best belgium breweries to visit

The Best Breweries in Belgium

Belgium is a small country in Western Europe known for its beer. The beer-savvy population and dedication to tradition make beer the overwhelming beverage of choice. Belgian brewers’ pursuit of excellence has kept the beloved little country at the pinnacle of brewing for centuries.

Beer runs through every facet of Belgian culture. There are the traditional Catholic monasteries brewing exceptional Abbey ales. Or the rustic farm breweries crafting thirst-quenching saisons. And now a new breed of Belgian brewers continues to honor tradition while pushing the boundaries of specialty, craft beer.

Throughout Belgium, regional breweries dominate consumer loyalty. In Brussels, you’ll see locals sipping on their trente-trois of Zinnebier by Brasserie De La Senne. In Bruges, on the other hand, thirsty customers order Brugse Zot by the pintje . Across Wallonia, small artisanal breweries line the extravagant beer lists of the many vibrant cafes.

Choosing the best Belgian breweries is next to impossible. If you ask 100 different Belgians, you’ll get 100 different lists. We picked our top 10 Belgian breweries based on quality, innovation, and dedication to the craft. These breweries produce fantastic beer and are relentless in their pursuit to carry on the Belgian brewing heritage.

Brasserie Dupont

Brasserie cantillon, de dolle brouwers, brasserie d’orval, brouwerij de ranke, chimay (abbaye de scourmont), brouwerij 3 fonteinen, brasserie de la senne, de struise brouwers, antidoot – wilde fermenten.

In the tiny village of Tourpes, Brasserie Dupont has been a working farm brewery since 1950. With a focus on flavorful, expressive beers, Dupont is dedicated to the Belgian brewing tradition. Alongside their genre-defining Saison Dupont, they have a delicious range of farmhouse ales. From special releases to everyday classics, Dupont brews consistent and high-quality beer.

Moinette is their most popular brand within the borders of Belgium. Coming in either a Brune or a Blonde, the pair is brewed with the famous Dupont yeast, but with a higher ABV than the Saison, each at 8.5%. Both beers exhibit expressive, estery, and spicy yeast characteristics. The Blonde is crisp, bright, and refreshing. The Brune is warm and comforting, with notes of dark fruit and brown sugar.

For over 100 years, Cantillon has been brewing traditional lambic from their small Brussels brewery. The family-run brewery has seen the ups and downs of the beer industry over this time. In fact, lambic beer almost died out in the mid-20th century due to a lack of demand. Luckily for beer lovers, Cantillon withstood these perilous times and is stronger and more popular than ever.

Today, Cantillon boasts an impressive lineup of regular and seasonal beer. Their classic Gueuze, which is a blend of barrel-aged 1, 2, and 3-year-old lambic, is the style’s benchmark. Foufoune, made with 18 to 20-month-old lambic and blended with copious amounts of Bergeron apricots, is one of the world’s most popular sour beers.

A pilgrimage to their historic Brussels brewery is a must for every beer lover. Casually stroll through their original brewhouse, including a massive copper coolship room. Take a deep breath and inhale the famous Senne valley air. It’s a unique experience and should be at the top of your craft beer bucket list.

In the small town of Esen in West Flanders, De Dolle has crafted their own unique style since 1980. When De Dolle took over and restored an old, derelict brewery, the people of Esen rejoiced. Their first beer release – Oerbier – a unique take on Belgian Dubbel, is still their flagship and most popular.

Along with Oerbier, De Dolle brews a selection of eccentric and flavorful ales. Arabier, a bright, rustic, and hoppy Belgian Strong Pale Ale, is brimming with flavors of pear, citrus, and spice. In contrast to Oerbier, it’s lighter and sessionable – however, beware of its deceptive 8% ABV.

De Dolle Brouwers – Dutch for Mad (or Crazy) Brewers – live up to their name. A visit to their convivial old brewery is captivating and a deep dive into Belgian beer culture. Pull up to the bar and try a freshly poured glass of Oerbier, soak in the kitschy vibe, and enjoy one of the finest beers in the world.

Orval only publicly sells one beer. Still, though, this legendary Trappist brewery is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest. It’s a pillar in the Belgian beer universe for its uniqueness and consistency. Orval is one of those timeless beers loved by both craft beer geeks and mainstream drinkers.

Young, it’s brightly floral from a large Styrian Golding dry hop. Malty without being overly sweet, the rich ruby-colored body has a pillowy mouthfeel, with a long, dry finish. As the beer ages, brettanomyces – added at bottling – starts to evolve the flavors into classic rustic funkiness.

A visit to Orval is worth the windy, scenic drive. Nestled in the southeast corner of Belgium, the Abbey is peaceful and meditative. Although you can’t visit the brewery itself, the Abbey and beautiful ancient runes can be leisurely explored. It’s a serene place to contemplate the intricacies of Belgian brewing history.

As a bonus, L’Ange Gardien, Abbey’s cafe, serves up traditional Belgian food and a special, light version of Orval beer. Simply called Orval Vert, this draft only 4.5% session beer is bursting with fresh hoppiness. Think of it as a delicious paired-down version of the original that you can’t get anywhere else.

First brewing in 1994 under contract at a small West Flemish brewery, De Ranke has always focused on expressive hop-forward beers. In 2005, they opened their own brewery after years of growing their name throughout Belgium and abroad.

XX Bitter, a hoppy Belgain Pale Ale, is one of the country’s finest examples of the style. More bitter and floral than others in the category, their flagship pale ale is remarkably crisp. Fine carbonation floats a wispy, meringue-like foam that pushes the intense hop aroma through with each sip.

Their sour beer program is also exquisite. Cuvee De Ranke, a barrel-aged sour blended with lambic, is balanced, oaky, and deliciously funky.

Belgium’s six Trappist breweries all make outstanding beer. Orval, as mentioned, is the most unique brewery of the Trappists. Chimay, however, maybe the most prolific. With a brewing history dating back to 1862 and a sophisticated range of impressive beer, their products can be found around the globe.

Chimay Grand Reserve – referred to simply as Chimay Blue – is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. For 9% ABV, it’s soft, balanced, and heavenly. Pouring dark mahogany with a dense beige head, layers of dark fruit, port, and brown sugar waft from the glass. A sweet, smooth, and dangerously drinkable body makes this beer an all-time classic.

On the lighter side, Chimay White is a perfectly brewed, sweet, hoppy, and balanced Tripel. Bursting with carbonation, this 8% ABV blonde beer shows off delicious banana esters and spicy Trappist yeast. This harmonizes elegantly with the finest pale malts and subtle noble hops.

3 Fonteinen has a storied history of making exceptional blended lambic dating back to the late 19th century. The business has changed hands a few times but has always maintained a commitment to delicious, hand-blended lambic beer. In 1953, the blender was purchased by Gaston Debelder, who became the architect of the 3 Fonteinen brand adored by millions today.

Armand, Gaston’s son, eventually took over as master blender and manager at 3 Fonteinen. He oversaw a massive expansion, including the addition of an on-site brewery and coolship. Armand grew 3 Fonteinen into one of the most important beer brands in Belgium.

Though ownership has recently changed yet again, the new owners are committed to the same quality and quest for excellence. A pure testament to the craft of lambic beer, their Cuvee Armand Gaston is a flawless Gueuze that carries the name of the father-son duo. This special lambic is expertly blended, with lambic produced only at 3 Fonteinen. Bright funky citrus mixes with balanced acidity, making for one of the world’s best Gueuze – or sour beers in general.

Brussels, the biggest city and capital of Belgium, was once the country’s brewing hub. Through the 20th century, the rise of industrial brewing forced smaller, city breweries to shutter. Combined with the devastation caused by both world wars, Brussels effectively became a city devoid of breweries. For years, until 2010, Cantillon had been the only active brewery in the city.

That changed when Brasserie De La Senne opened their small brewery in the Molenbeek neighborhood of the city. They quickly won the hearts of locals with their unique, bitter brewing style, with a focus on the hop and yeast expression.

Taras Boulba is a shining example of De La Senne’s eye for balance and drinkability. At 4.5% ABV, this hoppy table beer is loaded with herbaceous hop flavor. Very pale in color, but with ample body and mouthfeel, Taras Boulba is a thirst-quenching brew best enjoyed in a cozy Brussels cafe.

Belgian tradition with an American craft brewery mindset – that’s how De Struise rose to the top of many “best of” lists throughout the craft beer boom. Since 2003, they’ve consistently brewed some of the world’s finest stouts, quadruples, and strong ales.

De Struise has garnered an international reputation for its rare and revered limited releases. One of their most sought-after beers, Black Albert, is a viscous and decadent 13% ABV Imperial Stout. It’s over the top, with a sticky and sweet, vinous complexity. Pitch black and topped with a creamy beige head, slight acidity and alcohol warmth linger on the finish.

Other special releases, like their Black Damnation series, were some of the original craft hype beers. They continue to be cherished amongst old-school Imperial Stout beer geeks and represent some of the finest barrel-aged stouts in the world.

Brewing modern interpretations of traditional Belgian beers, Antidoot has a naturalist approach. The flat, green fields of Flanders inspire the distinctive beers brewed by co-founders and brothers Tom and Wim Jacobs. This creative duo utilizes wild yeast and traditional techniques to craft unique and beautiful ales with a sense of terroir.

Their small production certainly adds to the mystique of Antidoot’s releases. Each beer is thoughtfully brewed, often using local hops, herbs, or fruit.

Artemisia Absinthium is a barrel-aged sour ale, bittered with dried wormwood flowers from the brewery’s garden. The acidity balances effortlessly with a firm herbal bitterness. This blonde beer has the refreshing drinkability of an IPA, but the complexity of aged lambic.

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7 of the Best Belgian Breweries and Beer Bars to Visit

Published by Jeremy . Last Updated on January 3, 2023.

Disclaimers : Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. Please check out our Terms and Conditions for more information. Listed prices and attraction details may have changed since our visit and initial publication.

There are so many great Belgian beer brands to enjoy when visiting the country that is simply impossible to try them all. During our one-week visit, with somewhere between three to five beers each per day, we only began scratching the surface of trying all the best beer Belgium has to offer. 

While we could go on and on about great brews we had when traveling around Belgium, in this one we thought we'd take a step back and look at  where you can buy all of these great brews outright. So let's talk about our favorite Belgian beer bars and breweries, what you can expect when visiting, and share some of our highlights from each!

But we should note upfront that not every brewery or Belgian beer bar is recommended purely to drink beer. Some may be great spots to buy beer to take home and others offer historical tours that are must-sees over their beer offerings. To put it bluntly, this list has something for everyone.

Cantillon in Brussels

One of the things we love about breweries in Belgium is that most distribute their beer throughout the country. So if you don't visit the brewery proper (many of which we found don't actually have tasting experiences outright), you can find their beer readily available at beer bars without insane secondary markup.

Cantillon Brewery in Brussels feels the opposite.

This brewery is one of the most famous in the country and their gose, lambic, and other wild fermentations are sought after by enthusiasts around the world- often heralded as the best of the best. Suffice it to say, they're rather rare to find available via 3rd parties and when you do, are often sold for secondary prices starting at 2x markup or more. (Which, considering 750 mL bottles often start around 20 Euro at the brewery proper, adds up quickly.) 

So for most, the best chance you have to try Cantillon's brews is by visiting the brewery right in Brussels. For a nominal fee, guests can tour the facility on a self-guided walk and then sample three brews in a tasting at the end (typically a trio of a young gose, an aged gose, and a lambic) with the opportunity to buy more bottles to enjoy on-site or to go.

While the self-guided tour and tasting is worth the price, visitors should note that if you want to try other brews beyond the flight trio, you have to buy a full bottle (which, previously noted, most are 750 mL format only). Did we want to try more of their famous lambics at the bar? Yes. Could we justify buying more than one due to the larger format and 20 Euro+ price point? Not in the slightest, which was simply unfortunate as the bar list was quite incredible.

So make friends and share if you are able- the beer here is worth the extra effort and then some!

Delirium Cafe in Brussels

When you speak of Delirium bar in Brussels, you really should be thinking of it more as the Delirium complex (or as they call it, Delirium Village). This spot in the heart of the old town features several themed businesses within the village space- each with its own twist of a certain element of bar culture.

At its heart is the Delirium Cafe- a basement bar with a devoted following for its absurdly large beer collection. In 2004, this cafe was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most bottles of beer in the world- 2,004 unique bottles!

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So if you are in the need of a bar where you can try, well, everything, Delirium Cafe in Brussels is the place to be. Although, we have to admit that we also didn't drink any Delirium when visiting this bar. That is the issue when you have roughly 2,000 bottles to choose from. Oops!

Dulle Griet in Ghent

In the mood for a beer bar in Ghent that has an impressively large menu (> 500 beers) and an ambiance that is hard to beat? Dulle Griet is the place to be.

This one features a book of brews, all at respectable prices, their own house ales, and more. While we used this one primarily to work our way through the list of Trappist producers in Belgium, we have to admit the collection of beers at large gave us a wealth of options to choose from.

Perhaps the most interesting part about Dulle Griet is what they do for those who order the house beer. You see, the house brews are only served in large format, custom glasses (>1L) with a high-security deposit. Yes, there is the monetary element (something like 90 Euros for a broken glass), but they also take your shoe to ensure you return the glass outright!

Yes, every few minutes throughout the night a basket with a bell on it is lowered to the bar floor to add or take out shoes in a spectacle you really have to see to believe. Did we order a beer and give up one of our shoes? Sadly, no- if only because we wanted to try many brews and didn't want to commit to over a liter of just one. But did we want to? Absolutely.

• Don't know what to order? Ask your server about their favorite beer in a particular category. I asked for a favorite Tripel and was given Paix Dieu which was one of my favorites from our entire visit!

Het Waterhuis in Ghent

If you're looking for a more intimate beer bar right on the river in Ghent, look no further than Het Waterhuis- just a few blocks from Dulle Griet, above.

This beer bar has an impressive beer menu, both in draft and in bottle, but with a bit more of a relaxed ambiance overall from the hustle and bustle of Dulle Griet.

One of the things we loved about this one during our December visit was how they had a strong feature of Christmas brews from various producers- something that was highlighted better here than just about anywhere else we visited!

De Garre in Bruges

Bruges is home to many breweries and beer bars, but the one that stood out to us the most was De Garre.

This famous, three-story beer bar located in the heart of Bruges has an impressive bottle collection, much like others featured in this article, but also has its own house tripel brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge that you cannot find anywhere else (apart from, perhaps, a beer store or two in Bruges).

This tripel was also one of our favorites of the style and we'd almost go as far as saying is worth dealing with the crowds in Bruges just to try it on its own. So while you may be walking up and down the old stairs on several passes to find a seat during peak hours, it is worth the effort to try this one (plus others from their collection)!

Abbaye d'Orval in Florenville

To wind down this list, we wanted to mention a couple of Trappist producers we visited and absolutely adored. However, we should note that Trappist producers don't typically offer a proper tasting experience as you would expect at a conventional brewery. So if you want to visit these, you are going for an entirely different reason.

Up first, we have Orval located near Florenville in southwest Belgium.

The site where the Orval Abbey is located has housed a place of worship since the 10th century, and construction of the first abbey began in 1132. The original abbey expanded over the years but was destroyed in the French revolution, subsequently rebuilt in the 20th century, and commercial brewing began in 1931.

Today, visitors can explore the ruins of the medieval abbey, learn about the brewing process in an on-site museum, view the abbey church proper (pending timing- during our visit it closed a little bit before tours ended for the day so we only just made it inside), and more. To call the grounds here impressive is an understatement, and the self-guided tour was our favorite monastery visit in all of Belgium. To put it bluntly, if you have a car and want to road trip, this is a worthy destination all before even talking about the beer.

While the abbey does not serve beer for guests (you can buy bottles of this widely distributed beer to go, however), the cafe A l'Ange Gardien on the road leading to the abbey does. This one also serves a brew only found here, Orval Vert, a lower ABV, hoppy brew from the monastery that comes with a sufficient bitterness that reminded us of a session IPA in the USA. 

But if you are looking for a taste, be warned- the hours of the cafe next door are not the same as the monastery. We visited on a Wednesday when the monastery was open but the cafe was supposed to be closed. But through a sheer twist of fate, they were having a party for Orval reps and were kind enough to let us in to have a round. Win!

Brouwerij de Sint-Sixtusabdij in Westvleteren

Finally, we come to Brouwerij de Sint-Sixtusabdij in Westvleteren, or Westvleteren for short, in northwest Belgium.

This Trappist producer makes what some would call the world's best beer, Westvleteren 12 (a Quad), and has become a pilgrimage spot for those wanting to purchase this beer as it is not officially distributed at retail anywhere outside of Westvleteren.

We have a full article about how to buy Westvleteren beer from the monastery, so in this one, we want to just make a note that those who visit this abbey should really only do so if you are buying cases . The monastery itself is not open for tours of any kind, and to be honest you can see very little of the grounds from the road. Those who buy beer don't get much better, either- you simply drive inside a small carport (which is 99% visible from the main road), pick up your beer, and leave.

This one makes the cut solely for those looking to shop!

That being said, much like Orval above, if you want to try Westvleteren's beer in the area, you'll do well to make your way to the cafe next door, In de Vrede. Much like the cafe at Orval, this one has a working relationship with the monastery, sells all three styles of beer at reasonable prices, has a killer food menu, and sometimes even carries bottles and glasses from the brewery for sale as well.

