Beerguide West Flanders

guide

In this special issue

Where do beer lovers have it better than in West Flanders? Our province has almost 60 breweries (yes, we did say sixty)! Each one has its own story and between them, they could fill a few beer barrels with prizes and medals. Our beers and breweries put West Flanders on the map and draw an international public to the four popular tourist regions and Bruges.

Welcome to the West Flanders beer guide

Taste your way through the Flemish beer world with this new beer guide. This is a special report for Het Lekkere Westen – the taste of the West – Westtoer’s series spotlighting our tongue-tingling delights. Enjoy! Cheers!

restaurant with the vibe of a traditional Belgian pub

Beer and chocolate are trendy

“Men know why” is a thing of the past

and brewing go hand in hand at De Leite

Beerhopping along the coast

advertising signs

a modern brewery

cooperation with

red ale: from liquid heritage to pure rock and roll

Visit the Lys Valley Brewery Days

Hopfields flourish in Poperinge!

Beer and bikes with the Hoppy Beer Ladies

All the West Flanders breweries

Participate to win a special beer deal

Dominique Persoone, ambassador for Het Lekkere Westen

“I love a fresh pint”

Dominique Persoone is an ambassador for Het Lekkere Westen. The chocolatier-slashchef from Bruges sees his ambassador’s role as the perfect opportunity to make West Flanders a bit punchier, a bit more rock and roll. How better to do that than with beer?

TEXT BIEKE COBBAERT PHOTO DAVY COGH E

“Do you know what I really love? I adore seeing someone sitting on a terrace and clearly enjoying a good, hearty pint. My dad is just like me: he loves good food and drink. When he was in hospital recently, I saw how unhappy he was with the insipid hospital catering. We find it normal that we enjoy what we eat and drink, and we don’t even stop to think about it any more. But really, it’s one of the most important things in life.”

“I love a fresh pint. It’s what the good life is all about. Think about it: what’s better than going to somewhere like Ostend or Blankenberge for a bowl of fresh prawns accompanied by a Rodenbach or pilsner straight from the keg? And I simply can’t imagine watching the Belgian Red Devils play without a beer. Nothing strong needed here – just a pilsner.Although I do also enjoy a full-bodied

Trappist beer when I’m thirsty. Or a Pater in my man-cave.”

“My favourite West Flanders beer is a Westvleteren. And over on the French-speaking side, I’ve found Orval to be a worthy competitor. I visited the Abbey brewery and came away impressed by the brewery as well as the Groene Orval beer. Vanhonsebrouck Brewery in Izegem is also pretty spectacular, to say the least. Learning to brew my own beer is on my bucket list!”

PLEA

“As well as the good old classics that we all know and love, I do enjoy sampling beers from a local brewer. It’s added value for a bar or restaurant if it has one or two really local beers on its menu. Whenever my father travelled somewhere new, he loved to discover the local beer. I inherited this habit from him. And so I’d like to make a plea to all local breweries: please, offer your beer to pubs and restaurants in your area! And the converse goes for the local establishments: give your local brewers a chance! Here in West Flanders, we need to build up our beer reputation in the wider world!

Dominique Persoone enjoys sampling beers from a local brewer.

IN ‘T NEW MUSEUM WITH KOEN & MARIJKE

Grill restaurant with the vibe of a traditional Belgian pub

“In ’t New Museum bij Koen & Marijke” is on Hooistraat, right in the middle of Bruges. The grill restaurant is managed by Koen Demeulemeester and his wife Marijke Bax, who took the business over from Koen’s parents Paul and Rita five years ago. Koen won’t just be talking to us about their own restaurant: he’s headed out to visit three Bruges establishments: De Kelk, ’t Brugs Beertje and Brasserie SurPlace.

BY BIEKE COBBAERT PHOTOS DAVY COGH E

In ’t Nieuw Museum was first established in 1977, although it’s moved house during this time; it used to be located in Grauwwerkersstraat in Bruges. “We haven’t changed the essential concept dreamed up by Koen’s parents”, explains Marijke. “We’ve just evolved from a beer restaurant specialising in ribs to a grill restaurant with the vibe of a traditional pub. We want to be a space where people feel at home. We think it’s very important to create that welcoming atmosphere for our customers… and also for ourselves”. Our hostess comes from De Kempen originally, but followed her heart to West Flanders. Formerly a social worker, she now can’t envisage leaving the hospitality business.

SHORT SUPPLY CHAINS

“One change we did work to make is that we now mostly have short supply chains for our products and ingredients”, explains Koen. “Not just for our fruit and vegetables, either –

“We offer lighter beers on tap as well as our stronger ales: mild or bitter, blond or brown”, says Koen.

our meat is also supplied directly. It comes straight from the farmer to your plate. We are in contact with our farmers every week to discuss which cuts will be available, alongside what they’re supplying for the shops. Then we put together our menu. We always start with the farm menu, but we do also have the same process for our à-la-carte menu.”

“Locally farmed meat was a challenge at first. It took us a while to source. What we say is: Why would you grill an Argentinian or Irish ribeye if you can get meat here in West Flanders that’s just as tasty – or tastier? But the farmers that we contacted about meat were initially reluctant to sell to us. This was partly because we’d snap up their finest cuts and partly because it would eat into their profits. So we took a different approach. We asked them which cuts they’d be happy to manage without. Cuts that are less popular or that people don’t really know about – in other words, cuts that just don’t sell so well, but are still great quality. That way, we started the ball rolling. Nowadays, our farmers are happy to sell us more popular cuts too. It’s a question of give and take.”

THE PERFECT BEER

In ’t Nieuw Museum is not just known for fabulous grilled meat from local farmers: its beer menu has also helped put it on the map. “Right from the very start, In ’t Nieuw Museum has been a place for people to come for a great beer. In the early days, we mostly had mainstream beers on offer, plus a few local gems. Over the years, that developed into a huge list of interesting beers from around the country, with fewer and fewer well-known beers. Nowadays, we’ve reached a happy medium. We don’t necessarily feel the need to have our menu packed with speciality beers. What we want is to have something for everyone. We offer lighter beers on tap as well as our darker ales: mild or bitter, blond or brown. We want to give a chance to small breweries that are often unknown to the general public, but still make great beer.” Marijke will suggest a beer for each starter and main dish. “We’ve found that people are happy to enjoy our suggestions. Even wine drinkers will let us tempt them to a beer. In fact, we always serve our beers in wine glasses. Not only does it look good; it means we don’t have to keep a huge stock of different beer glasses.”

www.nieuw-museum.com

KOEN AND MARIJKE LIST THEIR FAVOURITES:

Marieke’s favourite beer

“My all-time favourite is a Bourgogne des Flandres from the eponymous brewery right here in Bruges. I have to admit that five years ago, I was more of a sweet wine drinker. But now I’m as big a beer fan as Koen... maybe even bigger! Bourgogne des Flandres is a very light roasted brown beer with just a hint of sourness. It’s a mild beer that you can sip on all day. I often recommend it to women who usually never drink beer. It’s the perfect beer to start on.”

Koen’s favourite beer

“Just pour me out a Noir de Dottignies from De Ranke Brewery. De Ranke has its roots in Wevelgem, but nowadays, they brew their beer in Dottenijs, a village in Henegouwen, right on the language border. Noir de Dottignies first saw the light of day in 2009 and it was the first truly dark beer that the brewery launched on the market. I find it the most balanced beer that I’ve ever drunk. It has a rich malty flavour with hints of coffee, chicory and bitter chocolate. It also makes a fantastic rum cocktail.”

Out and about with Koen: DE KELK

A new chapter rooted in history

De Kelk, a name that stands for excellence in Bruges and the surrounding area, is located in Langestraat. “This bar has been around for longer than In ’t Nieuw Museum. De Kelk first opened its doors in 1909 and has never changed its name. The bar made its name as a beer pub – but also as a music venue. The performance hall has been a pillar of the Bruges music scene for years and there have been some legendary gigs there”, says Koen Demeulemeester.

In March 2016, De Kelk was put up for public auction. “A year and a major renovation later, and the doors were reopened by Vincent De Jaegher and Lisa Demeyere. It’s become a local treasure. What we have here is just the opposite of van ’t Brugs Beertje (see right). Vinnie and Lisa are writing a new chapter in the bar’s story, but without erasing its history. They’re transforming its former glory into something equally glorious. And, yes, Vinnie and Lisa have hopped on the beer train. The emphasis is on craft beers from local breweries and microbreweries, and on Belgian beers, but there is also a selection of the best beers from elsewhere”, says Koen.

Marijke and Koen inherited the business from Koen’s parents.

Out and about with Koen: ’T BRUGS BEERTJE

“Dries adds extra fizz to the beer menu”

“’t Brugs Beertje is far and away the best known place for a pint in Bruges. Barley juice has been flowing from the taps at the traditional bar in Kemelstraat ever since 1983. Daisy Claeys was a pioneer. It was one of the first bars where you couldn’t even get a pilsner. Back then, Daisy was the first person to take the risk of serving beers from small local brewers – and that meant no pilsner. As we know, it worked. ’t Brugs Beertje became a roaring success. But it’s more than that. It’s local heritage”, declares Koen Demeulemeester. In 2017, Daisy handed over control of her taps to Dries Brouckaert. “The ambiance didn’t change in any way. It’s just that now there’s someone else behind the bar. Dries didn’t touch Daisy’s style and décor. What he has done is pin ’t Brugs Beertje ever more firmly on the map, thanks to his in-depth beer expertise. Dries is gradually phasing in new beers, adding a bit of extra fizz to the beer menu. A real treasure!”

www.brugsbeertje.be

Out and about with Koen: BRASSERIE SURPLACE

“Best reminder of bygone Bruges”

“Johan Verstraeten is one of the finest transfers Bruges has secured. He used to be a chef in Nooderlicht in Hoeke, a restaurant famed for its eel. Johan is by far the best traditionally trained chef that I know. He and his partner Michèle Van Vyve decided to change direction and for some years now they’ve been running SurPlace, a brasserie on SintAmandsstraat. They acquired a derelict property that had once been one of Bruges’ biggest tourist traps, set a major renovation in motion – and created a resounding success. The dishes, with an emphasis on Flemish classics and seasonal suggestions, are superb. The beer menu is admittedly short – but anything on the list is sure to be top quality. And the racing atmosphere is free”, adds Koen.

Koen Demeulemeester with Dries from ’t Brugs Beertje, in the same place as Koen’s father always sat at the bar.

Koen Demeulemeester with Johan at SurPlace.

Hopspots in Bruges

Bruges has numerous breweries, as well as its traditional bars with impressive beer lists, beer restaurants, an annual beer festival and beer trails.

De Halve maan

Located in the heart of Bruges, town brewery De Halve Maan has an attractive atrium where you can sample their beers and the daily food specials. Brewery tours are also available. (Walplein 26, Bruges) www.halvemaan.be

Bruges Beer Walk

This three-hour history trail led by a professional beer guide takes you to tucked-away bars and speciality breweries. Learn some of the surprising secrets of Bruges’ beer history and try a few beers en route. www.visitbruges.be/nl/brugge-beer-walk

Wacko beer soap

A luscious collaboration between Thomas from Bourgogne des Flandres and Zeepzot. The red Belgian ale is what gives Wacko soap its luxurious foam. A unique beer-themed gift, available from various outlets in Bruges. www.zeepzot.be/soaps/wacko-handsoap

Bourgogne des Flandres

Get to know the brewery and distillery. Meet the brewer in the loft and inhale the odours of malt and fresh hops. Round the tour off with a tasting session while enjoying views over the canals. (Kartuizerinnenstraat 6, Bruges) www.bourgognedesflandres.be

Jilles

Beer and burgers! Beer sommelier Sofie Vanrafelghem will be sure to suggest suitable beers for every one of the varied dishes. A new partnership has recently been established between Jilles and the Fort Lapin Brewery. (Braambergstraat 10, Bruges) www.jilles.be/nl/locaties/brugge

Bruges Beer Experience

An interactive experience and a chance to learn all about beer: how it’s made, how to choose the right beer for your meal, beer in Bruges, … and more. The Kids Tour tells the story of Bruges Beer for the younger members of the family. After the tour, head to the bar to sample the beer.

Traditional beer bars

Bruges has plenty of traditional beer bars with extensive beer lists. Why not try out Brugs Beertje, Cambrinus, De Garre (photo), Duvelorium, Café Vlissinghe, Rose Red, De Bierboom… or one of the many others?

See https://www.visitbruges.be/en/cafes for a list

Brasserie Surplace

Cycling is in our blood. At Brasserie SurPlace, racing permeates the atmosphere. Try out Belgian classics chased by regional speciality beers – fresh from the cask, with a thick head of foam. (Sint-Amandsstraat 24, Bruges) www.brasserie-surplace.be

B&B Brouwhuys

Stay in a delightfully restored home next door to Fort Lapin Brewery. Every Saturday between 10am and 6pm you can sample the brewery’s beers in the Tasting Room. (Koolkerkse Steenweg 34, Bruges)

More Bruges tips

Bruges has a fantastic selection of bars, restaurants, places to stay, breweries and other touristic delights. Check them out at www.visitbruges.be

©Jan D’Hondt

©Jan D’Hondt

©Visit Bruges

Dominique Persoone & Damme Noir

“Beer and chocolate are trendy”

“Beer is the drink for people who relish life... and chocolate is the perfect matching nibble. Beer and chocolate are both right on trend. It’s my dream to launch a collection of beer truffles”, declares chocolatier Dominique Persoone.

