stone by stone. The abbey finally burned down in 1629 and was rebuilt by the community. The brothers subsequently decided to incorporate the phoenix and the motto "Ardet nec consumitur" – "Burned, but not destroyed" – into their coat of arms.

However, during the French Revolution, the religious community was forced to sell all church and monastery properties, and so in 1798 all the monks left the Grimbergen Abbey.

The monks began brewing beer shortly after the abbey was built. Even the repeated destruction couldn't deter the monks from continuing to brew their beer. However, the brewery was also shut down with the dissolution of the abbey.

In 2021, however, Grimbergen celebrated its fourth rebirth: the brewery returned to the abbey walls! Craft beer will be brewed within the abbey walls for the first time in over 200 years.

The history of Grimbergen and its brewery can now also be admired in the Grimbergen Discovery Centre.

The family brewery originated as a subsidiary of a dairy called "Van Haecht Dairy." However, engineer Eugene de Ro wasn't satisfied with this and began brewing top-fermented beer for the first time in 1898. The first tasting in mid-June was a resounding success, and the dairy was renamed "Van Haecht Brewery and Dairy." Just 15 years later, the brewery was one of the leading breweries in Belgium.

With the introduction of a mechanical bottling plant in the 1950s, production was ramped up to the point where the company could acquire various small breweries. It achieved national status, which expanded to neighboring countries in the 1970s and 1990s.

The brewery offers tours for groups and companies, where information is provided not only about the regional brewery, but also about beer culture and brewing in general.

This brewery, which dates back to a Christian Beguinage, is one of the oldest in Belgium. The first records date back to 1471, when the nuns began brewing beer to provide for the elderly and sick, as drinking water was undrinkable and often carried pathogens.

Since the search for the "Golden Fleece," sanctioned by Emperor Charles V, was a major social issue at the time, the brewery named its beer in honor of the emperor, who was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Mechelen - and thus "Gouden Carolus," the Golden Charles, was born.

Since 1872, the brewery has borne its current name, "Het Anker," and has been run by the fifth generation of the Van Breedam family ever since. Since 2010, the brewery has expanded to include a distillery and now also offers the Gouden Carolus Single Malt Whisky.

For so many breweries, the story begins with the founding of a monastery. Here, too, the monks came to Hoegaarden and began brewing beer. There are records dating back to 1445 that wheat beer was brewed in Hoegaarden. Various sources state that the first wheat beer was incredibly sour. However, the monks of Hoegaarden began experimenting with orange peel and coriander, which gives the beer its flavors that are still so popular today.

But it wasn't until a few centuries later that Hoegaarden experienced a dramatic boom, which, under Austrian rule, triggered increasing prosperity for the population. By 1726, a whopping 36 breweries and 110 malthouses had been established in Hoegaarden.

However, this golden age ended at the end of the 18th century, as the French Revolution forced the closure of all religious institutions. Both world wars also had a negative impact on the breweries in Hoegaarden, which is why the last brewery was forced to close in 1957.

However, the villagers had preserved the recipes for the various beers from Hoegaarden and were just waiting for an opportunity to use them again. Less than 10 years later, milkman Pierre Celis seized this very opportunity and founded the brewery "De Kluis," or "the monastery." He named his beer brand after his hometown: Hoegaarden.

In 1985, however, the "De Kluis" brewery fell victim to a devastating fire and was finally acquired by the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group in 1989. They rebuilt the brewery under the name "Brauerei Hoegaarden" and expanded the product range for international export.

Ghent's oldest brewery can trace its origins back to 1654. Here, beer was brewed according to ancient tradition in the so-called Appelhoek.

The brewery didn't receive its current name until 1938, when the old buildings were demolished before the Second World War, and the current business address was moved into a year later. The name comes from a certain Leon Huyghe, who began working at the brewery in 1902 and eventually purchased it in 1906.

In 1945, the brewery produced its first pilsner, which eight years later was even awarded the Dortmund Cross of Honor. However, the brewery is not limited to beer production, but also sells water and soft drinks under the name "Mell's Drinks." However, after modernization and restructuring in 1985, the production of top-fermented beer was launched, as well as the export of the beers.

Delirium Tremens, brewed with three different yeasts, was born in 1989. The marketing in special bottles reminiscent of Cologne ceramics and the unmistakable pink elephant definitely contributed to the beer's success.

The 1990s brought enormous success and growth for the brewery. The expansion of the product range to include fruit beers, the acquisition of three smaller breweries, and the start of exports to the USA are just a few of the achievements of this decade.