Would we drive all the way to Westvleteren to take a chance to buy bottles from the cafe only? No, not at all- you can't guarantee they'll carry them at any given time. But would we stop by when picking up beer from the monastery to enjoy a round? Or detour, slightly, if we happen to be nearby? Absolutely on both counts.

• Note : In theory, the only two places that you can buy Westvleteren are at the abbey properly and at the cafe next door. In practice, many beer bars and stores around Belgium and the Netherlands carried Westvleteren during our visit. This appears to be going against the monks' wishes, and also are priced at a 7x markup- or about 17 Euro a bottle during our 2022 visit.

Brouwerij de Sint-Sixtusabdij is located at Donkerstraat 12, 8640 in Vleteren. In de Vrede cafe is located at Donkerstraat 13 just across the street from the abbey.

Do you have a favorite beer bar or brewery in Belgium? Comment below to share!

About Jeremy

About the Author: Jeremy is a full-time travel writer based in Pittsburgh and primary author of this site. He has been to 70+ countries on five continents and seeks out new food, adventure activities, and off-the-beaten-path experiences wherever he travels.

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The stories of the evolution of all these famous Belgian breweries is closely entwined in the history of the whole country, and often goes back many centuries. Find out the fascinating tales behind each one, the personalities behind the breweries and how to visit them, as well as tasting notes and food pairings for their glorious beers …

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Best Breweries to Visit in Belgium

• Post author: World Beer Expedition
• Post published: October 14, 2023
• Post category: Belgium Trip
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Belgium is a beer lover’s paradise, renowned for its rich brewing tradition and diverse beer styles, and you must know the best breweries to visit in Belgium. 

If you’re planning a beer trip to this small European country, you won’t want to miss visiting some of its finest breweries.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the best breweries to visit in Belgium, each offering a unique and flavorful experience.

Cantillon Brewery: A Gueuze Lover’s Dream

Located in the heart of Brussels, Cantillon Brewery is a mecca for sour beer enthusiasts. This family-owned brewery has been crafting traditional Lambic and Gueuze for over a century. You can take a guided tour through their fascinating brewing process and savor the distinctively tart and complex flavors that have made Cantillon world-famous.

3 Fonteinen – Lambik-o-Droom: Lambic Excellence

3 Fonteinen, situated in Beersel, is renowned for its lambics and gueuze blends. Their Lambik-o-Droom is a pilgrimage site for beer lovers, where you can sample a wide variety of aged and innovative lambics in a welcoming and rustic atmosphere. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the intricacies of this traditional Belgian beer style.

In de Vrede – Westvleteren: Rare and Revered Trappist Beers

Nestled in the serene Westvleteren village, In de Vrede is the gateway to the exclusive Westvleteren Trappist beers. These beers are highly sought after and available only on-site. Visit the cafe for a limited selection of their exceptional brews and a glimpse into the tranquil life of the Trappist monks.

Het Anker: Home of Gouden Carolus

Mechelen is home to Het Anker Brewery, renowned for its Gouden Carolus range of beers. Their guided tours allow you to explore the history and production of these award-winning brews. Don’t forget to sample the rich and flavorful Gouden Carolus Classic.

Rodenbach: Masters of Flanders Red Ale

In the town of Roeselare, Rodenbach Brewery excels in crafting Flanders Red Ales. Their long-aging process in oak barrels results in a unique sour and fruity profile. Take a tour of their historic brewery and enjoy the timeless character of Rodenbach.

Brasserie Blaugies: Farmhouse Ales in Hainaut

Blaugies, located in the picturesque Hainaut region, specializes in traditional farmhouse ales. Their Saison d’Epeautre is a standout, and their tours offer insights into the rural charm of Belgian brewing.

Brasserie Cazeau: Hidden Gem in Tournai

Tucked away in Tournai, Brasserie Cazeau is a hidden gem. Their Tournay and Tournay Blonde are delightful, and the brewery’s unassuming setting adds to the charm of the visit.

Brouwerij Liefmans: Cherry Beer Specialists

In Oudenaarde, Brouwerij Liefmans is famous for its fruit-infused beers, particularly the Liefmans Kriek. Explore the brewery’s history and enjoy the sweet, tangy allure of their cherry beers.

De Dolle Brouwers: A Quirky Brewery with Character

De Dolle Brouwers, located in Esen, offers a quirky and distinctive beer experience. Known for their eccentrically named beers, such as Oerbier and Arabier, their tours provide a fascinating look into the world of creative brewing.

Val-Dieu: Taste the Abbey Tradition

Situated in the abbey of Val-Dieu in Aubel, this brewery is a serene place to savor traditional Belgian abbey ales. Take a tour and sample their Val-Dieu Blonde and Brune as you soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

These ten breweries are just a sample of the beer-rich landscape in Belgium. 

Whether you’re a fan of lambics, Trappist ales, or Belgian strong ales, these establishments offer a diverse array of flavors and experiences that will make your beer trip to Belgium truly memorable.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the heart of Belgian brewing culture and taste some of the finest beers in the world. Cheers!

For an authentic Belgian Beer Experience guided by a Belgian Beer Expert, join us! Explore our Belgian Beer Expedition now.

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• A Tour Of Belgiums Monastic...

A Tour Of Belgium’s Monastic Trappist Breweries

Of the eleven recognized breweries run by Trappist monks in the world, six of them are dotted across Belgium . Surrounded by tranquil, green scenery and with brewskies that have been named the best in world many times over, these monasteries form an essential part of Belgian beer culture. A large part of their profits even go to charity – we’ll drink to that!

St. sixtus abbey in westvleteren.

The Westvleteren brewery has made quite the name for itself with its widely beloved beer and limited production. It all started with a charming origin story: as the abbey was being built in 1831, the construction workers each had the right to two beers a day according to their contract, so the monks started brewing these themselves in order to save some money. Almost two centuries later, Westvleteren 12 (one of four beers produced at the monastery) has been declared the best beer in the world multiple times over. Given the skyrocketing demand, the small scale of the monks’ brewing operation and the fact that you have to drive up to the monastery itself to get a crate or two, it’s not easy to get a hold of one of these bad boys. Though you can occasionally find them in stores or bars, this is technically against the wishes of the monks as they will only sell to private individuals. All in all, drinking a Westvleteren has become quite the event in itself.

Adhering to the rules of St. Benedictus, Trappist monks are always responsible for their own livelihoods and live a life not only dedicated to prayer, but to work as well. It’s no wonder then that so many of them have developed a taste for brewing beers, besides producing other artisanal products like cheese or bread. Another incentive might be the fact that the monks themselves are allowed to drink these beers during lunch or dinner, and in the case of Westmalle this has been true since 1836. The Westmalle Tripel – the most famous of their three beers – has gone from being sold at the gates of the monastery to being another frequent contender for the title of best beer in the world. Like at most of the monastic breweries, there is no chance of witnessing the process, since the quiet life of the monks has to be respected. However you can still drink their acclaimed Tripel at the café across from the abbey, as well as watch a documentary on how it’s made.

St. Benedictus Abbey in Achel

The only place where you can actually see brothers running around the shining, copper brewing kettles, Achel is one of the more visitor-friendly monasteries. Add to that the glowing green landscapes and its proximity to the Great War battlefields of Ypres and you have a spiritual place that’s buzzing with hikers and bikers over the weekend. That same World War was unfortunately also responsible for a halt in the abbey’s brewing efforts that had been going since 1844. The brewery was only rebuilt in 1998, making Achel the newest Trappist beer in the bunch and one that’s still working on gaining more fans.

Abbey of Our Lady of Scourmont in Chimay

Unlike its Westvleteren sister, the Scourmont Abbey has embraced a larger production of its beers. Still on the abbey domain and under strict supervision by the monks (a requirement to carry the rare ‘Trappist’ label), all of the beer is made exclusively with water from the two wells on the Scourmont grounds. Chimay beers were the very first ones to be honored with the Trappist label and they’ve recently launched La Chimay Dorée ( Chimay Gold ) to the public. A surprising choice, since this originally was the abbey’s patersbier , a light ale (4,8 % in this case) that usually stays within the monastery’s walls, only to be consumed by its monks.

Abbey of Our Lady of Saint-Rémy in Rochefort

A tranquil atmosphere permeates the monastery of Rochefort, where the rather secluded monks only see tourists if they come to visit the church, since there is no café or community center present on the grounds. To taste the Rochefort beers – strong and with a spice that’s normally reserved for barley wine – close to where they were brewed, you’ll have to pay a visit to one of the town’s bars instead.

Abbey of Our Lady in Orval

Orval’s current brewery was established in 1931 with the goal of financing the reconstruction of the old abbey, and boy did that work according to plan. Now an imposing monastery with a yellow hue, Orval is also the most international of Belgian Trappist beers owing to its work with laymen. The input of German master brewer Pappenheimer and the English influences the Belgian John Vanhuele brought back with him are to be thanked for Orval’s current taste, which is based on hops and yeasts rather than malts.

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14 Places In Belgium Every Beer Lover Needs To Put On Their Bucket List

words: VinePair Staff

For a beer lover, a trip to Belgium is practically a pilgrimage. This small country is home to roughly 200 breweries, which produce some of the world’s most beloved beers, from Abbey and Trappist brews to Lambics, and a dozen other styles. Depending on your tastes, your must-visit spots in the country might vary, and to be perfectly candid, this list is merely a jumping-off point. Consider these the essentials, plus a few of our personal all-time favorite spots from the half-dozen trips that the members of the VinePair team have made to the country. If we know one thing for certain, once you visit Belgium, you’ll be itching to go back.

Westvleteren Brewery

The holy grail of beers, Westvleteren 12 became essentially impossible to obtain about a decade ago when it received international attention after rocketing to the top of RateBeer and Beer Advocate’s rankings. While you cannot actually visit the abbey — unless you’re picking up an order you pre-arranged via the beer phone (good luck) — the visitor’s center next door is open to the public.

A Beer At The Grote Market, Brussels

The central square of Brussels is jaw-droppingly beautiful. It’s also rung by a number of bars and restaurants, some with outdoor seating — which you’ll want to take advantage of during the day. Whether it’s the winter or just a chilly night, you’ll want to get cozy with a dark beer on the upper floors of one of the converted Guildhalls. This is the center of town and the prices reflect that, but you’re in Belgium and you should match at least a couple of your other-worldly beers with a worthy view.

Brasserie Cantillon

One of only two breweries in the city of Brussels proper, Cantillon is a must-visit whether or not you care for Gueze and/or Lambics. The seven Euro, self-guided tour is well worth it. Take in the unique aromas of open air, spontaneous fermentation. Peep the rows of beer aging in barrels. And of course, at the end, sample a beer or three.

Rodenbach Brewery

Brewery visits for the experienced beer traveler can sometimes feel like Gothic churches on a long European trip — after a while it starts to seem like if you’ve seen one, then you’ve seen them all. If you ever find yourself feeling like that, then get yourself over to Rodenbach stat. Rodenbach, which specializes in barrel aged, Flemish reds, is produced at a brewery unlike any other you’ve ever seen. When we say barrel aged, we mean aged in one of the nearly 300 monstrous oak casks — which you’ll get to see in person on the two-hour tour.

Kulminator itself is rather small, and it’s fairly out of the way in Antwerp, but you’re here for the beer list, which is epic, with an emphasis on vintage bottles — making the trip worthwhile. Want to try a ten-year-old aged version of your favorite Trappist beer? This is your spot. The husband and wife owners are wonderful hosts, and they’re glad to help guide you through the epic list — when the place isn’t packed. If they offer you a “go to sleep beer,” just make sure it’s really  your final beer of the night.

‘t Brugs Beertje

If Kulimnator is our favorite beer bar in Antwerp, then ‘t Brugs Beertje takes the same title for the picturesque medieval city of Brugge. As soon as you step into this vintage beer advertisement-lined bar, which has been in business since 1983, you’ll know you’re in good hands. Expect a list of 300+ bottles and a few taps, served by Daisy Claeys, whose praise you’ll read about in nearly every review of the bar.

De Heeren van Liedekercke

If you want to dine at De Heeren you’re going to have to invest in a cab ride to get out of Brussels proper (you could drive…but that would ruin all the fun you’re about to have). While you’re not heading to De Heeren just for the beer — a half dozen taps and 300 bottles are nothing to sneeze at — you should enjoy the selection, which features a huge collection of vintage bottles of Orval, without worrying about the trip home. You’re headed here though for the incredible food, a lot of which is prepared with, you guessed it, beer. We suggest you work up an appetite and indulge in the monthly beer-paired dinners, which, unsurprisingly, features incredible local brews.

The Hop Museum / Poperinge

While Belgian beers are typically far less hoppy than American craft beers, hops are obviously still an important ingredient. Poperinge, close to the French border and the high-speed rail transit hub in Lille, is the home of the vast majority of Belgium’s hop production, and thus a worthy detour. In addition to the farms, the town is home to the Hopmuseum, an institution dedicated to everyone’s favorite plant, which you obviously will want to visit. And, if you’re lucky enough to time your visit right, you can take in the triennial beer and hop festival, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Moeder Lambic Original

This unique bar is an absolute must for the Lambic lovers out there. Unlike most of the great bars you’ll visit in Belgium, the script is flipped here, with a focus on taps — though their bottle list is nothing to skip over either. The spot is quiet, laid back, and has a nice neighborhood vibe — when they aren’t blasting techno (which happens here, though not as often as at their second location). About that second location in the center of town: it’s hard to miss with a grand metal and glass canopy that covers some outdoor seating.

The Zythos Bierfestival

In’t Spinnekopke

This cozy, dimly spot is a quick walk from the Grote Market in Brussels. The beer menu isn’t massive like at other spots, but you will find some great, familiar Belgian brews at prices you would kill for at home. It’s also not the only place — even on this list — to cook with beer, but it’s been churning out solid pub-like fare since well before it was the trendy thing to do. We suggest you settle in and enjoy the incredible mussels in Maredsous broth with a side of fries.

Duvel Moortgat Brewery

We haven’t made our way back to the Moortgat brewery — where Duvel is brewed — since their purchase of Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing and subsequent partnership with Firestone Walker out in Paso Robles, but it’s not like Moortgat was a small operation before they decided to double-down on their American operations. This might be a commercial brewery but the tour is well worth it, as is the tasting room where you can enjoy a light meal along with a number of Moortgat’s brews, from the aforementioned Duvel to Maredsous and d’Achouffe.

A la Mort Subite

At this classic, 100+ year-old Brussels bar — with a name that translates to The Sudden Death you’re just as likely to find locals, tourists and wandering Eurocrats. With rows of tightly packed wooden tables its easy to find yourself drawn into conversations with your neighbor, especially when it gets busy. The bar’s name derives from the house special Gueuze and Lambic, but if those aren’t your thing there’s a solid list of other local beers. Either way, the atmosphere makes the bar well worth a visit.

Brouwerij De Dolle

If you’re a fan of Craft Beer in the U.S., especially the vibe you often encounter in a tasting room – you know the vibe that says “hey, we might not have been around as long as established breweries but we make damn good and interesting beer – then you have to head to the tiny village of Esen. De Dolle Brouwers was founded in 1980 around the same time that the U.S. Craft Beer movement was just kicking off as well. They’re pioneers of the hoppier versions of Belgian beers that have now become popular and have a history of brewing some really amazing creations.

Published: July 23, 2015

• 14 Places In Belgium Every Beer Lover Needs To Put On Their Bucket List | VinePair
• https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/14-places-in-belgium-every-beer-lover-needs-to-put-on-their-bucket-list/
• beer, Travel
• Why You’ll Find The Best Cider in Normandy | VinePair
• https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/why-youll-find-the-best-cider-in-normandy/
• Kathleen Willcox
• wbs_cat Cider, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Calvados, cider, france, normandy, Wine

THE 10 BEST Brussels Breweries

Breweries in brussels.

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1. Cantillon Brewery

2. Poechenellekelder

3. BBP Dansaert

4. BrewSpot

5. L'Ermitage Nanobrasserie

6. Brasserie Surrealiste (Brewery)

7. Brasserie de la Senne

8. Beerstorming

9. Brasserie de Brunehaut

10. La Source Beer Co.

11. Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery

What travelers are saying

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• Cantillon Brewery
• BBP Dansaert
• L'Ermitage Nanobrasserie
• Brasserie de la Senne
• Beerstorming
• Poechenellekelder

Brussels’ breweries

09 February 2022

The reputation of Belgian beers has long since spread beyond our borders. Over the last ten years, Brussels has seen a renewed interest in artisanal production and craft beers.

The capital is home to the iconic Brasserie Cantillon, a true historical Brussels brewing gem, but today, a dozen or so young breweries are revisiting the great classics. Brussels' brewers are creating, testing, modernising... they don't want to simply rest on their laurels and are bringing a modern approach to Brussels' brewing heritage. Most of them are located along the banks of the canal and in the neighbourhood around Tour & Taxis, as well as in Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht.

If you don't know them yet, read on to discover the capital's emblematic breweries.

La Source Beer Co

La Source Beer Co  is a micro-brewery, coupled with a bar, set up at Be-Here . Couple Mathieu Huygens and Nina Carleer, produce 15 or so artisanal beers. A special feature of the place is that five vats have been fitted with taps, allowing you to drink straight from “the source”. 