TEXT BIEKE COBBAERT PHOTO DAVY COGH E

“Beer production and chocolate production are actually quite similar”, points out Dominique: “they both involve fermentation. Cocoa beans mature their flavour during the process, and that’s just what happens for beer. And you can make bitter beer just like you make bitter chocolate”.

“All the same, there are some important differences. Beer is the drink for people who relish life... and chocolate is the perfect matching nibble. Beer and chocolate are both right on trend. But that doesn’t mean that they guarantee a perfect pairing. You won’t taste the best of light chocolate with a strong beer any more than you can team a mild beer with pure dark chocolate. The stronger and darker the beer, the better it will go with a chunk of darker milk chocolate or fondant. In fact, the two things each enrich the other. And that also happens

when you mix them in certain products. The first thing that comes to mind is my favourite food: the stoofvlees my wife Fabienne makes. It’s a traditional Belgian beef stew, and she always pops in a chunk of bitter chocolate. Actually, that’s a tip from Michelin-starred chef Geert Vanhecke from Zet’joe (and previously De Karmeliet). And when Fabienne cooks a keuntje (rabbit), she always adds a bit of bitter chocolate (as well as beer, of course). Definitely recommended!”

DAMME NOI R

“I have to admit that I haven’t been particularly impressed by most of the chocolate beers that I’ve tried. Too sweet, too sticky. But when, as a proud Damme resident, I got the chance to work on Damme Noir, a Damse Brouwers beer, I became a total convert. Damme Noir is a beer that has only seen the cocoa beans for a short time. They aren’t given the chance to lend the beer a sweet, vanilla-chocolate flavour. Instead, you get the purity and bitterness of the cocoa bean. Another thing I’m still dreaming of is launching a collection of beer truffles. It’s one

Dominique Persoone:

“The stronger and darker the beer, the better it will go with a chunk of darker milk chocolate or fondant.”

Beer and bites (1)

West Flanders has many, many excellent bistros and restaurants where you can be assured your food will be matched with a good beer or can select from an extensive beer list.

The Mash (Izegem)

Cambrinus (Bruges)

This beer brasserie in central Bruges has no less than 400 Belgian beers on its menu. Enjoy a delicious bite from their extensive ‘beer cuisine’; for example, rabbit cooked in the traditional Flemish way, using their own beer Gambrivinus. (Philipstockstraat 19, Bruges) www.bierbrasseriecambrinus.eu

De Jonkman (Sint-Kruis)

Michelin-starred De Jonkman matches an impressive wine list with an equally excellent and varied selection of beers. The beer list won Gault & Millau’s ‘Beer menu of the Year (Belgium)’ in 2020. (Maalse Steenweg 438, Bruges) www.dejonkman.be

Toogoloog (Middelkerke)

A butchery back in the roaring twenties, Toogoloog is now all about beer. It has a warm, welcoming ambiance and around 200 different beers to sample. The food menu includes prawn croquettes, pork belly and a charcuterie platter. (Kerkstraat 7, Middelkerke) www.dentoogoloog.be

Bar Bernard (Poperinge)

Bar Bernard is the storefront for St Bernardus Brewery. The bar & restaurant boasts a roof terrace with three-sixty views over the hopfields, Westhoek and France. It’s no surprise that the brewery’s own beers take pride of place at Bar Bernard. (Trappistenweg 23, Poperinge) www.sintbernardus.be

he brewpub attached to D’Oude Maalderij Brewery has oft been named ‘Belgium’s best brewpub’ by Ratebeer. Relax in this unique atmosphere where you can enjoy home-cooked Belgian food paired with a home-brewed craft beer. (Ardooisestraat 130, Izegem) www.doudemaalderij.com

Den Heksestoel (Heuvelland)

Heksestoel is all about authentic regional food perfectly teamed with local craft beer. Dishes recovered from the mists of time and foaming brews, enjoyed in the timeless surroundings of creaking floorboards, a solid wood bar and traditional décor. (Douanestraat 1, Heuvelland) www.denheksestoel.be

’t Rusteel (Gullegem-Wevelgem)

Botteltje (Ostend)

Chef James loves to use beer in his cuisine. Try his pork cheeks made with Keyte from Strubbe Brewery or a crème brulee with St Bernadus Prior. Botteltje also has its own house beer: Ostensche Strever. (Louisastraat 19, Ostend) www.botteltje.be

’t Rusteel is a restaurant with a mighty beer list, prominently featuring home breweries Gulden Spoor and De Feniks. Many of the dishes on the menu have been enhanced with a splash of beer, and are often are listed with a suitable matching brew. (Heulestraat 168, Gullegem-Wevelgem) www.rusteel.be

’t Nieuw Museum (Bruges)

Bier & Vlees, reads the menu heading. Beer & Meat. The title has been carefully chosen. Try cuts grilled on the wood grill and local farm produce – all paired with a West Flanders beer from the extensive selection on offer. (Hooistraat 42, Bruges) www.nieuw-museum.com

More tasty tips: Meet 170 Lekkere Westen chefs at www.hetlekkerewesten.be

©Toerisme Leiestreek vzw

©Westtoer

©Westtoer

“Men know why” is a thing of the past

Over a fresh blond Houtland Weizen, West Flanders brewers Bart Degrande, Stijn David and Thijs Maenhout tell us about striking out in a new direction and their passion for beer. “Watching someone sitting in the sun, drinking your beer is the best thing in the world”, they all agree.

Bart Degrande welcomes us to his brand-new brewery in Torhout. Everything about it smells new … and of beer. Not long ago, Bart was a professional photographer, but he’s now converted his photography studio into a brewery. “It’s a big investment to make at the age of 55, I know”, laughs Bart. “I didn’t jump into it overnight. But if you have a dream, you shouldn’t just keep dreaming: make it a reality. You know, I always did want to go to beer college.

But my parents didn’t think that was such a good plan. I brought my three children up largely as a single parent, and once the first two had flown the nest, I decided to take the step. The studio mortgage was finally paid off and over the new year I converted it into a brewery. Johan Dhanens, whom I met at a brewing course in Roeselare, joined me and we named our brewery De Houtlandse Brouwers. In 2012, we launched our test brewery and in March 2020, we started brewing full time.” Just like Bart, Thijs Maenhout (42) from Brewery Maenhout in Pittem and Stijn David (47) from Brewery De Poes in Tielt had very different backgrounds before making the switch to the brewing trade. “I trained as a baker and dietician and worked as a civil servant for the government”, says Stijn from De Poes. “I felt stuck in my job and did a course in brewing. Now, instead of spending eight hours a day behind a computer, I’m creating something that makes people happy. It’s hard work, very hard work, but I just love what I’m doing now.”

BIKE SOLD FOR BEER

The brewery’s name is now known throughout the region. But where does that name come from? Meet Watje, the thirteen-year-old member of the David/ Verhelst family, a British shorthair pussy cat – in Dutch, a poes. “She walked through the door, and that was my inspiration.” (laughs) “De Poes was born in 2014. I sold my motorbike to invest in my first beer. It was a case of sink or swim. I was lucky: I didn’t sink. Since 2018, I’ve been brewing full time.” Thijs Maenhout (42) from the Pittem brewery that bears his name still works part-time as a programmer. His wife Birgit is in the brewery full time. “A few years ago, I went through a bit of an identity crisis. In 2009, I started doing what I’d always wanted to do: brew beer. I began in our own kitchen, moved to the garden shed, and then into premises in Meulebeke, and now we have the brewery in Pittem. Birgit also caught the bug and now she knows the world of beer even better than I do myself. I do the brewing, and she does everything else. Our first beer, Koeketiene, is still the one we’ve poured the most pints of. The name refers to the way my wife and I first met: during a game of cards in a youth hostel. Fun fact: koeketine doesn’t just refer to the ten of diamonds in the card game; it’s

also a corruption of the French word concubine. But we only discovered that later on... And by then, Koeketine had become a household name, better known than Brewery Maenhout itself. We’re now hoping to pin our brewery even more firmly on the map with the launch of our Ferre beers, named after missionary Ferdinand Verbiest from Pittem.” Beer is ‘in’ these days. Especially if it’s brewed locally. “Beer is making a comeback. It’s not just for the working class man. We’re finding that consumers are looking for regional options and we’re expecting this trend to keep rising. That old slogan “Mannen weten waarom” – “Men know why” – is no longer part of our culture: it’s totally out of date. Today, women are just as likely to know why they like a good pint!” 

Left → right: Thijs Maenhout from Brewery Maenhout, Stijn David from De Poes and Bart Degrande from the Houtlandse Brouwers.

www.brouwerijdepoes.be www.brouwerijmaenhout.be www.houtlandsebrouwers.be

Luc Vermeersch is a beer artist and an enthusiastic entrepreneur.

“The beers tell our family story”

Business, brewing and art. The story of De Leite Brewery reads like a family chronicle, told with plenty of flair by Luc Vermeersch himself: beer artist and enthusiastic entrepreneur.

TEXT ELISE VANHECKE PHOTO JOKE COUVREU R

Love for craft, creation, and – unsurprisingly – brewing flows in the family’s veins. “The Veermeersch are a creative race”, declares Luc Vermeersch (67), who founded De Leite Brewery in Ruddervoorde from nothing back in 2008. True, the seed had been sowed many years before, when he purchased a small brewing kit and brewed beers for friends and family in his garden shed.

FEMME FATALE

“I’m passionate about brewing beer and I love the processes of the craft, but I can’t call myself one of the world’s beer experts. And the same is true for art. However, artist Rik Vermeersch, son of sculptor José Vermeersch, is my cousin. And back when I was still experimenting in my garden shed, Rik said: If you ever produce your own beer, I’ll make the first label for it!

That’s just what happened. I was going to name my beer after Jef Kloef, a well-known figure around here, but Rik said he couldn’t live with that.” (laughs) “At that time, his work was centred around the female figure, usually in challenging poses. That’s what inspired the final choice of name: Femme Fatale.”

FAMILY

All the beers brewed at De Leite are part of the family. And every one is bestowed an artistic label, designed by one of the Vermeersch family. “Rik has four sons, all artists. Bon Homme was a tribute to my father, and was designed by Tinus Vermeersch. The love between Femme Fatale and Bon Homme gave birth to Enfant Terriple, with a Robin Vermeersch design. Ma Mère Spéciale was made for my mother and the design is by Pieter Vermeersch. The label for Cuvée Soer’ise bears the face of Tinus’ wife Joke. Cuvée Oncle Pol was a surprise for Uncle Pol, whom I have a special bond with. De Leite really is the story of our family. An advertising firm once suggested rethinking the whole line. They promised me 40% more profit if I dispensed with the art on our beer flasks. I politely declined. My respect for the art and love for my family are just too important to me.

ACQUISITION OF PALJAS

Recently, Luc Vermeersch acquired the Bruges beer Paljas. In other words, the ‘De Leite’ family has been extended, although the brands will still keep their own identity and character, complementing each other. “I don’t really have a commercial mindset and profit isn’t what’s important to me. What I want first and foremost is to make people happy, with a good beer and a story that we feel passionate about. Creating, making and sharing: those are what’s important to me.”

Hopspots in the Bruges hinterlands

The green spaces of the Bruges hinterlands have nurtured numerous delightful bars, craft breweries, places to eat, and more.

