Wines and spirits Zwevegem

Kasteel (Blond, Donker, Tripel, Rouge, Hoppy), Cuvée du Château, Saint-Louis (Premium Kriek, Premium Faro, Premium Framboise, Gueuze, Kriek Lambic), Brigand, Bacchus, Passchendaele, Trignac, Filou

Built in the 11th century by the Count of Flanders, who wanted to benefit from this strategic location between Kortrijk and Bruges, Ingelmunster Castle was then converted into a luxurious seigneury. It was rebuilt in 1736. Over the centuries, it has belonged to the Counts of Flanders and the Dukes of Burgundy. The Van Honsebrouck family has been brewing in Ingelmunster since 1900.

Luc Van Honsebrouck took over the brewery in 1953 and did not leave it until the end of 2008. Under his direction, the company embarked on a truly professional turnaround, and he was the one who launched most of the beers currently produced by the brewery. The family acquired the château in 1986, and three years later, the Kasteelbier (Château beer) was launched. Kasteel Donker and Tripel slowly mature in the castle's cellars. For the Donker, which is to be enjoyed calmly, far from any hustle and bustle, this ageing in barrels lasts between six and twelve weeks. While the Donker and Tripel have 11% alc. vol., the Kasteel Blond has 7%.

In 2006, the Kasteel Rouge was introduced in the range. This amazing beer is a blend of Donker and cherry liqueur. It matures for at least six months before bottling. Two beers have recently completed the Kasteel panel: Cuvée du Château (11%), whose aromatic notes are comparable to those of a Kasteel Donker that has been resting for several years, and Kasteel Hoppy (6.5%), which gives pride of place to Belgian hops. Another of the house's flagship brands, the Brigand, which landed on the tables in 1980. Thanks to its high alcohol content, this characterful beer can easily withstand a few years in the cellar. Finally, if lambic is traditionally produced in Brussels and the Senne Valley, there is every reason to believe that a micro-region around Kortrijk would benefit from the same characteristics. Brewing regulations, which are so picky in other respects, remain quite discreet on the subject anyway.

But, after all, since when do windblown microorganisms have borders? Van Honsebrouck therefore does not hesitate to offer an assortment of lambic beers: the Saint-Louis. They are divided into two ranges, one rather traditional and the other low in alcohol (3.5%) and above all intended for a young audience. Another example is Bacchus, a flamboyant reddish-brown with 4.5% alc. vol. which has been somewhat revived recently by the brewery, which has added two fruity versions (Kriek and Framboise).

At the helm of the company since the departure of his father, Xavier Van Honsebrouck, very attached to the history of the First World War, which left deep scars in this region of West Flanders, paid tribute to the foreign belligerents who came to fight on our land. In the winter of 2013, he launched Passchendaele, a beer named after a town about 20 kilometres from Ingelmunster that was the scene of a fierce battle in 1917. The presentation of the product was not so much in Belgian style but rather in the minds of the Commonwealth nations, whose populations paid a heavy price in this battle. Beer is thus available in kegs or half-litre bottles, a format that is quite common in these countries. As for the content, it is a blonde (5.2%) of high fermentation brewed with Belgian hops. More anecdotal but very trendy, the West Flanders brewer ages his Kasteel Tripel in barrels where cognac used to rest. The Trignac was launched in 2013 and is available in nine thousand seventy-five centilitre bottles.

In August 2016, the Van Honsebrouck brewery invested a new space, close to the old one, which will enable it to double its production, which is now estimated at one hundred thousand hectolitres per year and of which 45% is destined for foreign countries (France, Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Italy, North America, Israel, Russia, Japan, etc.).

Satcheu This brewery in the Kortrijk region specialises in table beers (golden and brown), but also brews a saison beer called Satcheu (6.2%). The name refers to the people who used to pull barges from the towpath.It's a family brewery which dates from 1874 and brews about 4,000 and 5,000 hectolitres per year.

Sint-Bernardus used to be called Sint-Sixtus, and was brewed in a brewery not far from the Sint-Sixtus Abbey, which brews the famous Westvleteren (Trappist beer). This common misconception also stems from the fact that the religious community had authorized the brewery to market its name from 1946 to 1992. Are you still following? The fact remains that, for a long time, Sint-Bernardus brewery behaved like a Trappist brewery whose quality had little to envy monastic productions.

Located in the Belgian town of Loker, the BIE microbrewery and craft brewery is a must for beer lovers. With its warm atmosphere and original decor, it offers a friendly welcome to its visitors. Customers can sample a wide selection of craft beers, as well as tasty dishes from the brewery's restaurant.

