A round of flemish BrABAnt

Beer
A r o u n d o f F l e m i s h B r aba n t
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be • www.visitleuven.be
Appetizer
B
OTHER WALKS
14 / BEER
WALKING
DIEST, MY BEER TOWN
LEUVEN
Flemish Brabant lies at the
heart of the beer country
of Belgium and is the beer
province par excellence. The
number of local beers is large
and surprising.
3
OVER A BEER
1
4
Diest has always been a true beer
town. In the 19th century, brewing was
even the town’s most important economic activity. Loterbol Brewery still
makes delicious beer, and the traditional Gildenbier still flows freely. This
walk takes you into Diest’s beer past,
with plenty of tasting too. Follow the
brochure or head off in the tracks of a
town guide.
5
OUDE MARKT (OLD MARKET SQUARE) - With
its 40 cafés, it is ‘the longest bar in Europe’.
2 MECHELSESTRAAT - The breweries used to
jostle for space on the banks of the Dijle. The
plaque with the inscription ‘De Kruiwagen‘–
Mechelsestraat 37 – refers to the brewery
‘Den Grooten Cruywaeghen’, where beer
was already being brewed in the 15th century.
More information at
WWW.TOERISMEDIEST.BE
BREWING TRAIL
The brewer’s village par excellence is
Hoegaarden. In 1758, the village had
no fewer than 38 breweries, and beer
is still brewed there today. Hoegaarden
native Albert Guilluy has unravelled his
village’s brewing past. With a free guide
in your hand you can set out on the
3 DE HOORN BREWERY - The famous Stella
logo stands high on the old brewery buildings
on the Vaartkom. De Hoorn Brewery was in
existence as early as 1366, and was bought
by Sébastien Artois in 1708.
4
DE LANTAARN - An authentic pub with a
view of the marina. According to legend, the
best Stella in Leuven is served here, because
the pipes apparently come straight from the
brewery.
2
5 AB INBEV - The Stella Artois brewery – part
of AB InBev – looks out over the Leuven canal.
2
DOMUS HOUSE BREWERY -From the taps of
the Domus inn, their own beer - Con Domus
and Nostra Domus – comes straight from
the wort boiler.
7
You have to experience beer: it is part of the
region, the tradition and the people. A local
beer tastes best after a brewery visit. Or go
on a beer walk or bike ride and sample the
atmosphere en route in authentic pubs.
Your B&B or hotel probably has a beer
package in store for you. In Leuven, the
best restaurants and brasseries offer a
delicious beer menu. And all year long there
are foaming events throughout the province, because the Flemish Brabanters like
showing off their beers. And quite rightly so!
Enjoy your beer!
Tourism Flemish Brabant and Tourism
Leuven
B
6 / BEER
FLAVOURS & TYPES
GEUZE
I N T H E G R E E N B E LT
Lambic is an ancient beer
which according to some
sources has been brewed
since the 14th century.
This takes place using a method of
spontaneous fermentation: brewers
do not add any yeast but let the wort
- the mixture of water, malt and hops
- cool in the ambient air. This “impregnates” the brew with the wild yeasts
Brettanomyces Bruxellensis and Brettanomyces Lambicus. These unique
yeasts can only be found in the Zenne
valley. Hence this beer is unique to this
region. After this process, Lambic is
stored in oak casks.
FROM LAMBIC TO GEUZE
Actual Lambic is hardly ever sold any
more. It is acidic and has few bubbles
and little head. In the 19th century,
several brewers began experimenting. They mixed old and young Lambic
and allowed secondary fermentation
to take place in a bottle. Thus Geuze
was born. The sugars and live yeasts
in the young Lambic ensured that secondary fermentation occurs, while the
old Lambic gives depth and structure.
This process of mixing and secondary fermentation is known in Dutch as
“geuzesteken” - Geuze making.
BOOK AT [email protected]
Flavou rs
& TYP ES
The use of herbs is typical of Belgian
white beers. Herbs are not permitted
in the brewing of the German Weissbier. Genuine white beer is fermented
twice. The cloudy appearance gives
away the fact that it is not filtered. The
proteins in the wheat malt also add to
the cloudiness.
HOEGAARDEN
DE LAMBIEK
The Lambiek Visitors’ Centre immerses
you in the tastes, smells, sounds and
texture of Lambic beer. It is a true experience centre and the perfect base
for discovering the Lambic breweries,
the Pajottenland and the Zenne valley.
Gemeenveldstraat 1,
1652 Alsemberg
T. +32 (0)2-359 16 36
[email protected]
OUDE
GEUZE BOO
N
Frank Boon
young, eight mixes very
and three een month old
year old
and allow
Lambic
s
re-fermen the mixture to
t into
mild Geuz a fresh,
e.
B
The best-known white beer is
undoubtedly Hoegaarden, named after
the village where it is brewed. In 1758,
this village had no fewer than 38 breweries. This was down to a Frankish
noblewoman who gave her county to
the prince-bishop of Liège. Because
of this, up until the French Revolution
Hoegaarden remained an enclave of
Liège in the Duchy of Brabant, and
its farmers did not have to pay any
high taxes. Farming flourished and the
wheat grain disappeared into the white
beer. And yet the beer was almost lost
to time. In 1957 the last white beer
brewery closed, but Hoegaarden native
Pierre Celis breathed new life into the
tradition in 1966. Today his former
brewery is part of AB InBev.
B
BEER / 7
FLAVOURS & TYPES
Brewers make white beer
with wheat and malted
barley, and a mixture of
coriander, orange peel
and hops.
’T WIT GEBROUW
Experience the brewing process of the
world-famous white beer, from copper
boiler to the hectic bottling plant. Then
immerse yourself in the fascinating history, the legends and spicy stories about
the pleasant village and its white beer.
WHITE BEER
IN THE HAGELAND
Stoopkensstraat 24A
3320 Hoegaarden
T. +32 (0)16-76 74 33
WWW.TWITGEBROUW.BE
N
HOEGAARDE
WITTE
Hoegenuine
Gently
The only
white beer.
gaarden ching on a sumthirst-quen ce. Drink it in
mer terra ctive hexthe distin glass.
agonal
p.6
B
10 / BEER
CYCLING NETWORK
BEER / 11
CYCLING NETWORK
EN ROUTE WITH THE
CYCLE NETWORK MAP
A cycle ride through the beer region of Flemish Brabant is very
easy to plan, whether it be for an hour, a day or even multiple
days. On the cycle network map you will find the best routes
linked by hundreds of intersections. Map out your route and
note the numbers of the intersections you will pass in the right
order. Then you simply follow the route on your bike from
number to number, i.e. from intersection to intersection, by
following the signs. And on the way you will find more than
enough spots to try a delicious regional beer: there are more
than 120 cycle cafés on the network.
The map is available for 9 euro from tourist information centres in the
province of Flemish Brabant and in all good bookstores, or you can order
it from WWW.TOERISMEVLAAMSBRABANT.BE/PUBLICATIES
Fietspun
+32 (0)16
fietspunt
Mon. - Fr
1/4-15/10
This walk starts every Saturday (D
11 a.m. at the Town Hall, from 1 Ap
2 euro. Or book a guide for your
round, max. 25 people.
1
One or two genuine beer cafés on the way:
BLAUWE KATER 1 , METAFOOR 2 ,
DE FIERE MARGRIET 3 . (Zie p. 26-27)
The rich beer tradition goes back to a time
when every village served its own beer in
the inns next to the church. Beer capital
Leuven takes the cake. A century ago, the
city had no fewer than 788 drinking
establishments. The artisan breweries of
yore are still alive today: together, the more
than 30 small brewers produce close to 250
different local beers. AB InBev, the biggest
brewing group in the world, began in
around 1366 as a small city brewery in
Leuven. Haacht Brewery, Palm Breweries
and Hoegaarden also developed into
household names in the world of beer.
Would y
by bike?
areas on
need to
Fietspun
– at the
Cycle m
route ca
Naamse
Set off in the tracks of a guide for a
ished) breweries. On the way liste
facts. Why is Leuven’s beer so fa
be brewed with water from the Di
between a pub and a tavern? All
7
1
More info
DETUINE
BY BIKE
LEUVEN BEER
6
3
6 DIESTSESTRAAT - In 1910 there were no
fewer than 85 cafés here, and in the whole of
Leuven there were 788 at that time. Today it
is one of the top shopping streets.
historica
Obvious
genuine
Nieuwhu
p.10
B
Beer / 3
INGREDIENTS
B
BEER / 15
WALKING
INGREDIeNTs
al journey of discovery yourself.
sly you have to try Hoegaarden’s
e Witte and the beers of
uys Inn-Brewery on the way.
ormation at
[email protected]
B
you like to ride through Leuven
? Or explore the city’s green
n two wheels? Then you don’t
o take your bike to the city. At
nt Leuven (Cycle Point Leuven)
station – you can hire a bike.
maps or tips for an interesting
an be found at Tourism Leuven,
estraat 1 (side of Town Hall).
BEER / 43
BEER TRIPS
HOEGAARDEN: A GREAT
PLACE FOR A PINT
nt Leuven station
6-21 26 01
[email protected]
ri.: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
0 also open on Sat.: 8.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
BEER VISITS
FOR
GROUPS
STORIES
a walk past old cafés and (vanen to tasty beer stories and fun
amous? Did beer really used to
ijle? And what is the difference
will be revealed.
Dutch) and Sunday (English) at
pril to 30 October. Joining costs
r group by appointment all year
9
Het Bolhuis
Organic Farm
BEERS AND FARMERS
Experience real farm life
on this organic farm in
the heart of nature. Take
a ride on a donkey and
enjoy a farm picnic while
out and about, with local
beer, naturally. And then
you can choose between
a beer walk in Diest or a
visit to the Loterbol brewery, depending on availability.
€ 211/MAX. 5 PERSON/2
NIGHTS (OUTSIDE SCHOOL
HOLIDAYS)
€ 272/MAX. 5 PERSONS/2
NIGHTS (DURING SCHOOL
HOLIDAYS)
Asdonkstraat 49
3294 Diest-Molenstede
+32 (0)13-33 85 12
+32 (0)473-94 79 08
[email protected]
WWW.BOLHUIS.BE
Discover the former glory
of a brewer’s life and
sample the tastiest
Hoegaarden beers. The
programme includes 4
local cafés, 4 beers,
appetizers and an
enjoyable explanation by
a local guide. A tip:
combine this walk with a
visit to the ’t Wit Gebrouw
visitors’ centre.
BEERTOURS IN LEUVEN
10
Hanenbos
Accommodation
p.14
ON THE TRAIL OF
LAMBIEK
You and your group will
stay in a country apartment. After breakfast
your bicycles await you,
along with a cycling map,
a packed lunch and tickets
for Huizingen park, the De
Lambiek Visitors’ Centre
and a Geuze brewer or
maker. In the evening, the
Boelekewis restaurant will
regale you with local specialities. You will be given
a bottle of the house beer,
“het Haneboske”, to take
home.
A brewery visit with a delicious
tasting session? A walk or bike ride
past authentic beer cafés? A cookery
workshop with beer? In Flemish
Brabant and Leuven, you can book the
most fantastic beer visits for groups.
It’s an original way to discover the
region and its traditions, and it can
be combined perfectly with a visit to a
tourist attraction. Just the thing for a
day out with the family, friends, the
club or the firm. We’d be happy to give
you some tasteful suggestions.