’t Spaans Tolhuis (Oudenburg)

Ancient toll booth on the Bruges-Ostend canal. Friendly beer garden during renovations (open from April to October). A great place for cyclists, walkers and boaters to take a breather with a fresh local beer. (Vaartdijk-Zuid 12, Oudenburg) www.spaanstolhuis.be

Beers Bulnas Campa (Beernem)

In collaboration with the Vliegende Paard brewers, De Kruiderie has developed two Bulnas Campa beers based on its own herbs, including lemon verbena. Bulnas Campa is a reference to to Bulscampveld. The beer can be bought in De Kruiderie (Bulscampveld 12) or sampled at Urbancafé Lippensgoed (Bulscampveld 10). www.dekruiderie.be, www.urbancafé.be

Siphon Brewing (Damme)

Restaurant Siphon in Damme is famed for its fresh eel in vegetables. But you might not know that it’s also home to Siphon Brewing. Three of the brewery’s cask beers – Blinker, Damme Nation, and Cassandra – are sold in the restaurant, and complement the menu perfectly. (Damse Vaart-Oost 1, Damme) www.siphon.be

De Zevende Hemel (Beernem)

Nostalgic beer bar with extensive beer list and delicious cakes in the centre of Beernem. Enjoy West Flanders beers, watched over by large-as-life statues of saints. (Stationsplein 5, Beernem)

Knotwilg (Oostkerke)

What goes perfectly with a great local beer? A great social atmosphere and a few games! De Knotwilg, a food-and-games café, has you covered with a wide range of folk games. Try out their ‘barbecue and folk games’ deal! (Sint-Kwintensstraat 12, Oostkerke) www.deknotwilgoostkerke.be

Meet the brewer

You’ll find a great selection of regional beers in the Bruges hinterlands. Several days a year, passionate brewers throw open their doors and give the public an opportunity to learn about how their beer came to be. Of course, every visit ends with a tasting session. www.brugseommeland.be/ open-brouwerij-wijngaard

’t Een en ’t ander (Tielt)

A small traditional village shop in Schuiferskapelle has been combined with a friendly bar and terrace, boasting an extensive drinks menu with all kinds of regional ales and beers on tap. There is also a selection of food options. Ideal stop for cyclists! (Schuiferskapelle-Dorp 3, Tielt) www.teenentanderkapelle.be

Rembrandt: regional beer specialist (Zedelgem)

Rembrandt specialises in offering regional beers with food, and with no less than 150 beers on the menu, it deserves its reputation as a traditional Flemish hostelry. You can also try a variety of beer patés, or a selection of farmhouse platters for the hungry. (Torhoutsesteenweg 164, Zedelgem) www.streekbierenkaffeerembrandt.be

Salon-bar Perle d’Ozette (Oedelem)

Head into the heart of the Bruges hinterlands for this tiny homely pub, where you’re surrounded by vintage curios and modern elements woven into a unique homely atmosphere. The pub offers a selection of local beers from the menu and from the cask. Snacks and more substantial options include local meat platters with terrine, white pudding (sausage), black pudding, and more (Oudezakstraat 14, Beernem) www.perledeozette.be

Bar-bistrot Mout (Damme)

A gastro bistro bar in a no-nonsense setting. A unique sharing concept in a microbrewery. Enjoy fine dining with a front-row seat of the experiments and trial brews by De Damse Brouwers. (Jacob van Maerlantstraat 7, Damme) www.moutdamme.be More tips: www.brugseommeland.be

©Westtoer

©Westtoer

Ride through nature with stops at traditional bars

This cycle route starts in Snellegem (Jabbeke) and chains together number of traditional watering holes in the Bruges hinterlands. You’ll cycle along quiet routes surrounded by nature, with views of impressive castles typical of the region. When you get thirsty or peckish, never fear: there are plenty of great places to stop and revitalise.

Our starting point is restaurant ’t Oosthof, a historic farmhouse that can trace its roots back to 941. We can highly recommend the stoofvlees – a Flemish stew – with Ichtegem’s Oud Bruin beer and Wostyn mustard. After passing junction 76, you’ll see Den Heirweg, a cyclists’ café. It’s a great stop if you love Trappist beers as the landlord is an ardent ambassador for Orval.

From junction 63, we’ll ride past a number of famous castles in the Bruges hinterlands: first the enchanting d’Aertrycke Castle; later Wijnendale with its famous woods.

After that, we’ll head into Ichtegem, perhaps pausing at Strubbe Brewery just by junction 73. Seven generations of Strubbes have managed this brewery… so far.

At Ichtegem market, we’ll find De Hert folk café, a must for any cyclist. You can spend hours there studying the cycling curios. Landlord Dirk will be happy to tell you their stories.

From junction 30, our route runs along Groene 62, a green cycleway on the old railway line between Torhout and Ostend. In De Buuzestove (at junction 30), you can taste a Kasseileggers beer.

In Gistel, we’ll see if we have time to stop in at de Oostmolensite (De Molenhoeve) by junction 63 for bite to eat or a drink. If the weather’s nice, the terrace is a great place to sit.

When we reach the Roman Archaeological Museum in Oudenburg, we’ll find the Sint-Arnoldus Visitor Centre on the ground floor (Arnoldus is the patron saint of brewers): a slice of beer heritage.

We make our way back to Snellegem past the Hoge Dijken nature reserve, stopping to order one for the road in traditional estaminet Alain provist, or the Belgian ‘brown pub’ Snelle Duve with its dove theme.

and free parking: Oostmoerstraat, Snellegem

Take

rest along the ‘Groene 62’. (photo: Westtoer) Our starting point is restaurant ‘t Oosthof in Snellegem (photo: Westtoer)

Beer and bites (2)

West Flanders has many bistros and restaurants who love to match the right beer to the right meal, and pride themselves on an extensive beer list.

Goeste (Poperinge)

At the Poperinge market, you can enjoy a threecourse lunch with local delicacies for €18. Goeste’s extensive beer list is entirely filled with beers from Westhoek. You can even try a beer icecream from their in-house ice cream studio. (Grote Markt 28, Poperinge) www.goestepoperinge.be

Beer restaurant Heerlijk (Ostend)

Beer restaurant Heerlijk has over 40 Trappist beers: that’s the biggest selection of Trappist beers in the world. The chef is passionate about experimenting with beer for cooking. Try the seasonal menu, which changes every month. Teamed with a suitable beer, of course. (Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 893, Ostend) www.bierrestaurantheerlijk.be

’t Hellegat (Heuvelland)

The beer list at ’t Hellegat is largely comprised of local beers and beer sommelier Sofie Vanrafelghem had a hand in putting it together. Why not try a local stew, the rondstoofvlees, washed down with a SintBernandus Prior? (Rodebergstraat 39, Heuvelland) www.thellegat.be

Brasserie Surplace (Bruges)

Brasserie SurPlace has cycling in its blood and racing permeates the atmosphere here. Try out Belgian classics chased by regional speciality beers – fresh from the cask, with a thick head of foam. (SintAmandsstraat 24, Bruges) www.brasserie-surplace.be

De Hofnar (Gullegem-Wevelgem)

De Hofnar is more than just a coffee shop. Gabi and beer expert Frank will pick out the perfect beer to soak up your freshly made lunch or homemade dessert. If you’re lucky, you might even arrive in time for a beer tasting session. (Kon. Fabiolastraat 26, Gullegem-Wevelgem) www.hofnargullegem.be

’t Werftje (Zeebruges)

The oldest bar on the Zeebrugge coast was extensively renovated in 2015. Try delicacies from the sea, washed down with a fresh pint. The prawn croquettes here have won numerous awards and are the perfect pairing for a Rodenbach from the cask. (Werfkaai 29, Bruges) www.twerftje.be

Michelle’s Pub & Brasserie (Izegem)

Michelle’s Pub & Brasserie has an impressive row of taps with 29 speciality beers from Kasteel Brewery Vanhonsebrouck, while the varied brasserie menu has a range of delicious options with something to suit every beer. (Ingelmunstersestraat 46, Izegem) www.vanhonsebrouck.be

Brewery ’t Gaverhopke (Waregem)

Wander into the eighteenth century Goed te Nieuwenhove park and you’ll find Brewery ’t Gaverhopke: a great place to try the beer brewed on the same site. The brasserie menu features cuisine with the brewery beers, for example a stew stoofpotje ‘Den Twaalf’ and the ‘Zingende Blondine’ fish bake. (Platanendreef 16, Waregem) www.tgaverhopke.be

More tasty tips: Meet 170 Lekkere Westen chefs at www.hetlekkerewesten.be

©Michael Dehaspe

©Westtoer

©Westtoer

Beerhopping along the coast

From Brewery Sint-Idesbald in Koksijde and Brewery Jus de Mer in Middelkerke, to town brewery ’t Koelschip in Ostend and Brewery B in Blankenberge: we’ll beerhop our way along the coast by tram and on foot, and taste the sea on our lips.

“You can taste the sea in our beer”

The first stop on our ‘beer trail’ is right in the centre of Ostend. ’t Koelschip is the town brewery run by Ive Mostrey and his wife Sandy Major. “We brew just fifty metres from the sea: you really can taste the sea in our beer”, begins Ive. But immediately he corrects himself: “When I say ‘we’, I really mean my wife. Sandy is the brewer here. She’s one of the few female brewers in our country. Now that’s something to be proud of!”, he declares, pouring out a Gie Zie Mien Zèèkapiting Sandy may be the brewer, but it was Ive who planted the seed, back in this same spot in Ostend, when he started trading small beers wholesale. The wholesale business was succeeded by a beer shop with 900 different types of beer from national breweries. “Sandy started to brew when the company she was working for went bust – and she’s never looked back. Brewing is more than a job for her; it’s a passion.” Nowadays in ’t Koelschip, the pair don’t stop at brewing beer. “We organise workshops titled ‘Handen uit de mouwen en brouwen’ – in English, ‘Roll up your sleeves and get brewing’. In other words, we teach people to brew! We also make our equipment available to other brewers and we’ve trained people here who have subsequently started up their own brewery.”

’t Koelschip is well-known throughout Ostend. “We’ve really put down roots and we don’t have to deliver any further than Ostend. In fact, we are selective about the businesses that we allow to serve our beer. We choose bars and restaurants with a purpose, and small businesses.”

“We are selective about the businesses that we allow to serve our beer”, says Ive Mostrey.

TEXT BIEKE COBBAERT PHOTOS DAVY COGHE

OWN BREWERY ’T KOELSCHIP

Brewery B in Blankenberge is the brainchild of brothers Jan and Pieter De Soete. Jan welcomes us into the brewery, which is installed in a former stove manufacturer’s showroom. The De Soete brothers run a bar in the visitors’ room twice a month:

“Every second and fourth Saturday, we open from 11am to 5pm. It’s not just about drinking a beer. It’s a chance for a social get-together and some games.”

“The B in Brewery B stands for Beer, Brothers and Blankenberge”, adds Jan. He and Pieter are also joint founders of the local beer tasting club, ’t Scarphoutertje. We have been – ahem – beer tasters since we were boys. Following the principle of ‘do what you love’, Pieter and I took a course in beer and brewing and started to brew our own beers.” In June 2016, Brewery B opened its doors. “That’s when we launched our beer Real Love, which we brewed specially for Pieter and Julie’s wedding. We’ve now extended our range to six beers. For 2022, we’re adding Blambik, a spontaneously fermented beer.”

Brewery B is a side job for the brothers. “The whole process is done in-house. We do get help with the bottling from some of our clients at local non-profit Oranje. They do a fantastic job.”

JUS DE MER

“Beer named after marine juice”

The third coastal beer that we’ll try is a fresh Jus de Mer Blond. The fourth is a dark Jus de Mer Dubbel 8. “In fact, those are the two beers that we brew”, says Bart Mortier. He and Alexander Verlinde run the brewery together. “It was our love for beer that brought us together. After nearly three years of experiments in the garage, Jus de Mer Blond finally saw the light of day in autumn 2017. We worked and reworked the recipe until we were both 100% satisfied with the result. We named our beer after ‘marine juice’. As true pioneers, we made the decision to serve it in a wine glass. Nowadays, a lot of places have copied our idea.” Jus de Mer has its home in Le Lion D’Or in Middelkerke, which was a nineteenth century brewery/bottlery. “Launching a beer from a brewery isn’t all that hard. But there aren’t many people who actually start their own brewery. We believed very strongly in what we were doing. And happily, we were right, because Jus de Mer is a success.”

Bart and Alexander did all the work of renovating the building themselves. “It was a mammoth task to restore the original brewery to its former glory. The new brewery is in a new building next door. We rent out a hall in the old brewery for parties and events.”

www.jusdemer.be

“First beer poured at our own wedding”

“We’ve extended our range to six beers”, says Jan De Soete.

“As true pioneers, we made the decision to serve our beer in a wine glass”, says Bart Mortier.

Brewery Sint-Idesbald is in the Ten Bogaerde centre in Koksijde. Jelle Schouppe is a wine sommelier in Mondieu, the gastro restaurant located on the site, cheek-by-jowl with the arts centre. Jelle Schoupe and business partner Simon Tackaert, who runs the associated bar, are the men who hold the reins in the home brewery. “SintIdesbald is an existing Abbey beer from Brewery Huyghe in Melle, better known for the beer Delirium. The beer’s full name is Sint-Idesbald Réserve Ten Duinen, a reference to Abbey Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Ten Duinen in Koksijde – and to Saint Idesbald. He was the third abbot of the Duinen Abbey.” The Koksijde community wanted to bring the Sint-Idesbald beer back to Sint-Idesbald, and so they teamed up with Brewery Huyghe. The microbrewery installed in the old pig sties certainly adds something to the centre. In fact, beer has been brewed in Ten Duinen since as far back as 1600. Now that the beer is back in Sint-Idesbald, the circle is closed.

Brewery Sint-Idesbald opened on 5 October 2020. “It was a false start: a week later, we had to close again for the second Covid lockdown. However, people have now started to find their way to our brewery. We’ve had a good summer. People can try our beers in the bar and on our welcoming brewery terrace: blond, rousse, triple and brown, and our freshly brewed pilsner. The beer comes straight from the brewery through our taps and into the glass, which means it doesn’t come into contact with any CO2 before it hits the glass. You can’t get a better or fresher SintIdesbald anywhere. We’d recommend accompanying it with a plate of artisan prawn croquettes, made by Iain Wittevrongel, chef at Mondieu. And if it’s your lucky day, you might see master brewer Patrick De Waele, the man behind the Delirium Tremens recipe, at work in the brewery.”

“Beer straight from the brewery into the glass”

Jelle Schoupe and Simon Tackaert are the men holding the reins at the home brewery.

Hopspots on the coast

The coast is best known for delicious North Sea fish, but in recent years any number of breweries have sprung up and there are now plenty of places you can get a great beer.