Brasserie de la Senne

Yvan De Baets and Bernard Leboucq were among those who initiated the revival of craft beer in the Belgian capital with Brasserie de la Senne .  They strive to produce naturally brewed beers using quality ingredients. Their beers - Taras Boulba, Zinnebir and Zenne Pils - all have a beautiful, deep and floral bitterness, the kind that whets the appetite and quenches your thirst! They can all be sampled in the bar on site.

En Stoemelings

En Stoemelings  is the brewery of Samuel Languy and Denys Van Elewyck, two friends who are passionate about  craft  beer. They have been brewing together for almost 10 years, first "en stoemelings" (Brussels dialect for 'in secret') and then in a genuine brewery. Their beers revisit Belgium's great classics: triple, white, blonde, amber... 

Cantillon brewery has a family history, that of the Van Roy-Cantillon family. This historic brewery, founded in 1900 in Anderlecht, still brews in the traditional way. This is where the famous local bacteria, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, spontaneously ferments the wort, before it is put into barrels and becomes lambic, then gueuze. The gueuzes and lambics from Cantillon brewery are true legends that are exported around the world. But luckily you don't need to go far, as you can taste on site. 

Beerstorming

Saint-Gilles. More than just a brewery, Beerstorming is, above all, an original concept that invites groups of beer lovers to "brainstorm" and create their own beers. Apprentices are then involved in every stage of the brewing process. There is also a system for voting for other brews. The ones with the most votes are marketed for 3 months.

L' Annexe

Grégoire Berthon and Max Lagrillière have been friends since school and both have been passionate about beer since they were old enough to drink it. In 2017, they opened L'Annexe , their own brewery and fermentation facility, where, in addition to beer, they produce other fermented drinks. They work with old recipes that they bring up to date and do not hesitate to market.

Ermitage nanobrasserie

In 2013, Henry, François and Nacim were roommates and passionate about beer. They lived together on rue de l'Ermitage in Ixelles, hence the brewery 's name. It was in their kitchen that they tested their first brews. After several years of trial and error, the beers with the sweet names of Lantern, Emperor's Theorem, Soleil and Noire du Midi were born and are a real success. Taste them in their Anderlecht taproom or in their famous bar on rue de Moscou in Saint-Gilles.

It took two years to go from the idea of creating a cooperative of micro brewers to the inauguration of CoHop , at Arsenal in Etterbeek in 2022. The concept? Simple! A pooling of production tools. Four brewers take turns sharing the tanks: Janine, Witloof, DrinkThatBeer & 1B2T (1 beer = sandwich). On site, a brewpub equipped with 24 pumps allows you to enjoy the diversity of these productions; in moderation, of course.

Brasserie surréaliste

Opened in 2021, Brasserie surréaliste, run by the Grison brothers has an ambitious goal: to engage (almost...) all your senses. Firstly taste, of course, with an impressive collection of beers, including its flagship, the "Surrealist", but also a series of delicious IPAs. The venue also appeals to your senses through its imagery, created with the help of Brussels artist Elzo Durt and through its setting, a former Art Nouveau banana warehouse built in 1932, which housed the workshop of milliner Coppens. Finally, the music, DJ sets and artistic events complete this highly addictive sensory feast nestled in the heart of the Dansaert district.

You'll find La Jungle micro-brewery in the Studio CityGate in Anderlecht. Christophe, Félix and Martin, the co-founders, strive to reinterpret classic Belgian and German beers, using European ingredients. In July 2020, "La Saison du Kanaal" was born: a blonde beer, with a slight bitterness and peppery flavour.

Brasserie de la Mule

Joël Galy opened the Mule brewery in 2021, 60 years after the Roelants brewery - the last one to operate in Schaerbeek - had closed. This is a real revival of the Brussels commune's brewing past. With organic ingredients, the brewer produces typical German beers: Lager, Hefeweizen, Helles, Kölsch and Altbier. Some have more flavour, others are fruitier or have a low alcohol content. For a drink, go to Bar de la Mule, in the Écuries Van de Tram, in Schaerbeek's historical centre. The bar also organises activities, games and concerts and you can even buy your bottles of beer to go.

Brussels Beer Project

The Brussels Beer Project concept is one of co-creation. Gone are the great classics, here beer has evolved and modernised. Their most popular beers are the Delta IPA, Grosse Bertha and Babylone. BBP is always offering something new. Olivier and Sébastien dream up about forty new beers every year. The two enthusiasts create them through meetings with brewers or members of their community. Curious? Head to their taproom to taste their latest creations. 

Brussels, beer capital of the world

Brussels is overflowing with must-visit spots for beer lovers, and is justifiably known as the beer capital of the world. Have you heard of Belgian Beer World and its breathtaking rooftop terrace, The Beerlab ? Ever sampled the craft beers from breweries such as La Source and En Stoemelings ? Does the Wanderlust beer festival ring a bell?  Explore all that Brussels has to offer!

But also...

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21x The Best Belgian Beer to Try on Your Next Trip

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While some might still be wondering whether Belgium is a country or not, most people are aware that Belgium and beer have an unmistakable connection.

As one of the smallest countries in the world, we have a large and diverse beer production with over 1600 different types in 2015 (Hilde Deweer, Alle Belgische bieren ) although not all of them are still being brewed.

Since I’m not a beer drinker at all (in fact, it was only last summer that I ordered my first ever beer—while doing research on Brussels for this website and I wanted a nice picture with a beer bottle).

I asked Belgian and international travel bloggers to recommend their favourite Belgian beer! Some of them made it a sport to try as many beers in Belgium as they could.

I hope that with this article you get challenged to do the same!

Types of Belgian beer

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Few countries have such a connection as Belgium does with beer. Although the Belgians aren’t the biggest drinkers themselves, most enjoy a good glass of beer at the weekend.

Some beers are the perfect refreshment for a hot summer day and others are more suitable to be enjoyed indoors on a cold winter evening: there’s a great beer for just about any time you might visit Belgium .

Then why is Belgium called “ the number one country for beer “?

The Belgian beer culture goes way back to the Middle Ages when all professions were organized in guilds. We know from archives that the beer brewers guild was founded in 1385.

This means the beer-making tradition goes back to age-old traditions that are still partly in use nowadays.

UNESCO has recognized the Belgian beer culture as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, giving it the same connotation as Argentinian tango and Brazilian samba.

Belgian Beer Styles: What makes Belgian beer unique?

With over 250 breweries and an enormous amount of 2000+ original beers available, one begins to wonder how it’s possible to create all those different kinds.

The way of brewing and the ingredients determine the colour and taste of the beer . The combination of both factors offers endless possibilities, resulting in a variety of sweet, fruity, bitter, herbal or sour types of beer.

There are four different fermentation processes in use in Belgium:

📌 High fermentation (Ale) : The fermentation process happens at temperatures from 15 to 25 degrees Celcius. The yeast forms a blanket over the beer and ferments on top of it.

📌 Low fermentation (Lager) : The fermentation process happens at lower temperatures of 4 to 13 degrees Celcius. The yeast drops to the bottom of the tank where it ferments.

📌 Mixed fermentation : This type of beer is formed by mixing high-fermented beers with spontaneously fermented ones and adding another type of yeast

📌 Spontaneous fermentation (Lambic/Gueuze) : Fermentation happens naturally by exposing the liquid to the open air. 86 different types of natural yeasts can be found in the air. This is the original beer brewing process, but as the process is much harder to control, very few beers nowadays are produced this way (the big exception being Lambic & Gueuze beers).

🍺 Pils : a low-fermented beer that’s very popular and known worldwide. In Flanders, you get this kind when you order a pintje . Famous examples are Cristal Alken , Jupiler , Maes and Stella Artois .

🍺 White/Wheat beer : a highly fermented beer that is often unfiltered and a bit cloudy. Examples are Hoegaarden , St. Bernardus Wit , Blanche de Namur and Wittekerke .

🍺 Lambic & Gueuze : Lambic is a spontaneously fermented beer with a copper to amber colour produced in the Zenne Valley close to Brussels. A Gueuze beer is created by mixing old and young Lambics.

Examples are Kriek Lindemans , Lindemans Framboise , Timmermans Oude Gueuze and Belle-Vue Gueuze .

🍺 Trappist : Abbey beer that is brewed by monks. Only 11 breweries worldwide are allowed to carry the Authentic Trappist Product label – 6 of them can be found in Belgium.

They usually carry the name of a village or town referring to the abbey situated at that location. Well-known examples are Leffe , Westvleteren , Westmalle and Grimbergen .

🍺 Speciality beer : the rest of the beers that don’t fit any of the former categories. There’s a great variety of flavours. Examples are Duvel , Brugse zot , Brugge Blond and Gouden Carolus .

Top Belgium beer brands

These are the best Belgium beers, not in a particular order! All of them were chosen by Belgian and international travel bloggers and sampled in Belgium!

#1 Westvleteren 12

Trappist | 10.2% | St. Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren

I have tried many famous Belgian beers. In fact, my husband and I spent a week touring around Belgium to specifically try as many beers as we could. I would have to say that, hands down, Westvleteren 12 is my favourite. It’s a 10.2% ABV quadruple style beer and consistently in the top 10 on beer rating sites . Westvleteren 12 is brewed at the Trappist Abbey of St. Sixtus in Vleteren, and is a little hard to get a hold of outside of their tasting room next door. You must make an appointment through a notoriously busy website/phone line to pick up a maximum of 24 beers. I was able to try it at the tasting room as well as buy one in Bruges. They are not inexpensive and they do not have labels! It pours dark brown and tastes a little sweet (but not too sweet) with caramel and molasses notes; very complex. It’s smooth and delicious! I cannot wait to have another someday back in Belgium. By Theresa from Adventures in Middle Aged Travel

#2 Chimay Tripel

Trappist, Tripel | 8% | Abbey of Notre Dame de Scourmont

Ah, Belgian beer. I have a real love, hate relationship with the stuff. While there aren’t many Belgian beers I would choose over a good German or, better yet, Czech, beer; the one standout in the field for me, however, is Chimay Tripel. This brewed elixir of the gods (I can call it that since it is made by Trappist monks), has a heavenly, foamy head resting on a slightly cloudy golden brew. Its slight fruit and floral notes are counterbalanced perfectly by the hint of bitterness that I love. My first taste of Chimay tripel was at the Cafe Rose Red in Bruges, Belgium. Trust me, they know their beer and exactly how to serve it. But if you don’t want to put your taste buds at risk, just order a Chimay Tripel poured into a signature, thick glass goblet, you won’t be sorry. by Jim at Reflections Enroute

#3 Hoegaarden

Witbier | 4.9% | Brewery De Kluis

My favourite Belgian beer is Hoegaarden. This refreshing white beer is the perfect thirst quencher on a warm sunny day. Hoegaarden beer was born in 1445 which makes it the original Belgian white beer and is widely regarded as the benchmark for white beers because of its low bitterness level and low complexity, making it an easy beer to drink and like.  It has a balanced taste that starts with hints of citrus and coriander, then evolves to banana, cinnamon and spices, to leave your mouth watering as you yearn for the next sip. Hoegaarden is best served in its own signature hexagon glass and tastes even better when you drink it close to its source in Belgium. I haven’t had the chance to visit the brewery yet, but I can tell you from personal experience that it tastes amazing on a terrace in the Belgian city of Ghent too. By Tom & Zi from Craving Adventure

#4 Bourgogne des Flandres

Red Ale | 5% | Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres

One of my favourite Belgian beers is Bourgogne des Flandres. This is considered to be a light ale beer originating in the Flemish region of Belgium. The beer has about 6% alcohol and is slightly bitter.  The colour of the beer is sort of like dark cola brown. It tastes well when chilled.  We went on a brewery tour of the Bourgogne des Flandres complex in Bruges and completely loved it. The brewery is located by the canal, and after an educational tour, sitting by the restaurant and sampling the beer is one of our favourite memories from Belgium. Highly recommend trying Bourgogne des Flandres when you are in Belgium next! By Mayuri from 2 day Itinerary

#5 Sint Bernardus Abt 12

Quadrupel dark brown Ale | 10% | Brewery St. Bernardus

As a Belgian, my absolute favourite beer is Sint-Bernardus Abt 12. At 10% alcohol percentage, it is not a good idea to start chucking this dark aromatic quadruple. It is very much a beer that has to be savoured. In fact: if you are looking for the perfect beer to have long philosophical conversations over in the middle of a beautiful historical square in Ghent, Antwerp or even Bruges? Then this is it! Sint-Bernardus Abt 12 is widely considered to be one of the best beers in the world . In Belgium, it is a badly kept secret that Sint-Bernardus Abt 12 is basically the same beer as Westvleteren. Both beers are brewed only a couple of kilometres apart from the same recipe (by brewmaster Mathieu Szafranski) and even the same yeast strain making both beers practically indistinguishable by taste.  By Lieze from Glitter Rebel

#6 La Chouffe

Pale Ale | 8% | Brewery d’Achouffe

I have tried more than one type of Belgian beer. But the best experience was with Chouffe beer. It has a rich flavour. The beer has the flavour of ripe banana, peach, and a bit of whiff of white cardamom.  It has a dominant aroma of bubble gum and Bosc pear with a pinch of honey-like maltiness. After the initial malt taste, the bear has a note of Asian pear. Truly classic, the Chouffe beer has an ivory-coloured creamy head. The flavour unfolds the aroma of sweet banana, candy-like malt, and a pinch of pepperiness. It all concludes with strong alcoholic warmth. I tried this bear in Belgium and it was a mix of sweet, sour, and malty Belgian experience. The village of La Chouffe can be visited with a day trip from Brussels. It is easily available at Belgian bars. By Paulina from Paulina on the Road

#7 Gouden Carolus Tripel

Tripel | 9% | Brewery Het Anker

Honestly, I didn’t understand what beer was all about until I tasted Gouden Carolus Tripel. This award-winning beer is made with an abundance of hops and has a rich flavour. It was  first brewed over 500 years ago and to this day, it continues to be made according to ancient traditions by Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen. I had my first glass of Gouden Carolus at the Beer Wall in Brugge, overlooking the water. It was a revelation and a life-changing experience. While pretty difficult to find outside Belgium , I recommend you look for it next time you visit. You won’t regret it! By Laura from Travelers Universe

#8 Tripel LeFort

Tripel | 8.8% | Brewery Omer vander Ghinste

I have many favourite Belgian beers, and one of them is a tripel. Le Fort, called the best tripel in the world in 2016 and 2018, is a golden blonde beer. It has a high alcohol content (8.8%) and is made refreshingly delicious by its fruity and complex aroma and taste. While it’s good with any meat dish, it is also perfect to drink on its own. I had my first taste of it in Bruges, but you can also buy it in any supermarket in Belgium. Brasserie LeFort, a family-owned brewery in Bellegem (near Kortrijk), also produces a traditional blond beer, Omer, and Max Kriek, among others, aside from Le Fort. They have a two-hour tour (€12) of their brewery every day, advance reservation needed. By Aleah from Guide to Belgium

#9 Belle-Vue Kriek

Lambic | 5.2% | Brewery Belle-Vue

Kriek lambic (or just Kriek for short) is a cherry flavoured Belgian beer that’s made by fermenting lambic with sour cherries. It’s the ideal beer for people who like slightly sweeter flavoured drinks, and was my introduction to the world of Belgian beers! I used to drink it at our local Belgian Beer Cafe in Auckland, New Zealand, so when I finally visited Belgium for the first time, you can bet it’s the first drink I ordered at the bar.. And many more times as we travelled around Brussels and Ghent. Of course, in Belgium, there are many different varieties and brands of kriek beer, but my favourite will always be Belle-Vue Kriek which was served on tap at our local and served up with a side of Belgian fries! By Nadine from Le Long Weekend

#10 Vedett Extra Blond

Blond Ale | 5.2% | Brewery Duvel-Moortgat

Our favourite Belgian beer is easy to remember but hard to find in the US! We love Vedett Extra Blond and tried it first in an Amsterdam cafe. We just arrived from the US and it was our first meal in Europe. We asked the waiter what his favourite beer was and he brought out Vedett. We proceeded to look for it each time we ate out! It is a light and crisp premium lager. By Jennifer from Family Trip Guides

Golden Ale | 8.5% | Brewery Duvel-Moortgat

Duvel is one of Belgium’s most popular beers and an absolute must-try. I tried it in Brussels for the first time but it’s very widely represented. It’s considered a strong pale ale and has more than 8% alcohol content which is quite surprisingly strong. You definitely can’t taste it! The taste is absolutely delicious and one of my favourites. By Victoria from Guide Your Travel

#12 Westmalle

Tripel Trappist | 9.5% | Brewery Westmalle

One of the more popular Trappist beers , Westmalle, is a Belgian Beer to try when in Belgium or otherwise. One of my favourites, it is a malty and blond Trappist, that is intense yet quite favourable and goes best with fish, so one to try when having mussels! I tried it when I was in Ghent, and it is available at most restaurants throughout Belgium.  By Lavina from Continent Hop

Trappist | 6.2% | Abbaye Notre Dame d’Orval

Orval is a medium-bodied, hoppy Trappist beer with an orange glow.

It is the only beer brewed by Abbaye Notre Dame d’Orval and is now one of the most sought-after beers in the world.