EUR 72.50/PERSON/NIGHT
(MIN. 8 PEOPLE)
Lotsesteenweg 103
1653 Beersel
+32 (0)2-380 47 13
hanenbos@
vlaamsbrabant.be
p.43
WWW.HANENBOS.BE
With the ‘Le(u)ven in de
brouwerij’ city game you
can explore the beer city
of Leuven by bicycle or
kickbike, or on foot. The
game takes you past
breweries old and new.
Fun photo assignments
and a beer tasting make it
a relaxed group activity.
MEISE BOTANICAL GARDENS
AND PALM BREWERIES
In the National Botanical
Gardens in Meise, admire
the unique collection of
18.000 species of plants
from all over the world,
and after lunch visit the
Palm Breweries in
Steenhuffel. There you
will experience the
brewing process of the
well-known amber-coloured beer, Palm.
Afterwards you will
obviously be offered a
refreshing Palm, and can
pat the powerfully built
Brabant draught horses
on the head at
Diepensteyn stud farm,
where the brewery breeds
genuine Brabant draught
horses.
More information on these and
many other group visits can be
found at
WWW.TOERISMEVLAAMS­
BRABANT.BE/EN AND
WWW.LEUVEN.BE/
BEERCAPITAL
B
B
20 / BEER
PROUD OF BEER
BEER / 21
PROUD OF BEER
Proud of beer
Brewing is in the
genes of the people of
Flemish Brabant. Ever
since the Middle Ages
there has been brewing
in abundance, and
every village has a beer
to its name.
p.20
That beer flowed freely in the village pubs you still find below every church
tower. Brewing knowledge was handed down from father to son and from
small initiatives back then grew the large breweries of today. The tradition
of these small, artisanal breweries lives on: Flemish Brabant has more than
30 brewers, together producing more than 250 different regional beers.
For many enthusiasts, brewing begins as a hobby, but if they have the
taste for it, a new professional brewery is created. Each beer has its own
taste, its own accent, but they all hark back to this great Flemish Brabant
beer tradition.
THE MIRACLE BREWER OF HOEGAARDEN
STELLA
CHRISTMAS BEER
The brewers of Hoegaarden have had
a cast-iron reputation since the Middle
Ages. For this they have one man to
thank: Claes. He was abandoned as a
baby at the De Kluis brewery - Claes is
Kluis in the local dialect - but the brewers did not know what to do with the
little fellow. They asked Charles V for
advice. The emperor commanded the
brewers to each take the child in for a
while.
Bottles of Stella Artois say 1366, but the
famous Pils is nothing like that old. In
1892, Leuven’s Artois brewery first
brewed Pils according to a method
brought over from today’s Czech Republic and christened it Bock beer. The
people of Leuven liked it, but they liked
the brewery’s Christmas beer for 1926
- “Stella”, Latin for star - even better. As
demand was so great, it was decided
to brew the Christmas beer all year
round. Stella Artois became by far the
brewery’s most successful product.
Claes therefore grew up between the
wort boilers, and tasted all the brews
produced in the village. He learned all
the tricks of the trade and put right the
mistakes of one brewer with the skill of
another. The child grew into the best
brewer in the area. His statue stands in
the inner courtyard of the Kouterhof, part
of Hoegaarden’s old brewery buildings.
And 1366? That refers to the Den Hoorn
brewery existing in that year, which grew
into the city’s biggest in the 15th century and was bought by master brewer
Sébastien Artois in the 18th century.
Today, AB InBev is the largest brewery
chain in the world
4 BEER CHART
6 FLAVOURS & TYPES
10En route with
the cycle network map
12steer for beer
14 Leuven over a beer
16Mmmmmh.
18 brewing on the farm
19In the lab of the
world's biggest brewery
20Proud of beer
22 beer and science
24 The never-ending bar
26 beer cafes
28 beer en gastronomy
30 Bapas, tapas for beer
32 Beers of Flemish Brabant
34 beer is sexy
36 Tasting beer, How's it done?
37 beer pulling, How's it done?
38Through the eyes of Bruegel
40 Bed en beer
43 Beer visits for groups
44An overview of all
breweries in Flemish Brabant
49Beer Diary
B
4 / Beer
BEER CHART
Discover the extensive beer chart
An overview of
a l l b r ew e r ie s
i n F l e m i s h B r aba n t
1. Affligem
Brewery
2. 3 Fonteinen
Brewery
3. Boon Brewery
4. Brouwerij
Broeder Jacob
5. De Block
Brewery
6. De Schuur
Brewery
7. De Troch
Brewery
8. De Vlier Brewery
9. Den Herberg
Brewery
10. Girardin
Brewery
11. Haacht Brewery
12. Hof ten Dormaal
Brewery
13. Kortrijk-Dutsel
Brewery
14. Lindemans
Brewery
15. Lupus brewery
16. Montaigu
Brewery
17. Mort Subite
Brewery
18. Oud Beersel
Brewery
19. Timmermans
Brewery
34
20.Hoegaarden
Brewery
21. Vercauteren
Brewery
22.Vissenaken
Brewery
23.Brewery
- Distillery
Craywinckelhof
24.De Kale Ridders
25.Geuze maker
De Cam
26.Geuze maker
Hanssens
Artisanaal
27. Guldenboot
28.Domus
House Brewery
29.Lestedröppel
House Brewery
30.Loterbol
House Brewery
31. Nieuwhuys
Inn-Brewery
32.Micro-Brewery
AngerikGALMAARDEN
33.Micro-Brewery
Den Triest
34.Palm Breweries
BEVER
35.
Promaco Vision
36.Stella Artois
Brewery / AB
InBev
LONDERZEEL
21
33
KAPELLE-OP-DEN-BOS
BOORTMEERBEEK
ZEMST
1
MEISE
OPWIJK
MERCHTEM
27
GRIMBERGEN
5
KAMPENHOUT
Green Belt
ASSE
AFFLIGEM
VILVOORDE
STEENOKKERZEEL
MACHELEN
KORTENBERG
17
LIEDEKERKE
19
TERNAT
7
ZAVENTEM
10
BE
DILBEEK
Brussels
32
ROOSDAAL
TERVUREN
LENNIK
GOOIK
25
14
2
18
PEPINGEN
BEERSEL
HALLE
HERNE
HUL
SINT-PIETERS-LEEUW
3
9
HOEILAART
26
OVERIJSE
B
BEER / 5
BEER CHART
30
BEGIJNENDIJK
KEERBERGEN
SCHERPENHEUVEL-ZICHEM
TREMELO
16
AARSCHOT
DIEST
15
K
11
Be
hageland
4
ROTSELAAR
HAACHT
12
8
T
BEKKEVOORT
13
HOLSBEEK
TIELT-WINGE
HERENT
6
36
GEETBETS
KORTENAKEN
LUBBEEK
Leuven
23
28
GLABBEEK
ERTEM
LDENBERG
NL
BIERBEEK
BOUTERSEM
ZOUTLEEUW
brussels
LINTER
OUD-HEVERLEE
29
TIENEN
Flemish Brabant
DE
22 35
HOEGAARDEN
20
FR
31
LANDEN
24
The beer region of Flemish Brabant is the
­absolute heart of the beer country of Belgium.
The brewing tradition is alive here like nowhere
else, so you never have to go very far to find a
brewery or taste a delicious local beer. The
­details of all the breweries on this map can be
found at the back of the brochure (p. 44-46).
This way you can see straightaway which breweries will welcome you with open arms for a
peek between the wort boilers. Great for tourists, but there is a whole lot more to discover
in the province.
LU
Flemish Brabant is
situated in the centre
of Belgium.
The capital of this
province is Leuven.
B
6 / BEER
FLAVOURS & TYPES
Geuze
I n t h e G r e e n B e lt
Lambic is an ancient beer
which according to some
sources has been brewed
since the 14th century.
This takes place using a method of
spontaneous fermentation: brewers
do not add any yeast but let the wort
- the mixture of water, malt and hops
- cool in the ambient air. This “impregnates” the brew with the wild yeasts
Brettanomyces Bruxellensis and Brettanomyces Lambicus. These unique
yeasts can only be found in the Zenne
valley. Hence this beer is unique to this
region. After this process, Lambic is
stored in oak casks.
From lambic to Geuze
Actual Lambic is hardly ever sold any
more. It is acidic and has few bubbles
and little head. In the 19th century,
several brewers began experimenting. They mixed old and young Lambic
and allowed secondary fermentation
to take place in a bottle. Thus Geuze
was born. The sugars and live yeasts
in the young Lambic ensured that secondary fermentation occurs, while the
old Lambic gives depth and structure.
This process of mixing and secondary fermentation is known in Dutch as
“geuzesteken” - Geuze making.
Flavou
& typ
De Lambiek
The Lambiek Visitors’ Centre immerses
you in the tastes, smells, sounds and
texture of Lambic beer. It is a true experience centre and the perfect base
for discovering the Lambic breweries,
the Pajottenland and the Zenne valley.
Gemeenveldstraat 1,
1652 Alsemberg
T. +32 (0)2-359 16 36
[email protected]
Oude
Geuze Bo
on
Frank Bo
young, e on mixes very
ig
and thre hteen month old
ey
and allow ear old Lambic
s
re-ferme the mixture to
nt into a
mild Geu fresh,
ze.
rs
es
The use of herbs is typical of Belgian
white beers. Herbs are not permitted
in the brewing of the German Weissbier. Genuine white beer is fermented
twice. The cloudy appearance gives
away the fact that it is not filtered. The
proteins in the wheat malt also add to
the cloudiness.
Hoegaarden
The best-known white beer is
­undoubtedly Hoegaarden, named after
the ­village where it is brewed. In 1758,
this village had no fewer than 38 breweries. This was down to a Frankish
noblewoman who gave her county to
the prince-bishop of Liège. Because
of this, up until the French Revolution
Hoegaarden remained an enclave of
Liège in the Duchy of Brabant, and
its farmers did not have to pay any
high taxes. Farming flourished and the
wheat grain disappeared into the white
beer. And yet the beer was a
­ lmost lost
to time. In 1957 the last white beer
brewery closed, but ­Hoegaarden ­native
Pierre Celis breathed new life into the
tradition in 1966. Today his former
brewery is part of AB InBev.
B
BEER / 7
FLAVOURS & TYPES
Brewers make white beer
with wheat and malted
barley, and a mixture of
coriander, orange peel
and hops.
’t Wit Gebrouw
Experience the brewing process of the
world-famous white beer, from copper
boiler to the hectic bottling plant. Then
immerse yourself in the fascinating history, the legends and spicy stories about
the pleasant village and its white beer.
Stoopkensstraat 24A
3320 Hoegaarden
T. +32 (0)16-76 74 33
www.twitgebrouw.be
en
Hoegaared
Witt e Hoe-
genuin
The only e beer. Gently
it
h
w
gaarden ching on a sum
n
e
u
q
in
tit
s
k
thir
ace. Drin
mer terr ctive hexn
ti
is
the d
lass.
agonal g
White beer
In the hageland
B
8 / BEER
FLAVOURS & TYPES
A “pintje” or a Pils beer is a light,
golden beer, brewed from malt,
water, hops and yeast.
It contains around 5% alcohol. By drying the malt under controlled conditions, the beer’s golden-yellow colour
is retained. Sometimes brewers also
add maize and rice. This makes the
beer even lighter in colour and easier
to digest. After maturing, Pils is filtered.