Peerdevisscher beer (Oostduinkerke)

Bière sur Mer (Koksijde)

Swim in a sea of beers at Bière sur Mer. Beer isn’t just poured and drunk here: it’s also used in the cooking. Try the beers along with grandmother’s classics. (Zeedijk 27, Koksijde) www.bieresurmer.be

Beer bar ’t Pannepotje (De Panne)

The atmosphere of days gone by, unique to a coastal town with a rich fishing history, hangs thick in this bar. The menu includes over 65 beers and tasty bar snacks. (Kerkstraat 47, De Panne) www.tpannepotje.be

Coastal Beer Box

If you’d like to sample a few different beers from along the coast, the Coastal Beer Box is perfect for you. Take one home or try a few during your stay on the coast. See www.kustbieren.be for details and sales outlets

Kroeglopen (Ostend)

Ostend has numerous pubs where you can enjoy the local beers. A few tips: try Poppolou beer in ’t Manuscript, definitely don’t miss a ‘Zeegeuze’ in De Zeegeuzen, and immerse yourself in the soul atmosphere at Lafayette. www.manuscriptoostende.be, www.zeegeuzen.be, www.lafayette.be

Head into this traditional fishermen’s tavern for fresh prawns or sole washed down with a Peerdevisscher beer. If the weather is nice, the large terrace is a great place to relax and while away an hour. (Pastoor Schmitzstraat 4, Oost- duinkerke) www.estaminetde-peerdevisscher.com

Poppolou Rocks (Ostend)

Top-flight chocolatier Olivier Willems was awarded the title ‘most innovative praline’ for his Poppolou Rocks in 2017. The chocolate ganache is made by combining the local Poppolou beer with acai berries. You can purchase the gleaming red creations from Olivier Willems, who recently opened a second workshop at Oosteroever. www.olivierwillems.be

Bar Guidon (Nieuwpoort)

Hotel ’t Botteltje (Ostend)

Try ’t Bottletje’s beer cuisine and work your way down the extensive beer list. You can also stay overnight in one of the fifteen brewery-themed rooms: Rodenbach, De Halve Maan, De Brabandere, Strubbe, Leroy, etc. www.botteltje.be

Enjoy a local beer in a unique cycling themed setting. Try a cycle-themed beer: Flandrien, Kwaremont, De Bie Vélo – or opt for a coastal selection such as Jus de Mer or Seaking (seaweed triple). (Brabantstraat 13, Nieuwpoort) www.rijobike.be/barguidon

Stay in d’Oude Brouwerij (De Haan)

This B&B is a manor house built in 1872, located in Klemskerke (De Haan). Until 1971, the site had its own brewery; now, the golden liquid has been replaced by golden slumbers in the barley room, the hops room, and the wheat room. The house library features, naturally, books all about beer. (Dorpsstraat 67, De Haan) www.doudebrouwerij.be

More tasty tips along the coast: www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en

©Westtoer

©Olivier Willems

©James Desimpelaere

Vintage advertising signs in a modern brewery

One of the showpieces is hanging in the entrance hall. As you walk into Brewery St Bernardus in Watou, your eye is immediately caught by a huge vintage enamel sign, on which an enormous St Bernard advertises the delights of Milka chocolate. “There are only three of these signs left in Belgium”, exults Hans Depypere. “Everyone wants one nowadays, so I’m delighted to have my own.”

for me, but it’s developed into a serious hobby, along with art, wine and horses.”

Hans Depypere:

“The vintage advertising signs make a contrast with the modern makeover that we’ve given the brewery over the last few years.”

Alpine chocolate is not really his thing, but Hans Depypere (67), the jovial owner of Brewery St Bernardus does love these vintage enamel signs. “Come in, come in!” He takes us straight down to the basement, where the collectors’ museum is housed. Although it’s still a private collection at present, it will soon be part of a brand-new visitor experience. Advertising signs hang on the walls, and all over the floor are old bartops, posters, vintage money chests and pub games. “I collect everything associated with bars. Beer started off as a job

Hans Depypere is a passionate entrepreneur with a vision. When, almost 25 years ago, he took on the rundown brewery, people called him a fool. But today, St Bernardus is consumed in 85 countries, there’s a St Bernardus café in Tokyo, and every some 50,000 hectolitres of beer flow through the brew kettles year in Watou. Does the CEO still have time to pick things up from the antique markets? “No... my best mate does that now: Dirk, from the gastropub ‘In de Zon’ on Scherpenberg. He’s an antiques dealer and he gives me a call if he spots something. He finds most of the signs at the big antiques markets: Namen, Ciney, Rijsel.” “I started my collection as soon as I stepped into the brewery world. Most of the signs are beer ads. I don’t ever get rid of anything in my collection. I did once sell a piece, but I regretted it immediately. Why am I a collector? Because I love it. And the vintage advertising signs contrast with the modern makeover we’ve given the brewery: I think it’s great.”

COLOURFUL COLLECTION

In search of the facilities in Bar Bernard, you’ll spot the colourful advertising signs hanging on the wall: Anglo Belge, Prisma Pils, Devos,... “It’s a wall of breweries that no longer exist”, says Hans Depypere. “I’m happy to have them here. Look at this really old sign from Brewery Lust in Kortrijk, for example. I’ve even got an original poster for the Rodenbach Festivals in 1909. The town hall in Roeselare has one, Rudi Ghequire at Brewery Rodenbach has one – and I’ve got one.” (laughs)

From liquid heritage to pure rock and roll

Rudi Ghequire, the legendary master brewer at Rodenbach, welcomes Koen van Lancker, the maverick brewer from ’t Verzet. History flows into the bottles at Rodenbach. ’t Verzet’s goal is to create something a bit different; in particular with its Oud Bruin. Deep-rooted expertise meets avant-garde passion – and finds a shared love for Flanders red ale, ‘the finest way to brew’.

Kortrijk and Tielt. “And that’s something we can be proud of”, declares Rudi Ghequire. In the County of Flanders, to the west of De Schelde, we’ve always been a bit cut off.

In the early Middle Ages, hops weren’t known here, so people used acid as a preservative. And that’s the acidic flavour that still characterises our beer today.”

You can taste it as soon as the foam on a perfectly tapped Rodenbach meets your lips: Flanders red ale is unique.

Mildly sour, fruity, deliciously drinkable and remarkably refreshing. But most importantly: it’s local. The red ales are typical to the region around Roeselare,

Flanders red ale is a beer with a long history, and brewing it is a complex art that even the young brewers at ’t Verzet are passionate about. Just like at Rodenbach, they love the flavours of nature and the complexity of the wooden cask. “As a brewer, you try and keep all your parameters under control. But that can be tricky when we’re brewing our Oud Bruin, because when you let your beer mature in the barrel, you’re handing over some of the control to Mother Nature”, says Koen van Lancker. “That’s why it’s so great that people are turning

TEXT ELISE VANHECKE PHOTOS JOKE COUVREUR

back to this type of beer and that these brewers are giving it a new dynamic”, adds Rudi Ghequire. There’s no competition here: we’re all brothers in the brewing world. “Especially when it comes to red ale, it’s important to work together. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, until he loses his eye. ”

SLOWFOOD

“I’m happy that Rudi sees it that way”, says Koen van Lancker. “I’m convinced that we have a huge amount to offer each other. As young brewers, we think it’s important that this beer style is preserved. It’s not an easy technique and our accountants would say it’s the worst idea we could have. You lock up your money in wooden barrels for at least a year – and you have to buy those first! Most of our income comes from our other beers. People aren’t queueing up to buy red ale. It’s not the obvious choice and that’s why I have so much respect for Rudi and Rodenbach.” “Koen is right,” puts in Rudi Ghequire. “It’s something we battle with every day too. Red ale is slow food. It’s a traditional, gentle brewing technique that works with nature. There are acidic flavours in the beer that most of our consumers have just lost the ability to appreciate. Acidity has gained a negative connotation,

but people forget the old adage that ‘ sour is safe’. Acids are natural and protect against spoiling. Vinegar is an ancient preservation technique just like salt! In our brewery, we’re as modern as possible where we can be, and as traditional as possible where we need to be. We try and reflect elements of the past, while ensuring that the beer is acceptable to the modern consumer.”

BREW JUNGLE

Rodenbach is liquid heritage and the brewery celebrated its two-hundredth anniversary not long ago. For the three brewers at ’t Verzet, the beer tale only began ten years ago, in their ‘brew jungle’ in Anzegem. But with their vision, their attitude, their groundbreaking beers and the rock that pounds through the speakers: ‘t Verzet wants to shake the world of beer awake. “We are first-generation brewers and that gives us more freedom than someone like Rudi. We start on Oak Leaf, our beer based on Oud Bruin, in the autumn, collecting oak leaves. The beer then matures for six months among the leaves. We also plant our own grapevines and are picky about which fruits we use. The playfulness and freedom is important to us.”

“As young brewers, we think it’s important that this beer style is preserved”

KOEN VAN LANCKER

Koen van Lancker from ’t Verzet and Rudi Ghequire, master brewer at Rodenbach: two generations with a shared passion for beer.

Rudi Ghequire comments: “’t Verzet doesn’t have an established market segment to defend and so these young brewers have freedom to play. I have a heritage to uphold with Rodenbach and that means ensuring that we can stay on track even during these challenging times. But I do have immense admiration for these young brewers. They think about their own identity; I value that. And with their modern image they perhaps address a new, younger public.”

OUD BRUIN FESTIVAL

A Verzet initiative like the Oud Bruin festival is sure to inspire young and old to discover (or re-discover) Flanders red ale. The two-day beer festival focuses on Flanders red ale and Oud Bruin. “We let people try for themselves, and one of the highlights is getting a variety of breweries together to make a one-off, unique Oud Bruin Megablend. It goes without saying that Rodenbach will be there. Indeed, Rudi Ghequire will be giving a masterclass at the festival. He’s at the top of the tree when it comes to red ale and it’s important that the story and history of this beer gets told.” And then it’s almost time to crack open a Rodenbach and take a look into the world-famous foeder room in the brewery’s ancient brewhouse. As we go, I ask the brewers – both locals to the tips

of their toes – for suggestions in the Lys Valley. Can they recommend a bar where I can get a red ale on tap or somewhere with good local beers that might be a bit different from the usual? Koen van Lancker tells me, “I’ve got young children and on Sundays we like to go to Achiel en Hector, a children’s farm park in Tiegem. The kids can play to their hearts’ content and they love the local products. The local beers come from breweries in Anzegem, for example. For Rudi Ghequire, Romen is one of the best bars in Roeselare. “I recently saw a photo from 1950, and the interior has barely changed at all. It used to be an enclosure: behind the terrace, you can still see where the stables were. We published a book to celebrate 200 years of Rodenbach, and we list lots of places where you can drink a Rodenbach from the cask.” The young brewer from ‘t Verzet immediately demands where he can get a copy. “I’ll give you one!”, says Ghequire, and signs it. “Santé op de toekomst!”, scribbles the Roeselare master brewer on the front page. “To the future!”  www.oudbruinfest.com, www.rodenbach.be, www.brouwerijtverzet.be

FLANDERS RED ALE

A typical beer for the region around Roeselare, Kortrijk and Tielt, a Flanders red has a reddish colour in the glass, an acidic flavour, and is superbly thirstquenching. Just like a fine wine, this beer spends a long time maturing in oak casks orfoeders. The brewer mixes young beer with mature beer, so that every single Flanders red ale is a unique blend. Since the brewer has to stand back and give Mother Nature time to do her work, the technique certainly demands patience.

“These young brewers think about their own identity; I value that”

RUDI GHEQUIRE

Hopspots in the Lys Valley

Beer and the Lys Valley go hand in hand. You can try a beer from one (or more) of the many breweries at a variety of traditional or trendy hop-spots.