This Belgian Trappist beer is brewed with citrusy hops and has a complex taste profile. It has distinct fruitiness, a touch of caramel, and earthy, peppery bitterness.

It’s also dry-hopped and bottle fermented with the yeast Brettanomyces, making it a herbal-dry beer that’s unique in the entire world .

🍺 If you’re going to try Orval, note that it’s best served at 12°C – 14°C (54°F – 57°F) using the typical Orval chalice glass .

🍽️ It’s also good when paired with cheese, soup, or breadsticks wrapped in Iberico ham.

#14 Blanche De Bruxelles

White Beer | 4.5% | Lefebvre Brewery

Blanche de Bruxelles is a light-bodied white beer you can enjoy on any day!

It’s brewed with 40% soft wheat and only has a modest level of alcohol, making this beer soft, smooth, and perfect for a relaxing time.

Blanche de Bruxelles has an opalescent colour and a white, dense head.

It’s mostly sweet with a hint of wheat and yeast. You can also taste and smell the coriander and orange peel that are added during wort boiling. 

🍺 This white beer is best served on a branded straight glass with the sediment and at 7.2°C – 10°C (45°F – 50°F) .

🍽️ You will also appreciate the taste of Blanche de Bruxelles better when paired with Thai dishes or food that include white fish, poultry, mussels, slow-cooked pork, Brie cheese, and hard tangy cheeses.

#15 Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge

Flanders Red Ale | 5.5% | Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste

This unique beer is a Flemish sour ale that was brewed in the traditional way. It’s a lambic, 100% foeder beer left to mature in oak casks for 18 months .

Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge has a sour and complex but well-balanced taste.

This beer has a hint of woody flavour and a creamy mouth feel too. It also gives off the aroma and aftertaste of vanilla, cocoa, and cherries.

🍺 For the best taste, Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge is poured at 4°C – 6 °C (39.2° F – 42.8°F) serving temperature.

🍽️ And for an excellent culinary experience, pair this red ale with Belgian grey shrimp or fresh goat’s cheese.

#16 Boon Geuze Mariage Parfait

Gueuze | 8% | Brouwerij Boon

Next on our list is this Gueuze beer that mainly consists of lambic that was aged in oak barrels for at least 3 years . It also contains unmalted wheat and barley malt and about 5% young lambic to generate the sparking.

Geuze Mariage Parfait is brewed in the brewery’s finest and oldest barrels . This helps give the beer more depth of flavour that is not commonly found in other types of beers.

This beer has a mild, sour berry taste that combines well with the aroma from the oak barrels.

It’s also sourer than traditional gueuze and acidic enough to cut through the deep sweetness to create an unforgettable flavour.

🍺 Geuze Mariage Parfait is best served at 12°C (53.6°F) . It’s also better enjoyed using its corresponding traditional Geuze Boon glass.

#17 Straffe Hendrik

Quadrupel | 11% | Brouwerij De Halve Maan

If you’re craving some dark, full-bodied beer , Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel will be a tasteful answer.

It’s the first Belgian Quadrupel beer that was ever made !

Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel boasts distinct flavours from special malts, coriander, anis, dark fruit, and roasted chestnuts. This beer gives off a spicy aroma and slightly treacly aftertaste.

Its intense dark brown colour and light head will also look so inviting when served on its designated glass: an elegant, tulip-shaped glass with a tall stem.

🍺 And if you want to enjoy its clean darkness in the best way possible, pour it at 8°C (46.4°F) serving temperature .

🍽️ Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel will also work well when paired with red meat and chocolate desserts.

Blonde Ale | 8% | Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste

With a lovely golden colour and thin white head, Omer Traditional Blond is a top-fermented beer that’s a product of 130 years of brewing knowledge and tradition.

This beer is brewed with carefully selected ingredients that resulted in a full-flavoured, fruity beer with only a hint of bitterness.

These ingredients include high-quality barley malt from France, a special yeast, and three varieties of selected aromatic hops.

🍺 Omer Traditional Blond is best served at 4-6°C (39.2°F – 42.8°F) .

🍽️ If you want to pair this beer with dinner, try it with sole meunière (a traditional Belgian dish). You will also find mussels made with Omer to be a flavourful delicacy.

#19 Corsendonk Pater

Dubbel | 6.5% | Brouwerij Corsendonk

Corsendonk Pater is a strong Belgian ale that’s top-fermented and bottle conditioned.

It has a dark, reddish brown colour, thick tan head, and a combination of aromas, including plum, figs, raisins, apples, cherries, roasted malt, caramelized sugar, spice, and chocolate.

This is a smooth and dry beer that’s mild on the palate. You can taste caramelized malt, ripe fruit, toasted bread, liquorice, coffee, and caramel which culminated in a well-balanced bitterness.

🍺 10°C – 12.7°C (50°F – 55°F) is the suggested pouring temperature to best enjoy the Corsendonk Pater Dubbel Ale. You can use either a goblet, snifter, or chalice for drinking.

🍽️ And for perfect dish pairings, I suggest roast pork and beef dishes.

This beer will also taste great when served alongside chocolates or buttery-style cheeses, like Guoda and Brie.

#20 De Koninck

Spéciale Belge | 5.2% | Brouwerij De Koninck

De Koninck is the flagship beer of Brouwerij De Koninck which is served on a glass called bolleke.

Locals actually simply call De Koninck beer ‘bolleke’ when ordering in pubs, especially in Antwerp where it’s from.

This beer is brewed using pale barley malt, caramelized malts, and Saaz-Saaz hopes. It has a pretty amber colour and a frothy, creamy collar which should be about two fingers thick when poured into the glass.

De Koninck is a mild beer which masks its alcohol content. It has a zesty, slightly bitter taste where hints of caramel malt, banana, and fruitiness are also evident.

🍺 And to enjoy these flavours better, serve the beer at 4 – 5 °C (40° F – 41 °F) .

🍽️ This Belgian beer is also great when paired with pizza, pork fillet, salmon, and dishes prepared with soy sauce.

Desserts containing vanilla and tropical fruits are excellent pairs for De Koninck too!

Trappist, Quadrupel | 11.3% | Brasserie de Rochefort

Rochefort 10 is a strong Trappist beer with a deep-brown colour and cream-coloured froth.

It’s the darkest beer that Rochefort Brewery makes and is complete with a complex mixture of flavours. This is another beer in Belgium that you shouldn’t miss!

It’s brewed using natural spring water from the local Tridaine spring . Included in its ingredients are Munich malt, pale malt, unmalted grain, coriander, and candy sugar, among others.

Rochefort 10 has a dominant taste of latte coffee and a distinct chocolate aroma. There are also hints of citrus, cloves, and spices.

🍽️ These flavours go well with lamb shanks, burgers, truffles, and cheesecake, to name a few.

🍺 This beer is best served at 8°C – 14°C (46°F – 57°F) pouring temperature. It’s also meant to be served in its proprietary Rochefort tulip-shaped glass

Best Belgian Beer Tours

Best beer tours in brussels, 🍺 hungry mary’s famous beer and chocolate tour.

⭐  RATING: 5/5 ( 1035 reviews ) | ⏳   TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours and 30 minutes | 💰   CHECK PRICE

Hungry Mary is one of the most popular beer tours in Brussels .

The tour is not even limited to tasting authentic Belgian beers alone. It also highlights the world-famous flavours of the chocolates in Belgium.

Hungry Mary’s beer and chocolate tour starts with chocolate tasting where you get to enjoy at least 10 excellent flavours . These include salted butter caramel, fruit fillings, crunchy hazelnut mixture, and basil.

You will then visit three bars within the Grand Place. These local taverns will offer beer samplers for new and unique Belgian beer flavours .

“Marie & Lil took us on an amazing tour of Brussels which included 12 chocolates to taste and 6 Belgian beers. You also visit some of Brussels’ main tourist attractions and receive a few snacky treats along the way!” Dylan_S, May 2023 ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

Aside from beers and chocolates, the tour also includes cheese, Belgian fries, and cured meat tastings.

They also always have a friendly and knowledgeable local guide that can make the whole experience more memorable.

🍺 Brussels Chocolate, Beer, Waffle, and Belgian Whiskey All-in-One (Small Group) Tour by The Best of Brussels

⭐  RATING: 5/5 stars ( 398 reviews ) | ⏳   TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours 30 minutes | 💰   CHECK PRICE

The Best of Brussels organises this great food and beer tour in Belgium .

This is an all-encompassing experience that lets you taste amazing beers, whiskey, chocolates, and waffles while learning more about Belgium’s brewing and chocolate-making culture.

You will get to visit some of Brussels’s best local breweries and taste several exclusive concoctions.

The local guide will also indulge you in informative yet exciting stories about Belgium’s beer culture.

“Best tour ever! Avo was amazing! Lots of info/history of Brussels. The amount of food and beer that we had on this tour was incredible! And they weren’t sample sizes. They were full portions. I highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to get a full taste of Brussels. Lots of chocolate, food and beer!!” Miki_L, May 2023 ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll particularly love the chocolate-tasting portion where 12 delicious flavours will bless your taste buds. Most of these locally produced chocolate treats have recipes that originated in the 17th century.

By the end of the tour, you will choose from Brussels’ famous waffle selections which are served with fresh fruits. The combination will make your chosen Belgian beer taste a lot better!

⭐  RATING: 5/5 stars ( 376 reviews ) | ⏳   TOUR LENGTH: 2 – 3 hours | 💰   CHECK PRICE

In this walking and tasting tour organised by Soda Entertainment, you’ll be doing more than merely passing stores and stalls for quick product sampling.

Instead, you can better embrace the local culture by walking on the same path that the locals take!

“Great tour! The chocolate tasting, the beer tasting and the explanation of Brussels’ history was spot-on!” Manmeet_S, May 2023 ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

As you walk around, the guide will share interesting stories about the people, history, chocolates, and beer in Brussels.

You’ll then pass by famous landmarks , like the Grand Place and Mont des Arts. You will also be served samplers of traditional snacks that are enjoyed by locals.

And to make this tour even better, you have the choice to customize the series of shops and taverns that you’ll visit!

Best Beer Tours in Bruges

🍺 best of bruges: history, chocolate & beer tour.

⭐ RATING: 5.0 ( 132 reviews )| ⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours 30 minutes | 💰  CHECK PRICE

This is a 3-in-1 Best of Bruges tour that gets you up close with the top three highlights of Bruges tourism : historical centre, beer-brewing culture, and chocolate-making traditions.

First, you’ll get to visit one of the top-rated chocolatiers in Belgium . Here you will learn about the history and tradition behind Belgium’s famous chocolate treats.

You can also see a demo of the chocolate-making process and sample their flavours.

“Great time! Martin was a great guide…The focus isn’t just chocolate and beer, it’s a city tour with a trip to one of Bruges’ amazing chocolate shops where you get a small demo and a chance to buy chocolates…and to one of their breweries (where we ended the tour with a really tasty beer!)” Janice_M, May 2023 ( SEE REVIEWS )

The tour will then continue on a historic walk around Bruges’ UNESCO-listed, medieval centre . It will then be capped off with a visit to the local public brewery, the Bourgogne de Flandres .

You will not only taste their amazing beers but also get some insights into how they’re made.

🍺 Bruges Bites & Sites – Belgian Food, Beer & A Little Bit of History

⭐ RATING: 5.0 ( 85 reviews ) | ⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 2 to 3 hours | 💰  CHECK PRICE

This food and beer tasting tour is tailored for small groups with a maximum of 12 members per group .

It aims to give you a more personal experience with Bruges’ culinary heritage, brewing culture, and the city centre’s remarkable sights.

“We had an AMAZING time! Pascal was the best tour guide we could ask for! Amazing food, views, and beer! Highly recommend!” Jennifer_H, Jun 2023 ( SEE REVIEWS )

You will be strolling through the city centre for some epic sightseeing and food tour.

A passionate storyteller-guide will be leading your group as you learn the history behind some of Belgium’s best-loved foods.

There’s also the opportunity to taste some of the locals’ favourite food, including chocolates, waffles, and fries.

And to end your tour on the best note, learn more about the tradition of brewing and have a toast with a glass of Belgian beer!

⭐ RATING: 5.0 ( 74 reviews )| ⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours (approx.)| 💰  CHECK PRICE

In this walking tour , you will discover the brewing traditions and delicious local beers in Bruges.

It will begin within the very walls of the Bruges Beer Museum where your English-speaking guide will let you in on the city’s rich brewing culture.

“We expected to drink beer and hear everything about beer but we got so much more than that! Just do it—you won’t regret.” Jacqueline_T, Mar 2022 ( SEE REVIEWS )

There are several stops scheduled throughout the walking tour, allowing you to learn more about the city’s beer history.

And, more importantly, you’ll get to enjoy some samples of five different Belgian beers!

The tour also includes a visit to the UNESCO-listed, medieval centre in Bruges .

Where to drink the best beer in Belgium?

🍻 westvleteren brewery (visitor’s centre).

While you can never visit the actual brewery where the monks work, you can still get close by going to the visitors’ centre instead—the cafe In de Vrede .

It’s just across the street from the monastery and offers good food along with the chance to taste the rare Westvleteren 12. The centre also has an interesting exhibition depicting the life of a Trappist monk at the monastery.

Getting to In de Vrede is quite hard via public transport. But if you’re driving a car, it will only be about 1 hour away from Bruges or Ostend.

📍 Location : Donkerstraat 13, Westvleteren, Vleteren 8640 Belgium

🍻 Delirium Cafe

If you love beer, you can’t visit Belgium without dropping by Delirium Cafe. They first made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004 by offering 2,004 different beers. Now, their wide range of options even expanded to 3,162 beers !

Delirium Cafe offers all kinds of famous Belgian beers, as well as beers from over 60 different countries. They even serve some unusual beers, like banana beers, chocolate beers, gluten-free beers, and beers with hot pepper and gingerbread, to name a few.

And if you ever feel overwhelmed choosing from their 60-page menu , don’t hesitate to ask the staff for recommendations. They know everything about beers and can serve yours on the right glass and with the right pouring technique.

📍 Location : Imp. de la Fidélité 4, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

🍻 Brussels Beer Project

If you want to experience the famous Belgian craft beers but with a modern touch, go to the Brussels Beer Project. This project was started by Sébastien Morvan and Olivier de Brauwere in 2013 and is now offering unique beers to the public.

The Brussels Beer Project is easy to get to since it’s just a 20-minute walk away from the Brussels Central Station . If you visit, you’ll get to choose from numerous craft beers made by professional brewers, not only from Belgium but from other countries as well.

The project’s main goal is to introduce new flavours through a bold, creative, and collaborative way of brewing. Included in their offerings is the first-ever beer that was brewed with recycled bread.

They brew one new beer every week and if you visit at the right time, you might just be one of the first people who get to taste it!

📍 Location : Rue Antoine Dansaert, 188, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

🍻 The Grand Place (Grote Markt)

For a more complete Belgium experience, try pairing your excellent beer with a fantastic view at the Grand Place, also known as Grote Markt (Dutch for “Grand Market”).

It’s always satisfying to sip a dark beer (or any beer you choose) while you’re sitting at one of the converted guild halls and enjoying the view of 17th-century architecture.

Note, though, that the Grand Place is the central square of Brussels and beer prices might be higher than in other places . But the good news is that the view and overall experience will more than make up for it.

After all, the Grand Place is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and in the whole world. It’s also been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

📍 Location : Grand Place Brussels Main Square, Brussels 1000 Belgium

Moeder Lambic is hands-down one of the best craft beer pubs in Belgium . They offer about 40 different bars on tap ; a varied selection that ranges from popular to rare flavours.

They also change their guest beers regularly so you can look forward to something in every visit. And aside from the great beer selection, the overall atmosphere and experience in this place are for the books.

You can simply relax with your friends or loved ones as you try various beers and appreciate the aesthetically pleasing view, from their modern interior to the charming view of Fontainhas Square.

📍 Location : Pl. Fontainas 8, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Belgian Beer Culture

Belgian beer glasses.

Very typical for the beer culture in Belgium is the use of elaborate glasses for each different type of beer .

When you order a drink, you’ll always get your preferred choice served in its own glass—unless the pub ran out of the glass in which case they will excuse themselves for serving it in a different glass.

Each glass comes in its own specific shape to aid the aroma, colour and large heads of the beer. It will also wear the name of the beer, often in quite bold letters.

Fruit beers are often served in champagne-like flutes , while the tulip shape is commonly used for beers such as Duvel and many others. Abbey beers are often served in goblets or chalices , a large bowl-shaped glass on a high stem.

Cooking with Belgian Beer

Traditionally, a couple of famous Belgian dishes are made with beer as an important ingredient. The most well-known one is Flemish stew ( Carbonade/Stoofvlees ) which is a beef stew that’s cooked in dark beer.

In the same way that wines are matched with each course of a meal, the same can be done with beer. In that regard, white beers combine really well with fish or seafood dishes.

Blond ales and tripel go well with chicken, while dark beers are often paired with red meat. The sweeter fruit beers are perfect to finish your dessert with.

Beer Festivals in Belgium

There are a lot of beer festivals in Belgium that you can celebrate. There’s a festival going on almost every weekend . And if you time your visit right, you can even witness up to 6 festivals happening on a weekend!

These beer festivals can be small-town gatherings or grander celebrations observed in an entire region or the whole country.