This produces a very clear beer and
also takes the sharpness out of the
taste. Fermentation takes place at a
temperature of 6 to 8°C, known as
“low fermentation”. In contrast to high
fermentation - a process between 15
and 25°C - this low fermentation takes
quite a long time, but the process is
less sensitive to bacteria.
Pils
The name Pils comes from the Czech
city of Pilsen. Its inhabitants opened
their own brewery in 1842 out of
dissatisfaction because the beer in
­Pilsen was of very poor quality at the
­beginning of the 19th century. German
brewer Josef Groll was brought in and
together they brewed the first Pils. Pils
beer and the new brewing techniques
gradually conquered the world.
pils
In Leuven
Stella Artois Brewery
Take a tour around the heart of the beer
city of Leuven: Stella Artois brewery
­(AB InBev), where centuries-old brewing tradition and modern technology
are combined. You will discover all the
secrets of the brewing process before
enjoying a delicious glass of Stella. As
a little extra, you can combine your visit
with a tasting, a serving course or a
tasting board.
Info:
Tourism Leuven
T. +32 (0)16-20 30 20
www.leuven.be/beercapital
Stella
Artois
The wa
genuine ter for the only
, fr
pumped esh Leuven pin
t
u
layers of p from below d is
eep
clay ben
eath the
It was bre
city.
wed
in 1926 a for the first tim
e
nd imme
d
ousted a
ll the oth iately
e
r Pil
beers in
Leuven. s
B
BEER / 9
FLAVOURS & TYPES
Other Types
of Beer
Fruit beer is created by
adding fruit during the
brewing process, just
prior to fermentation.
Almost every kind of
fruit can be used: from
peach to banana, from
strawberry to mango.
The Lambiek-based
cherry beer is famous.
This high fermentation beer contains
more raw materials
than “normal” beer.
The alcohol percentage varies between 6
and 9%. “Double” beer
is generally dark brown
in colour, but that does
not always have to be
the case. Drying the
­malted barley grains
at a high temperature
gives the beer a dark
colour. Sometimes,
concentrated caramel
is also added.
Kriek
Lindemans
Grimbergen
Dubbel
This fruity slightly sour
beer is a top thirstquencher and perfect
in many dishes, such as
rabbit with cherries. It is
produced by mixing pure
cherry juice with Lambiek
at least eight months old.
A bittersweet abbey beer
with a full flavour and
hints of caramel, the mixing of different varieties
of malt gives the beer its
characteristic deep-red
Burgundy color.
Amber beer
At the beginning of the
20th century, ­Brabant’s
brewers refined their
typical brews as a
­reaction against the
rise of Pils. The new
type of beer was
named Spéciale Belge.
The use of colour or
caramel malts gave it
its amber colour. It is a
lightly hopped beer
with high fermentation.
Palm
The best-known amber
beer of Flemish Brabant is
Palm, brewed at the Palm
Brewery in Steenhuffel. It
is a true special beer with
an alcohol percentage of
5.4%.
“Dubbel”
beer
Fruitbeer
“Tripel” beer
Not every high fermentation blonde beer is a
tripel. “Tripel” is a beer
term which means that
more raw materials are
used than in a “normal”
and a “double” beer.
The colour varies from
blonde to amber and
re-fermentation takes
place in the bottle. The
alcohol percentage is
generally between 7
and 11%.
Affligem tripel
This abbey beer has a
huge head, an original
nose, a deep-golden
and complex taste. One
to ­really savour.
Blonde beer
In contrast to Pils beer,
when making blonde
beer, the brewer uses
high fermentation. The
alcohol percentage
generally varies between 6 and 7%.
Keizer Karel
Goud Blond
This beer from Haacht
Brewery has a herby,
­hoppy aroma and a soft
fruity taste. In the aftertaste you get bitterness,
but softness also predominates.
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10 / BEER
CYCLING NETWORK
En route with the
cycle network map
A cycle ride through the beer region of Flemish Brabant is very
easy to plan, whether it be for an hour, a day or even multiple
days. On the cycle network map you will find the best routes
linked by hundreds of intersections. Map out your route and
note the numbers of the intersections you will pass in the right
order. Then you simply follow the route on your bike from
number to number, i.e. from intersection to intersection, by
following the signs. And on the way you will find more than
enough spots to try a delicious regional beer: there are more
than 120 cycle cafés on the network.
The map is available for 9 euro from tourist information centres in the
province of Flemish Brabant and in all good bookstores, or you can order
it from www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/publicaties
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BEER / 11
CYCLING NETWORK
B
12 / BEER
CYCLING
Beersel Castle
Oud Beersel
Brewery
Explore the country of the Geuze, the
world-famous and unique beer of the
­Pajottenland and the Zenne valley. The
route leads you through a green, hilly
­region, scattered with breweries where tradition and craft are still very important. You
start at 3 Fonteinen Brewery and pass
by the Oud Beersel Brewery and Geuze
maker Hanssens Artisanaal. Between
intersections 61 and 83 you can call in at
the “De Lambiek” visitors’ centre for artisanal Lambic beers in Alsemberg, where
you will discover the complete history of
this sublime and unique beer.
The Basilica in Halle
Start:
3 Fonteinen Brewery, Hoogstraat 2, Beersel
The route follows the intersections of the
Flemish Brabant cycle network: start, 63, 62, 53,
64, 65, 28, 50, 49, 61, 83, start.
Cycle route (paved)
Reduction to 24.6 km:
start, 63, 62, 53, 50, 49, 61, 83, start.
Cycle route (paved, no
cars allowed)
Reduction to 14.8 km:
start, 63, 61, 83, start
Cycle route (not paved)
Cycle route (semipaved, no cars allowed)
Cycle route
(cobble stone)
Halle Forest
B
BEER / 13
CYCLING
Other
cycle routes
3 fonteinen
brewery
72 km
Jan Primus route
39 km
Hop route
32 km
Beers and Beets
De Lambiek
Visitors’ Centre
The Groene Wandeling
Geuze maker
Hanssens Artisanaal
The Geuze route connects with the “Groene
Wandeling” (Green Trail). At intersection 83,
leave the route towards intersection 47. Turn
off left before the railway and follow the Perkstraat. The Groene Wandeling is a marvellous walking and cycling route of more than
63 km through the stunning green region
around Brussels. You cycle or stroll through
the most beautiful parks and protected nature zones. Via the Groene Wandeling you
can also connect with the Brussels cycle
route network. This is a cluster of radial cycle
routes running from the edge to the centre
of the city.
Duke Jan Primus was a true hedonist
and beer lover. He granted the breweries of Brabant priority rights, and
Haacht Brewery even immortalised
him in Primus Pils. The route starts
at this brewery and winds through
woods, farmland, pretty sunken
lanes and - of course - beer terraces.
The Abbey of Affligem is your starting point for this cycle ride in the
wake of the hop. For centuries, this
hilly region was one of Europe’s richest hop-producing areas. The route
takes you past fields of hops and
old breweries, monuments and little
churches. In Asse market square you
can even stand face to face with the
Hop Devil, and at one of the many
beer terraces you can naturally try
one of the Affligem abbey beers.
Set off from the charming beer village
of Hoegaarden for a cycle ride to
Tienen and back. You will pass down
sunken lanes and through expansive
landscapes, past picturesque villages and former breweries. Stop off
at Nieuwhuys Inn-Brewery for a mild
Alpaïde, or try a Tienen beer such
as Tiense Kweiker, Lorejas or Zoeg.
Download these cycle routes for free at
Further information on the Groene Wandeling and
the Brussels cycle route network can be found on:
WWW.GROENE-WANDELING.BE
www.mobielbrussel.irisnet.be
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.
be/en
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14 / BEER
WALKING
Leuven
3
over a beer
4
1 Oude Markt (Old Market Square) - With
its 40 cafés, it is ‘the longest bar in Europe’.
2 Mechelsestraat - The breweries used to
jostle for space on the banks of the Dijle. The
plaque with the inscription ‘De Kruiwagen‘–
Mechelsestraat 37 – refers to the brewery
‘Den Grooten Cruywaeghen’, where beer
was already being brewed in the 15th century.
3 De Hoorn brewery - The famous Stella
logo stands high on the old brewery buildings
on the Vaartkom. De Hoorn Brewery was in
existence as early as 1366, and was bought
by Sébastien Artois in 1708.
4 De Lantaarn - An authentic pub with a
view of the marina. According to legend, the
best Stella in Leuven is served here, because
the pipes apparently come straight from the
brewery.
5
2
AB InBev - The Stella Artois brewery – part
of AB InBev – looks out over the ­Leuven canal.
6 Diestsestraat - In 1910 there were no
fewer than 85 cafés here, and in the whole of
Leuven there were 788 at that time. Today it
is one of the top shopping streets.
7
Domus House brewery -From the taps of
the Domus inn, their own beer - Con Domus
and Nostra Domus – comes straight from
the wort boiler.
One or two genuine beer cafés on the way:
Blauwe Kater 1 , Metafoor 2 ,
De Fiere ­Margriet 3 . (Zie p. 26-27)
6
3
2
7
1
1
B
Other walks
Diest, my beer town
5
Diest has always been a true beer
town. In the 19th century, brewing was
even the town’s most important economic activity. Loterbol Brewery still
makes delicious beer, and the traditional Gildenbier still flows freely. This
walk takes you into Diest’s beer past,
with plenty of tasting too. Follow the
brochure or head off in the tracks of a
town guide.
More information at
www.toerismediest.be
Brewing trail
The brewer’s village par excellence is
Hoegaarden. In 1758, the village had
no fewer than 38 breweries, and beer
is still brewed there today. Hoegaarden
native Albert Guilluy has unravelled his
village’s brewing past. With a free guide
in your hand you can set out on the
BEER / 15
WALKING
historical journey of discovery yourself.
Obviously you have to try Hoegaarden’s
genuine Witte and the beers of
­Nieuwhuys Inn-Brewery on the way.
More information at
[email protected]
By bike
Would you like to ride through Leuven
by bike? Or explore the city’s green
areas on two wheels? Then you don’t
need to take your bike to the city. At
Fietspunt Leuven (Cycle Point Leuven)
– at the station – you can hire a bike.
Cycle maps or tips for an interesting
route can be found at Tourism Leuven,
Naamsestraat 1 (side of Town Hall).
Fietspunt Leuven station
+32 (0)16-21 26 01
[email protected]
Mon. - Fri.: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
1/4-15/10 also open on Sat.: 8.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Leuven beer stories
Set off in the tracks of a guide for a walk past old cafés and (vanished) breweries. On the way listen to tasty beer stories and fun
facts. Why is Leuven’s beer so famous? Did beer really used to
be brewed with water from the Dijle? And what is the difference
between a pub and a tavern? All will be revealed.
This walk starts every Saturday (Dutch) and Sunday (English) at
11 a.m. at the Town Hall, from 1 April to 30 October. Joining costs
2 euro. Or book a guide for your group by appointment all year
round, max. 25 people.
Book at [email protected]
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16 / BEER
BEER ON THE WALL
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BEER / 17
BEER ON THE WALL
Mmmmmh!
Follow your sense of taste on a culinary stroll past the most
delightful pieces of the collection of Museum M in Leuven.