In the new millennium, the Huyghe Brewery expanded its product line with additional fruit beers—this time made from Fairtrade Max Havelaar bananas in cooperation with the African brewery Mongozo. This collaboration also resulted in the brewery's first gluten-free beer.

Modernization and climate neutrality have been a top priority since 2014. A significant portion of our own solar energy is generated and sustainably used to produce our delicious beers.

Sources from 1122 already report an abbey in Berkel-Enschot that was repeatedly abandoned and then resettled over the centuries.

The story of today's brewery, however, begins with a small group of monks from France who, following the dissolution of their abbey during the French Revolution, sought to establish a new abbey abroad under the leadership of Augustin de Lestrange. They converted the former 12th-century abbey, the temporary country residence of King William II – the Koningshoeven – into their new home. There they founded their monastery and later also brewed beer. It was the first Trappist monastery founded outside of France.

In 1884, the Trappists decided to brew beer to fulfill their obligation of charity. They needed a source of income to both become independent and finance the construction of a new abbey.

During the Second World War, raw materials were scarce, and the brewery survived only by producing lemonade. In the following years, the brewery sought various collaborations with other breweries, such as Stella Artoise and the Bavaria Brewery in Lieshout. The latter collaboration ultimately resulted in the first and only Trappist wheat beer, La Trappe Witte, in 2003. Since 2008, brewery tours have been increasingly organized in the new tasting room, which, in reference to the brewery's beginnings, is shaped like a sheepfold.

Following the rules of the Trappist order, a portion of the profits is donated to charity. In addition, people with learning disabilities and/or intellectual disabilities work at the abbey. There, they are given the opportunity to shape their daily lives through gardening, packaging, or work in the monastery shop. Furthermore, the brewery prides itself on using regional raw materials. The brewery also pays particular attention to its green footprint by recycling almost all residual and waste materials on-site. La Trappe Puur has rightly been awarded the Eco label since 2010, recognizing its high-quality organic ingredients.

The founding of the Lefèbvre Brewery, located between Brussels and Mons, dates back to 1876. However, this original brewery was forcibly closed in 1919. However, Jules Lefèbvre's son, Auguste, took this opportunity to build a new brewery three years later. The brewery, now located at a higher elevation, immediately introduced a mechanical bottling line to modernize production.

Legends say that the winds at the new altitude had a great influence on the taste, as they fanned the fire under the boilers differently.

The brewery continues its craft today in the fifth generation and is constantly expanding its product range, for example in 1996 with the Barbãr, a light beer with honey.

Approximately 100 years after the founding of the Norbertine Abbey of Notre-Dame de Leffe in 1152, the canons began brewing beer—for medicinal purposes! The 13th century saw numerous epidemics in Europe, making drinking water dangerous. The brewing process provided the ideal solution. The boiling temperature was high enough to kill the dangerous bacteria, making the beer safe to drink. Even as epidemics decreased and drinking water quality improved, the brewing tradition continued at the Leffe Abbey.

Norbertine canons generally have a very open vision and have therefore opened their doors to guests and pilgrims since the monastery was founded, who of course also had the opportunity to drink the home-brewed beer.

Of course, the French Revolution and its reforms left their mark on Leffe Abbey. The Norbertines were forced to close their gates, and the abbey was destroyed several times.

Although the abbey was again in Norbertine hands from 1902 onwards, who rebuilt the abbey and the church, it was not until 1959 that the brewing tradition was revived under Father Abbot Nys.

Today, Anheuser-Busch InBev is responsible for continuing the traditional beers from the Leffe Abbey.

Anyone interested in the entire history of the monastery and its brewery can discover it interactively and with tasting at the Leffe House in Dinant.

This success story is closely linked to the story of an impressive and innovative woman: Rosa Merckx. But first, let's look at the brewery's beginnings.

The brewery was founded on the river Scheldt in 1679 and received its name a good 70 years later from Jacobus Liefmans, who settled in Oudenaarde as a brewer.
But it wasn't until the end of the 19th century, when local farmers brought their surplus cherry harvest to the brewery in exchange for beer, that the brewery's success story began. This is where Rosa Merckx comes in.