Some of my most beloved Belgian beer festivals include:

🍻 Zythos Beer Festival

Every year at the end of April , the Zythos Beer Festival is held in the Brabanthal Exhibition Hall in Leuven . However, this fest was first celebrated on March 2004 at St. Nicholas, where it was held for many years until they moved to Leuven in 2011.

Today, you can enjoy nearly one hundred stands here staffed by different beer firms and breweries. Many local restaurants also take part in the celebration, serving dishes that include beer.

You can also enjoy a beer walk or join a beer workshop. There are also beers that will be brewed specifically for the Zythos Beer Festival , giving you the chance to taste them for the first time!

🍻 Belgian Beer Weekend

Every year, the first weekend of September is set for the celebration of the Belgian Beer Weekend (Belgisch Bierweekend) .

The fest is held at Grand Place in Brussels , hosted by the National Federation of Belgian Brewers. The Belgian Beer Weekend will then culminate on Sunday night.

You can join in the fun starting by watching the parade of historic beer carts and the local fanfare company all donned in historic costumes.

You can then visit the numerous stands where you can taste excellent beers from small, medium, and large Belgium breweries.

Brassigaume is a beer festival that has been celebrated in the village of Marbehan in Belgium every October since 2001 . You should check out this fest if you like to discover new tastes and aromas in your beer.

This is a unique festival where instead of big brands pulling more audience, more than 20 Belgian and international microbreweries come together.

Throughout this 2-day fest, you can enjoy beer tastings of more than 100 craft beers. You can also attend lectures and Q&A sessions about brewing beers. And before the event ends, don’t forget to drop by the fest’s famous Beer Shop!

Frequently Asked Questions about Belgian Beers

What beer is most popular in belgium.

Belgian-style tripel is one of the most popular beers in Belgium. It’s a strong ale that has an ABV range of 7-10%. Another popular beer style is the Belgian blonde ale. It’s slightly weaker than tripels with only 6-8% ABV.

And if you’re looking for the most popular beer brand in Belgium, Chimay and Duvel are some of the top brands that won’t disappoint. Stella Artois, one of the world’s biggest beer brands, is also located in Belgium.

What is the biggest-selling Belgian beer?

Chimay and Duvel beers are among the best-selling beers in Belgium. Chimay specializes in Trappist ales while Duvel gives you strong golden ales. Stella Artois is another beer brand in Belgium that is known worldwide. They’ve been crafting fine lager for over 600 years now.

What is Belgian beer known for?

Belgian beers are known for their unique taste which has fruity and spicy notes that balance out their sweetness and bitterness.

This is mostly due to the yeast they used in brewing, which has a floral edge that contrasts the beer’s bitterness in a good way.

Additionally, Belgian beers are known to have strong alcohol content. They mostly start at 6% which is higher than the usual 4% in other domestic beers. Also, Belgian beers are famously served in special glasses.

Who is the king of beers in Belgium?

Gambrinus is celebrated as the ‘king of lager beer’ in Belgium.

Every February, Belgian brewers will come together to celebrate the Feast of King Gambrinus, an icon of beer, brewing, joviality, and joie de vivre (joy of living).

What is the oldest Belgian beer?

Affligem Abbey was founded in 1074 and became the oldest brewery in Belgium. They’ve been brewing for nearly 1000 years and produced the original craft beer. It is now owned by the Heineken Group and brews blond, dubbel, and tripel beers.

Additionally, the oldest Trappist beer in Belgium is from Westmalle. They’re the first Belgian Trappist brewery whose production started by the end of 1836.

Written records of a brewery can be traced back to as early as 805 AD in the Mosan region of Belgium.

What is the famous Belgium drink?

Duvel is undoubtedly one of Belgium’s most popular ale. But if you’re looking for another famous Belgium alcoholic drink aside from beer, you should try Jenever.

 It’s a juniper-flavoured liquor that is considered the national spirit of Belgium. It’s also from which gin has evolved.

Why is Belgian beer the best?

Belgian beers are considered some of the best in the world due to their unique sweet and floral taste. This greatness comes from hundreds of years of brewing knowledge combined with modern technology and, more importantly, yeasts.

Belgian beers are fermented twice and use top-fermenting yeasts. This gives Belgian beers a stronger yeast flavour which comes across as fruity, malty, and less bitter than most beers.

How strong is Belgium beer?

Most beers in Belgium start at 6% ABV and average between 7-9%. Stronger beers range between 10-12% and some are even higher. For perspective, most American beers only contain 4-6% ABV.

Why is Belgian beer high in alcohol?

Unlike most beers, Belgian beers are fermented twice which gives them higher alcohol levels. They also use special yeast strains that have a higher alcohol tolerance and produce more flavour compounds during fermentation.

Also, Belgian brewers supplement malt with simpler sugars that yeast can ferment. This helps achieve higher alcohol content but without the thickness of all-malt beers that have similar strength.

How do Belgians drink beer?

Beers in Belgium are meant to be drunk in their specific corresponding glasses. Also, there are certain temperatures at which you’re supposed to enjoy a particular beer.

Generally, Belgian beers are best served at slightly below room temperature, not ice cold. But if you’re in doubt, check the bottle. They contain instructions on what temperature to drink your beer for the best enjoyment.

What is the rarest beer in Belgium?

Westvleteren 12 is the rarest beer in Belgium and in the whole world.

The monks at St. Sixtus Abbey only brew this beer once a week and sell them once every month, where each buyer can only buy up to one case (24 beers).

You can buy Westvleteren 12 at the monastery where you have to line up after you’ve set your appointment through their hotline. These are also for sale in De Vrede (The Peace), a tavern across the street from the monastery. This is where few tourists can get lucky and buy up to 6 packs per person.

The monks started beer brewing in Belgium, not small businesses. They wanted to offer special drinks to their guests but since they don’t have land that is ideal for growing grapes, they opted for beers.

Final Thoughts on the Best Belgian Beer

What do you think? Are you ready to sample every one of these most popular Belgian beers? Let us know in the comments which one is your favourite!

BELGIUM TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES  

Getting to Belgium : Fly into one of the main international airports : Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Brussels South Airport (CRL). Take an international train to Brussels South Station. Or take a ferry to Dover or The Netherlands, then drive or take the train to Belgium.

Getting Around : For the major destinations, the train is by far the best option. You can book your train tickets here . If you’d like to visit smaller places, the most convenient way would be to rent a car. We always use Discover cars , they compare all the rental companies and give you the best rates.

Accommodation : Booking.com is the most popular accommodation platform in Belgium. It’s what I use every single time.

Guided tours : Use Get Your Guide or Viator to find fun tours in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Or Guruwalk to find free walking tours in multiple destinations.

Babs Rodrigus is a travel addict at heart and loves to explore her home country Belgium and the rest of the world – preferably with her wife and kids. She’s all about showing you the most mesmerising spots in this tiny European country and making you see how great it truly is.

When she’s not travelling, Babs loves to read, write, eat chocolate (hey, Belgian remember) and sing Frozen songs with her daughter.

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The top 20 best Belgian beers

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Craft beer has been taking over the pub scene in recent years, with brews from the USA and UK competing with more established brands from across Europe. If you're a fan of small-batch beers you need to plan a trip to the place where everything began – Belgium . No matter which cities you visit, you'll discover that Belgian beer is big business for the locals and they take their brews very seriously. Remember, if you're planning a trip to Belgium, we can help. Get in touch to try our tailor-made travel service.

20 Belgian beers you need to try

Belgium's beer-making history goes back centuries and it's famous the world over as being a top beer country. Official estimates suggest that there are more than 700 beers currently in production in the pint-sized country, with the rarest and most precious given the same reverence as fine wine. With so much choice, menus can be confusing, but these top 20 Belgian beers will give your taste buds a treat.

And if you're ready to try them yourself, consider taking a food and beer tour in either Bruges or Brussels .

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Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. A high-speed train will then take you to Strasbourg, from where you'll discover the Alsace. Proceed to Basel as your base, from where you'll see plenty of Switzerland: Zermatt, Matterhorn, Mount Pilatus and much more.

1. Bush Beer (7.5% and 12%)

A Wallonian speciality, the Belgian brewery behind Bush claims that the original version is – at 12% – the strongest beer in Belgium. It tastes more like a barley wine and has a lovely golden colour and an earthy aroma. The 7.5% Bush is a tasty pale ale with a zip of coriander.

2. Brugse Straffe Hendrik (Blond 6.5%, Bruin 8.5%)

Straffe Hendrik, a smart little Belgian brewery located in the centre of Bruges , produces zippy, refreshing ales. Their Blond is a light and tangy pale ale, whereas the Bruin is a classic brown ale with a full body.

3. Chimay (red top 7%, blue top 9%)

Made by the Trappist monks of Forges-les-Chimay in southern Belgium, Chimay beers are widely regarded as being among the best in the world. Of the several brews they produce, these two are the most readily available, fruity and strong, deep in body, and somewhat spicy with a hint of nutmeg and thyme.

4. La Chouffe (8%)

Produced in the Ardennes , this distinctive beer is instantly recognizable by the red-hooded gnome (or chouffe) which adorns its label. It's a refreshing pale ale with a hint of coriander and it leaves a peachy aftertaste.

5. Corsendonk Pater Noster (5.6%)

The creation of Jef Keersmaekers, this bottled beer is easily the pick of the many Corsendonk brews. It is known for its Burgundy-brown colour and smoky bouquet.

6. Gouden Carolus (8%)

Named after – and allegedly the favourite tipple of – the Habsburg emperor Charles V, Gouden Carolus is a full-bodied dark brown ale with a sour and slightly fruity aftertaste. Brewed in the Flemish town of Mechelen .

7. Delirium Tremens (9%)

This popular spicy amber ale is the leading product of Ghent's Huyghe brewery. There are even Delirium-owned craft beer bars across Europe in cities including Brussels, Lisbon and Amsterdam – the Brussels branch has over 3,000 beers to try from around the world.

Delerium Tremens with its distinctive pink elephant label is a must-try Belgian beer @ Pixabay

8. De Koninck (5%)

Antwerp 's leading brewery, De Koninck, is something of a Flemish institution – and for some a way of life. Its standard beer, De Koninck, is a smooth, yellowish pale ale that is better on draft than in the bottle. Very drinkable and with a sharp aftertaste.

9. Lambic (Cantillon Lambik 5%, Lindemans Lambik 4%)

Specific to the Brussels area and representing one of the world's oldest styles of beer making, lambic beers are tart because they are brewed with at least thirty percent raw wheat as well as the more usual malted barley. The key feature is, however, the use of wild yeast in their production, a process of spontaneous fermentation in which the yeasts of the atmosphere gravitate down into open wooden casks over a period of between two and three years. Draught lambic is extremely rare, but it is served in central Brussels at A la Bécasse . The bottled varieties are often modified, but Cantillon Lambik is authentic, an excellent drink with a lemony zip. It is produced at the Cantillon brewery, in Anderlecht, which is home to the Gueuze Museum (see below). Lindemans Lambik is similar and a tad more commonplace.

10. Gueuze (Cantillon Gueuze Lambic 5%)

Another type of Belgian beer rather than an individual brew, gueuze is made by blending old and new lambic to fuel re-fermentation, with the end result being bottled. This process makes gueuze a little sweeter and fuller-bodied than classic lambic. Traditional gueuze can be hard to track down and you may have to settle for the sweeter, more commercial brands, notably Belle Vue Gueuze (5.2%), Timmermans Gueuze (5.5%) and the exemplary Lindemans Gueuze (5.2%).

11. Hoegaarden (5%)

The role model of all Belgian wheat beers, Hoegaarden – named after a small town east of Leuven – is light and extremely refreshing, despite its cloudy appearance. It is brewed from equal parts wheat and malted barley and is the ideal drink for a hot summer's day. The history of wheat beers is curious: in the late 1950s, they were so unpopular that they faced extinction, but within twenty years they had been taken up by a new generation of drinkers and are now extremely popular. Hoegaarden is as good a wheat beer as any.

Hoegaarden is easily recognisable for its distinctive octagonal glass © Marcel Bakker/Shutterstock

12. Kriek (Cantillon Kriek Lambic 5%, Belle Vue Kriek 5.2%, Mort Subite Kriek 4.3%)

Once again a type of beer rather than a particular brew, Kriek is made from a base beer to which cherries are added or, in the case of the more commercial brands, cherry juice and perhaps even sugar. It is decanted from a bottle with a cork, as with sparkling wine. The better examples are not too sweet and taste simply wonderful. Other fruit beers are available too, but Kriek is perhaps the most successful.

13. Kwak (8%)

This Flemish beer, the main product of the family-run Bosteels brewery, is not all that special – it's an amber ale sweetened by a little sugar – but it's served in dramatic style with its distinctive hourglass placed in a wooden stand.

14. Leffe (Leffe Brune 6.5%, Leffe Blond 6.6%)

Brewed in Leuven, just to the east of Brussels, Leffe is strong and malty and comes in two main varieties. Leffe Blond is bright, fragrant, and has a slight orangey flavour, whereas Leffe Brune is dark, aromatic and full of body. Very popular, but a little gassy for some tastes.

15. Orval (6.2%)

One of the world's most distinctive malt beers, Orval is made in the Ardennes at the Abbaye d'Orval, which was founded in the twelfth century by Benedictine monks from Calabria. This Belgian beer is a lovely amber colour, refreshingly bitter and makes a great aperitif.

A tasting flight is a great way to try multiple brews – especially when travelling in a group © Victor Wong/Shutterstock

16. Rochefort (Rochefort 6: 7.5%, Rochefort 8: 9.2%, Rochefort 10: 11.3%)

Produced at a Trappist monastery in the Ardennes, Rochefort beers are typically dark and sweet and come in three main versions: Rochefort 6, Rochefort 8, and the extremely popular Rochefort 10, which has a deep reddish-brown colour and a delicious fruity palate.

17. Rodenbach (Rodenbach 5%, Rodenbach Grand Cru 6.5%)

Located in the Flemish town of Roeselare, the Rodenbach brewery produces a reddish-brown ale in several different formats, with the best brews aged in oak containers. Their widely available Rodenbach (5%) is a tangy brown ale with a hint of sourness. The much fuller – and sourer – Rodenbach Grand Cru is far more difficult to get hold of but is particularly delicious.

18. Verboden Vrucht, or Forbidden Fruit (9%)

Forbidden Fruit is worth buying just for the label, which depicts a fig-leaf clad Adam offering the strategically covered Eve a glass of beer in the garden of Eden. The actual drink is dark and strong with a spicy aroma and has something of a cult following in Belgium. Produced by Hoegaarden.

19. Westmalle (Westmalle Dubbel 7%, Tripel 9%)

The Trappist monks of Westmalle, just north of Antwerp, claim their beers not only cure loss of appetite and insomnia but reduce stress as well. Whatever the truth, the prescription certainly tastes good. Their most famous beer, the Westmalle Tripel, is deliciously creamy and aromatic, while the popular Westmalle Dubbel is dark and supremely malty.

20. Westvleteren (Special 6°: 6.2%, Extra 8°: 8%)

Made at the abbey of St Sixtus in West Flanders, Westvleteren beers come in several varieties. These two are the most common, dark and full-bodied, sour with an almost chocolate-like taste.

Want to put your beer knowledge to the test? Try our world beer quiz .

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Visiting Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

Last week, Erin wrote a piece for an exciting new section on Expedia called  Expedia TRIP , wherein she shared her experience visiting one of Belgium’s Trappist breweries, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy Trappist monastery in Belgium, for those travelers like us who explore for the love of food, wine, and beer . This is the monastery that brews one of the best beers in the world, the Rochefort Trappist beer.

Erin’s piece inspired me to finally put together a post discussing the six different Trappist monasteries in Belgium that produce the world-famous Trappist beers.  So far, I have visited five of the six Trappist monasteries / breweries in Belgium. And I plan to complete my Belgium Trappist beer tour with a visit the sixth monastery (Orval) sometime this summer. (Note: We finally visited Orval in September, 2017, following the 2017 Cantillon Zwanze Day at Moeder Lambic in Brussels)

Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

The six Trappist breweries in Belgium are:

• St. Benedictus-Abbey ( Achelse Kluis ) in Achel, Belgium – Achel Beer
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Chimay, Belgium – Chimay Beer
• Abbaye d’Orval in Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium – Orval Beer
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy in Rochefort, Belgium – Rochefort Beer
• Sint-Sixtusabdij in Westvleteren, Belgium – Westvleteren Beer
• Abdij van de Trappisten van Westmalle in Westmalle, Belgium – Westmalle Beer

As seen from the Belgian Trappist breweries map, the six breweries are evenly split between the French-speaking Wallonia and the Dutch/Flemish-speaking Flanders regions of Belgium. Achel, Westmalle, and Westvleteren are from Flanders, while Chimay, Orval, and Rochefort are in Wallonia.

The only one of the five monasteries / breweries I visited where you can actually visit the brewery itself was Achel, which is also the closest to where I live in Eindhoven, making it for me the best Trappist brewery to visit in Belgium.

Rochefort was the only other monastery where I was actually able to visit into the actual monastery, but that was a very special open-house event where the monastery was raising funds for renovations, which may require to buy items from sites like Concrete Polishing Perth . On my previous visits to the abbey, I was not able to get any further than the front gate of the monastery.