With a guide in your hand you will linger over fun facts about
the eating and drinking culture of the Middle Ages, the 17th
and the 19th centuries. After your visit, a delicious regional
beer awaits you in the M-Café.
This visitor’s package costs 12 euro. The Smaakmakers guide
(2 euro) is also available separately.
More info via www.mleuven.be
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18 / BEER
ARTISAN
Dries Janssens
Artisanal brewer
Brewing on the
farm
In the barn of the imposing Hof
ten Dormaal in Tildonk, wort
boilers and fermentation tanks
are simmering. Here, André
Janssens and son Dries brew
their Hof Ten Dormaal beer with
home-grown hops and barley.
“And that makes us unique
in the world,” André smiles.
“Here, brewing and farming
go hand in hand.” The boilers, tanks and machinery are
housed in the barn of the
courtyard farm, in the middle of the fields. Three times
a month André and Dries
brew 1500 litres of beer,
using only natural products.
At bottling time, the whole
family gathers round the machine. “Once the machine is
up to speed, we can bottle
2000 bottles an hour.”
The story
Brewer and farmer Dries’
tipple of choice is Hof ten
Dormaal Bruin. “Because I
have to work hardest at it.
To achieve the dark colour,
we use roasted malt. One
kilo too much and the caramel taste will be too strong.
Some brewers use caramel
sugars, but that doesn’t fit
in with our artisanal story.”
And that story is the strength
of Hof ten Dormaal, says
André. “Our beer is the real
stuff, a naturally pure, artisanal product we can be
proud of.”
Experimentation
But that authentic story does
not mean the family of brewers cannot show its creative side. One successful
example is chicory beer where some of the hops are
replaced by chicory roots.
“We’re now experimenting
with beer we allow to mature in wooden casks. Casks
that were previously used to
make jenever, port, calvados
and other drinks, so the beer
takes on some of that taste.”
Fancy a visit to Hof ten Dormaal,
in a group or individually?
Visit www.hoftendormaal.com
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BEER / 19
HIGH-TECH
Jeroen Laenen
brewing manager
Bio-engineer and Brewing Manager Jeroen Laenen guides us between the
shiny steel wort boilers of AB
InBev in Leuven. “The contents of one boiler are good
for 280.000 glasses of Stella
Artois,” he tells us. “And we
export it all over the world.
If you drink a Stella Artois
in New York, it was brewed
here with Leuven water.”
Precise measuring
High technology plays an
important part. Jeroen
takes us to the labs where
technicians are busy with
all manner of measuring
instruments and analytical
devices. “The alcohol content, the pH value, the colour, the thickness of the
head… there’s a piece of
equipment for everything.
We don’t leave anything to
chance.”
-176 °C
Brewmaster Jeroen sneaks
us into another laboratory.
“This is where we test all the
beers for perfect quality before they go out the door.
We also cultivate yeast here.
That begins with a stem cell
that is multiplied at microlevel until there is enough for
a whole boiler of wort. We
store our yeast strain very
carefully at headquarters at
a temperature of -176 °C.
Yeast lives and mutates, but
by freezing the yeast strain,
we can be certain that our
Stella Artois is always Stella
Artois.”
Tasting
But despite all the high technology, tasting the beer
remains the best quality
­
control. “Our tasting panel
tastes all the ingredients:
they make a tea from the
hops, they taste the water,
the yeast, the wort, the
­unfiltered beer and, obviously, the finished product.
Our tasters undergo strict
training, and can describe
fifty different characteristics.”
Fancy a nose around the wort
boilers of the world’s biggest
beer brewer?
Visit www.leuven.be/­
beercapital
In the lab of the
world’s
biggest
brewery
High-tech labs and massive
steel beer barrels. A glance
behind the scenes at AB InBev
is really impressive.
B
20 / BEER
proud of beer
Proud of beer
Brewing is in the
genes of the people of
Flemish Brabant. Ever
since the Middle Ages
there has been brewing
in abundance, and
every village has a beer
to its name.
That beer flowed freely in the village pubs you still find below every church
tower. Brewing knowledge was handed down from father to son and from
small initiatives back then grew the large breweries of today. The tradition
of these small, artisanal breweries lives on: Flemish Brabant has more than
30 brewers, together producing more than 250 different regional beers.
For many enthusiasts, brewing begins as a hobby, but if they have the
taste for it, a new professional brewery is created. Each beer has its own
taste, its own accent, but they all hark back to this great Flemish Brabant
beer tradition.
B
BEER / 21
proud of beer
The miracle brewer of Hoegaarden
Stella
Christmas beer
The brewers of Hoegaarden have had
a cast-iron reputation since the Middle
Ages. For this they have one man to
thank: Claes. He was abandoned as a
baby at the De Kluis brewery - Claes is
Kluis in the local dialect - but the brewers did not know what to do with the
little fellow. They asked Charles V for
advice. The emperor commanded the
brewers to each take the child in for a
while.
Bottles of Stella Artois say 1366, but the
famous Pils is nothing like that old. In
1892, Leuven’s Artois brewery first
brewed Pils according to a method
brought over from today’s Czech Republic and christened it Bock beer. The
people of Leuven liked it, but they liked
the brewery’s Christmas beer for 1926
- “Stella”, Latin for star - even better. As
demand was so great, it was decided
to brew the Christmas beer all year
round. Stella Artois became by far the
brewery’s most successful product.
Claes therefore grew up between the
wort boilers, and tasted all the brews
produced in the village. He learned all
the tricks of the trade and put right the
mistakes of one brewer with the skill of
another. The child grew into the best
brewer in the area. His statue stands in
the inner courtyard of the Kouterhof, part
of Hoegaarden’s old brewery buildings.
And 1366? That refers to the Den Hoorn
brewery existing in that year, which grew
into the city’s biggest in the 15th century and was bought by master brewer
Sébastien Artois in the 18th century.
Today, AB InBev is the largest brewery
chain in the world
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22 / BEER
SCIENCE
Beer
science
&
A brewing
process that
took three to
four months
can now be
completed in ten
days thanks to
science.
The common sense of
PROF. FREDDY DELVAUX
A genetically modified super-yeast
that gives the beer more or less of
a fruity taste. Or a blonde beer
that tastes like a dark beer. In the
Laboratory for Malting and Brewing
of the KU Leuven, researchers
approach beer in a scientific way,
with surprising results.
It’s strange to see bowls
of beer among the microscopes and Petri dishes,
but in the Laboratory for
Malting and Brewing it’s
perfectly normal. Here, re-
searchers from the Faculty
of Bio-­engineering Sciences
conduct scientific ­research
into every aspect of beer
brewing. For Professor and
Doctor Freddy Delvaux, beer
no longer holds any secrets.
“Yeast is the most important ingredient,” he says.
“This is why we research it
so extensively, looking into
the formation of esters, for
example. This component
gives beer a fruity taste. By
genetically modifying yeast,
we now know how these
­esters are formed in the
wort. And ­depending on the
Why does beer froth?
Beer contains proteins.
And these froth as soon as
you shake them or if CO2
escapes. And that is
precisely what happens
when you open and pour a
bottle. Resulting in a
foaming head.
type of yeast, the temperature, the quantity and the
aeration, different e
­ sters are
B
BEER / 23
SCIENCE
How many beers are
there?
In 2011 the 10 provinces of
Belgium brewed a total of
1.132 beers. That makes
Belgium the country for
beer. Flemish Brabant tops
the list, with 250 beers.
1132
­ roduced. Interesting stuff
p
for brewers.”
Beer that tastes of
butter
In fact, over twenty breweries call on the expertise
of the laboratory to improve
their product. With success!
“After primary fermentation,
a low fermentation beer
would formerly mature for
another three months in
barrels. This was because
during primary fermentation,
diacetyl is formed, and that
gives the beer an unwanted
buttery taste. While in the
barrels, the diacetyl is broken down. We have now
learned how diacetyl can be
broken down more q
­ uickly.
A brewing process that
took three to four months
can now be completed in
ten days thanks to science.”
Immobilising yeast
Other research is still in its
infancy, but it could radically alter the entire brewing
process in the future. “By
immobilising yeast,” the professor explains, “the fermentation process converts the
wort into beer, after which
the multiplied yeast settles
on the bottom of the tank
as mash. After the process,
this yeast is pumped to a
different tank to re-ferment.
What if we were to immobilise the yeast, in other words
fix it in the tank so that the
wort flows into the tank on
one side and beer flows out
of the other side? Then the
Does beer give you a
beer belly?
There is no scientific
evidence that beer gives
you a beer belly. A glass of
Pils has approximately 44
kilocalories per 100 ml,
which is comparable with
an average sweetened
soft drink.
brewer wouldn’t have to always clean the tanks and
pump the yeast out. We’ve
succeeded in this, but the
system is not yet perfect.
Nevertheless, it’s already
being used with certain alcohol-free beers.”
Blonde or dark beer?
Malt and hops don’t escape the scientific eye of
the Leuven researchers either. “The way malt is dried
determines the colour of the
beer,” says Professor Delvaux. “The higher the drying temperature, the darker
the beer. But we succeeded
in producing a lot of sugars
even at a low temperature
during the malting process.
We were even able to develop a blonde beer with the
taste of a dark beer. A fun
little experiment.”
aha!
Footsteps of
Science: walk
yourself wiser
Not only is Leuven a true city
of beer, it is also a leading city
of knowledge. Whizz kids from
the university and colleges
are ­constantly ­coming up
with new and amazing things.
Did you know that Leuven
bio-­engineers ­developed
a sheep that eats thistles?
That engineers from Groep
T built a solar-powered car
that performed excellently
in the world championship
race for solar-powered cars in
Australia? You will find all this
out - and much more - through
Aha! Footsteps of Science.
Armed with a guide, you walk
past info panels at all faculties
of the university and college.
Discover what goes on behind
the façades of these bastions
of knowledge.
Free walk brochure from
Tourism Leuven
Naamsestraat 1, Leuven
www.visitleuven.be
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24 / BEER
The never-ending bar
B
BEER / 25
The never-ending bar
The never-ending bar
Fancy a drink in Leuven? Then you have to go to the Oude
Markt, for centuries the preferred meeting place. More than
forty bars line the square, transforming the Oude Markt in
summer into one big terrace. It is no coincidence that it is
nicknamed the “longest bar in Europe”.
Beer cafés
A popular bruine kroeg (a typical pub often with dark
wood), a warm inn where the landlord gives you a word of
explanation for every brew, a trendy pub with an impressive
beer menu. In some cafes you feel it as soon as you walk
through the door: they'll do a local beer justice here.
De Fiere Margriet
De Blauwe Kater
De metafoor
In the shadow of the Sint-Pieterskerk,
right in the historic heart of the city. The
17th century building has a surprisingly
trendy interior with a cosy, homey atmosphere. The menu contains around
280 Belgian beers: classics, but also
from very small breweries from all corners of the country. The boss can tell
you all about them.
A pub with an authentic jazz & blues
feel and a wide selection of regional
beers. On Mondays you can take in
a swinging show. Beer tastings can
be arranged.
A café with a cosy vintage feel where
the seven taps serve the best beer from
the keg. Ask about the seasonal beer,
a pleasant surprise every time! And the
boss will be happy to arrange a tasting.
In the heart of the city of beer
Margarethaplein 11
3000 Leuven
Open every day from 7 a.m.
jazz and blues
Hallengang 1
3000 Leuven
Open every day from 7 p.m.