Rosa Merckx began working at the brewery in 1946, initially as a secretary. It soon became apparent that she had a refined palate, and she was consulted during beer tastings. From minor tasks within the brewery to the brewing process itself, Rosa became familiar with the entire brewery. Before she knew it, she was the first woman in the country to be both a master brewer and a lead brewer. With the help of her refined taste, she adapted the product range to the international tastes of her customers, thus becoming a pioneer in this (r)evolution of taste.

But she influenced not only the taste of the beer, but also its design. Wrapping the large beer bottles in tissue paper to give the beer an elegant and sophisticated look was just one of her brilliant ideas for expanding the customer base. For precisely these reasons, she was appointed as her boss's successor by his family after his death. As a tribute to this revolutionary, her silhouette can still be found in the brewery's logo.

Since 2008, the brewery has belonged to the Duvel-Moortgat Brewery, although the recipes have remained exactly the same.

If you would like to learn more about the history and beers of the Liefmans Brewery, you can visit the historic buildings on the river Scheldt, which have now been converted into a beer museum.

This independent family brewery has been in existence for over 150 years. In 1870, Willem Geenen completed his apprenticeship as a master brewer in Worms and opened his own brewery next to his house near Roermond that same year. The brewery owes its name to the old linden tree that stands next to the brewery. He decided to give his beer plenty of time to mature in order to create a finer and more rounded flavor.

In 1902, his beer won a gold medal at the International Exhibition, further expanding his success. However, he was only able to enjoy this success briefly, as he died the following year. His children, Christine and Bernard, took over the brewery and maintained it stable and independent despite two world wars. Several modernizations were carried out in the following years to increase production capacity, as exports to England and America were also planned from 1985 onwards. In 1995, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary, Lindeboom was appointed Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands.

In 2022, the recognition continues with Lindeboom being named the first and only Slow Brewer in the Netherlands.

This brewery has its origins in a love story! Joos Frans Lindemans married the farmer's daughter Francisca Josina Vandersmissen, and in 1822 the two moved to the Vandersmissen family farm in Pajottenland. There, it was traditional to brew lambic beer with the surplus wheat and barley during the winter months. Naturally, the couple continued this tradition, adding fruit to the mash. Thus, they founded the Lindemans Brewery, which initially operated alongside the farm.

A good 100 years later, the family was able to completely abandon the farming business and devote themselves entirely to beer production. As a result, other Lambic beers quickly joined Kriek and Geuze in the range. These beers, produced through spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts, became the brewery's trademark. This specialty gained popularity not only in Belgium but also on the international market.

Thanks to increasing demand, a new brewery with higher capacity was financed in 1991, which is also open for tours upon request.

For beer lovers of Geuze beers, the Lindemans Brewery also opens its doors as part of the "Toer de Geuze" and offers tastings and other exciting activities.

The "Les 3 Fourquets" brewery was originally founded in Gouvy in 2003 to supply the nearby pub with fresh beer. Just four years later, the team led by Pierre Gobron, accompanied by his sons Julien and Tim, decided to create a new beer called "Lupulus" for regional marketing. The idea was to combine Belgian brewing tradition with new flavor nuances. Local production and environmental responsibility were at the heart of the project from the very beginning.

The name comes from the hops used: "Humulus Lupulus," which translates as "humble little wolf." Legend has it that the name isn't derived from the hops, but from a pack of wolves that supposedly settled near the brewery. In 2016, the "Les 3 Fourquets" brewery was finally renamed "Lupulus" brewery.

Although this brewery was only founded in 1931, the associated monastery can look back on a very long history. The Abbey of Orval – Notre Dame d'Orval – was founded in 1070 by monks from Calabria. A very interesting legend surrounds this foundation...

According to the founding legend, the monastery was built as a gesture of gratitude. The widowed Countess Mathilde van Toscanië is said to have accidentally dropped her wedding ring into the valley's spring. She then prayed that God would return it to her. When a trout brought the precious ring back to the water's surface with its mouth, she is said to have decided, filled with joy and gratitude, to build a monastery on this sacred site.

Over the following centuries, the monastery was burned down and rebuilt several times. However, in 1926, the de Harenne family offered the ruins to the Cistercian Order so that monastic life could resume. This reconstruction was led by Dom Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen, a monk from the Abbey of La Trappe. To finance the immense costs, the Orval Brewery was established on the abbey grounds, with the first master brewer, Martin Pappenheimer, inventing the recipe. Construction was not completed until 1948, and the church's ceremonial consecration could take place.

Today, the Trappist brewery can only be visited during the annual open days.

