Category: Flanders

Breweries in Flanders

  • Lambiek Fabriek and Belgoo: two new lambic producers in Belgium

    Lambiek Fabriek and Belgoo: two new lambic producers in Belgium

    I have some exciting news for those who enjoy lambic and geuze/gueuze, Belgium’s spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged masterpieces that set the worldwide standard for tart, funky, complex brews. “The Beer Country” has not one, but two new lambic makers. I visited both during a recent trip in November-December. These lambic producers work together, so I will…

  • Weekend of Oude Geuze, Vini, Birre, Ribelli, and the Day of the Lambic

    Weekend of Oude Geuze, Vini, Birre, Ribelli, and the Day of the Lambic

    The last weekend of November and the first weekend of December 2017 will feature several superb events centering around beer (and wine) in Belgium, where lambic is either the main focus, or is an important part of the event. Read on for the details. On November 25-26, the city of Brussels will host an important…

  • Toer de Geuze 2017 is May 6-7

    Toer de Geuze 2017 is May 6-7

    Toer de Geuze, the biennial event that is quickly becoming the epicenter of the lambic beer world every odd-numbered year, is quickly approaching. The 2017 tour now is now officially two days instead one. Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, 2017, will see lambic beer lovers descend upon Belgium’s Payottenland and Zenne (Senne) Valley,…

  • Amburon Belgian Craftbrewery opens in Tongeren

    Amburon Belgian Craftbrewery opens in Tongeren

    Belgium, like the USA, is awash in new breweries these days. The craft beer trend is alive and well, and the only real problem is identifying the breweries that are routinely making very interesting beers from those producing what might be considered good, but not great, brews. After all, Belgium has plenty of average to…

  • New 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom site set to open September 1st

    New 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom site set to open September 1st

    The town of Lot, Belgium, is sure to become famous in the near future. At least among lambic beer lovers. On September 1st, what is likely to become one of Belgium’s top beer tourism attractions will open to the public. Legendary 3 Fonteinen brewer/blender Armand Debelder, protege Michael Blancquaert, business manager Werner van Obberghen, and…

  • Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen to open large new “Experience Center” with tasting rooms and barrel facility

    Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen to open large new “Experience Center” with tasting rooms and barrel facility

    For the lovers of lambic, the spontaneously fermented beer produced mainly in the regions of the Payottenland and Zenne Valley, in and around the Belgian capital of Brussels, there is great news. The much-beloved lambic brewery, 3 Fonteinen (“Three Fountains”) recently purchased a warehouse in the city of Lot, which is already being transformed into…

  • De Struise Brouwers now selling growlers at the Old Schoolhouse brewery

    De Struise Brouwers now selling growlers at the Old Schoolhouse brewery

    De Struise Brouwers, the West Flanders brewers with great beers and a world-wide cult following, have started filling growers to go at their brewery/taproom in Oostvleteren. “The idea is to offer special beers only, ones that either we do not bottle, or which you’d have difficulty finding in bottles,” Urbain Cotteau, one of the several…

  • Het Nest opens new brewery in Turnhout

    Het Nest opens new brewery in Turnhout

    Anyone who has tasted the Het Nest beers, such as the excellent, brett-infused De SchuppenAas (Ace of Spades) should know how superb these beers can be. Brouwerij Het Nest now has their own brewery on the outskirts of Turnhout, Antwerp Province. Expect big things in the future, such a tasting room with six to ten…

  • Millennium Geuze: the masters reunite, 17 years later

    Millennium Geuze: the masters reunite, 17 years later

    Millennium Geuze is widely considered one of the best Oude Geuze blends in the last twenty years or so. Millennium Geuze was a collaboration between Armand Debelder of 3 Fonteinen and Willem van Herreweghen, founder of Geuzestekerij De Cam. 75 cl bottles sold for only 300 Belgian francs when it was released in 1998. 8,000…

  • Belgian Beer Me’s “Wild and Spontaneous Beer Tour of Belgium” 2015

    Belgian Beer Me’s “Wild and Spontaneous Beer Tour of Belgium” 2015

    When Stu Stuart of Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours of Belgium (BBM!) asked me to be a guest host on one of his “Wild & Spontaneous Beer Tour of Belgium,” I gladly accepted. I normally plan my own tours to Belgium and can safely say that organizing them is a very intricate, time consuming process.…