The best from the keg
Parijsstraat 34
3000 Leuven
Open every day from 11 a.m.
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BEER / 27
BEER CAFÉS
In den Rozenkrans
Brasserie Demervallei
In the quiet of the magnificent V
­ lierbeek
abbey complex there has been a
unique inn since the 19th century. The
prevailing atmosphere of nostalgia perfectly suits the artisanal beers on the
menu. Enjoy one under the linden trees
on the terrace, with a wonderful view
of the abbey church.
You wouldn’t suspect it from the outside, but this is a true beer palace with
an awe-inspiring menu of more than
500 beers. According to the café boss,
every Flemish Brabant beer is represented. The house beer is their own
brew, Deimerwachter, and beer tastings can be arranged.
The abbey inn
Abdij Vlierbeek 14
3010 Kessel-Lo
Open from 11am.
Closed on Mondays
Awe-inspiring beer palace
Statieplein 8
3200 Aarschot
Open from 11 a.m. (Thursdays from 1 p.m.).
Closed Tuesdays.
In de Verzekering
tegen de Grote Dorst
Out of love for Geuze and Kriek
This inn, with the longest name and
the shortest opening hours - it opens
for just a few hours on Sundays and
high days - literally “insures you against
great thirst”. Brothers Kurt and Yves
Panneels renovated the ancient inn
in 1950s style. The menu features old
Geuze and old Kriek.
Frans Baetensstraat 45
1750 Eizeringen
Open on Sundays and high
days from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Straight from the brewery
Where does a pint taste better than from the actual
brewer? After all, no one knows the story behind
the beer better than the man or woman who makes
it. Many brewers in Flemish Brabant have their own
cosy café in the brewery, or work exclusively with a
small café nearby. And generally you can also simply buy beer there to take away.
Pub De Cam (Gooik) • Loterbol Brewery
(Diest) • Nieuwhuys Inn-Brewery (Hoegaarden)
• Den Triest Micro-Brewery (Kapelle-opden-Bos) • Brouwershof (at Haacht Brewery,
Boortmeerbeek) • Kouterhof (at Hoegaarden
Brewery) • Gasthof d'Oude Brouwerij (Affligem)
• Domus House Brewery (Leuven)
&
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28 / BEER
GASTRONOMY
The tastiest
beer menus
With beer, all your options are
open in the kitchen, as proven
by Leuven’s chefs. In connection with the Zythos Beer Festival taking place in Leuven,
they are serving a special beer
menu all year round with the
tastiest beer dishes or specific beers as surprising accompaniments. In both classic
brasserie cooking and innovative gastronomy. Enjoy!
Beer
gastronomy
Kwinten de Paepe
INTERVIEW
Visit
www.leuven.be/beercapital
for all participating restaurants.
Haddock with soft
wheat and white beer
City cocktail by
800 g haddock fillet
Jeroen Meus
200 g wheat
Head chef and native of Leuven
Jeroen Meus came up with a lively
city cocktail based on Stella ­Artois.
Try it!
250 ml Hoegaarden (white beer)
For 1 glass:
»» 1,25 cl vodka
»» 1,25 cl fresh lemon juice
»» 2,5 cl Fraise des Bois or
Crème de Cassis
»» 5 cl Stella Artois
from a bottle
Serve in a jockey glass with
crushed ice and mint leaves.
300 ml chicken stock
1 lemon
“mandjeskaas” cheese
(soft curd cheese, cheese-dairy
Walschot - Beersel)
a few sprigs of chervil
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The culinary
power of beer
BEER / 29
GASTRONOMY
Beer is always within arm’s reach in the kitchen
of Head Chef Kwinten De Paepe in the trendy
restaurant Trente in Leuven. Not for drinking
himself, but to use in his top dishes or as an
accompaniment to a menu. “Don’t underestimate
the culinary power of beer,” he says.
Preparation
Cook the wheat in the chicken stock and
white beer. Drain and rinse the wheat under
cold water. Allow to drain.
Season the wheat with salt and pepper and
mix the mandjeskaas into/through it. Finish
the wheat with a few drops of lemon juice.
Season and cook the haddock in a pan
(+/- 8 minutes). Put some wheat on a plate,
place the cooked fish on top and finish with
a few sprigs of chervil.
Alternative beer: Huardis
Nieuwhuys Inn-Brewery honours
the Hoegaarden tradition and
brews a fresh, cloudy, wheat-based
white beer.
We have to admit, Kwinten is not
­entirely impartial. As culinary ambassador of the non-profit organisation for
regional produce in Flemish Brabant,
cooking with regional produce comes
more naturally to him than any other
master chef. And what regional product is more authentic than a strong
local beer? But the chef also knows
what tastes truly delicious. In 2011,
the famous GaultMillau culinary guide
even voted him Best Young Top Chef
in Flanders
Beer in a top restaurant is no
longer the exception. A good
thing?
“Absolutely. Fine dining always used to
be associated with wine. Fortunately
beer is now making serious inroads
as an accompaniment with meals. A
well-chosen beer gives a classic dish
a completely different dimension. And
the customers are certainly open to
new sensations.”
You serve beer with a menu. In
dishes too?
“Yes, I like experimenting with beer in
the kitchen. Beer often gives that little
something extra that finishes off a dish
and it can be used in so many different ways. Beer gives taste, aroma and
personality to a dish.”
What beers do you enjoy
working with most?
“Geuze is one of my favourite ingredients. That complex, mildly acidic taste
of old Geuze is a gift to any chef. Delicious with pork if you use it together with
mustard. White beer gives starters a
fresh, acidic accent. Brown beers in turn
give desserts a sweet, slightly bitter and
caramelised taste. Beer is so versatile.”
B
30 / BEER
bapas
Bapas,
tapas
for beer
Everyone has heard of Spanish
tapas. And the regional beers
of Flemish Brabant are world
famous. What do you get if
you combine the two? Delicious
bapas, the perfect snack with a
foaming head of beer.
You will find more recipes in the book
“Bapas, Belgische biertapas” (“Bapas,
Belgian Beer Tapas”) by Karl Van Malderen,
Sven Gatz and Jan Pille.
Violet oysters with passion fruit
& Oude Geuze 3 Fonteinen
20 minutes
Ingredients (serves 6)
ww 24 oysters (size 3)
ww 6 passion fruits
ww 1 dessertspoon sugar
ww 3 g agar-agar
ww 1 piece ginger
ww 24 edible yellow violets
ww fresh coriander
ww black pepper
ww ice
For the vinaigrette:
ww 8 cl extra virgin olive oil
ww juice of 1 lime
ww 5 cl rice vinegar
ww 1/2 teaspoon cane
sugar
Oude Geuze 3 Fonteinen
A natural Geuze
consisting of a blend
of 1, 2 and 3 year
old Lambic, matured
in oak casks. After
bottling, spontaneous fermentation takes
place in the bottle for at
least 6 months.
Alternative beers
Oude Gueuze (Mort
Subite), Oude Geuze
(Oud Beersel), Oude
Geuze (Timmermans)
Preparation
1 Cut the passion fruits in half and
spoon out the flesh. Extract the juice
from the flesh through a sieve into a
saucepan. Add the sugar and the
agar-agar and heat thoroughly.
Refresh with a few drops of lemon
juice and leave to cool until the jelly
has set.
2 Open the oysters. To do so,
squeeze the oyster gently and watch
where liquid escapes. You now know
where the edge is. Wrap a towel
around your hand. Insert an oyster
knife between the muscle where it
attaches to the inside of the top shell
(about halfway across) and prize the
oyster open. Discard the oyster liquor
and place the oyster on a board.
3 Make a vinaigrette by mixing
together the olive oil, lime juice, rice
vinegar and cane sugar.
4 Grate a piece of fresh ginger over
the oysters. Spoon half a teaspoon of
vinaigrette over, and place some
passion fruit jelly onto the oysters.
Finish with a violet and a coriander
leaf.
5 Crush the ice in a blender and
serve the oyster on crushed ice. Add
one last turn of the pepper mill.
Caramelised ribs
& Affligem dubbel
20 minutes
(+ 2 hours’ preparation)
Ingredients (serves 6)
ww 12 ribs
ww sesame oil
ww sesame seed
For the marinade:
ww 20 cl olive oil
ww juice of 2 lemons
ww 8 cl Teriyaki sauce
ww 2 sticks lemongrass
ww 6 cloves garlic
ww salt and pepper
For the caramel sauce:
ww 4 dessertspoons
honey
ww 1 dessertspoon water
ww 3 dessertspoons
marinade
ww 1 dash rice vinegar
Affligem Dubbel
A ruby-red beer with
a slight spiciness
that drinks well. With
secondary
fermentation in the
bottle.
Alternative beer
Grimbergen Dubbel
Preparation
1 Make your marinade by placing
all the ingredients in a large glass bowl.
Place the ribs in the marinade for 2
hours.
2 Remove the ribs from the marinade
and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
3 Heat the sesame oil in a casserole
and fry the ribs for 10 minutes until
almost cooked through. Turn the ribs
regularly to prevent them burning.
4 At the end of the cooking process,
bring 3 dessertspoons of marinade,
4 dessertspoons of honey,
1 dessertspoon of water and the rice
vinegar to the boil in a saucepan until
you obtain a syrupy caramel sauce
that trickles off the spoon.
5 Pour the caramel sauce over the
ribs in the casserole and shake them
well to distribute the caramel evenly
over the ribs. Remove the casserole
from the heat after 1 minute.
6 Toast the sesame seeds over a
low heat in a dry skillet or frying pan.
Scatter some sesame seeds over the
ribs.
Omelette spéciale with brown
shrimps & Op-Ale
35 minutes
Ingredients (serves 8)
ww 125 g hand-peeled
shrimps
ww 1 dl cream
ww 3 teaspoons sherry
vinegar
ww 1 shallot
ww 3 eggs
ww milk
ww 1 bunch finely
chopped chives
ww 1 bunch watercress
ww butter
ww olive oil
ww salt and pepper
Op-ale
A full-bodied amber
beer with a very
bright copper
colour and fine
head. Slightly fruity
with a delicious
aftertaste.
Alternative beer
Palm, Speciale 1900
(Haacht Brewery), Ginder
Ale (AB InBev)
Preparation
1 Beat the cream until just stiff. Mix
the sherry vinegar into the cream and
season with salt and pepper.
2 Then mix in the shrimps. Keep
one or two shrimps back for the
garnish.
3 Beat the eggs with a little milk. Add
salt, pepper and the chives.
4 Peel and finely chop the shallot.
5 In a frying pan, cook half the finely
chopped shallot in butter. Then add
a little olive oil and cook half the eggs
into a thin omelette. Make a second
omelette in the same way.
6 Cut 2 rounds from the omelette
using a circular cutter. Place one
omelette round in the ring and place
some of the cream and shrimp mixture
on top. Top with a second omelette
round. Carefully remove the ring. You
can cut 4 or 5 rounds from 1 omelette.
7 Finish with watercress, a few
shrimps and if desired extra shrimp
sauce.
8 Serve on a plate with two forks.
Beers of
Flemish
B r aba n t
All delicious beers
So many beers, so many flavours to
discover. And to taste the beer is to taste
the local area, since Flemish Brabant
also has plenty of variety to offer: from
the hills of the rural Hageland to the
parks, gardens and castles of the Green
Belt, with the art and beer city of Leuven
in between.