From the village blacksmith's shop to beer production. This is a good summary of the history of this brewery. Jacques Pascal Piedbœuf took advantage of the early phase of the Industrial Revolution and, in the 1830s, rebuilt his father's village blacksmith's shop in Jupille so that it now primarily produced bulky steam boilers forged with riveted bolts, which he exported not only throughout Europe but also as far away as Russia. This enabled him to expand his company considerably, a feat his younger son, Jean-Théodore, continued after his father's death in 1839.

In 1853, he founded the "Brasserie Piedbœuf" in Jupille-sur-Meuse. The steam boilers and other equipment needed for beer production were already manufactured in the family forge. Why not take over the production of the beer himself? It wasn't as simple as it sounds, however. Jean-Théodore initially began producing bottom-fermented beer to compete with the German Pilsner competition. However, the lack of suitable refrigeration systems significantly hampered production and storage, nearly leading to the brewery's closure after Jean-Théodore's death.

The brewery was saved by his nephew Théodore, who inherited the family brewery from his wife Marie Lhoest-Collinet after the death of his father-in-law. He was then able to merge the two companies and continue running them under the family name. Since his children showed no interest in the brewery, he handed it over to his son-in-law Albert van Damme in 1920. In 1966, with the launch of "Jupiler," he led the brewery to ultimate success and became Stella Artois's biggest competitor. Just five years later, he arranged a secret merger between Jupiler-Piedbœuf and the Leuven brewery Stella Artois, which, however, was not fully completed until 1987. This enabled Jupiler to expand throughout Europe, including into the Netherlands. As a result, the brewery's logo was changed to the now iconic bull.

Nowadays, Jupiler is an integral part of Belgium, which is also due to the fact that the brewery has increasingly established itself as a sponsor of sporting events and also of the Belgian national football team, the Red Devils.

The Trappist monastery, the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy in Rochefort, which is relatively unknown in Germany, was founded in 1230 by Gilles de Walcourt for the Cistercian Order and has gained a growing reputation in recent years.

The monastery can look back on a turbulent history. Of particular note is the year 1595, which is considered the official beginning of the brewery in Rochefort. During the French Revolution, the monastery was almost completely destroyed, except for its outer walls. The monks were not discouraged and rebuilt the monastery. Around 1899, traditional brewing was resumed.

Today, untreated water from the nearby caves is used in the brewing process. However, the origin of the hops remains a secret.

According to Trappist principles, the monks make no profit from brewing and selling beer. They produce only what they need for their living and donate the rest to charity. Since the monks don't follow modern trends, they don't advertise, and only since 2006 has a website existed, which, however, only contains basic information.

The name Rodenbach is a prominent one in Belgian history. This family originally came from Andernach on the Rhine and emigrated to Roeselare in Flemish Belgium in the early 18th century. From then on, all family members integrated themselves into almost all areas of life in the region, before Belgium even existed as a state. They were not entirely uninvolved in this development, though. It was Pedro Rodenbach who led the Belgian Revolution in 1830, which later led to Belgium's independence. And Constantijn Rodenbach, who wrote the Belgian national anthem, is always present: military, business, politics, culture, and, interestingly for us, beer production.

Alexander, Gregor, Pedro, and Amalia founded the brewery in 1821, even before the Belgian Revolution, and drew on the extensive knowledge of their ancestor, Eugène Rodenbach, for their Flemish sour ale. Rodenbach studied the extent to which vinification could be used to produce beer. In the process, he optimized the aging process in oak barrels. These world-famous barrel vats, with their nearly 300 oak barrels, are now protected as an industrial heritage site of the Flemish Community.

The visitor center with integrated museum was inaugurated in June 2000 and is open to visitors from all over the world.

The monastery and its brewery both have a rather eventful history, yet they couldn't be more different.

The monastery's history began as a refuge for Cistercian monks from Mont des Cats, France, who fled to Watou due to political unrest at the beginning of the 20th century. There, they converted the "Patershof," a local farm, into the "Réfuge de Notre Dame de St. Bernard," which still exists today. To secure their livelihood and as a meditative practice, the monks began cheesemaking, just as they had done in their homeland. When the political situation in France calmed down in 1934, the monks returned to their home monastery, leaving the premises and dairy behind. Local cheesemaker Evariste Deconinck took advantage of this opportunity and purchased the monastery's dairy, expanding it for his own purposes.

