Belgium is world-famous for its diverse and unique beer culture, offering an unmatched experience for beer lovers. With a rich brewing tradition that dates back centuries, the country has become a global hotspot for craft beer fans and enthusiasts alike. As of 2018, there were an impressive 318 breweries across Belgium, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of Belgian brewing heritage. From traditional Trappist ales crafted by monks to innovative modern brews, Belgium boasts an incredible range of flavors, styles, and brewing techniques.
Here are our top recommendations to include in your Brussels itinerary:
Breweries in Brussels
Brussels Beers Project
Innovative & Experimental
Zinnebir
Belgian Pale Ale
Cantillon
Gueuze
Brussels Beer Project (BBP) is known for contemporary brews and limited-edition beers, constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing.
Some of their specialties include
- Delta IPA, a Belgian IPA with a tropical fruit aroma and a balanced bitterness
- Jungle Joy: A fruity beer brewed with mango and passion fruit, offering a refreshing and exotic taste.
Zinnebir is renowned for its high carbonation and strong yet refreshing taste. Its complex profile includes hints of fruit, spices, and a dry finish, achieved through a lengthy brewing process and bottle conditioning.
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- Brewery: Brasserie de La Senne
- Type: Belgian Pale Ale
- Color: Golden
- ABV: 5.8%
Gueuze is made by blending young (one-year-old) and old (two- to three-year-old) lambic beers. Cantillon Gueuze is popular for its tart, dry, and funky profile, with notes of green apple and lemon, makes it a quintessential example of the traditional Brussels style.
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- Brewery: Cantillon Brewery
- Type: Gueuze
- Color: Golden
- ABV: 5.0%
Belgian beers are distinctive from commercial ones, with unique flavors shaped by their roasting process, fermentation, and ingredients. Typically categorized into Blonde, Amber, Red, and Dark Brown, each offers something special. In general, Blonde beers are light and refreshing, Amber beers have a hint of caramel, Red beers have a fruity notes, and Dark Brown beers are bold and full-bodied. Your beer preference might even reflect your personality!
All-Time Favorites
Westvleteren 12
Trappist Quadrupel
Orval
Trappist Ale
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Flanders Red Ale
Trappist is undoubtedly the best known and most popular high fermentation beer. Among Trappist beers, Quadrupel and Trappist Ale are being two notable categories. Known for its exclusivity as quadrupel beer, Westvleteren 12 is brewed by Trappist monks in limited quantities. It has complex flavors of dark fruit, caramel, and chocolate.
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- Brewery: Westvleteren Brewery (Sint-Sixtus Abbey)
- Color: Dark brown
- ABV: 10.2%
Born with the same realm of Trappist beers as the quadrupel, Trappist ales can vary widely in flavor and color depending on the style. Orval is the only beer produced by the monastery and is known for its distinctive hop character and Brettanomyces yeast, which gives it a dry, slightly sour, and complex flavor with a fruity aid earthy aroma.
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- Brewery: Orval Brewery (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval)
- Color: Amber
- ABV: 6.9%
Rodenbach Grand Cru is a blend of young and aged beer, with the latter aged in oak barrels. This gives it a distinctive sour and fruity flavor profile, with notes of balsamic vinegar, cherry, and oak, making it a prime example of the Flemish red-brown style.
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- Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach
- Color: Red
- ABV: 6.0%