Visit Flemish Brabant at
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/en
B ee r
history
On these clay tablets found in the Syrian
city of Ebla, archaeologists discovered
one of the oldest beer recipes and beer
laws. At that time, beer could only be
brewed and drunk by priestesses in
honour of their goddess.
y
x
e
s
s
i
Beer a man’s drink? In ancient Babylonia, only the
priestesses were permitted to brew and drink beer
in honour of their goddess. In the Middle Ages too,
brewing was purely woman’s work. “The experience of
beer, the tastes and the smells, that’s all woman,” says
Sofie Vanrafelghem, amateur brewer, beer author and
lover. “Beers are sexy!”
‘Vurige Fie’. The beer Sofie brews herself typifies her when she talks about
her passion. She has a devout mission:
to share her love of beer with women.
After all, out of sight, out of mind, she
says. “In cafés or restaurants women
prefer to choose wine of d
­ ubious
quality that a fine beer. Yet beer has a
much broader range of tastes. Is it not
­elegant? Not feminine? Yes it is. Serve
beer in a wine glass and straight away
you have a different experience.”
Women’s beer?
Major brewery groups have already
understood. Carlsberg and S
­ ABMiller
have taken on more female beer tasters because women’s senses of taste
and smell are generally better developed. “There’s no such thing as a
typical women’s beer. The cliché says
that women mainly go for sweet Kriek
beers, but often there simply isn’t an
alternative. At each tasting I notice how
enthusiastically women react to the different tastes. Their choices vary con-
siderably. One goes for sweet and dark,
another chooses sour or bitter.”
But Sofie still has much to do. “If as a
woman you order a strong abbey beer
in a bar or restaurant, it’s served to the
man at the table. Advertising and marketing are directed towards men. And
yet the experience of beer, the nuances
of taste and the recipes, belong more
to the world of women. The hospitality industry is beginning to understand
this, and more and more restaurants
are serving beer in nice glasses as an
accompaniment to meals, for men and
women.”
Brewster, not brewer
Once, beer was purely woman’s work.
On clay tablets found in the Syrian city
of Ebla, archaeologists found one of the
oldest beer recipes and beer laws. “At
that time, beer could only be brewed
and drunk by priestesses in honour of
their goddess,” says Sofie. “Later, beer
remained woman’s work. Did you know
B
BEER / 35
BEER IS SEXY
Sofie Vanrafelghem
amateur brewer, beer
author and lover
that the English word ‘brewer’ didn’t
exist before 1600? A historian from Oxford University discovered that between
1300 and 1600 there were many brewsters, but no brewers. Brewing was a
women-only thing, like washing and
cooking. Only when the first commercial breweries emerged did men get
involved. Even now, brewing is a culinary activity. You follow a recipe and
work magic with tastes and flavours,
and happily women are again discovering the art of brewing.” So how so,
beer a man thing?
There’s no such thing as a
typical women’s beer. The
cliché says that women mainly
go for sweet Kriek beers, but
often there simply isn’t an
alternative.
What is Sofie’s favourite
Beer from Flemish Brabant?
Hanssens Artisanaal Oude Geuze. ‘Sidy Hanssens
is the only female Geuze maker and she’s doing a
fantastic job. Moreover, real Geuze smells of sweaty
feet or stale socks, but Sidy describes the smell as
steamy lovemaking,’ Sofie smiles.
B
36 / BEER
TASTING
Tasting beer
How’s it done?
“Deeper tastes, more variation in alcohol content,
and above all fantastic with food,” says beer expert
Jef van den Steen. Surprise yourself with a beer and
a delicious meal.
And Jef should
know. He is a
beer expert, beer
brewer, beer author and - it has
to be said - mad
Jef van den Steen
about beer. “In
wine there are nuances of taste that can
only really be tasted by experts. The taste
of beer has more extremes: you have
sour, sweet and bitter and every possible combination of these. Some typical Flemish Brabant products - chicory
and asparagus - taste wonderfully bitter. Wine doesn’t go with them, but beer
does,” says Jef. “We have the best beers
in the world. So serve them at the table.”
One or two golden rules?
“Respect the alcohol content. Start
with a beer with little alcohol and work
up with each stage of the menu. For
example, if you serve a strong Tripel as
an aperitif, a Pils with the main course
will taste too weak. And respect the
intensity of taste: an intense dish de-
mands an intense beer.”
Beer cocktails
Jef has written many books about beer,
even one about beer cocktails. “You
can make great cocktails with beer.
One third Geuze and two thirds champagne: phenomenally tasty. Or try a
Kruvel: half Duvel and half Kriek. You
won’t often see a beer cocktail on the
menu in Belgium. Nevertheless, since
we have so many beers, there’s something to everyone’s taste.”
Look
Listen
Smell
Taste
Swallow
What colour is the froth?
How thick and how fine is
the head? Determine the
colour and clarity of the
beer. Inspect the carbon dioxide: are the bubbles small
or large?
Listen to how the bubbles
of carbon dioxide in the
froth pop. This tells you
how quickly the froth will
dissolve.
Your nose is where you
sense aroma. A hint of fruit?
A suggestion of cognac?
You can even smell the
sickly sweet smell of alcohol with a little practice.
Take a sip and roll the beer
around your mouth. Taste
sour, sweet and bitter, and
the intensity and relationship of these tastes.
In contrast to wine tasting, you should swallow
beer. The carbon dioxide
expands on heating in your
throat, lodging for a second
in your nose. The aftertaste
helps determine the character of the beer.
B
BEER / 37
Pulling Beer
Pulling beer
1
hoe
How’s
doeitje
done?
dat?
Not all pints are the same. Jan Van Dessel (23)
knows this better than anyone: the barman
of the Den Deugniet inn in Haasrode is the
Belgian beer pulling champion for 2011.
“There are nine steps to pulling beer,”
he says. “It starts with cleaning the
glass and ends with a perfect presentation. You have to perform these
steps with perfect consistency, and
above all pay attention to the details.
Make sure, for example, that the logo
is always facing the customer, even
when rinsing the glass. And the froth
of a good pint should spill over slightly.
You remove the surplus with a skimmer to leave a perfect, strong head of
three centimetres.”
Den Deugniet
Jan learned the serving ritual from
Toets, the boss of the Den Deugniet
inn. “He demands perfect pints, and
taught me the puling process,” Jan
smiles. “A tray full of pints with one
or two that aren’t perfectly pulled?
Not in his book. That’s the way you
learn your trade.”
The taste
The head is not just aesthetically important, it also adds to the taste. “By
pulling just too much beer and froth,
you can get rid of the big air bubbles
full of CO2. That gives a tastier pint, and
you won’t get a headache as quickly.”
2
The cleaning
The offering
Rinse the glass in cold
water.
Open the tap in one
smooth movement and
let the initial froth drain
away.
3
4
The swirling alchemy
The head
Hold the glass under
the tap at an angle of 45
degrees.
Gradually straighten the
glass and drop it down
a little for a perfect
head.
5
6 7
The removal
The decapitation
Close the tap and don’t
let the last few drops fall
into the glass.
Remove the surplus
froth with a skimmer.
The head should be
three centimetres.
8
9
Jan Van Dessel
The final cleaning
The presentation
Rinse the base and
sides of the glass.
Place the glass on a
cardboard coaster,
with the logo facing the
customer
B
38 / BEER
bruegel
B
BEER / 39
Bruegel
Through the eyes of Bruegel
Is there Lambic in the pitchers of the painting The Peasant Wedding by Pieter Bruegel the
Elder? Perhaps! In the 16th century, Bruegel set up his easel in the Pajottenland & the Zenne
valley, the birthplace of Lambic. In the last years of his life, his Brussels period, he took
­inspiration from the landscape. Many elements therefore appear in his paintings. On the
Bruegel Walk in Dilbeek you will find 11 reproductions of paintings in which you will recognise the landscape through which you are walking. Or follow the Bruegel cycle route and
meet even more reproductions en route.
More information at
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant .be and www.dilbeekserfgoed.be
B
40 / BEER
bed & beer
A pleasant
stay in a
Bed
& Beer
Obviously you also get
the ‘Breakfast’ as well,
but these beer packages
have much more to
offer than a room and
breakfast.
1
Martin’s
Klooster
Enjoying Belgian
Beers
Stay in the heart of Leuven,
city of beer, in a stylish hotel
in a fine 16th century building. A tasting awaits you in
the bar, and you will receive
a café map of the city with
the book “207 originele
cafés in Brabant en omstreken”, including tasting
coupons, for getting out
and about. After a night in
a “Charming” room - with
jacuzzi! - enjoy an extensive breakfast buffet. And
on checking out you will receive half a metre of beer to
take home.
€ 199/2 persons/night
Predikherenstraat 22
3000 Leuven
+32 (0)16-21 31 41
[email protected]
www.martins-hotels.com
2
Park Inn
by Radisson
Leuven Hotel
Leuven beer
stories
A brand-new hotel close
by Leuven station. In the
evening there is a tasty
beer menu with a traditional
Flemish stew with Geuze
and French fries, and a
glass of Leffe. A hearty
breakfast is followed by a
tour of the city, during which
you will be served up several juicy Leuven beer stories.
€ 130/2 persons/night
Martelarenlaan 36
3010 Leuven
+32 (0)16-60 10 00
[email protected]
www.parkinn.com/hotelleuven
3
Begijnhof Hotel
Beer and beguines
This atmospheric hotel is
in the centre of Leuven’s
splendid beguinage, “Groot
Begijnhof”. Over breakfast
you can sense the history
in the walls of the 13th
century cart-house. Enjoy
a Begijntje - the house beer
- as a welcome drink, and
try the three Domus beers
in the city brewery, Domus.
€ 120/2 persons/night
Groot Begijnhof 15
3000 Leuven
+32 (0)16-29 10 10
[email protected]
www.bchotel.be
B
BEER / 41
bed & beer
1
2
3
5
6
4
Bed & Bokes
Life in the brewery
A stylish farm in the heart
of the quiet countryside,
on the edge of the hilly
Hageland and the woody
Limburg Kempen. You
receive a welcome sample of four Diest beers, a
picnic basket full of local
produce and a delicious
dinner in a nearby brasserie. Discover Diest’s rich
beer past by bicycle or on
foot, and in the morning
tackle a hearty breakfast.
A beer set as a memento
rounds off this package.
€ 265/2 persons/2 nights
Kriekelswarande 1
3290 Schaffen-Diest
+32 (0)477-910 913
[email protected]
http://www.bedenbokes.be/
5
La Royale
With appropriate
beers
Enjoy a delicious 3-course
dinner with appropriate
beers in the restaurant of
this cosy city hotel on the
Martelarenplein, right by
the station. In the morning
breakfast awaits you, as
well as a tourist info guide.
€ 130/2 persons/night
Martelarenplein 6
3000 Leuven
+32 (0)16-22 12 52
[email protected]
www.laroyale.be
6
9
Nokernote
Local beer, gastronomy and nature
In the quiet of the countryside, a blissful stay
awaits you with breakfast
and a local beer as a welcome drink. You will visit
the Vissenaken brewery
- with tasting - and in De
Gempemolen brasserie a
tasty dinner awaits you,
with the surprising aperitif
beer dUtsel a highlight.