At Chimay, Westmalle, and Westvleteren, a visit is actually a visit to a cafe / visitor’s center located in close proximity to the monastery and brewery. Both Westmalle and Westvleteren have cafes located just across the street from the monastery. Chimay’s Espace Chimay, or Chimay Experience, is 250-meters away from the abbey. Achel also has a cafe within the walls of Achelse Kluis. There was no cafe or visitor’s center of any sort at Rochefort, but we found a great cafe in town, La Gourmandaise.

One of my favorite aspects of visiting the cafes at the monasteries is that you can try the normal beers of the brewery, and occasionally, you can also experience special beers not produced for commercial distribution. The cafes also usually offer other products produced at the abbey, such as the monks’ cheese and pate.

Plus, there’s something special about trying these great beers straight from the source.   The beer is fresher and straight from the brewery.  You get to build that special connection that you can only experience by visiting the grounds where the beer is born.

Authentic Trappist Products

Those new to the Trappist name might wonder what it actually means and why should you care? Products that appear with the official Trappist label mean they “measure up to the quality and traditional standards rooted in the monastic life of a real Trappist community.”

Belgium Beer Road Trip

If you’re looking to plan a Belgian Monastery beer tour road trip, pick up a Belgium beer route map. You can find these in many of the beer stores. As you’re traveling between the monasteries, there are a number of other great breweries you can stop at as well.

Have you visited any of the other Trappist breweries outside of Belgium? If you didn’t know, the total count of Trappist breweries is now up to 11 thanks to a new one in Italy, which was just granted status only last year. 

This post is in partnership with Expedia’s new TRIP launch, but as always, thoughts and opinions are our own. 

• Brett Domue

By day, Brett is an Enterprise Business Architect for a large Dutch corporation, but he spends the majority of his free time scouting out craft beer, food and wine around the globe. In the past 10 years, he’s primarily lived in the Netherlands, with a few years in Taiwan in between. Brett is the co-founder of Our Tasty Travels. Despite maintaining a full-time job outside the travel blogging industry, he’s managed to travel to over 70 countries and is preparing to pursue his Cicerone certification.

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The 21 best Bruges, Belgium breweries and craft beer

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12 Must-See Abbeys In Belgium

Belgium is famous for many things but few are as widely known as the Belgian abbeys. Famous worldwide for producing some truly delicious abbey beer, Trappist abbeys in Belgium have a long-standing tradition of brewing beer. It started off as a way of offering food and lodging to travelers, and nowadays it’s a way to cover the costs of monks’ lives.

But beer certainly isn’t the only reason to visit the Belgian abbeys, especially since most of them don’t allow access to their breweries. Instead, people travel from all over the world to experience the culture and history of the abbeys, and to get a sense of the monks’ spiritual lives. Plus to buy some beers at the abbey shop.

So, if you want to discover more about Belgian abbeys and their historical and cultural importance, be sure to visit one of the 12 must-see Belgian abbeys below!

Orval Abbey

Orval Abbey is situated in Villers-devant-Orval in the province of Luxembourg. It dates back to the 12th century when it was established as a Cistercian monastery. Today, the Belgian abbey remains well known for its rich history and spiritual life, but also for the production of cheese and Trappist beer.

You won’t have any regrets if you choose to visit this Trappist monastery. Visitors are free to explore the Monastic Museum, the garden of medicinal plants, and Communs Abraham, which is the only building from the old Abbey that’s still standing. Visitors can’t tour the brewery whenever they want, so keep that in mind if your interest in Belgian abbeys is strictly related to beer brewing.

It’s worth noting that the Orval Abbey often hosts open-door days when visitors are invited to tour their brewery. However, you must sign up online if you want to tour the premises and see the production of abbey beers.

St. Benedict Abbey/Achel Abbey

St. Benedict Abbey is situated in Achel in the Limburg province of Belgium, near the Dutch border. A spiritual community existed here in Achel since the 17th century, but it didn’t get the abbey status until 1872. This is when the beer brewing in the abbey began, and monastic life in the abbey was characterized by manual work, reading, and prayer.

This abbey was closed in 2021, with the last two remaining monks moving to the Westmalle Abbey. Visitors can no longer go inside the monastery, but the abbey shop and beer hall remain open to the public. You can still purchase lots of great Trappist beer in this former abbey, and you’ll be glad to know that it’s a bit cheaper than in supermarkets!

The beer hall is where you can taste the beers and cheese that were produced in the Achel Abbey. Taste as much food and drinks as you can, so you’ll be certain what to stock up on in the abbey shop!

Westmalle Abbey

Westmalle Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Westmalle, in the Antwerp province. The community was initially founded way back in 1794, but it wasn’t until 1836 that it was elevated to an abbey. The year they got the abbey status is the year when the monks brewed their first batch of the Trappist beer, and they’ve been continuing this tradition ever since.

The Westmalle brewery is not open for public visits, but there are ways to learn so much about it that you’ll feel like you’ve actually toured it. It is possible to go for walks around the abbey, and along the way learn about the ways of life of the Trappist monks and all their artisan activities.

Also, Café Trappisten is situated just across the street from the abbey, and it has a video of the Trappist brewery. You can view this video free of charge, as well as try the beer in that locale!

St. Sixtus Abbey

Image courtesy of Bernt Rostad

St. Sixtus Abbey is situated in Westvleteren, in the province of West Flanders. It’s a classic Trappist abbey, known for the spiritual lives of monks and the Belgian beer culture. St. Sixtus Abbey is one of the few remaining abbeys in Belgium that still produce authentic Trappist beers, but unfortunately, their brewery is not open for public visits.

The history of this brewery begins in 1814 when Jan-Baptist Victor settles in the Westvleteren woods as a hermit. Monastic communities had been living here for a while prior to that, and he was eventually joined by monks from the Mont-des-Cats French abbey.

The monks cultivated the fields surrounding the abbey and produced cheese, in order to cover their costs of living. It wasn’t until 1838 that they had their first brewery expenses, and only in 1839 did they produce their first beer.

In the mid-19th century, the monks expanded the abbey to include three brew houses, a new church, and several other buildings. This Belgian abbey has been producing Westvleteren Trappist beer ever since its first brew, and even though there were some hurdles, they’ve managed to overcome every challenge they faced.

Rochefort Abbey

Rochefort Abbey is situated in Namur, and it’s one of a few remaining Trappist monasteries in Belgium. Unfortunately, they don’t offer tours of the brewery to visitors, but it is possible to explore the grounds of the monastery. You just can’t see where the beer is made, so keep that in mind if you’re interested in the Belgian abbeys specifically because of the Trappist breweries.

Rochefort abbey dates back to the early 13th century when it was established as a Cistercian monastery for nuns. The nuns were replaced by Trappist monks in the 15th century, and it’s remained like that ever since.

It’s worth noting that the Rochefort Abbey was invaded during the French Revolution, and it was sold to a man who demolished it and turned it into a farm. This was in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The abbey was restored towards the end of the 19th century, and new buildings were raised. Even a new brewery was founded on these grounds, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the brewery began manufacturing enough beer for sale.

Scourmont Abbey

Scourmont Abbey is a Trappist monastery situated in the Forges village, in Belgium’s Hainaut province. This Trappist abbey is famous for the Chimay brewery, which is one of the few remaining Belgian Trappist breweries.

The history of the abbey community dates back all the way to 1850. A group of monks established a community on the Scourmont plateau, which included a farm, a cheese creamery, and a beer brewery. The priory was granted abbey status in 1871, and since then it’s been famous for the Chimay Brewery.

It’s one of only 13 remaining Trappist breweries in the world, and they make four different kinds of beer. The abbey church and gardens can be visited any time of the year, while the Chimay brewery remains closed to the public.

It is possible to visit Espace Chimay Inn, where you can learn more about the history and tradition of the Chimay Brewery, as well as get to taste the abbey beer.

Abbey of Our Lady of Leffe

Image courtesy of stnorbert

Abbey of Our Lady of Leffe is situated in the district of Dinant on the river Meuse. The Abbey is in Wallonia province, and if you’re ever in the area, a trip to Dinant is a great idea! The lovely town has lots to offer to its visitors, including a tour of the Abbey of Leffe.

This abbey has been destroyed several times, suffering the most damage during the French Revolution. That’s when the abbey burned down, and it’s worth noting that Leffe beer hasn’t been brewed in this abbey since.

You can tour the abbey but only do so if you want to see the monastery and meet the monks. If you’re more interested in Leffe beer, you’ll want to head to Maison Leffe in Dinant. It’s also known as the Leffe Beer Museum, and here you can get an idea of how the beer is made and learn more about each of the eight kinds of Leffe beer that are brewed.

Visitors also get to try a Leffe beer of their choice, plus you have the option of heading to the museum shop to purchase chalices, beers, and other Leffe souvenirs.

Maredsous Abbey

Image courtesy of Jaime Pérez

Maredsous Abbey is situated in Anhée in the Wallonia province, and it’s one of the founding members of the Benedictine Confederation’s Annunciation Congregation. It was first founded as a priory back in 1872, but it got the abbey status rather quickly – in 1878.

The monastery and the church both remain open to the public, so there’s plenty to explore on the grounds of Maredsous Abbey. However, if you’re hoping to tour a brewery and try some Trappist beer, you’ll be a bit disappointed – Maredsous Beer is no longer brewed at the abbey. They still make excellent cheeses though, and you can try both the beers and cheese in the abbey cafeteria.

It’s worth noting that this abbey offers guided tours only in French and German. Guided tours in English must be booked privately, and they feature a set price of 125Euros for a group of up to 25 people.

Park Abbey is situated at Haverlee, south of Leuven in the Flanders province. It’s a Premonstratensian abbey that was initially founded back in the 12th century, and it’s incredibly well preserved considering its age. What’s most impressive is that this abbey has always remained inhabited since its founding!

This Belgian abbey is open for public visits and it’s one of the best abbeys to visit if you’re looking for lots of things to do. This abbey has got an incredibly rich history, lots of things to see on the grounds, and it’s even got a famous cemetery where all the legends from Leuven are buried.

Park Abbey has also re-opened the Braxatorium Parcensis brewery, and they managed to reconstruct the old brewery that was sold as metal scrap during the French Revolution. It’s not a classic Trappist brewery, but the beer is still delicious and you can taste it on the abbey grounds.

Keizersberg Abbey

Situated on Keizersberg Hill north of Leuven, the Keizersberg Abbey is perhaps the best Belgian abbey to visit if you’re into panoramic views. The hilltop location offers a spectacular view of Leuven, but it’s certainly not the only reason to visit this beautiful abbey

Keizersberg Abbey has got an interesting history – it was built on the site of a former castle that was associated with Julis Ceasar. Hence the name – Keizersberg translators to Ceasar’s Hill, referencing the local legends.

The abbey gardens are a public park that anyone can visit, and they’re a great place for a picnic with a fabulous view. However, the abbey buildings are not open to the public – nowadays they’re a student dormitory, and no monks live on the premises.

Also, this abbey has never been involved in beer brewing, so the only Trappist beer you can try on the grounds is the one you bring in your picnic basket.

Grimbergen Abbey

Grimbergen Abbey is situated in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. It was first established back in the 12th century as a Premonstratensian monastery, but it was dissolved during the French Revolution.

The abbey church managed to survive and it served as the parish church of Grimbergen until it was elevated to a minor basilica in 1999. Grimbergen Abbey was reinstated after the French Revolution, but not all of its elements managed to survive the devastation. In fact, this abbey has been destroyed and rebuilt three times, so it makes perfect sense that they chose the phoenix as their official symbol.

The abbey’s brewery wasn’t operational for more than two centuries, and the world-famous Grimbergen beer was mass-produced by Carlsberg for quite a while. It wasn’t until 2021 that the Grimbergen Abbey revived their own brewery, which nowadays produces special editions of its iconic beer.

Val-Dieu Abbey

Val-Dieu Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery near Aubel in the province of Liège. If you’re dying to tour the brewery of an authentic Belgian abbey, you’ll definitely have a great time at the Val-Dieu Abbey.

Both the abbey and the brewery are open for public tours, and entrance is fairly inexpensive. It’s about 6 Euros to tour the abbey and some 7 Euros to tour the brewery, which is honestly a steal since it includes both beer and cheese tasting. The tours are all in French but it is possible to arrange for tours in other languages by reservation.

This is a very beautiful abbey with manicured lawns and a sprawling park that surrounds the entire monastery. The tour guides are knowledgeable and they’ll tell you all about the abbey’s rich history, while you’re admiring the unique architecture and fabulous artworks.

Val-Dieu Abbey also boasts a souvenir shop and a cafe where you can taste and buy all the artisanal foods and drinks that are produced on the abbey grounds.

About the Author Roger Timbrook

Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!

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The world’s best beers—according to the 2024 world beer cup.

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10 Barrel Brewing swept the German-Style Sour Ale category, winning gold, silver and bronze.

Often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer Competitions,” the World Beer Cup is the largest and most prestigious beer competition in the world.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded across 110 beer styles at the 2024 World Beer Cup at a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 24, 2024. The World Beer Cup is hosted by the Brewers Association, the national association representing small and independent breweries.

The 2024 edition of the World Beer Cup saw 290 judges from 37 countries assess 9,300 beers from 2,060 breweries from 50 countries.

The winners of the 2024 World Beer Cup are:

Category 1: American Wheat Beer - 50 Entries

Gold: Miner’s Gold Hefeweizen, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT

Silver: Lunar Fallout, Tilted Axis Brewing Co., Lapeer, MI

Bronze: Spring Valley Silk Ale, Spring Valley Brewery, Shibuya, Japan

Category 2: Fruit Beer - 101 Entries

Gold: Rose Brut, Cerveza 7 Vidas, Tacna, Peru

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Silver: Big Island Citrus Blonde Ale, Excelsior Brewing Co., Excelsior, MN

Bronze: Blood Orange IPA, No.18 Brewing & Co., Wuhan, China

Category 3: Fruit Wheat Beer - 95 Entries

Gold: Yuzu Weiss, Yokohama Bay Brewing Co., Yokohama, Japan

Silver: Kabosu Saison, Beppu Brewery, Beppu, Japan

Bronze: Victory Brewing Company Malibu Dream Beer, Brewers at 4001 Yancey, Charlotte, NC

Category 4: Field Beer - 51 Entries

Gold: Templin Family Guava Coconut, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

Silver: Lime Cucumber Gose, Urban South Brewery - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

Bronze: Rhu Barbed, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 5: Pumpkin Beer - 33 Entries

Gold: Pumpkin in Lager, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Silver: Ryes of the Pumpkin King, Sound 2 Summit Brewery, Snohomish, WA

Bronze: Pumpkin Spice Bucket of Bolts, River North Brewery, Denver, CO

Category 6: Chili Beer - 67 Entries

Gold: Philly Chili, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant - Newtown, Newtown, PA

Silver: Jalapeño IPA, Masthead Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH

Bronze: Lil’ Salmon Fire, Sacred Waters Brewing Co., Kalispell, MT

Category 7: Herb and Spice Beer - 111 Entries

Gold: Ginzu, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Westside, Bend, OR

Silver: Sudoku, O.H.S.O Brewery - Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ

Bronze: Sweet Chai O’ Mine, HUDL Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV

Category 8: Chocolate Beer - 52 Entries

Gold: Whistler Winter Dunkel, Whistler Brewing Co., Whistler, Canada

Silver: Chocolate Stout, Fort Myers Brewing Co., Fort Myers, FL

Bronze: Table Talk Brownie Lava Pie Stout, Wormtown Brewery, Worcester, MA

Category 9: Coffee Beer - 69 Entries

Gold: Calf Fiend, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA

Silver: Golden Stout, Karl Strauss Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Bronze: Morning Drive, Trademark Brewing, Long Beach, CA

Category 10: Coffee Stout or Porter - 90 Entries

Gold: Nightmare Fuel, River North Brewery, Denver, CO

Silver: Breakfast Oatmeal Stout, Cerveza 7 Vidas, Tacna, Peru

Bronze: Lil Zoomie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH

Category 11: Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout - 71 Entries

Gold: Kauai Pie, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO

Silver: Churro 10W-40 Imperial Stout, Hi-Wire Brewing Co., Asheville, NC

Bronze: Dark Layers Pastry Stout, Beervana Brewing Co., Yeongdeungpo-gu, Korea

Category 12: Rye Beer - 41 Entries

Gold: Roggenbier, Schulz Bräu Brewing, Knoxville, TN

Silver: The Hills Have Ryes, Spearfish Brewing Co., Spearfish, SD

Bronze: Simpatico, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Category 13: Honey Beer - 66 Entries

Gold: Hachimitsu Mai, Deschutes Brewery - Portland Pub, Bend, OR

Silver: Kostka-busser, Culture Brewing Co., Solana Beach, CA

Bronze: Sweet Wings, Hoptown Brewing Co., Mooresville, NC

Category 14: Non-Alcohol Beer - 140 Entries

Gold: Black Butte Non-Alcoholic, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Silver: Soul Sour, Athletic Brewing Co. - CT, Milford, CT

Bronze: Night Strike, Leader Brewing, Palm Bay, FL

Category 15: Session Beer or Belgian-Style Table Beer - 55 Entries

Gold: Swift Half, Station 26 Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Silver: Table Coupage, Sundial Brewing and Blending, Barrington, IL