Bar Noorman (Anzegem)

Parched with thirst? Stomach growling? Bar Noorman has you covered. The landlord pours a foaming mixture of water, malt, hop and yeast into the drinking horns, just like in Viking times. (Wortegemsesteen- weg 54, Anzegem) www.barnoorman.com

Bierhuis De Mythe (Wevelgem)

Casa Verdi (Kortrijk)

Beer experts Carine and Jan settled down in buzzing, creative Kortrijk and opened the stylish Casa Verdi. The historic neighbourhood bar has had a complete makeover, and Carine and Jan now serve up their selection of craft beers in a warm, trendy interior. (Loofstraat 16, Kortrijk) www.casaverdi.be

Gainsbar (Kortrijk)

Alight on a sunny terrace in the Vlasmarkt, and sit back with one of the delicious local beers. A DJ from West Flanders will pop on a record and the barman will fetch up an array of board games. (Vlasmarkt 1, Kortrijk)

Hert & Ziel (Moen-Zwevegem)

Ideal stop for cyclists in picturesque Moen. The Hert & Ziel café is the perfect place for a pause to feed body and soul. Recharge your batteries with a choice of around seventy regional beers and a selection of tasty lunch options. Beer lovers will adore the sandwiches with pâté made with OMER or Tripel Le Fort. (Ter Moude 9, Moen-Zwevegem)

deDingen (Kortrijk)

During the day, you’ll be welcomed for breakfast, brunch or lunch. In the evening, deDingen transforms into an atmospheric beer bar. The beer comes literally from their own backyard: you can walk straight out of deDingen and into Kortrijk’s only town brewery, Brewery Ruimtegist. (Budastraat 12, Kortrijk) www.dedingen.be

You can’t beat a crowded tapas board and a tasty Belgian beer. Especially not if you’re sitting on this sunny terrace, looking out at the Wevelgem church tower. You’ll also get a very special view from the indoor seating at this pub: choose one of the old train carriages, each one with its own décor. (Grote Markt 16, Wevelgem)

‘t Labierint (Waregem)

The best of both worlds? At ’t Labierint, it’s the best of three worlds! Choose from some fifty speciality beers and a wide variety of Trappist beers at the bar. Soak them up with a homemade hamburger, crisp salad or hearty pasta dish. All while enjoying the fantastic ambiance! (Markt 22, Waregem)

Oude Sint-Pieter (Izegem)

A traditional pub that will instantly catapult you into times gone by. In this charming setting, browse through a menu of around 85 regional beers – Soak up the beer with a platter of bubbelknabbels from the snack menu, or enjoy the legendary Sint-Pieter spaghetti. If the sun’s shining, the enchanting courtyard is a lovely place to relax. (Sint-Pietersstraat 18, Izegem) www.oudesintpieter.be

’t Kruiske (Deerlijk)

A gastro, beer & whisky pub with a choice of a mindboggling 170 beers, many straight from the barrel. The food menu is packed with Flemish classics such as pork cheeks in LeFort brown. (Wafelstraat 1, Deerlijk) https://eet-en-bierkroeg-t-kruiske.business.site

More beer tips in the Lys Valley: www.toerisme-leiestreek.be/en/beer

©Toerisme Leiestreek vzw

©Toerisme Leiestreek vzw

BREWERIES IN THE LYS VALLEY THROW OPEN THEIR DOORS

Visit the Lys Valley Brewery Days

For the autumn calendar, Toerisme Leiestreek organises the Lys Valley Brewery Days, with 21 participating breweries. Each weekend between 14 October and 27 November will see selected breweries throw open their doors to visitors, along with special beer events. No need to panic about choices: there’s time to visit them all!

Each weekend between 14 October and 27 November, you have the opportunity to meet a selection of brewers from the Lys Valley. Learn all about their creative brews in the course of brewery visits, tastings, tours, workshops and more at the Lys Valley Brewery Days. Visit www.toerisme-leiestreeke.be/ brouwerijdagen to see the full schedule and plan out your visits. Will you pick out your favourite breweries? Or will you be tempted to a fun experience at a brewery you hadn’t heard of before? Perhaps both? In the Lys Valley, it’s up to you. Here are a few highlights:

Beer & Food workshop with a tour of Brewery Rodenbach: Try out two ‘abeeritifs’, a visit to the cellars, and autumn bites. Packed with delicious explanations.

Beer & Music at Klondiker Brewery: Brewer Dirk will guide you around the brewery and you can try the beers while enjoying snatches of live music.

Story trail “From Castle Verhaeghe to Brewery Verhaeghe”: Storyteller Pol Ostyn will be your guide. After the walk, you’ll get a tour of the brewery’s cask room and a chance to try four different beers.

Brewery tour, tasting and Perfect Serve OMER. session at Brewery Omer Vander Ghinste: Learn to pull a perfect pint, with tips for getting that glass of OMER. just right. 

Visit www.toerisme-leiestreek.be/brouwerijdagen for full details. Some of the events have compulsory registration and limited places, so don’t wait too long! Plan a packed beer weekend with beer bars, a beer cycle tour or hike, and more!

Take a look at our custom beer trips at www.toerisme-leiestreek/en/beer

Brewery Rodenbach in Roeselare offers visits. (photo: AF-Fotografie)

Sample the beers while enjoying the music at Klondiker. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek vzw)

Try a beer from De Circus Brewery

Boats, breweries and bars: bike the Lys Valley canal trail

Waregem station is the start point for a fantastic beer & bike trail through the southwest of the Lys Valley. Pause en route at local breweries and stop to chat with the local bar managers.

Between junctions 72 and 94, we’ll pause at Brewery/ Brasserie ’t Gaverhopke. This is a historic farmhouse with a beautiful terrace where you can try the homemade beers and enjoy the brasserie cuisine.

We’ll then ride towards Deerlijk. Between junctions 94 and 14, we might make a small detour to visit gastro pub ’t Kruiske with its selection of some 170 beers. Next, we’ll find the Flanders red ale Duchesse de Bourgogne, brewed at Brewery Verhaeghe (Vichte)

The brewery is located close to junction 14. At Vichteplaats, we can pop into the traditional pub Den Hert to sample a selection of Verhaeghe beers.

Between junctions 13 and 31, we’ll be delighting in the dreamy landscape as we ride along the BossuitKortrijk canal.

Our route now takes us towards Zwevegem. Between junctions 31 and 95, we’ll find the young acrobats from De Circus Brewery behind their brew kettles.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays you can try their beers in their tasting room. We carry on through Ingooigem, the village where Stijn Streuvels lived. In d’Halve Maan (between junctions 25 and 20) why not stop for a pick-me-up with their suggestion of the week, or cake of the day in the afternoon. Their menu also boasts a fine selection of West Flanders beers.

Around junction 8, we’ll cycle past the delightful Sint-Arnolduspark , also known as the woods of Tiegembos. Our route takes us over bridges, by ponds and fountains. If you fancy something local for lunch, try the practical picnic basket. You’ll need to book it in advance from www.picknickkast.be. We cycle through Anzegem and towards Waregem. A small detour at junction 6 brings us to Brewery ’t Verzet and its maverick young brewers. We’re getting close to the end of the ride now, but there’s time for a stop at ’t Labierint (between junctions 21 and 47) to try their huge selection of speciality and Trappist beers, perhaps paired with a homemade hamburger.

The

at Brewery/Brasserie ’t Gaverhopke. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek

Meet beer buffs and master brewers on

tour

Following this beery cycle trail in the Lys Valley, you’ll meet enthusiastic master brewers, beer geeks and beer lovers from Roeselare, Meulebeke, Ingelmunster and Izegem. The route starts at Roeselare station.

As we reach junction 22, we’ll find Brewery Rodenbach

You can book in advance for a brewery tour and view the imposing foeder room with its 294 oak barrels. After the tour, try one (or more) of Rodenbach’s fresh beers.

From Roeselare, we’ll carry on towards Meulebeke, past the young Rhodesgoed woodland, which shelters a brasserie.

In Meulebeke, you’ll find home brewery Klondiker. Visit the tasting room on Saturday after 5pm or Sunday after 3pm to try out the brews in the cosy atmosphere.

We’ll take the new bridge over the Roeselare-Lys Canal to reach De Fagot, a traditional music pub (near junction 68).

We’ll then ride on towards Izegem, passing the impressive Bierkasteel Vanhonsebrouck at junction 83. Individual brewery tours are on offer three times a day, Tuesday to Saturday, and include a tasting session and a 75cl gift bottle of speciality beer. Michelle’s Pub & Brasserie has some fantastic beer cuisine options and speciality beers. Refreshed, we’ll keep going to junction 12, where we’ll make a small detour to call in at Brewery D’Oude Maalderij and The Mash Café. The Mash – beer meets nostalgia – has repeatedly been designated best brewpub in Belgium.

As we ride through Izegem and between junctions 20 and 21, we’ll spot Oude Sint-Pieter. This traditional Belgian pub & café will catapult you back into days of yore as you sample from a selection of 85 local beers. We’ll continue through the Wallemote-Wolvenhof park back to Roeselare – but with one more brewery to pass: BOMBrewery between junctions 95 and 40. On Fridays and Saturdays you can try their Triporteur beer.

Trying Triporteur beers in the BOMBrewery. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek vzw)

Café The Mash at Brewery D’Oude Maalderij. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek vzw)

BELGIAN HOPS LABEL

Breweries are increasingly strengthening their regional links and are happy to be able to add a Belgian Hops label to their bottles. The logo (owned by non-profit HOP), confirms that the brewery has made a conscious choice for Belgian-grown hops and quality. Belhop has the colourful label displayed prominently on its shed front. “I think it’s important to take pride in your product. If you’re a hop farmer, you can proudly declare: my hops are here, in this bottle.”

Hopfields flourish in Poperinge!

It’s the calm before the storm when Bart Boeraeve shows us around Belhop, the hop business he runs with his wife Annebel. A peaceful pause before September, when the hop cones blow through the air in clumps. Then it’s all hands on deck, and the scent of hops wafts right through Poperinge.

is a key factor – and our good soil, of course. We still have 18 hop producers in Poperinge, who farm 160 hectares of hop between them. What we grow is top quality and there are still a lot of traditional varieties cultivated here.” That’s why Bart Boeraeve believes in keeping things local, and he welcomes brewers as well as tourists to his business. “It was the first thing I changed when I took over from my father. I wanted to sell directly to Belgian brewers. I’m proud of my product and I want people to see that.”

Bart Boeraeve (42), is a father of two and is himself the son of a hop farmer. It was only a few years ago, when his father gradually moved towards retirement, that he first started feeling the itch to join the family tradition as the fifth generation of hop farmers. “My father and grandfather were true professionals and established a strong foundation, but I’m no typical farmer myself”, he laughs. “The hop and beer sector is dynamic. It’s hip. I’m not just a farmer: Annebel and I want to tell our story, the story of our product, from here in Poperinge.”

HOP FROM HERE

What is it that makes Poperinge hops so unique? Why is the name known as far away as America? “Authenticity

PICKING IN POPERINGE

Bart gives us a quick glimpse of the hop vines laden with light-green hops, almost ripe for picking. In just a couple of weeks, the vines will be cut and taken to the gigantic machine in the shed, which will strip off the leaves and branches and sort the hops. That’s where the lupulin is contained: the yellow substance that gives beer its aroma and flavour and also acts as a preservative. But that’s not just yet. We still have time for a beer. “We developed Saison Lokaal ourselves. It’s a very smallscale production, but uses 100% our own hops... of course! It’s our house beer. Want to try one?”

Bart Boeraeve with wife Annebel and their two children: “I want to tell the story of our product.”

White wine?

No... pour out a Poperinge beer!

The hop landscape is bathed in sun, we’re feeling fit as fiddles

– and we’re thirsty. It’s the perfect moment for a day of cycling around breweries, hop businesses and typical beer bars in the Poperinge area. We wonder if the Hoppy Beer Ladies would like to act as guides? The ladies don’t have to be asked twice!

BY ELISE VANHECKE FOTO’S JOKE COUVREUR

We agree to meet in the Hopmuseum in Poperinge . ‘We’ is photographer Joke, myself and five of the six committee members from the Hoppy Beer Ladies , a ladies-only beer club. “No, we’re not a drinking club ”, Caroline Bequoye, one

of the founders, assures us. “We’re connoisseurs.”

“We look, sniff, and taste.” The Hopmuseum is their usual haunt, so it’s no surprise that they chose it for the start of our route. In this centre for hops and beer, you can read all about the history of hops and how they are processed into beer. But what the Beer Ladies are keen to show us is the Beer Wall, with over 2,500 types of beer on display. That certainly sets the tone! It’s time to hop in the saddle... Oh well – perhaps we have time for a quick taster. Shirley D’hooghe unlocks the doors at ‘her’ pub, Plukker Pub. It’s not quite 10am yet, but the Keikoppen beer is always kept cold here. “It is quite early, we’re not used to this”, laughs Griet D’hooghe. Plukker Pub is the brewpub linked to De

BEER AND BIKES WITH THE HOPPY BEER LADIES

Plukker, a brewery founded by organic hop farmer Joris, in partnership with brewer Kris – Shirley’s husband. We settle on the terrace, looking over at the Hopmuseum. “I got into beer through Kris”, confides Shirley. “I never used to drink beer, but now I’m a total convert. The scent of the hop – there’s just nothing like it.”

Every year during the hop-picking, De Plukker brews its Single Green with hops fresh from the field. “On brewing day, Kris is there brewing and Joris is out picking. The damp hops go straight into the brew kettle. You can’t get it fresher!” Now it really is time to set off. We follow the route from Poperinge to Vleteren, the junctions having been hastily noted down on a beer mat.

A PINT AND A PICON

We ride towards the woods of Helleketelbos and I marvel at the landscape glowing with green hop vines. Westhoek at its best! When we spot the Helleketel on the horizon, that’s just the cherry on the cake. Or perhaps we should say: the foaming head on a perfectly poured local beer. This traditional bar (founded in 1895) is a great spot for cyclists and hikers to relax and refuel. The seats on the terrace, in front of the white façade with its blue shutters,

are the perfect place for sampling a Poperinge beer, or a Picon – the house speciality, which comes as no surprise when we consider how close we are to the French border. Lena creates the atmosphere and a boerestutte, or farmhouse platter, would surely stave off any hunger pangs... if only we had time. We drain our glasses and spring back onto our mounts, noses turned towards Brewery Sint-Bernardus, where the new wing built in 2018 boasting three-sixty panoramic views from the ‘Bar Bernard’ rooftop bar is a magnet for visitors.