Leuven
Brussels
€ 150/2 persons/2 nights
Romeinsebaan 55
3300 Vissenaken
+32 (0)474-65 53 44
+32 (0)495-58 84 47
[email protected]
www.nokernote.be
8
7
10
These packages are valid subject to availability until the end of 2013.
4
B
42 / BEER
bed & beer
7
B&B Gusto
Taste and discover
Hosts Rita and Paul welcome you to their stylish,
cosy B&B with a local beer.
A place for cyclists or walkers who also enjoy a good
pint: with a bite in a local
restaurant, breakfast, a trip
to the De Lambiek visitors’
centre and the local den
Herberg brewery.
€ 160/2 persons/night
(bicycles: € 20)
Henri Devedeleerstraat 8
1501 Buizingen (Halle)
+32 (0)2-356 62 71
+32 (0)497-70 89 90
[email protected]
http://www.gustobnb.
be/www.gustobnb.be
8
B&B Klein
Paradijs
A Hoegaarden
tasting
Combine a blissful night
in a charming B&B with
a lively beer tasting in the
Nieuwhuys Inn-brewery.
The welcome drink is - of
course - a local beer, and
as a memento you receive
a bottle of Alpaïde and
­Cuvée van de Generaal
beer to take home, each
with its own glass.
€ 120/2 persons/night
€ 185/2 persons/2 nights
Walestraat 2
3320 Hoegaarden
+32 (0)16-76 64 70
+32 (0)478-67 92 80
[email protected]
www.kleinparadijs.be
9
Het Bolhuis
Organic Farm
Beers and Farmers
Experience real farm life
on this organic farm in
the heart of nature. Take
a ride on a donkey and
enjoy a farm picnic while
out and about, with local
beer, naturally. And then
you can choose between
a beer walk in Diest or a
visit to the Loterbol brewery, depending on availability.
€ 211/max. 5 person/2
nights (outside school
holidays)
€ 272/max. 5 persons/2
nights (during school
holidays)
Asdonkstraat 49
3294 Diest-Molenstede
+32 (0)13-33 85 12
+32 (0)473-94 79 08
[email protected]
www.bolhuis.be
10
Hanenbos
Accommodation
On the trail of
Lambiek
You and your group will
stay in a country apartment. After breakfast
your bicycles await you,
along with a cycling map,
a packed lunch and tickets
for Huizingen park, the De
Lambiek Visitors’ Centre
and a Geuze brewer or
maker. In the evening, the
Boelekewis restaurant will
regale you with local specialities. You will be given
a bottle of the house beer,
“het Haneboske”, to take
home.
EUR 72.50/person/night
(min. 8 people)
Lotsesteenweg 103
1653 Beersel
+32 (0)2-380 47 13
hanenbos@
vlaamsbrabant.be
www.hanenbos.be
B
BEER / 43
BEER TRIPS
Hoegaarden: a great
place for a pint
Beer visits
for
groups
Discover the former glory
of a brewer’s life and
sample the tastiest
Hoegaarden beers. The
programme includes 4
local cafés, 4 beers,
appetizers and an
enjoyable explanation by
a local guide. A tip:
combine this walk with a
visit to the ’t Wit Gebrouw
visitors’ centre.
Beertours in Leuven
A brewery visit with a delicious
tasting session? A walk or bike ride
past authentic beer cafés? A cookery
workshop with beer? In Flemish
Brabant and Leuven, you can book the
most fantastic beer visits for groups.
It’s an original way to discover the
region and its traditions, and it can
be combined perfectly with a visit to a
tourist attraction. Just the thing for a
day out with the family, friends, the
club or the firm. We’d be happy to give
you some tasteful suggestions.
With the ‘Le(u)ven in de
brouwerij’ city game you
can explore the beer city
of Leuven by bicycle or
kickbike, or on foot. The
game takes you past
breweries old and new.
Fun photo assignments
and a beer tasting make it
a relaxed group activity.
Meise Botanical Gardens
and Palm Breweries
In the National Botanical
Gardens in Meise, admire
the unique collection of
18.000 species of plants
from all over the world,
and after lunch visit the
Palm Breweries in
Steenhuffel. There you
will experience the
brewing process of the
well-known amber-coloured beer, Palm.
Afterwards you will
obviously be offered a
refreshing Palm, and can
pat the powerfully built
Brabant draught horses
on the head at
­Diepensteyn stud farm,
where the brewery breeds
genuine Brabant draught
horses.
More information on these and
many other group visits can be
found at
www.toerismevlaams­
brabant.be/EN and
www.leuven.be/
beercapital
B
44 / BEER
BREWERIES
An overview of
all breweries
in Flemish Brabant
Affligem Brewery
The fathers of the abbey
of Affligem had such great
faith in the De Smedt family brewery that they entrusted them with their
centuries-old beer recipes.
Opwijk
www.affligem.biz
beers Affligem Dubbel,
Affligem Blond, Affligem
Tripel, Affligem Patersvat,
Op-Ale
3 Fonteinen
Brewery
Armand Debelder grew
up among the Lambiek
and Geuze of his father’s
brewery and continued
the craft with an excellent knowledge of the
business.
Beersel
www.3fonteinen.be
Oude Kriek, Oude
Schaarbeekse Kriek, Oude
Geuze, Vintage Geuze,
Beersel Bio, Beersel Blond,
Beersel Lager, Doesjel,
Hommage, Zwet.be
beers
Boon
Brewery
De Block
Brewery
Frank Boon converted an
old Geuze “stekerij” into
a modern Lambic brewery with respect for the
centuries-old tradition.
Henricus De Block acquired the right to make
beer in the 14th century,
and since then brewing
has been in the family’s
blood. To this day.
Lembeek
www.boon.be
Oude Geuze Boon,
Geuze Mariage Parfait, Faro
Perte Totale, Kriek Boon,
Oude Kriek Boon,
Framboise Boon, Duivels
Beer, Jack-op
beers
Broeder Jacob
Brewery
Johan Claes and Bruno
Verbiest breathed new life
into the tradition of village
beers.
Wezemaal
www.broederjacob.com
Broeder Jacob
Tripel, Broeder Jacob Bruin
beers
Merchtem
www.satanbeer.com
beers Kastaar, Satan Gold,
Satan Red, Special 6
De Schuur
Brewery
A micro-brewery with a
family feel: here, father
Jan and son Bert Symons
fill the fermentation tanks.
Linden
www.brouwerijdeschuur.wordpress.
com
beers Meneer,
Nikolaas Tripel
De Troch
Brewery
Traditional Geuze and exotic tastes is a surprising
but delicious combination, as the De Troch
Brewery proves.
Wambeek
www.detroch.be
Chapeau Abricot,
Chapeau Banana, Chapeau
Exotic, Chapeau Faro,
Chapeau Framboise,
Chapeau Gueuze, Chapeau
Kriek, Chapeau Lemon,
Chapeau Peche, Chapeau
Fraise, Chapeau Cuvee
Oude Gueuze
beers
De Vlier
Brewery
After years of wandering
round breweries, engineer Marc Andries converted his passion into his
own brewery.
Holsbeek
www.brouwerij-devlier.com
beers Kessel Blond, Kessel
69, Gulden Delle, X-Mas,
Holsbeek Lentetripel,
Carrousel, De Vlier Brut,
Ferme Framboos
B
BEER / 45
BREWERIES
Den Herberg
Brewery
Bart Devillé and Ann
Heremans pull their own
delicious brews in Den
Herberg café.
Buizingen
www.denherberg.be
Den Herberg Amber,
Den Herberg Blond,
Den Herberg Bruin,
Den Herberg Tarwe
beers
Girardin Brewery
A genuine farm-brewery:
the Girardin family makes
Lambiek from homegrown grain.
Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle
beers Lambik, Gueuze
Fond met hergisting op de
fles, Gefilterde Gueuze,
Kriek, Framboise, Faro,
Ulricher
Haacht
Brewery
This independent family
brewery is the third largest in the country. The
mineral water from its
own spring and original
recipes produce worldfamous beers.
Boortmeerbeek
www.haacht.com
Primus, Keizer Karel
Robijn Rood, Keizer Karel
Goud Blond, Gildenbeer,
Speciale 1900, Horstbeer,
Park Abdijbeer, Export 8,
Maltosa, Mystic Krieken,
Mystic Limoen, Mystic
Perzik, White by Mystic
beers
Hof ten
Dormaal
Brewery
A real farm brewery: hops
and barley are homegrown, even the power
comes from their own
rape seed.
Tildonk
www.h o f te n do rma a l.co m
Hof ten Dormaal Amber, Hof ten Dormaal Blond,
Hof ten Dormaal Bruin, Wit
Goud
beers
KortrijkDutsel
Brewery
Valerie Stoens brews the
perfect aperitif beer on
an idyllic site in the rolling green of Hageland.
Kortrijk-Dutsel
www.brouwerijkort­
rijkdutsel.be
beers
Kortrijk-dUtsel
Lindemans
Brewery
Cousins Geert and Dirk
Lindemans are maintaining a two hundred year
old family tradition.
Vlezenbeek
www.lindemans.be
Faro Lindemans,
Framboise Lindemans,
Kriek Lindemans,
Pecheresse Lindemans,
Geuze Cuvée René
Lindemans, Apple
Lindemans, Cassis
Lindemans, Kriek Cuvée
René Lindemans, Gueuze
Lindemans
beers
Lupus brewery
Four friends got the taste
for brewing and pay tribute to the wolf with their
artisan brewery.
Aarschot
www.brouwerijlupus.be
beers
Wolf 9
Wolf 7, Wolf 8,
Oud Beersel
Brewery
Hoegaarden
Brewery
Beer lover Gert Christiaens could not stomach
the fact that his favourite
beer was in danger of disappearing and took over
the Oud Beersel Brewery
himself.
Hoegaarden village and
beer are inseparably
linked thanks to the famous white beer.
Beersel
www.oudbeersel.com
Montaigu
Brewery
Brewer Gunther Bensch
brings his love for his
town and beer together
in a few artisanal brews.
ScherpenheuvelZichem
www.brouwerij-montaigu.be
beers Nondedju, Notre
Passion, 400 Quadringenti,
Lobosbeer, Beker 5, Beker
9, Beegaarden Blond,
Beegaarden Bruin, Drunk
Munk Serie’s
Mort Subite
Brewery
Beer has been brewed
in the picturesque heart
of Kobbegem since at
least 1604. The name
Mort ­Subite comes from
the last throw in the folk
game “pitjesbak”.
Bersalis Tripel, Oude
Kriek Oud Beersel, Oude
Geuze Oud Beersel,
Bersalis Kadet, Framboise
beers
Timmermans
Brewery
A household name in the
Pajottenland since Jacobus Walravens brewed
his first Lambiek in 1781.
A fun piece of trivia: the
people on the labels are
actual employees.
Itterbeek
Hoegaarden
www.hoegaarden.com
Hoegaarden witbeer,
Hoegaarden Speciale,
Hoegaarden Rosée,
Hoegaarden Grand Cru,
Hoegaarden Citron,
Verboden Vrucht
beers
Vercauteren
Brewery
Alfons Vercauteren took
up the thread of a long
family tradition, and his
sons Johan and Bert also
have the taste for it.