Bronze: Grisette, DÚA Sparkling Beer, Oviedo, Spain

Category 16: Session India Pale Ale - 72 Entries

Gold: Micro Blaster, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA

Silver: Foxglove, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR

Bronze: Wild Gravity, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Category 17: Strong Porter - 73 Entries

Gold: Harry Porter, Noble Ale Works, Anaheim, CA

Silver: Cabin Season, Chapman Crafted Beer, Orange, CA

Bronze: The Hot Stove, Texas Leaguer Brewing Co., Missouri City, TX

Category 18: Other Strong Beer - 38 Entries

Gold: Peppercorn Imperial Wit, Monkless Belgian Ales, Bend, OR

Silver: East County Fine Malt Liquor, The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Bronze: Goat Headed Trinity, Beer Flag, Oslo, Norway

Category 19: Experimental Beer - 126 Entries

Gold: Hill & Hollow: Cayuga, Cinderlands Beer Co. - Foederhouse, Pittsburgh, PA

Silver: NBeer Kanpai Saki-Inspired Ale, NBeer Craft Brewing Co., Chengdu, China

Bronze: Rice Rice Baby!, The Good Society Brewery & Public House, Seattle, WA

Category 20: Experimental India Pale Ale - 93 Entries

Gold: Kross IPA Pomelo, Southern Brewing Co., Santiago, Chile

Silver: Kumi Lizard Invasion, Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits, Grand Rapids, MI

Bronze: Ride-On Tropical, Golden Road Brewing - Anaheim, Anaheim, CA

Category 21: Historical Beer - 44 Entries

Gold: Level Common, Hopkins Farm Brewery, Havre de Grace, MD

Silver: Hunting Lodge, Jackknife Brewing, Kelowna, Canada

Bronze: Good Familiars, Soundgrowler Brewing Co., Tinley Park, IL

Category 22: Gluten-Free Beer - 51 Entries

Gold: Session Ale, TWØBAYS Brewing Co., Dromana, Australia

Silver: Buckberry Sour, Revelation Craft Brewing Co., Georgetown, DE

Bronze: La Gosa Rita, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI

Category 23: American-Belgo-Style Ale - 37 Entries

Gold: Sandy Dunes, River Bluff Brewing, Saint Joseph, MO

Silver: Farmhand, Remlinger Brewing, Carnation, WA

Bronze: Capitulation, Monkless Belgian Ales, Bend, OR

Category 24: American-Style Sour Ale - 142 Entries

Gold: Dinosour Stone Fruit, Phillips Brewing and Malting Co., Victoria, Canada

Silver: Howzit Punch, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA

Bronze: Fancy Meeting You Beer, Alamo Beer Co., San Antonio, TX

Category 25: Brett Beer - 47 Entries

Gold: Neon Butterfly, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Silver: Abrikoos, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrel House, Hood River, OR

Bronze: Short King, Cambridge Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA

Category 26: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer - 49 Entries

Gold: Never Been Wrong, Thompson Island Brewing Co., Rehoboth Beach, DE

Silver: Abiogenesis #10, IMBIB Custom Brews, Reno, NV

Bronze: Idyll Forest - Soirée, Pryes Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN

Category 27: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer - 47 Entries

Gold: 24th Annual Strong Ale Festival Blend, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Silver: Sensationator, Deschutes Brewery - Portland Pub, Bend, OR

Bronze: Smokin’ Barrel, Silver Reef Brewing Co., Saint George, UT

Category 28: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer - 163 Entries

Gold: Perpetual Peace, No Label Brewing Co., Katy, TX

Silver: Balcones Edition 2023 - Barley Wine, Brouwerij de Molen, Bodegraven, Netherlands

Bronze: Prince George, Frogtown Brewery, Los Angeles, CA

Category 29: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout - 198 Entries

Gold: Dripping Maple, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ

Silver: Nocino Imperial Stout, Combustion Brewery & Taproom, Pickerington, OH

Bronze: Tie XII, Monday Night Brewing - Garage, Atlanta, GA

Category 30: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer - 31 Entries

Gold: Hops n’ Roses, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Elmsford, NY

Silver: Bière des Charentes, Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. - The Monolith, Edmonton, Canada

Bronze: Staying Hoptimistic, Cascade Brewing, Dayton, OR

Category 31: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer - 72 Entries

Gold: The Virtue of Patience, Bold Monk Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA

Silver: Red Giant, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Bronze: I Don’t Want To Wait, 1840 Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI

Category 32: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier - 81 Entries

Gold: Weiherer Kräusen Hell, Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller, Viereth-Trundstadt, Germany

Silver: Line in the Sand, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Bronze: Frischling, Fischer’s Brauhaus Mössingen, Mössingen, Germany

Category 33: Smoke Beer - 67 Entries

Gold: Mas Fuego, Silver Reef Brewing Co., Saint George, UT

Silver: Weiherer Rauch, Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller, Viereth-Trundstadt, Germany

Bronze: Smokey the Beer, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS

Category 34: International Light Lager - 192 Entries

Gold: Prost Leichtbier, Prost Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Silver: Day Drinker Light Lager, Pedal Haus Brewery, Chandler, AZ

Bronze: Wander Litely, Wander Brewing, Bellingham, WA

Category 35: International Pilsener - 133 Entries

Gold: Venga, Cerveceria Colorado, Denver, CO

Silver: Chillzner, Craft Coast Beer & Tacos, Oceanside, CA

Bronze: Mexican Lager, Union Bear Brewing Co. - Denton, Denton, TX

Category 36: International Lager - 100 Entries

Gold: Nado, Coronado Brewing Co., Coronado, CA

Silver: Lager Japonaise, La Knowlton Co., Knowlton, Canada

Bronze: Tora!, Fall Brewing Co. - Production, San Diego, CA

Category 37: Hoppy Lager - 162 Entries

Gold: Ice-Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA

Silver: Branching Out, Everywhere, Orange, CA

Bronze: It Just Works, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Category 38: Munich-Style Dunkel - 65 Entries

Gold: Munich Dunkles, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS

Silver: G.G., Exile Brewing Co., Des Moines, IA

Bronze: Wilson Street Dunkel, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia, IL

Category 39: International Dark Lager - 129 Entries

Gold: The Dark, Third Window Brewing Co., Santa Barbara, CA

Silver: Secret Secret, Wayfinder Beer, Portland, OR

Bronze: Tmavé, Copper Furrow Brewing, Helena, MT

Category 40: German-Style Pilsener - 221 Entries

Gold: Pilsner, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR

Silver: Pilsner, Seapine Brewing Co., Seattle, WA

Bronze: DownShift, Transmission Brewing, Ventura, CA

Winners of the World Beer Cup awards come from around the world.

Category 41: Bohemian-Style Pilsener - 152 Entries

Gold: Bublina, BarrieHaus Beer Co., Tampa, FL

Silver: Czechs Out, Bright Ideas Brewing, Westfield, MA

Bronze: Minoh Beer Pilsner, Minoh Beer, Minoh-shi, Japan

Category 42: Munich-Style Helles - 181 Entries

Gold: Clutch, Transmission Brewing, Ventura, CA

Silver: Chasing Planes, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Bronze: Hell Yes, The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin, TX

Category 43: Dortmunder/Export or German-Style Oktoberfest - 76 Entries

Gold: Skol Crusher Dortmunder, Gemüt Biergarten, Columbus, OH

Silver: Dortmunder, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN

Bronze: Smooth Exportations, Denver Beer Co. - Olde Town Arvada, Arvada, CO

Category 44: Vienna-Style Lager - 102 Entries

Gold: Ludwig, Brother Chimp Brewing, North Aurora, IL

Silver: Vienna Lager, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Bronze: Vienna Lager, Von Ebert Brewing - Glendoveer, Portland, OR

Category 45: German-Style Maerzen or Franconian-Style Rotbier - 54 Entries

Gold: Marchtoberfest, Galveston Island Brewing, Galveston, TX

Silver: Falltoberfest, Launch Pad Brewery, Aurora, CO

Bronze: Bamberger Hofbräu® Rotbier, Weyermann® Braumanufaktur, Bamberg, Germany

Category 46: German-Style Schwarzbier - 95 Entries

Gold: Nachtkrapp, Ogopogo Brewing, San Gabriel, CA

Silver: Dark and Marvelous, Flix Brewhouse - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK B

ronze: Surrender Cobra, Big Beach Brewing Co., Gulf Shores, AL

Category 47: German-Style Bock or Maibock - 77 Entries

Gold: Ain’t Afraid of No Goats, Metazoa Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN

Silver: Skoolhouse Bock, Moontown Brewing Co., Whitestown, IN

Bronze: Blind Tiger Bock, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS

Category 48: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock - 87 Entries

Gold: Doppelbock, Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, Minneapolis, MN

Silver: Loose Handle, Loose Ends Brewing, Centerville, OH

Bronze: Doppel (doppel) Bock (bock), BeerClub Brewing, Mora, MN

Category 49: American-Style Lager - 108 Entries

Gold: Cole’s Light Lager, Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond, OR

Silver: Linebrook Lager, True North Ale Co., Ipswich, MA

Bronze: Orlando Lager, New York Beer Project - Orlando, Winter Garden, FL

Category 50: Contemporary American-Style Lager - 80 Entries

Gold: Zona, 12 West Brewing, Mesa, AZ

Silver: Golden Hour Light, Savage Craft Ale Works, West Columbia, SC

Bronze: Invert, COVA Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA

Category 51: American-Style Pilsener - 126 Entries

Gold: 401K, Freetail Brewing Co., San Antonio, TX

Silver: Capiche?, Paperback Brewing Co., Glendale, CA

Bronze: Pre-Prohibition Pilsner, Shaketown Brewing Co., North Vancouver, Canada

Category 52: American-Style Cream Ale - 110 Entries

Gold: Amendment Lager, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Leandro, CA

Silver: Classic Lager, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA

Bronze: Top Rope, The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Category 53: American-Style Amber Lager - 92 Entries

Gold: Chismosa, Old Caz Beer, Rohnert Park, CA

Silver: Tack Shack, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR

Bronze: Pacifica Common, South Horizon Brewing, Kochi, Japan

Category 54: Australian-Style Pale Ale - 43 Entries

Gold: Dragontail, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA

Silver: Mountain Standard, Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO

Bronze: XPA, Craft Coast Beer & Tacos, Oceanside, CA

Category 55: International Pale Ale - 97 Entries

Gold: Pale 586, Faction Brewing, Alameda, CA

Silver: Colorado Pale Ale, Westbound & Down Brewing Co. - Idaho Springs, Idaho Springs, CO

Bronze: Chief Peak, Topa Topa Brewing Co. - HQ, Ventura, CA

Category 56: Extra Special Bitter - 62 Entries

Gold: ESB, Old 121 Brewhouse, Lakewood, CO

Silver: Ellieigh’s ESB, 1886 Brewing Co., Orange, CA

Bronze: Ruh Roh, Metazoa Brewing Co. - Production, Indianapolis, IN

Category 57: New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale - 65 Entries

Gold: Wannabe Wallaby, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA

Silver: Wastelandia IPA, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Bronze: Breakside Thriving Metropolis, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR

Category 58: Barley Wine-Style Ale - 61 Entries

Gold: Three Ryes Men, Reuben’s Brews - The Taproom, Seattle, WA

Silver: Grow Old With You, Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO

Bronze: Baaah-ley Wine, Goat Patch Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO

Category 59: German-Style Koelsch - 151 Entries

Gold: Banquetera, Buqui Bichi Brewing, Hermosillo, Mexico

Silver: Kodiak Kolsch, Bear Chase Brewing Co., Bluemont, VA

Bronze: Ridge Hippy, MAP Brewing Co., Bozeman, MT

Category 60: German-Style Sour Ale - 38 Entries

Gold: German Sparkle Party, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Eastside, Bend, OR

Silver: Riviera, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Westside, Bend, OR

Bronze: Baywindow, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Westside, Bend, OR

Category 61: Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse - 36 Entries

Gold: Cactus Makes Perfect, Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, OR

Silver: Mandacaru Atômico, Caatinga Rocks, Maceió, Brazil

Bronze: Kampot, 3 Brasseurs, Montreal, Canada

Category 62: Contemporary Gose - 59 Entries

Gold: Goiabinha, Suricato, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Silver: Wild Pear, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA

Bronze: Guava In Berlin, Green Cheek Beer Co. - Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA

Category 63: South German-Style Hefeweizen - 138 Entries

Gold: Goggle Fogger, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH

Silver: Bayreuther Hefe-Weissbier, Bayreuther Bierbrauerei, Bayreuth, Germany

Bronze: Prosperity Wheat Beer, Market Garden Craft Brewery, Cleveland, OH

Category 64: German-Style Leichtes or Kristal Weizen - 19 Entries

Gold: Ladenburger Kristallweizen, Brauerei Ladenburger, Neuler, Germany

Silver: Maisel’s Weisse Leicht, Brauerei Gebr. Maisel, Bayreuth, Germany

Bronze: Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany

Category 65: South German-Style Bernsteinfarbenes Weizen - 14 Entries

Gold: Ayinger Urweisse, Brauerei Aying Franz Inselkammer, Aying, Germany

Silver: SUNMAI Formosa Wheat, Long Sun Brewing Co., New Taipei City, Taiwan

Bronze: Kurpfalzbräu Ur-Weizen, Weldebräu, Plankstadt, Germany

Category 66: South German-Style Dunkel Weizen - 21 Entries

Gold: Junk In Da Trunkel Dunkel, Pizza Port Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA

Silver: Dunkleosteus, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH

Bronze: Doc’s Dunkelweizen, Gravely Brewing Co., Louisville, KY

Category 67: South German-Style Weizenbock - 38 Entries

Gold: Weizenbock, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Mills River, Mills River, NC

Silver: Weiherer Weizenbock, Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller, VierethTrundstadt, Germany

Bronze: Weihenstephaner Vitus, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany

Category 68: German-Style Altbier - 44 Entries

Gold: Little Düssel Do-Ya, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Duluth, MN

Silver: Alt, Yokohama Beer, Yokohama, Japan

Bronze: Altbier, Double Clutch Brewing Co., Evanston, IL

Category 69: Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale - 27 Entries

Gold: no gold was awarded

Silver: Bindlestiff, Dock Street Brewery, Philadelphia, PA

Bronze: Towhead, The Lone Girl Brewing Co., Waunakee, WI

Category 70: Belgian-Style Witbier - 89 Entries

Gold: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Silver: Belgian Wheat, Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA

Bronze: Upland Wheat, Upland Brewing Co., Bloomington, IN

Category 71: Classic Saison - 55 Entries

Gold: Valor, Tooth and Nail Brewing Co., Ottawa, Canada

Silver: Farmhouse Saison, Cellar West Brewery, Lafayette, CO

Bronze: Plough & Harrow, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA

Category 72: Specialty Saison - 77 Entries

Gold: Provence Farmhouse, Goose Island - Seoul Brewhouse, Seoul, Korea

Silver: Saison du Rosier, Cellador Ales, Torrance, CA

Bronze: Piglette, Brewery Bhavana, Raleigh, NC

Category 73: Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale - 20 Entries

Gold: Flanders Redux, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Silver: Oud Jeremiah, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery - Brea, Brea, CA

Bronze: Sour Power, Juguetes Perdidos, Caseros, Argentina

Category 74: Belgian-Style Sour Ale - 38 Entries

Gold: Homage to the Old Ones, Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. - The Monolith, Edmonton, Canada

Silver: Chance, Luck & Magic 2020, Garage Project, Wellington, New Zealand

Bronze: Spontaneous Manifesto, Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. - The Monolith, Edmonton, Canada

Category 75: Belgian-Style Blonde Ale - 38 Entries

Gold: Betty the Gnome, Turtle Stack Brewery, La Crosse, WI

Silver: Trip d’automne, Siboire, Sherbrooke, Canada

Bronze: Sylvanus Blonde, Brasserie du Mont Blanc, La Motte-Servolex, France

Category 76: Belgian-Style Strong Blonde Ale - 51 Entries

Gold: Treachery, 12Degree Brewing, Louisville, CO

Silver: Kroon, Wallenpaupack Brewing Co., Hawley, PA

Bronze: Painted Devil, Bartlett Hall, San Francisco, CA

Category 77: Belgian-Style Dubbel - 31 Entries

Gold: La Trappe Dubbel, Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven, Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands

Silver: Dubbel Crit, Tonality Brewing Co., Mundelein, IL

Bronze: OB Bubble Dubbel, Kilowatt Brewing, San Diego, CA

Category 78: Belgian-Style Tripel - 66 Entries

Gold: La Fin du Monde, Unibroue, Guelph, Canada

Silver: Allagash Tripel, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME

Bronze: Adrianne, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA

Category 79: Belgian-Style Quadrupel - 43 Entries

Gold: Namur the Merrier Belgian-style Quad, Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Hampton, VA

Silver: 10ème Avenue, Microbrasserie La Souche, Québec, Canada

Bronze: Dolphin of the Desert, Julian Beer Co., Julian, CA

Category 80: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale - 51 Entries

Gold: French Lager Bière Ambrée, Banded Oak Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Silver: Eau Bénite, Unibroue, Guelph, Canada

Bronze: Engeltjes Pis, Garage Project, Wellington, New Zealand

Winners celebrate their award at the World Beer Cup.