LIFT TO BEER HEAVEN

“This is my happy place!”, declares Caroline. Alongside her job at Toerisme Poperinge, she started giving guided tours of the brewery a few years ago, and loves it. Anouska likewise knows Sint-Bernardus like the back of her hand. The ladies are clearly experts and in fact they both took the same brewing course. Guided tours are currently on hold until the brand-new visitor centre opens in 2023. So instead we take the lift straight to beer heaven: Bar Bernard, where a fresh St Bernardus Triple is waiting for us, and where we can stretch out our legs a moment on the glorious terrace. Looking over the green hopfields, of course!

“We’ve already got 24 members –enough to fill a beer crate!”

HOPPY BEER LADIES

Hilde Rabaey

Anouska Goossens

Shirley D’hooghe

Griet D’hooghe

Caroline Bequoye

and Kristel Logie (not pictured)

‘

STRONG WOMEN AND TASTY BEER

“We all live in Poperinge, the metropolis of hops and beer”, explain the Hoppy Beer Ladies.

“Since the Poperinge beer club wanted to stay men-only, we decided to just set up our own. We love beer and we’re happy to pay tribute to women. For example, we recently held an evening with the theme ‘beer brewed by women and beer named after women.’ Our own little beer festival... and who knows what might come of it next!”

“And now we’ll set a good pace for the next few kilometres”, declares Caroline. We follow her around the bends, up hill and down dale, until eventually we spot the church towers of Proven in the distance: our next destination! Finding hop producers ‘t Hoppecruyt tucked away opposite the churchyard is a surprise. The village square is in front of the farmhouse. If you walk through it, past the drying kiln, you come out in over 10 ha of hopfields. “The first hops were grown here in 1893”, Benedikte tells us proudly. And it looks as though the story is set to continue for many years yet, since her “son Roel must be the youngest hop farmer in the area.”

These are generations of passionate farmers, who have kept updating their production, and have made a conscious decision to farm organically. We see Zwartbles sheep ambling among the vines, making a gourmet meal of the weeds and hop leaves. But didn’t we mention that it’s a thirsty sort of day? We make our way to the guest table in the colourful garden, where Benedikte promptly appears and pours us glasses of Cristal Extra – and of course new pilsner with a fresh splash of lemon and hops from Proven. Our legs are starting to feel weary, and so we take it easy as we ride to our last stop:

In de Vrede ’, the only bar in the world where the famous Westvleteren Trappist beer may be served.

It’s the best beer in the world, and connoisseurs find their way here from all over the globe. The terrace here is always busy. “It’s too crowded to be our favourite stop really, but you should at least have been here”, say the Hoppy Beer Ladies. There are no tours of the brewery or Sint-Sixtus Abbey, but there is a footpath starting from the bar and a small woodland with a pilgrimage shrine is within walking distance. We feel our legs have done enough today, and we settle down on the terrace.

What a lovely day, and what a friendly bunch the Hoppy Beer Ladies are. I wonder if they have set themselves goals? “We started up six months ago and we’ve already got 24 members – enough to fill a beer crate!” announces Hilde Rabaey as she sips at her Trappist beer. “Our goal now is to put together a great programme for our members with a fun activity every other month. This beer bike ride can certainly be repeated! Shall we have one more for the road?”

Hopspots in Westhoek

Hopfields, breweries, traditional bars, folk games, restaurants with long beer lists... Westhoek has plenty to offer anyone keen on beer.

In Den Grooten Moriaen (Wervik)

Try a Bleeken or Brynen Moriaen at the bar or on the terrace of retro hostelry In den Grooten Moriaen, chased by a chunk of smooth Moriaenpaté. (Koestraat 63/A, Wervik) www.indengrooten moriaen.be

De Keukenbrouwerij (Loker)

Are you interested in brewing your own beer? Would you like to learn more about how it’s done? You’ve come to the right place at De Keuken Brewery. Beer brewing workshops are held regularly. Groups of up to 12 people. (Dikkebusstraat 167, Loker) www.dekeukenbrouwerij.be

On tour with... (Westhoek)

Experience the local colour for yourself on a unique circular tour: ‘Brew your own beer in ’t Hopmuseum and take it with you to French Flanders’ (Westhoek Découverte) or ‘Brewery Tour’ (Rondje Westhoek). www.westhoekdecouverte.be www.rondjewesthoek.be

Kaffee Bazaar (Ypres)

Friendly bar with a great ambiance, lots of knickknacks, a garden terrace and a huge selection of over 250 Belgian and international beers. Ratebeer has repeatedly named it one of the best beer bars in Belgium. (Boomgaardstraat 9, Ypres) www.kaffeebazaar.be

Gerst in je glas – De Moare (Dranouter)

In De Moare, on the south side of the Kemmelberg, you’re in the right place for a playful, educational ‘Barley in your glass’ demo. Marvel at the journey of a barley grain from the field to your glass, including two drinks and two food options. From 8 people. (Lettingstraat 60, Dranouter) www.demoare.be

Bierhuis Basseville (Wulvergem)

Bierhuis Basseville is an atmospheric traditional bar with a vast collection of enamel signs and a 1966 jukebox 1966. You can choose from some 400 local beers, including three brewed by the landlord himself: Wulvergemse Triple, Platte Tuub and T’Amtenaarke. Basseville, Dorpsstraat 2, Wulvergem

Brouwershuys (Diksmuide)

The better beer bar in Diksmuide with cooled beer tanks on the ceiling and around 100 local beers on the list. Sip a Papegaei or a Dulle Teve and enjoy the views over the Grote Markt from the covered terrace. (Grote Markt 19, Diksmuide) www.brouwershuys.com

Hopmuseum and the Plukker Pub (Poperinge)

Here you can marvel at the collection of over 2,500 Belgian beers, presented in a cabinet running all along the wall and digitised in the ‘Beer Table’. If that makes you feel thirsty, you can sample the Poperinge beers in the Plukker Pub. (Gasthuisstraat 71, Poperinge) www.hopmuseum.be et www.plukker.be

In de Vrede (Vleteren)

Heavenly delights in the shadow of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey. In de Vrede is the only place you can sample the Trappist beer Westvleteren, which has repeatedly been awarded the title of best beer in the world. You can also enjoy a sandwich with Abbey pâté or cheese, or the Poperinge Mazarin torte. (Donkerstraat 13, Vleteren) www.indevrede.be

Øl bar à bière (Ypres)

Øl is a new bar in central Ypres, nestled beneath the Menin Gate. New it may be be, but the bar has traditional ambiance and serves beer from the tank, guaranteeing a great flavour sensation. There are 46 beers on tap. (Menenstraat 41, Ypres) www.tankbier.be

More beer tips in Westhoek: www.toerismewesthoek.be/bierbeleving

©Westtoer

©Westtoer

©Westtoer

Cycle trail with nostalgic pubs and breweries new and old

This cycle route in Westhoek starts at the Grote Markt in Diksmuide, takes you to Lo and then on to Alveringem. There are a number of old-fashioned pubs en route where you can rest your legs and sample the local ales.

In fact, before you even set off, fill your tank in the Grote Markt in Diksmuide – the options include De Mane, Brouwershyus, De Vrede and tasting brewery Nachtraaf where you can try their eponymous beer.

Your next stop is by junction 58: De Knokkebrug on IJzerdijk 1 is a weekend bar with a great ambiance, located just where the Ieperlee meets the IJzer. Ride on along Vladslo towards Esen, and between junctions 58 and 18 you’ll pass De Dolle Brouwers brewery, known in particular for its Oerbier. On Sundays at 3pm, a guided tour is on offer. The Oerbar is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 7pm. After your Oerbier, hop back on your bike and carry on towards Lo. Between junctions 22 and 30, you’ll spot De Engel,

a friendly bar with a terrace where you can enjoy a local beer or a homemade Picon. As you head towards Alveringem, you’ll pass junction 44 and Mout- & Brouwhuis De Snoek , a nineteenth century brewery and malthouse. You can try a Snoek beer in the inn. Ride on through the charming village of Lampernisse (junction 46) and from the terrace of Tavern Zannekin, you’ll see the uniquely peaceful lowland countryside extending to the horizon.

Perhaps your stomach is starting to growl by now, but you’re just in time for Restaurant Lettenburg (between junctions 53 and 3), where chef Jürgen has a tasty selection of fish dishes. The kids will love the recently renovated play area.

Or you could carry on a little way and sample the local cuisine washed down by Diksmuide beer at Water en Vuur, by junction 69. This restaurant is located on the very top floor of former animal feed factory ‘De Polders’. As you make your way back to the Grote Markt along de Grote Dijk, pause by junction 69 to nip into the Papegaeishop linked to Brewery Verstraete, and try a Papegaei, the 8% artisan blond beer.

Try a Papegaei at Brewery Verstraete. (photo: Westtoer) Visit Brewery De Dolle Brewers, known for its Oerbier (photo:

Cycle from the Hopmuseum to Ypres’ hippest hop-spots

This route in Westhoek starts from the Hopmuseum in Poperinge – by far the best starting point for immersing yourself in Westhoek’s beer landscape. You’ll ride past the Sint-Sixtus Abbey and on to Ypres. It may be famed for its connection with cats, but Ypres also has plenty to offer when it comes to beer.

Before we start, take a moment to pop into the Hopmuseum. Check out the Belgian beer collection and use the digital Beer Table to learn about the beers. Next, we’ll ride towards Vleteren, stopping off in the friendly folk bar De Legen Doorn between junctions 46 and 42 for a game of boltra, toptafel, or … what’s your favourite? The route takes us on through the hopfields. Just by junction 67, we pass Humulus, a hop producer, and then at junction 98 we reach the Sint-Sixtus Abbey. This is where the heavenly Westvleteren Trappist beer is brewed, and you can sample it at In de Vrede. Our route takes us on via Brewery Deca (between junctions 80 and 74). Recently renovated, this brewery has been operating for over a century. You can visit the new taproom

‘Deca Bar’ on Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm to try a beer in the atmospheric surroundings of the oak casks. Brewery tours can be arranged if you book in advance. Next, we’ll ride towards Boezinge, where Leroy Breweries has its home. Leroy has been around for over four centuries and offers a selection of great quality beers. We’re now coming into Ypres, which boasts numerous bars and pubs. Kaffee Bazaar (Boomgaardstraat 9) has repeatedly been declared one of Belgium’s best beer bars by Ratebeer. In Sint-Arnoldus (Menenstraat 19), you’ll find 25 cask ales and a selection of delicious tasting platters. Øl beer bar (Menenstraat 43) serves all its beer on tap for that perfect flavour sensation. Other recommendations include the traditional ‘brown’ pub 12 Apostels (D’Hondtstraat 19), or Biking Bar (Menenstraat 15). Brewery Kazematten (close to junction 93) is another great stop. The brewery is built in the historic fortifications and is open to visitors from Thursday to Saturday (tasting inclusive). You can enjoy delicious local cuisine in the De Kazematten brasserie. From Ypres, it’s back to Poperinge where there are plenty of fantastic places to wind up your day with a thirst-quencher and tasty local cusine.

Hopmuseum, Gasthuisstraat

Poperinge

Oud Postje is in Oostvleteren. (photo: Westtoer) Sint-Arnold bar in Ypres has 25 cask ales. (photo: Westtoer)

All the West Flanders breweries

West Flanders has over sixty breweries. We’ve put together details of them all below.

Many of these breweries are also open for tours.

: Individual tours offered : Group tours offered

Adriaensen

Ieperlink craft beer is brewed in this brewery in Ypres, known locally as the ‘Cat’ town. The unique beer can be sampled at various places in the town. Bargiestraat 1a, Ypres www.facebook.com/ BrouwerijAdriaensen

Alvinne

Do you like to just go wild from time to time? Get ready for a hoppy adventure with Glenn, Marc and Ricardo. Their brewing hall bubbles with all-natural products, including their own homemade yeast. The trio will pour out around thirty remarkable beers for you, aged in steel tanks, wooden vats and barrels. Their world-class sour beers can be found all over the globe in the finest establishments. Events are frequently held in the Proefloft on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm. Check out the website. Vaartstraat 4a, Moen (Zwevegem) www.alvinne.be

Bère Brouwers

The Ostend Bère Brewers are Robin and Ruben, a pair of bearded men with a shared love of beer. Their beers include Grizzly, Weissbär, Koerskater and Arvid. Stenedorpstraat 81, Ostend www.berebrouwers.be

Bierkasteel Vanhonsebrouck

A modern castle where tradition and innovation are perfectly interwoven might sound like a fairy tale, but it’s real: welcome to Bierkasteel Vanhonsebrouck, the birthplace of Filou and Kasteelbier. From Tuesday to Saturday (10.30am, 2.30pm, 16.30pm), you can come and enjoy a glimpse behind the

Bijen Brewery

This microbrewery is located in Snaaskerke, near Gistel. What’s in a name? Bijen are bees, and Steven is a beekeeper as well as a brewer: his own bees contribute their honey to the brewing process at Bijen, replacing the more usual sugar. The Bijen beer is called Bees. Haverstraat 8, Snaaskerke (Gistel) www.bijen-brouwerij.be

sampling a Bourgogne des Flandres in the ‘Ale House’, with unique views over the Bruges canals. Kartuizerinnenstraat 6, Brugge www.bourgognedesflandres.be

scenes of one of Europe’s most up-to-date family breweries. The tour starts from the Bierboetiek – and you can always finish up in Michelle’s Pub & Brasserie. Brewery tours can be offered for individuals and small groups from Tuesday to Saturday, subject to booking. Groups of 20 people or more by arrangement. Michelle’s Pub & Brasserie serves all through the opening hours.