Londerzeel
brouwerijvercauteren.be
beers
Kossaat
www.brtimmermans.be
beers Gueuze Lambic,
Oude Gueuze, Oude Kriek,
Faro Lambic, Lambicus
Blanche, Kriek Retro, Kriek
Lambic, Warme Kriek
Chaude, Framboise
Lambic, Pêche Lambic,
Strawberry Lambic,
Bourgogne des Flandres
Blond, Bourgogne des
Flandres Bruin
Kobbegem
www.mort-subite.be
Original Kriek,
Original Gueuze, Natural
Oude Gueuze, Xtreme
Kriek, Xtreme Framboise
beers
For individual visits
For group visits
More info on visiting times and conditions at www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be and www.leuven.be/beercapital
B
46 / BEER
BREWERIES
Vissenaken
Brewery
Beer fanatics Rudy
Scheys and Philippe
Smolders have a vision.
Their goal is not to make
a profit, but their love of
beer and sharing their
brewing knowledge.
Vissenaken
www.vissenaken.
info/brouwerij
beers Himelein, Fasso,
De Nacht
Brewery Distillery
Craywinckelhof
In a long row of oak casks
- brought from Scotland
by brewer Louis Schrevens - the Straffe Hagelander beer matures at
the Craywinckelhof.
Lubbeek
Louis.schrevens@
skynet.be
Metteko, Straffe
Hagelander Amber, Straffe
Hagelander Blond, Straffe
Hagelander Bruin, Straffe
Hagelander Donker,
KraaiKe Gouden, KraaiKe
Tripel Blond, KraaiKe Tripel
Donker
beers
De Kale Ridders
Six friends with a love of
brewing give Landen its
own beer.
Landen
www.tumulus.biz
Tumulus Magna,
Tumulus 800, Tumulus Nera
beers
De Cam
Geuze maker
Geuze maker Karel
Goddeau transforms
artisanal Lambiek from
local breweries with
great patience into
sparkling
Gooik
www.oudecam.com
beers Faro De Cam, Oude
Lambiek De Cam, Oude
Krieken Lambiek De Cam,
Oude Geuze De Cam
Hanssens
Artisanaal
Geuze maker
Sidy Hanssens makes
Geuze with the same
passion as her greatgrandfather.
Beersel
Hanssens.artisanaal
@proximedia.be
Oudbeitje, Oude
Gueuze, Oude Kriek
beers
Guldenboot
A beer made only from
organic ingredients? It
exists. Brewer Leo De
Smedt from Guldenboot
in Opwijk produces beers
that are good for you and
the environment.
Opwijk
www.leirekenbeer.be
Leireken Boekweit
Blond, Leireken Boekweit
Bruin, Leireken Lager,
Leireken Wilde Vruchten,
Leireken Witte Spelt
beers
Domus
House Brewery
Nieuwhuys
Inn-Brewery
The beer flows via pipes
from the brewery straight
to the cosy café within the
historic heart of Leuven.
Hoegaarden’s smallest
brewery in the oldest
house in the village, with
a cosy café attached.
Leuven
Hoegaarden
www.domusleuven.be
www.nieuwhuys.be
beers Con Domus, Nostra
Domus, Nen Engel
Lestedröppel
House Brewery
The municipality of Linter
asked the local Lestedröppel brewery to develop a delicious regional
product, with success!
Linter
www.walsberger.com
Walsberger Dubbel,
Walsberger Blond
beers
Loterbol
House Brewery
The former town breweries De Brouwketel and
Duysters Brewery live on,
feeding off the Diest beer
tradition.
Diest
www.loterbol.be
beers Loterbol 6°, Loterbol
8° blond, Loterbol 8° bruin,
Tuverbol 11°
beers Alpaïde, Rosdel,
Alpaïde Blond, Alpaïde
Cuvée van de Generaal,
Huardis
Angerik
Micro-brewery
Gravity does its work as
it always has, the installation of micro-brewery
­Angerik is arranged vertically and no pumps are
used.
Dilbeek
erikdecuyper
@hotmail.com
beers Boerke Amber,
Boerke Donker, Krieken
Boerke
Microbrewery
Den Triest
A micro-brewery that only
works with pure natural
ingredients. Available to
taste in the cosy occasional café.
Kapelle-op-den-Bos
www.dentriest.be
Blond, Dubbel,
Tripel, Kriek, Kesse, De
Neus en Kerstbeer
beers
Palm Breweries
The Brabant Draft horse
on the glass shows the
strength and pride of the
Palm beers.
Steenhuffel
w w w. pa l m b r e w e r ies .com
beers Palm, Palm Royale,
Dobbel Palm, Estaminet
Premium Pils
Promaco Vision
Tienen native Miel Mattheus rediscovered the
old doctor’s beer Zoeg,
and invented the o
­ rganic
beer Tiense Kweiker,
available in three variants.
Tienen
www.tiensekweiker.
handelsgids.be
beers Tiense Kweiker
Amber, Tiense Kweiker
Donker, Tiense Kweiker
Tripel, Tiense Zoeg
AB Inbev
The world’s largest brewery group has its headquarters in Leuven, where
its rich brewing tradition
began.
Leuven
www.ab-InBev.be
Stella Artois,
Belle-Vue Framboise,
Belle-Vue Extra Framboise,
Belle-Vue Gueuze,
Belle-Vue Kriek, Belle-Vue
Extra Kriek, Belle-Vue LA,
Belle-Vue Kriek Classique,
Ginder Ale
beers
B
BEER / 47
BREWERIES
Beer
brewed
carefully,
to be
discovered
with care
On the last weekend in April, Leuven is
more than ever the capital of beer! For
it is then that you can unashamedly
taste more than 400 different beers
from 100 brewers during the annual
Zythos Beer Festival in the Brabanthal.
And that’s not all, because throughout
the city there are beer tours, beer
workshops, Leuven beer stories,
tastings at Domus House Brewery and
even the world’s biggest brewer, AB
InBev, throws open its doors to the
curious visitor. Leuven is the place to
be(er), so why not make a delicious
beer weekend of it? Many hotels offer
surprising beer packages and restaurants put tasty beer dishes on the
menu. Cheers!
www.leuven.be/beercapital
www.zbf.be
B
Beer Diary
BEER / 49
BEER DIARY
Toer de Geuze
april
During this biennial event, the Lambiek
breweries and Geuze makers open their
doors to the general public. You get a
tour and obviously you can taste the
beers. One bus calls at all the breweries.
The next Toer de Geuze is on 21 April
2013, but you can take a digital tour all
year round. A trail of QR codes takes
you to thirteen special Geuze locations.
The digital Toer de Geuze can be taken
from July 2012.
Geuze all year round
In the land of Geuze they are so proud
of their unique beer that there are celebrations and tastings of it all year
round. Take note:
april
last
Friday
www.toerdegeuze.be
The culinary event of Leuven’s city centre, with numerous stands where the
city’s restaurants offer the tastiest samples. The Oude Markt is transformed
into one big beer market with exclusive
beers. During the barmen’s race, the
cream of Leuven’s barmen take each
other on, and on the Grote Markt gastronomic chefs give an amazing cooking demo.
www.hapje-tapje.be
The international Geuze and Kriek
festival of the Pajottenland in the
beautiful village square of Eizeringen.
www.nachtvandegrotedorst.be
Hapje-Tapje
august
First
weekend
Night of Great Thirst
The Day of the Kriek
Tastings of traditional Kriek beers.
june
www.dagvandekriek.be
Day of the Old Geuze
november
Discover the genuine old Geuze beers
of the Pajottenland and the Zenne
valley.
www.lambikstoempers.be
De Dag van de Lambik
Tastings of the oldest beer in the
world still in existence.
www.dagvandelambik.be
december
publications
Cycle network map and walking maps
On two wheels or on foot, with maps from
­Tourism Flemish Brabant you won’t miss a
­single sight on the way.
Order from
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/publicaties
Going out in Flemish Brabant,
how about it?
Tourism Flemish Brabant would like to
know if you enjoyed your stay in Flemish
Brabant. Share your views with us at: www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/peiling
and win a gift voucher worth 150 euros.
colofon
This magazine is an initiative of Tourism Flemish
Brabant vzw in conjunction with Tourism Leuven
/ April 2012
Concept and editing: Marie Vanhellemont,
Gonda Craeninckx, Lucie Vangerven┃Design:
Absoluut┃Copywriting: Bart Claes (www.wartaal.
be)┃Photos: © Lander Loeckx; Toerisme VlaamsBrabant; Toerisme Leuven; www.straffestreek.be - L.
Collet; Marc Sluys; Brouwerij Haacht; Danny Van Tricht;
Felix Merckx; Bram Belet en Inse Van Rossem - Karl
van Malderen, Sven Gatz, Jan Pille, Bapas. Belgische
biertapas, Standaard Uitgeverij, 2011; Steff Gilissen;
Jokko - Joris Bulckens;Piet Vranckx; Arno Raps, p.4647 - http://arnoraps.be; www.milo-profi.be; Erfgoedcel Leuven, Marco Mertens - Tussen Pot en Pint, La
Royale, Archief AB InBev┃Cartography: Elke Feusels
and Tourism Leuven ┃Printing: Albe De Coker┃Legal
deposit: D/2012/4058/04
This brochure has been compiled with the utmost care.
Tourism Flemish Brabant vzw is not responsible for any
changes and/or inaccuracies in the information. This
brochure has been translated from Dutch.
Publisher: Toerisme Vlaams-Brabant vzw, Provincieplein 1, 3010 Leuven, company no. 0422.667.404,
T +32(0)16 26 76 20, [email protected],
www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be
Meeting Leuven
Why not a brewery visit as an original teambuilding activity
with colleagues? Or a beer tasting to round off a business
dinner? Or discover how inspiring a meeting in a brewery
can be, obviously followed by some time getting to know
the beers. Meeting Leuven will find the perfect formula for
your firm. Because Meeting Leuven is the place to go for
meetings, incentives, conferences and events in Leuven
and Flemish Brabant.
www.meetingleuven.be
How to get to the
beer part
of Belgium?
NL
brussels
Flemish brabant
DE
By airt
Direct connections from all over Europe to:
Brussels Airport Zaventem
The direct train takes you to the centre of
Brussels or Leuven in 15 min.
More info at www.brusselsairport.be
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
The airport bus takes you to Brussels in 45
min or Leuven in 75.
More info at
www.charleroi-airport.com
By train
High speed trains connect Brussels South to
several European destinations. The extensive
railway network will then take you anywhere
you want in Flemish Brabant. Brussels to
­Leuven takes 20 minutes.
Plan your journey at www.b-rail.be
By car
Brussels is within easy reach of major cities such
as Amsterdam (224 km), Paris (336 km), London
(397 km) and Berlin (745 km). It takes 45 minutes
to reach any corner of Flemish Brabant from the
centre of Brussels via the Brussels Ring and the
E40 and E314 motorways. Brussels to Leuven
takes 20 minutes.
By bus
De Lijn buses will take you to any corner
of the province.
More info at www.delijn.be
FR
LU
Brewing has been a central
part of Flemish Brabant life for
centuries. Discover the region’s rich beer
tradition in over 30 small and large breweries,
no fewer than 250 regional beers and countless
authentic beer cafés. Stay in lovely accommoda­
tion, have a look around a brewery or enjoy a
delicious tasting on a sunny Leuven terrace. Why not
combine it with a visit to Flemish Brabant as a
whole? There is so much to do in the region:
beautiful walking and cycling routes, fascinating
museums, charming towns, historic heritage
and bustling events and festivals. All this in
the heart of Belgium, just a stone’s
throw from the capital, Brussels.