Category 81: Belgian Fruit Beer - 53 Entries

Gold: Raspberry Parliament, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR

Silver: Cerise Rouge, ColdFire Brewing - Barrel House, Eugene, OR

Bronze: Field & Oak | Golden Raspberry, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ

Category 82: English Mild or Bitter - 81 Entries

Gold: Andalusite, Bighand Bros. Beer, Kyoto, Japan

Silver: English Ordinary Bitter, Flora Hall Brewing, Ottawa, Canada

Bronze: Mamoot, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO

Category 83: English Ale - 86 Entries

Gold: Red Stone, Mezzopasso, Popoli, Italy

Silver: Working An Angle, Three Leg Run Brewery, Chester, VA

Bronze: Gumballhead, Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN

Category 84: English-Style Brown Ale - 54 Entries

Gold: Shaven Yak, Wichita Brewing Co., Wichita, KS

Silver: Downtown Brown, Amsterdam Brewing Co., Toronto, Canada

Bronze: Honey Drip, Bill’s Brewing Co., Wilmington, NC

Category 85: Brown Porter - 51 Entries

Gold: Brown Claw, Kern River Brewing Co., Kernville, CA

Silver: Dark Matter, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO

Bronze: Frozen Over, Crystal Lake Brewing, Crystal Lake, IL

Category 86: Robust Porter - 63 Entries

Gold: Porter, Big Timber Brewing Co., Elkins, WV

Silver: Peaklet Porter, Mountain Rambler Brewery, Bishop, CA

Bronze: Blimp Hangar, Tustin Brewing Co., Tustin, CA

Category 87: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout - 35 Entries

Gold: 30 E. Stout Street, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant - Huntingdon Valley, Huntingdon Valley, PA

Silver: Art Sweet Porter, Artmonster Brewery, Gunpo, Korea

Bronze: Irish Prenup, Barley Naked Brewing Co., Stafford, VA

Category 88: Oatmeal Stout - 68 Entries

Gold: Black Igneous, DevilCraft, Shinagawa-ku, Japan

Silver: Mountain Moonlight, Wild Fields Brewhouse, Atascadero, CA

Bronze: Oats M’gotes, Goldwater Brewing Co., Scottsdale, AZ

Category 89: British-Style Imperial Stout - 51 Entries

Gold: Touched by Chaos, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Silver: St. Patrick’s Imperial Stout, Brew Center Cervejar Especiais, Ipeúna, Brazil

Bronze: Totality, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee, CA

Category 90: Old Ale or Strong Ale - 35 Entries

Gold: St. Patrick’s Old Ale, Brew Center Cervejar Especiais, Ipeúna, Brazil

Silver: Beam Me Up (Higher), Scotty, Nexus Brewery, Albuquerque, NM

Bronze: Old Man Krautstrunk, Hutton & Smith Brewing Co., Chattanooga, TN

Category 91: Irish-Style Red Ale - 98 Entries

Gold: Rock Hill Irish Red, Barley Naked Brewing Co., Stafford, VA

Silver: Irish Goodbye, Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas, TX

Bronze: The Librarian, Decipher Brewing, Charlottesville, VA

Category 92: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout - 64 Entries

Gold: Dry Irish Stout, Bent Barley Brewing Co., Aurora, CO

Silver: Diatomaceous Dry Stout, Hutton & Smith Brewing Co., Chattanooga, TN

Bronze: Irish Hello, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 93: Export Stout - 45 Entries

Gold: Pueblito, Compañía Cervecera Hércules, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

Silver: Stout Cuello Negro, Cervecera Cuello Negro, Valdivia, Chile

Bronze: Zonker Stout, Snake River Brewing, Jackson, WY

Category 94: Scottish-Style Ale - 47 Entries

Gold: Shannon Drive, Forgotten Road Ales, Graham, NC

Silver: Uncle, Rhinegeist Innovation Brewery, Cincinnati, OH

Bronze: Seven Gables, Mountain Rambler Brewery, Bishop, CA

Category 95: Scotch Ale - 53 Entries

Gold: Wee Heavy Wilson, MudHen Brewing Co., Wildwood, NJ

Silver: Kill or be KILT, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM

Bronze: Wobbly Traveler, Silver Harbor Brewing Co., Saint Joseph, MI

Category 96: Golden or Blonde Ale - 118 Entries

Gold: Mermaid Blonde Ale, Ship Bottom Brewery, Beach Haven, NJ

Silver: Amsterdam Blonde, Amsterdam Brewing Co., Toronto, Canada

Bronze: Pacific Blonde, Golden Road Brewing - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Category 97: American-Style Pale Ale - 137 Entries

Gold: Double Nickels, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Silver: Vaquita Marina, Cervecería Wendlandt, Ensenada, Mexico

Bronze: Mosaic Mega Pint, Bend Brewing Co. - High Desert, Bend, OR

Category 98: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale - 99 Entries

Gold: City of Dreams Pale Ale, Fort George Brewery, Astoria, OR

Silver: Small Wonder Dust, Barebottle Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA

Bronze: Green Flash: Hazy West Coast IPA, SweetWater Brewing Co. - Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO

Category 99: American-Style Strong Pale Ale - 114 Entries

Gold: Green Battles, Pinthouse Brewing, Austin, TX

Silver: Something Dank This Way Comes, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Bronze: Mai Tai P.A., Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill, Monterey, CA

Category 100: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale - 132 Entries

Gold: Templin Family Squirrel!!, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT Silver:

Silver Spaceship, ODD Muse Brewing Co., Farmer’s Branch, TX

Bronze: Aspen Hazy IPA, Aspen Brewing Co., Aspen, CO

Category 101: Imperial India Pale Ale - 138 Entries

Gold: Chance Favors The Prepared Mind, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Silver: Rabbit Habit, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Bronze: Nose Goblin, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA

Category 102: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale - 145 Entries

Gold: Jimmy Buffet Ruined My Life, Swells’a Brewing, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Silver: Space Cowboi, Crooked Can Brewing Co., Winter Garden, FL

Bronze: Unfettered Soul, Strangebird, Rochester, NY

Category 103: American-Style Amber/Red Ale - 123 Entries

Gold: INFRARED, Far Field Beer Co., Lawndale, CA

Silver: Summon Ifrit, BattleMage Brewing Co., Vista, CA

Bronze: The Buzz, Hop Nation Brewing Co., Footscray, Australia

Category 104: Strong Red Ale - 48 Entries

Gold: Bone Head, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH

Silver: Redside, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR

Bronze: Cinder Beast, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Category 105: American-Style Brown Ale - 67 Entries

Gold: Lone Squirrel, Bonesaw Brewing Co., Glassboro, NJ

Silver: Lahontan Brown, Shoe Tree Brewing Co., Carson City, NV

Bronze: Bartow Brown, Drowned Valley Brewing Co., Cartersville, GA

Category 106: American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout - 78 Entries

Gold: Falling Up, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Silver: Foca Parlante, Cervecería Wendlandt, Ensenada, Mexico

Bronze: Black Cliffs, Boise Brewing, Boise, ID

Category 107: American-Style Imperial Stout - 59 Entries

Gold: Furious Fox, Golden Fox Brewing, Decatur, IL

Silver: Night Howler Imperial Stout, Baerlic Brewing Co., Portland, OR

Bronze: The Shroud, Bravery Brewing Co., Lancaster, CA

Category 108: American-Style India Pale Ale - 213 Entries

Gold: High 6, Highland Park Brewery - Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA

Silver: Hop-Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA

Bronze: Single Cone, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA

Category 109: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale - 326 Entries

Gold: Beezer, Old Irving Brewing Co., Chicago, IL

Silver: Art Isn’t Real, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA

Bronze: King Lupu’s Happy Juice, Project 9 Brewing Co., Seattle, WA

Category 110: West-Coast Style India Pale Ale - 281 Entries

Gold: Western Standard Time, ISM Brewing, Long Beach, CA

Silver: False Memories, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Bronze: Eddie’s Redux, Abnormal Beer Co., San Diego, CA

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Breweries + pubs in Bend, Oregon

Craft beer paradise

Beer is part of Bend culture, and we are darn proud of it. There are over 30 breweries in and around Bend and countless award-winning brews. So, you better believe we know how to beer in this town. And no matter where you’re staying, just type in “brewpubs near me,” and you’ll find a copious number of breweries, beer pubs, and tasting rooms to pick from.

Bend’s breweries are making some of the country’s finest, most in-demand, influential, and flavorful beers. Indulge in hoppy IPAs, fruity Belgian-style ales, crisp northwest pales, and everything in between. You’re sure to find a brewery making a beer that’ll satisfy and intrigue your palate.

Throwing it back to 1988, Deschutes Brewery helped launch the craze as a small craft brewery. Nowadays, Crux Fermentation Project, Bridge 99, Sunriver Brewing Company, and Goodlife Brewing Company join the many other local craft breweries pouring heavenly pints, flights, and growlers.

And what goes great with beer? Savory, decadent, mouthwatering food! Most breweries and pubs in Bend not only serve up tasty pints but also hand-thrown pizzas, juicy burgers, and loaded pub nachos. Or, if you crave something on the lighter side, enjoy hearty salads and appetizers that will stoke out your taste buds.

Prepare for a kaleidoscope of flavors as we tour Bend’s breweries and pubs.

Please drink responsibly. When enjoying the local brews, please do so in moderation and leave the car at your Bend vacation rental. If you’ve indulged and need a lift, take a cab, Uber/Lyft, or arrange for a designated driver. Search for breweries near you, as there’s a good chance you’ll find one within comfortable walking distance. Let’s keep the enjoyment of Bend’s craft beer culture a safe, responsible, and enjoyable experience for all.

What makes our beer exceptional 

Beer in Bend is some of the best-tasting, cleanest, and most sought-after beer ever. And not just in the region or even the state, but the entire world. Distinct flavors, innovative brewers, countless awards, and exceptional ingredients make our beers so desirable. And it all starts with water. The low mineral content of our fresh, spring-fed water from the Cascade Mountains makes it ideal for brewing any style of beer. Additionally, our proximity to local hop farms ensures a plentiful supply of top-quality hops. These ingredients contribute to the exceptional character of our renowned brews.

Inspired by a bounty of stellar ingredients, brewers unleash a wealth of approachable, balanced, and distinctive beers. Bend is undoubtedly known for IPAs, from styles like West Coast, hazies, doubles, and for the bold, triples. However, you can easily find local pale ales, lagers, porters, sours, and even Belgian-style ales gracing tap lists. No matter how dark, bitter, crisp, or light you like it, you’ll find what satisfies your hop-hankering. 

Bend Breweries and Brewpubs

Asking us to pick our favorite brewery is like asking, who’s your most beloved pet? It’s nearly impossible. So, instead, we’ll spotlight some iconic front-runners as well as some rising stars to ignite your taste buds. And we also encourage you to discover your best brewery in Bend. 

Let’s start with the OG Bend brewery. Deschutes Bre wery was founded in 1988 and is the oldest brewery in Bend. Known for its iconic brews like Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Red Chair NWPA, Deschutes also offers a variety of seasonal, classic, and limited releases. You can enjoy Deschutes beer at the Bend Public House downtown, as well as one of the best burgers in town. Or take a tour and sample some beers at the Bend Tasting Room and Beer Garden. 

In 2021, Deschutes acquired Boneyard Beer, a brewery known for its clean, balanced, high-quality beers like RPM IPA, Hop Venom, and Diablo Rojo. You can still sample Boneyard’s beers at its original tasting room or head to their brewpub , with over 20 taps and tasty pub-style food.

Occupying the former Boneyard brewing facility is Van Henion Brewing . Founded in 2021, they focus on crafting beers brewers love, like clean lagers and vibrant IPAs. With a collective brewing experience of over 65 years, these three founders bring a wealth of talent. From a former Boneyard master brewer to experienced staff from Deschutes Brewery, Van Henion is a hub of expertise and inventive brews. Stop by the tasting room to sample their clean, crisp beers on draft. 

Another former Deschutes employee founded The Ale Apothecary , an artisan brewery tucked into the woods above Bend. Focused on using hyper-local ingredients, including only airborne yeasts, Ale Apothecary beer is the closest thing you can get to Bend’s outdoors in a pint. These barrel-aged wild ales are brewed in small batches to create unique flavors and can be sampled and enjoyed at their tasting room on Century Drive.

Are you noticing a theme yet? The Bend brewing community has a lot of talent sharing taking place.

A couple of relative newcomers making a strong splash are Bevel Craft Brewing and Boss Rambler . Bevel is all about the hop-centric experience with a passion for IPAs. Nate and Valarie Doss, the dynamic duo behind Bevel, are world-renowned disc golfers . Drawing inspiration from their travels, they noted every successful and tasty brewery they visited and brought that same magic to Bend. Boss Rambler specializes in lagers, IPAs, and tantalizing sour fruit beers. In fact, you can even get a sour boozy slushy straight from the machine at their westside Beer Club. Boss Rambler also has an expert team of brewers with years of experience from former employees at Boneyard Beer and Crux Fermentation Project. 

Speaking of Crux Fermentation Project . These folks have been creating some favorite experimental and innovative beers in Bend. Crux boasts an impressive selection of handcrafted IPAs, as well as unique brews like a Japanese rice lager, barrel-aged imperial stouts, and fruited sours. They also make one of the best non-alcoholic beers around, the No Mo. Head to their family-friendly tasting room, located near the Old Mill District in an old AAMCO transmission shop, for 24+ taps, food carts, and live music with views of the Cascade Mountains. 

Taking it back to the early microbrew years, Bend Brewing Company proudly stands as the second oldest brewery in town. Their pub is located downtown, along the Deschutes River, where you can enjoy a mainstay favorite like Tropic Pines IPA or grab a flight and try them all. And pair your pint with flavorful, classic pub eats from their generous menu.

Coming in as the third oldest is Silver Moon Brewery . Since 2000 they’ve been creating highly anticipated limited releases, unique barrel-aged brews, and longtime favorites like IPA 97. Their brewpub is located downtown, where you can enjoy their beers and onsite food carts for tasty treats. 

Silver Moon is also dedicated to the fight against cancer as they’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for research and support through their seasonal F*Cancer campaign and IPA. Now that’s something we can all cheers to!

For those seeking a brewery with a more focused selection of brews and styles, Bend has a few to offer. Porter Brewing brews the only cask-conditioned ales in Central Oregon, and you can find them at their pub, The Cellar , in downtown Bend. They specialize in hand-pumping unfiltered, unpasteurized ales in 20 oz imperial pints and 10 oz half pints. And make sure to pair a homemade savory pie with your beer—you won’t regret it! 

Monkless Belgian Ales specializes in strong ales by brewing Belgian-style delights. Savor a snifter of golden, witbier, or tripel ales. They also serve mouth-watering, hearty European eats at The Brasserie. 

Tours for the true beer enthusiast

One of the best ways to experience Bend’s beer culture is to take a brewery tour—Deschutes, Crux, Worthy, and many more offer daily tours, complete with complimentary tastings. 

If you’re looking for a more guided experience, Wanderlust Tours creates unique tours that combine outdoor adventures with craft beverages, while The Cycle Pub of Bend is a fun and unique way to experience Bend’s beer scene on two wheels. For an outdoor twist, combine your love for nature with beer on a Brews & Views Paddling Tour courtesy of Wanderlust Tours.

To discover and sample nearly all the breweries in Bend and Central Oregon, guide yourself on the Bend Ale Trail . You can use the free app or pick up a keepsake passport at the Bend Visitor Center and get it stamped at each brewery you visit. The whole trail is comprised of seven territories—complete a territory and win a prize. Complete the whole thing for a bonus prize, plus bragging rights. 

Family-friendly breweries

While most breweries in Bend welcome kids, there are a few that really embrace it. For family-friendly breweries, head to Crux, Deschutes, Bend Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. , and Worthy Brewing Company . In fact, Worthy even has its own “Hopservatory” where the entire family can stargaze through a research-level telescope on clear nights. From kid-friendly menus to outdoor spaces and nearby parks, they make dining with little ones a breeze.

And if your kid has four legs and barks, most breweries with outdoor patios also roll out the welcome mat for dogs. Just be sure to check their dog-friendly policies ahead of time. 

Other brew pubs in Bend

Bend is undeniably a haven for beer enthusiasts, with a wide array of breweries. Our pubs offer the opportunity to sample a variety of beers from different local breweries, all while enjoying a flavorful meal.

At Brother Jon’s , enjoy a selection of Northwest beers and savor a delicious meal. This includes tasty sandwiches, homemade soups, and some irresistible house-smoked meats. The pub has three separate dining rooms and a secluded, dog-friendly deck during fair weather. Cabin 22 dishes out breakfast, lunch, and dinner, putting their unique spin on classic pub fare while serving plenty of local beers in their casual pub. Or head over to McMenamins Old St. Francis Pub for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a cozy setting. Located in a former Catholic school building, this pub offers hearty fare, handcrafted ales brewed on-site, and weekly seasonal specials. You can also enjoy meals and drinks outdoors in the courtyard on warm days. 

Bend’s craft breweries and pubs cater to all tastes, whether you crave hops that bite or the smooth depths of a barrel-aged brew. From crispy and dank to dark and tripled, we’ve got it all. So whether you’re exploring new flavors or prefer a tried-and-true classic, our beer scene will keep your taste buds buzzing with excitement. 

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