Brouwerijstraat 1, Izegem www.vanhonsebrouck.be

Bourgogne des Flandres

After a 65-year break, Bourgogne des Flandres is back home in the centre of Bruges, with its own brewery. Take the tour and breathe in the scent of malt and fresh hops in the loft. You will even watch the beer being brewed before your eyes! You can learn for yourself all about hops and the brew process during the tour – but you can also learn to pull a pint online, or head home with your photo on a bottle! And, of course, you’ll finish up by

Brew Society

The Brew Society is a brewers’ association for beer businesses. With their brand-new equipment, Björn and Nicolas provide a brewing and bottling service for craft breweries, cider-makers and other drinks enterprises.

Their own tasty brews are the Martha and Zeven Zonden beers. Each beer has its own character and specific target group. Every Brew Society beer has a story. And every story has its place in the sustainable structure that Björn and Nicolas believe in so strongly.

Kortrijksestraat 103A, Heule (Kortrijk) www.thebrewsociety. be

Brewery B Brewery B stands for Brothers with a passion, Beer with respect for quality and Blankenberge, a town with its own unique character.

Pieter and Jan brewed their first beer, Real Love, as an aperitief to be served at Pieter’s wedding: “Beer made with love, for love, with love for our local area.”

The brothers dreamed – and got to work on their own brewery in Blankenberge. Combine a

Bourgogne des Flandres (photo Visit Bruges)

brewery tour with tasty North Sea delicacies, washed down by Brewery B beers. The brothers come from a family of fishermen and love to pair their beer with North Sea fish. You can view the available selections on their website.

Gildestraat 1, Blankenberge www.brouwerijb.com

Benoit Brewery Christophe Benoit, beer aficionado and microbrewery instructor, adores a challenge. In his nanobrewery in Kortrijk, he experiments with novel beer styles and eccentric ingredients, staying well away from traditional triple pale ales or darker doubles. Instead, Christophe’s beer menu is filled with well-balanced, topquality beers with their own je ne sais quoi, delighting in names like Smokey Triple, Gold Double, Russian Imperial Stout and Belgian Black Label.

Avondzonweg 2, Kortrijk www.brouwerijbenoit.be

his equipment. It’s a sustainable sharing economy that good old Bacchus would be proud of. Brewery Deca celebrated its hundredth birthday in 2020. You can try the regional beers on Saturday afternoons in the welcoming ‘Deca Bar’ taproom, looking out over the cheerful oak casks. Brewery tours are also on offer, and of course there’s a chance to sample the beers. These include Antiek blond 5%, Antiek blond 8%, Antiek Wit, and Vleteren Alt 8%. Elverdingestraat 6, Woesten (Vleteren) www.decabrouwerij.be

no extracts, artificial flavour enhancers or head retention additives.

Moerkerkebrug 3, Damme www.bryggjabrewery.be

De Bie Vélo, … and a few more!

You can sample the beers in the tasting bar ’t Hoppebietje, open on Sundays. You’ll find it on the towpath along the Lys in Sint-Baafs-Vijve. Vijvestraat 47, Wakken (Dentergem) www.brouwerijdebie.be

Brewery ‘t Bijhuys

Hobby brewer Alain brews his beer in his annex – or Bijhuis – in Zedelgem. Try his golden-blond 8210 beer.

Hamersvelde 3, Zedelgem www.brouwerij-t-bijhuys.be

Brewery Deca

Nicolas Christiaens is the fifth generation to stir the brew kettles in Brewery Deca. He, his wife Katrien and their team brew up wonderful craft beers with hoppy passion in Westhoek. Nicolas also shares his love of beer with guest brewers to whom he hires out

Bryggja Brewery

In 2012, four brewing friends decided to enter their tasty triple beer into the Brouwland Beer Competition. Up against over ninety beers, Bryggja was chosen by a professional jury as the best hobby beer in Belgium. Late in 2014, the friends decided to make the leap and launch their own brewery. Bryggja Brewery uses exclusively Belgian hops and accordingly has the right to use the official logo. They make craft beers with

Circus Brewery

Tim and Bert, at work behind their brew kettles, give the impression of being true acrobats. They conjure crazy ideas and fantastic ingredients into unforgettable drinks. The results might be sweet, sour or bitter – but they’re certain to be worthy of a round of applause. Back in the taproom, the duo will keep you entertained with their Jongleurs, Piccolos, Cascadeurs, and other delicious daredevils… all in a unique décor: the Circus Brewery is located on the site of a former power station, Transfo. The tasting room is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tours can be arranged for groups. Transfostraat 28, Zwevegem www.circusbrouwerij.be

De Brabandere

Nothing but the best will do for Brewery De Brabandere – come and check for yourself. Since as far back as 1894, this family brewery has had a place on beer menus with hoary favourites such as Bavik Super Pils, Kwaremont, Petrus and Wieze Tripel. Find out more about the brewery’s long history during the tour, which starts from the Brouwershuys.

Tasting tip: the Bavik Super Pils was named Belgium’s best pilsner in 2021. Brewery tours are offered for groups of 5 to 50 people on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 5pm. The unique tour introduces you to the secrets of the beers at Brewery De Brabandere. At the end, you can even try blending your own beer! Rijksweg 33, Bavikhove (Harelbeke) www.brouwerijdebrabandere.be

De Bie

It began as a home brewery with just three beers. Today, its fame has spread far and wide, and the Blonde Bie, Hellekapelle,

De Damse Brouwers

This microbrewery in Damme is where top-class beers Damme Blond, Damme d’Or and innovative chocolate beer Damme Noir were dreamed up. You can watch the experiments and trial brewing in progress from a front-row seat while enjoying the culinary delights of Bistrobar Mout. Jacob Van Maerlantstraat 7, Damme www.dammebier.be, www.moutdamme.be

Deca Brewery. (photo Jan D’Hondt)

De Dolle Brewers

Located in the Esen district of Diksmuide, Brewery St Henricus was taken on by three brothers in 1980. In the early days, they used the washtub for the noble art of brewing. De Dolle Brewers was born. It’s a small-scale brewery creating artisan beers including some rare specialities such as Oerbier, Arabier, Boskeun, Dulle Teve, Stille Nacht and Stout. None of their beers are filtered or pasteurised and they all feature secondary fermentation in the bottle. On Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 7pm, you can sample their beers in the Oerbar. Individual or smallgroup tours can be arranged on Sunday afternoons at 3p m. Groups of 30+ can arrange a tour during the week.

Roeselarestraat 12b, Esen (Diksmuide) www.dedollebrouwers.be

De Feniks

De Feniks presents a perfect pairing of Triple and white beer, brewed with home-grown local malting barley. Warning: you won’t be able to stop at just one! Follow up with a fusion-style beer and taste the Anglo-saxon influences. Mosey into the brewery for exclusive limited edition barrel-aged beers, or test the results of spontaneous fermentation thanks to the partnership with a Maison de Champagne.

Heulestraat 170, Gullegem (Wevelgem) www.brouwerijdefeniks.be

with a brewing tradition flowing through six generations of brewers since 1856. It’s here that the local Bruges Zot is brewed: a spicy, highly fermented beer, based on malt, hops and special barley. In 2016, a unique underground beer pipeline was built: the threekilometre system links the brewery with the bottling facility outside the centre. Tours are offered daily in various languages, and always wind up with a Brugse Zot blond. The brewery is one of Bruges’ main attractions, drawing some 100,000 visitors every year. Relax on the charming terrace with delicious food accompanied by an in-house beer.

Walplein 26, Bruges www.halvemaan.be

De Meester

What you see is what you get at Brewery De Meester: tasty honest beers with no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, and no head retention additives. Ann and Dirk’s artisan beers are all brewed using renewable energy. The result: a superb selection of refined, fullbodied beers. Give them a try during a tour or in the taproom. Nelcastraat 1D, Lendelede www.brouwerij-demeester.com

repeatedly declared The Mash to be Belgium’s best brewpub! Ardooisestraat 130, Izegem www.doudemaalderij.com

De Halve Maan

This historic home brewery in central Bruges is a family business

De Leite

The beers from Brewery De Leite are notable for their playful names: Femme Fatale, Enfant Terriple, Cuvée Soeur’ise... but it’s not just their names that set them apart: the label on every beer is a work of art, created by the Vermeersch family of artists.

De Leiteweg 32a, Ruddervoorde www.deleite.be

D’Oude Maalderij

‘Learn to taste, dare to love’: that’s the motto at Brewery D’Oude Maalderij. Two passions flow together here: beer and nostalgia. The beer is brewed in the traditional manner – and sampled in the traditional manner. If you want to sip from a glass, make your way to the iconic café The Mash. In an interior tingling with echoes of times gone by, tipple on the delicious amber juice flowing from 13 permanent taps, or sample the special collection of vintage beers. You can also try their old-fashioned cuisine and beer-tinted dishes. And here’s a tip: ratebeer.com has

De Plukker

Only one hop producer has its very own brewery, and that’s De Plukker in Poperinge. Organic hop farmer Joris Cambie joined forces with brewer Kris Langouche in 2011. The Cambie family has been growing hops in the Poperinge fields for generations. Joris and Kris founded a craft brewery tied directly to the hop business, and started a new chapter in the family histories. Brewery De Plukker brews exclusively with its own hops. All its beers proudly bear the label 100% West Flanders and Organic. You can taste the results for yourself in the Plukker Pub at the Hopmuseum. Sample a Tripel Plukker, Keikoppenbier, or Rookop. Elverdingseweg 16, Poperinge www.plukker.be

De Poes

In 2014, Stijn David decided it was time to turn his dream of being a brewer into reality. His elegant poes – puss – reflected the refined flavour of the beer,

Brewery De Leite. (photo Brewery De Leite)

and the name for his creation was born. The town of Tield once again has its own brewery, around fifty years after the last working brewery closed its doors. You can visit De Poes once a month on Sundays, followed, of course, by a tasting session.

Lindenlaan 9, Tielt www.brouwerijdepoes.be

Dutch, French or English. The tasting room is open on Saturdays from 10am to 6pm.

Koolkerkse Steenweg 32, Brugge www.fortlapin.com

next door into ’t Rusteel to enjoy mouth-watering delicacies to soak up the beers.Heulestraat 170, Gullegem (Wevelgem) www.guldenspoor.be

Lion d’Or’ building. Their tasty brews are not exactly named ‘Sea Soup’ – Jus de Mer is just a little eleganter, don’t you agree? Westendelaan 142 A, Middelkerke www.jusdemer.be

’t Gaverhopke

Houtlandse Brouwers

Eutropius

Brewery Eutropius, nestled in the peaceful south of West Flanders, is the project of two twentysomethings whose mission is to share their passion for craft beers with their local area. Their beers include Oscar and Remembrance 14-18. Hogeweg 263, Menen www.brouwerij-eutropius.be

Fort Lapin

Fort Lapin is situated a little way out of central Bruges, on the site of the former Fort Lapin. It didn’t take Kristof long to come up

In a sheltered castle courtyard, Gudrun and Bruno brew up their local craft beers, spiced up with sweet lychee, grapefruit, ginger, juniper berries, cherries, raisins and other tasty ingredients. Try out their creations in a warm and welcoming brasserie where you have the opportunity to soak up the delicious brews with a platter of local delicacies. Your kids will be enjoying themselves in the colourful courtyard garden, making friends with farm animals, getting some aerobic exercise on the bouncy castle, or boldly embarking on a photographic treasure hunt. Platanendreef 16, Nieuwenhove (Waregem) www.tgaverhopke.be

A mere stone’s throw from the Markt, Bart Degrande and Johan Dhanens have set up their own brewing room. A range of beers is already flowing out of their brew kettles: four-grain beer, amber triple, double brown, coffee stout, and more. The brewery is also open for visits and tastings by arrangement. Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, the doors are thrown open and you can sample the beers. Onze Lieve Vrouwstraat 2, Torhout www.houtlandsebrouwers.be

Kazematten Brewery Kazematten was established in 2013, right in the Ypres city walls. The historic fortifications at the Houten Paard on the Rijselpoort have been transformed into a traditional brewery, whose amber offerings include Wipers Times and Grotten Santé. Individual visits can be arranged on certain days. Group tours can be arranged any day. Houten Paard 1, Ieper www.kazematten.be

’t Koelschip town brewery

Jus de Mer

Gulden Spoor

The Gulden Spoor brewery has grown into a Belgian trendsetter with a wide range of Flanders classics interspersed with a unique selection of ‘limited editions’. Head

A hop, skip and a jump away from the Middlekerke beach, and you’ll reach Brewery Jus de Mer, managed by beer fans Bart Mortier and Alexander Verlinde. They brew up their Jus de Mer beers with passion and pride. They are also delighted to be keeping a bit of history alive: their site was once the ‘Brasserie

Ive and Sandy brew up their own ‘tank’ beers, and also hire out their equipment for other brewers to use. Associations and beer lovers can participate in workshops at ’t Koelschip and bottle their own creations. The beers available at the craft brewery have evocative names like Krevet, Oostende Bonsoir, Zeegeuze, and Gie Zie Mien Zèèkapiting. Van Iseghemlaan 101, Oostende www.blondekuif.be

with a name for his brewery and beers! Fort Lapin is the source from which eight artisan beers flow, including Triple Fort Lapin 8, Quadruple Fort Lapin 10 and the amber herbal beer Fort Lapin 6.5 Rouge. During your brewery tour, the brewer will be happy to give you some insights into the production process, and at the end of the tour of course you’ll have a chance to try a house beer. Tours can be arranged in

Klondiker

Brewery Klondiker might be no more than eight metres by three, but that’s all this pocket brewery needs to create its craft beers. If you’d like to try them for taste, head into the brand-new tasting room De Lochting on Saturday or Sunday and sample for yourself. Kathleen and Dirk also use

Brewery Jus de Mer. (photo: Westtoer)

Kristof Vandenbussche from Fort Lapin. (photo Davy Coghe)

their house beers as the basis for a selection of delicious bites: beer bread with beer pâté anyone? During the summer months, the lush beer garden makes the perfect setting to enjoy a Dust, Lupor, Timber or another variety of bottled gold. house beers as the basis for a selection of delicious bites: beer bread with beer pâté anyone?