Thus begins the story of the St. Bernardus Brewery. It was founded after World War II in 1946, when Deconinck signed a license agreement with the Abbey of St. Sixtus for the production and marketing of its Trappist beer, Westvleteren 12. Master brewer Mathieu Szafranski from the Abbey of St. Sixtus accepted the license agreement and brewed the popular Westvleteren 12 in the new brewery using the same recipe. Following the Trappist breweries' decision that only beers actually brewed in an abbey could bear the "Authentic Trappist Beer" label, the Abbey of St. Sixtus allowed the license agreement to expire in 1992. Nevertheless, they continued to brew the same beer using the same recipe, but changed the brand name to St. Bernardus. It is doubtful whether today's St. Bernardus Abt 12 and the almost legendary Westvleteren 12 are still brewed according to the same recipe.

Just six years later, the brewery's ownership passed to the Depypere family, who increased sales through modernization and exports to more than 80 countries, including France and the USA. A guesthouse, a brewery shop, facilities for events, conferences, and seminars, as well as a spectacular 360° rooftop bar with a tasting room, expanded the customer base. Today, the St. Bernardus Brewery remains a popular destination for people from all over the world.

This brewery owes its existence, or rather its continued existence, to a strong woman. However, it owes its name to an Irish monk from the 7th century who was beheaded as a martyr in the area of ​​today's municipality of Roeulx. At the site of his martyrdom, a chapel for pilgrims was first founded, and finally, in 1125, the Abbey of Saint-Feuillien du Rulx was founded in his honor. Although the abbey and its brewery had existed for so long on the outskirts of the town of Roeulx, the beer, like the abbey itself, almost disappeared after the French Revolution.

In 1873, 77 years after the abbey was closed due to the Enlightenment reforms, Stéphanie Friart founded the independent St. Feuillien brewery at the entrance to Roeulx in commemoration of this local history. Unlike other breweries in the area, she focused on light, more digestible beers. These light beers received several awards in the years to come, including at the World Exhibition in Antwerp in 1894 and at the International Food Exhibition in Geneva in 1895.

After more than 50 years, Stéphanie handed over the brewery to her nephew Benoît Friart, who relocated production to more modern buildings in the city center in 1920. The brewery remains in the hands of the Friart family to this day and continues to garner awards, including the gold medal in the "Specialty Beer" category at the 2016 World Beer Awards.

The association "Brotherhood of St. Feuillien" maintains the history of the abbey and its beer in cooperation with the current brewery with events and festivals.

A brewery closely linked to the history of its city. The Belgian city of Leuven, also known as Löwen, is one of the largest beer capitals in Europe. Beer has been brewed here on a large scale since the 14th century. The construction of the university and the canal from Leuven to Antwerp contributed significantly to the boom of the local brewing industry.

One of these breweries was the brewery "De Hoorn", which means "The Horn", founded in 1366 by Dennis Horeney and can still be found in the Stella Artois logo today.

The brewery acquired its current name in 1717, when master brewer Sébastien Artois became owner and renamed it after himself. His son and nephew built on this success, expanding the brewery and its influence as Belgium's leading brewery. At the beginning of the 20th century, the brewery switched production to bottom-fermented, pale lager brewed in the Pilsner style. This laid the foundation for the world's best-selling premium Belgian lager – Stella Artois.

As a Christmas present to the people of Leuven in 1926, the name was chosen as a homage to this occasion: "Stella", pronounced "the star", in reference to the poinsettia, and "Artois" in reference to the founder of the brewery.

The Artois brewery is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, a company in which it played a significant role in its founding. After several acquisitions of various Belgian breweries, it finally merged with Brasserie Piedboeuf from Jupille-sur-Meuse near Liège in 1987, which now operated under the name "Interbrew." The expansion initially extended to European breweries, such as the German brewery Becks, and finally, in 2004, to international breweries with the Brazilian brewery group AmBev. This ultimately led to the current name of the group, which is still headquartered in Leuven.

Notre-Dame du Val-Dieu was founded in 1216 by Cistercian monks in the center of the Liège-Maastricht-Aachen triangle. Legend says that the valley where they settled was so unruly and barren that it was known as the Devil's Valley. Undeterred, the monks renamed it "Valley of God"—hence the name Val-Dieu.

The brewing tradition dates back to the founding of the brewery and is still pursued with great passion today. However, the brewery is no longer in the hands of monks. The recipes for all current beers are naturally inspired by the monks' ancient methods. Thus, all beers are still made without the use of flavorings or herbs. The only exception to this rule is the seasonal Christmas beer.