Spoorweglaan 2, Meulebeke www.huisbrouwerijklondiker.be

Lechasseur

This is a tiny brewery in Gullegem, where Lechasseur beer is brewed: Saison is the best known of its beers. Bissegemstraat 105, Gullegem (Wevelgem) www.lechasseur.be

Leroy Breweries

Brewery Van Eecke (1624) and Brewery Het Sas (1572) are two of the oldest breweries still operating in Westhoek. They represent over four centuries of craftsmanship, tradition and passion for beer. Both are established brands on the European market and export their tasty barley products right across the globe. Brewery Het Sas was initially established on the lock (the ‘sas’) in the Ieperlee Canal in Boezinge. It was rebuilt in the city centre following its total destruction in WW1. Brewery Van Eecke has its roots in Watou, where the brewery began its life as the Graaf van Watou’s castle brewery. Tours for groups of minimum 20 people can be arranged in Watou. In 1981, Karel Leroy developed the famous Poperinge Hommel beer for the triennial Hoppefeests. The eleventh generation of brewers started a new chapter in the Belgian brewing story: with the merger (or should we say ‘blend’?) of Het Sas and Van Eecke, a new family brewery was born: Leroy breweries. Diksmuidseweg 404, Boezinge www.leroybreweries.be en Douvieweg 2, Watou (Watou site)

Maenhout

Brewery Maenhout is a small craft brewery set up by Thijs Maenhout and Birgit De Rammelaere. They brew all their craft beers in their brewery in Pittem. Enjoy their brews on the first Saturday of each month

and admire the old and new brewing halls, the fermentation tanks and the new bottling facility. Stop in the taproom to sip on the Kortrijk gold. Just around the corner, soak up the atmosphere of the ‘Omer’ village in Café De

Rodenbach

in the tasting room. Among their beer selection, you’ll find gems like Koeketiene and Ferre. Brugsesteenweg 157, Pittem www.brouwerijmaenhout.be

Omer Vander Ghinste

In 1892, Omer Vander Ghinste founded his legendary family brewery. In 2022, 130 years later, you can still sample his characteristic creations. It’s an enterprise where quality beers are brewed to traditional recipes in the traditional way, but fused with the latest techniques. Take a brewery tour

Sportwereld. Everyone is welcome at Brewery Omer Vander Ghinste’s brand-new and colourful Visitor Centre. Guided tours of the brewery can be offered any day, by arrangement – followed, of course, by a refreshing beer. Brouwtorenstraat 5, Bellegem (Kortrijk) www.omervanderghinste.be

Brewery Rodenbach celebrated its two-hundredth jubilee in 2021. Rodenbach is the world’s most refreshing beer – at least according to beer guru Michael Jackson. Pass through the doors of Brewery Rodenbach, and learn all kinds of intriguing secrets about the famous West Flanders red ale as you make your way past the 294 imposing oak casks. Back in the visitor centre, you can get to know the Rodenbach family. After the tour, try one (or more) of Rodenbach’s fresh beers. Spanjestraat 135, Roeselare www.rodenbach.be

Pepieto Microbrewer Pieter brews Pepieto beer in Gits. Jacob van Maerlantstraat 5, Gits (Hooglede)

Rostune

Brewery Rostune has already started to make its name with Wannes Blond, Linde Cherry, Amber, and Dubbel Dark beer.

Brewery Omer Vander Ghinste. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek vzw)

Brecht Vanderostyne takes an artisan approach to his unfiltered natural beer, brewed in the traditional way to his own recipe in an open cauldron. Nachtegaalstraat 14, Beernem www.brouwerijrostune.be

Ruimtegist

From Café deDingen, you can walk straight into Brewery Ruimtegist, Kortrijk’s only town brewery. Bosom buddies Arn and Egbert develop their craft beers here: locally dreamed up, locally brewed. A glass of Vie, Nova or Obsquur is nature at its purest. Budastraat 12 bus 1b, Kortrijk www.ruimtegist.be

During your trip to the brewery, you’ll be sure to settle back for a quick one in the rooftop bar ‘Bar Bernard’. Enjoy a snack and a drink with breathtaking panoramic views over ‘Le Plat Pays’. Due to ongoing work in the production centre (a new filling and packing line is being installed), no brewery tours can be offered here in 2022. The brewery plans to reopen in 2023 with an all-new visitor experience where you will discover the story behind the beer at your own pace. The rooftop bar and the shop remain open during the work. Trappistenweg 23, Watou www.sint-bernardus.be

Sint-Idesbald

Seasonal Brewery Vandewalle

Seasonal Brewery Vandewalle, owned by Chris Vandewalle, is a young company, but it can tap into a family tradition of brewers rooted deep in the eighteenth century. A generous portion of local raw products, a handful of pure expertise, the influence of Mother Nature, time and a rich history are the ingredients used in the beers at the ‘smallest brewery in Westhoek’. The beer list includes Reninges bitter blond and Reninge cherry red. The brewery is open for individual or small-group tours (up to 5 people).

Zwartestraat 43, Lo-Reninge www.seizoensbrouwerij.be

Enjoy a refreshing local brew from the small St Idesbald brewery, with views of the historic Ten Bogaerde site. This is a place where art, heritage, nature and pure enjoyment blend into one. It’s a place that will tickle every one of your senses. You can try the home-brewed beers on site at the brewery, and add a few classic beer tapas dishes to soak them up. In summer, there’s a lovely terrace. Ten Bogaerdelaan 12b, Koksijde www.brouwerijsintidesbald.be

Sint-Sixtus

The Trappist beer Westvleteren is brewed in the Saint Sixtus Abbey. (photo: Westtoer)

Steven

In Zwevegem, Steven brews up Amantine beers. The name refers to a drop of Zwevegem folk history. President J. F. Kennedylaan 16, Zwevegem

Stokhove

Jan and Levi obtained their diplomas as Brewery Engineers from Ghent University of Applied Arts and Sciences, and got to work founding a craft brewery named after their roots in Waardamme. Their Waardamse Triple has received rave reviews. Akkerstraat 1 bus 9, Waardamme www.brouwerijstokhove.be

Strubbe

Struise Brouwers

Whatever the weather, Pannepot, Tjeeses, Ypres, Black Albert, Sint Amatus, or Imperialist are always popular, and there’s no sign that that will change in the near future. The brewery is not currently open to visitors. However, you can call in at the ‘Struise Biershop’ which has some 500 bottled beers and ten cask beers available to try. The shop is open on Saturdays from 11am to 7pm.

(Address: Woestendorp 14a, Vleteren) Kasteelstraat 50, Oostvleteren www.struise.com

Terrest Brewery

High on the Terrest hill, father and daughter brew up a farmhouse beer from their own produce. The barley and hops are grown on the lee slopes of the hill. After the harvest, the brewers put on their other hats and process the products in the farmhouse brewery. The result is a fresh, aromatic farmhouse beer, perfect as an aperitif, with a fresh salad or meat dish,… or really any time you fancy a thirst-quencher. Vlastraat 1, Houthulst www.terrestbrewery.be

Toye

St. Bernardus

Here at the heart of the hop region, St. Bernardus beer delights the hearts of numerous beer aficionados. The highly fermented beers, dark and blond, have been brewed here in

The Trappist beers from Westvleteren are ranked among the world’s best beers. The brewery itself is not open to tours. However, you can visit the Claustrum, and learn about community life in the Abbey. It’s just a short walk to ‘In de Vrede’, where you can sample the Trappist beers for yourself.

Donkerstraat 12, Westvleteren www.sintsixtus.be

Tucked in behind Ichtegem church, you’ll find Brewery Strubbe, which has been handed down through generations of Strubbes. Their beer selection includes Keyte Tripel, Ichtegem’s Oud Bruin, Vlas kop,... and plenty more. Markt 1, Ichtegem www.brouwerij-strubbe.be

It began by planting a single hop plant in the garden, and grew into a professional brewery: that’s Brewery Toye’s history in a nutshell. The old flax barn is a mere stone’s throw away from where the Battle of the Golden Spurs was fought, and the Flemish goedendag spear would win the day. Today at Brewery Toye, the goedendag heralds the flow not of blood but amber liquid: Goedendag Sterk Blond, Goedendag Donker and Goedendag Cuvée 1302. The trio recently gained a little brother: O’de Lys.

Rekkemstraat 117, Marke (Kortrijk) www.goedendagbier.be

Verhaeghe

Character, quality, authenticity – the base ingredients for every drink poured at Brewery Verhaeghe. How do they do it? You can find out during the daily guided tour. An enthusiastic guide will tell you all about the traditional brewing technique used in South-West Flanders.

Giant oak casks guide you through the brewing hall, towards the glorious reward: a ruby-red glass brimming with Duchesse de Bourgogne. Tours can be arranged for any day – contact the brewery in advance.

Sint-Dierikserf 1, Vichte www.brouwerijverhaeghe.be

with memorable names – Rebel Local, Super Noah, Space Cadet, Caravan Sultan. If you’d like to try them, come along for a tour or sit back on the summer pop-up beer terrace (May to August).

Grote Leiestraat 117, Anzegem www.brouwerijtverzet.be

flying start to 2011 when they were awarded best hobby beer and brewer at the Brouwland Beer Competition. Andy has since established himself as an independent brewer, and now has over 60 inventive beers to his name. Coffee beer, beetroot beer, jasmine beer, kombucha beer, apple cider beer – no idea is dismissed as too crazy. The best known of the Vliegende Paard Brewers’ beers are Préaris, Marius and White Dragon. Beverhoutsveldstraat 33, Oedelem (Beernem) www.prearis.be

Waterfields Brewery

Their beer OBUZ is rooted in ancient Flanders soil. The barley is sowed and harvested in Passendale, in fields owned by the Lemaire family. The beer is brewed and bottled in the farmhouse itself. Canadalaan 63, Passendale www.obuz.be

Viven Experimentum Brewery

Tony and Krystle, the driving forces behind the brewery, have been bottling their passion for Viven for over twenty years. Alongside the classics Viven Blond and Viven Brown, Krystle (one of Belgium’s few women brewers) has developed speciality beers including Viven barley wine, Viven champagner weisse, and more.

Westkwartier

This tiny new brewery is known for just one product so far: its amber-coloured Hilleveld beer, perfect at a tasting session. Polygonestraat 3, Geluveld www.brouwerijwestkwartier.be

AND MORE…

’t Verzet

Brewery ‘t Verzet is happy to be considered something of a rebel. Behind the scenes, the young team is experimenting energetically with ancient Belgian beer styles and sometimes startling ingredients: hand-picked oak leaves, grapes, or ginger. The result: a range of distinctive beers

Stationsstraat 89, Sijsele (Damme) www.viven.be

Vliegende Paard Brewers

Walking away with the top prize at the very first beer competition you enter... the ‘Flying Horse’ Brewers did indeed make a

As well as all these breweries, West Flanders is fizzing with other enterprises that develop or market beers, but do not have their own approved brewing equipment, and farm out the brewing process to a recognised brewery.

Check out the breweries and beer enterprises at www.hetlekkerewesten.be

Beer events

Whatever the season, here in West Flanders you can be guaranteed tasty food and drink will be being celebrated somewhere. There’s something new and delicious every week in our province.

And of course, the beer fans are never forgotten. As well as the wealth of breweries that you can visit, we can put on a great beer festival – and regularly do! We’ve listed a few of the annual favourites below:

Folk Bar Weekend Westhoek (April)

Beer Festival Koekelare (May)

Bruges Beer Festival (June)

Bier aan zee Middelkerke (June)

Bierjutterij Ostend (July)

International Regional Beer Festival Zwevegem (August)

Bier van Olier Sijsele (August)

Lekker Westhoeks Poperinge (September)

Beveren Hopt Roeselare (September)

Groot Wevelgems Beer Festival (October)

Oud Bruin Fest, Kortrijk (October)

Poperinge Beer Festival (October)

Lys Valley Brewery Days (October-November)

Check out our Lekkerste Agenda for more lip-smacking events: www.hetlekkerewesten.be

Brewery ‘t Verzet. (photo: Toerisme Leiestreek vzw)

Participate and win a special beer deal

WORTH €100 IN WEST FLANDERS!