The basilica, the adjacent park, and the hiking trails are free to visit. A guided tour of the monastery and the brewery is also available with prior registration!

The year is 1900, in the Flemish town of Ingelmunster. Emile and Louisa Van Honsebrouck purchase a new plot of land and lay the foundation stone for their own brewery, called Sint Jozef. But the story begins in Werken, where Emile's father, Amandus Vanhonsebrouck, combines his duties as mayor with managing a brewery. This initial hobby of his father's is passed down and becomes a profession for subsequent generations!

In the third generation, the brewery shifted its focus from Pilsner to a sour, oud-bruin-style beer: Bacchus. This was followed by lambic beers under the new St. Louis brand and, in 1980, Brigand. This blonde specialty was intended to commemorate the rebels during the Peasants' War of 1798.

In 1986, the Van Honsebrouck family purchased Ingelmunster Castle. The castle inspired Emile's grandson Luc to brew a new Quadrupel. He abandoned the traditional recipe and opted for a sweeter flavor profile. Thus, the new Kasteel brand was born.

In 2007, the fourth generation finally launched a new, strong cherry beer: Kasteel Rouge. This beer established a new beer style and is considered a testament to the brewery's innovative spirit.

In 2009, due to a lack of space at the Ingelmunster site, the idea of ​​a "beer castle" was born, which they then implemented in Izegem. With a new, modern building, the brewery doubled its production capacity and opened its doors to visitors from all over the world.

This brewery has a beautiful legend surrounding the golden dragon that appears on its beer bottles. According to legend, the golden dragon adorned the prow of the ship that the Scandinavian King Sigurd Magnusson sailed on his crusade in 1111. Many battles later, including against the Muslims in Spain and the Balearic Islands, he occupied the city of Sidon. After defeating the city, he presented the Galleon statue to the Emperor of Constantinople so that the emperor could place it on the dome of the Hagia Sophia. However, more than 200 years later, the dragon ended up as war booty in the hands of the people of Ghent. They placed it on the Belfry Tower. This is where the city charter was kept, which the dragon was supposed to protect. The golden dragon also became a symbol of the city's freedom and power. Even today, it watches over the city and is an inseparable part of Ghent's identity.

The brewery was founded in Flanders in 1784 by Jean Baptiste De Bruin and has been family-owned for more than six generations. They named their beer "Gulden Draak" after the legend of the Ghent Dragon.

The brewery was founded in Vichte at the beginning of the 20th century by Adolphe and Paul Verhaeghe as a brewery-malthouse. The pre-war period saw a brisk, primarily local, business. The brewery's location near the railway line put Brussels within easy reach of Vichte, and the brewery was able to build a significant customer base there.

However, the brewery's success was hampered by the outbreak of World War I. Paul Verhaeghes refused to brew for the German occupying forces. As a result, the Germans immediately ordered the dismantling of the brewery's facilities, which were needed for the production of war munitions because of the copper.

After the war, the facilities were renovated and brewing resumed. However, restoring pre-war trade relations proved difficult. Therefore, production initially focused solely on the local market.

The outbreak of World War II reduced brewing activities to a minimum due to the restrictions imposed by the renewed German occupation.

This post-war brewery's decision to produce according to the motto "less is more" is still echoed by consumers today. The growing popularity of the "Duchesse de Bourgogne," a ruby-red Flemish red-brown beer aged in oak barrels and brewed according to a traditional brewing method typical of Southwest Flanders, is proof of this.

The history of this abbey, and thus also of the brewery, is closely linked to the history of La Trappe Abbey. The former novice master of La Trappe Abbey, Louis-Henri de Lestrange, or Augustin de Lestrange, known by his order's name, founded a new abbey south of Fribourg in 1791 after its dissolution during the French Revolution. This new abbey achieved such notoriety and popularity through his Reformation publications that, between 1793 and 1796, he sent nine groups of monks with the mission of founding new abbeys. The founding of Westmalle also occurred during this period.

At the invitation of the Bishop of Antwerp, one of these groups ceremoniously moved into their new monastery on June 6. However, they were unable to spend much time there, as they were forced to flee just over a month later due to the spreading French Revolution. The monks were not able to return permanently until after 1814.

After the monastery was elevated to an abbey in 1836, the monks, thanks to their abbot Martinus Dom, began brewing Trappist beer, which was first sold locally in 1856 and commercially since 1921.

Due to ever-increasing demand and great popularity, the monastery brewery had to be modernized in 1991.