The Mout- & Brouwhuis de Snoek is a museum located in Alveringem. It is the only fully preserved 19th-century brewery in Flanders, Wallonia and French Flanders. The museum immerses you in the atmosphere of the era, with its bubbling cauldrons, fermentation vats and gas engines. Learn about the history of the brewers, the workers and even the soldiers who sometimes used the vats as baths during the First World War. After the tour, you can quench your thirst in the museum's tavern, which offers over 130 regional beers.

Oerbier, Arabier, Boskeun, Stille Nacht, Dulle Teve, Stout In 1980, the members of a cycling club from Westhoek in Flanders - close to the Belgian coast and the historic town of Ypres (Ieper in Dutch) - decided to buy a brewery that had been in nearby Esen since 1835. The Crazy Trotters ("Dolle Dravers") thus became the Crazy Brewers ("Dolle Brouwers").In the thirty years since then, they have specialised in unfiltered, unpasteurised beers high in alcohol. Look particularly for two seasonal beers, Boskeun (Easter) and Stille Nacht (Christmas).

Classic, Grand Cru, Alexander, Red Character, Vintage

Absorbed in 1998 by Palm, Rodenbach had remained a small family brewery until then. The founders, four brothers associated in 1820, are the descendants of a German knight from Andernach, on the Rhine, a former soldier in the Austrian army, who settled in Roeselare in the 18th century. They are also related to the poet and writer Georges Rodenbach, author of the famous Bruges la Morte and Albrecht Rodenbach, writer and activist for the autonomy of Flanders, who died in 1880 at the age of 24.

Two generations after the creators, Eugène Rodenbach brought back from England the secrets of maturation in oak barrels, which gave rise to the very special beer that we still know today, combining top fermentation and spontaneous fermentation (mixed fermentation). The manufacture of Rodenbach still follows ancient traditions: some oak casks have reached 150 years of age and reed is still used to maintain the watertightness of these large 650 hl tanks.

Rodenbach is a blend beer, made up of three-quarters young beer and a quarter of beer matured in these casks for almost two years. Its older sister, the Rodenbach Grand Cru, is blended in proportions of one third young beer, two thirds ripe beer, which gives it a greater expression and a wider aromatic palette. The inimitable taste of these two beers comes from both this ageing in barrels and the yeast which is always that of the beginning. As all tourists to the Belgian coast know, Rodenbach goes wonderfully with grey shrimp. It is the true reference model for Flemish red-brown beers.

Periodically, the brewery produces "special editions", such as the Rodenbach Vintage or the Caracère rouge de 7%, which matures for two years in oak tuns. It is then macerated for six months in cherries, raspberries and cranberries, before the beer is fermented in bottles. A neighbouring and lighter version has been named Rosso.

The brewery has an absolutely magnificent room at your disposal for the organisation of parties and seminars. It can accommodate up to 750 guests. The classified kiln and the 294 oak barrels in which the beer matures offer an impressive spectacle and give the place a unique character. According to Palm brewery manager Jan Toye, now owner of Rodenbach, this acquisition is a cultural project aimed at perpetuating this unique style of Belgian beer.

Bavik Pils, Ezel, Petrus, Pilaarbijter, Wittekerke Bavik brewery opened in 1894. Situated in in Bavikhove near Harelbeke in Flanders, it is one of the oldest breweries still trading in Belgium. It is also one of the few of any size to have stayed independent. The current generation of family members in charge is the fourth since the brewery was founded.It is well known for its Bavik pils, a distinctive beer quite different from the big-name pils on the market. It won an award recently from Test-Achats (the Belgian consumers' association) and the Flemish newspaper, Het Nieuwsblad.It also brews special beers including its Petrus range (see below) and the more recent Pilaarbijter blond and bruin. And there is a range of white beers too: Wittekerke, Wittekerke spéciale and Wittekerke rosé. The canned version of these was awarded a gold medal in Reno in the United States.A more recent addition to the company's range is a golden Kwaremont, a top-fermented beer that is sweet, spicy, full-bodied and 6.6% abv.Finally, it still produces a series of table beers, including a Faro and a Pony-Stout, and sells water and soft drinks branded as Bon-Val and Eaumega.Bavik has invested €3 million in its brewery since 2007 (a new brew-house, fermentation tanks and a racking line for kegs). All this has doubled brewing capacity to about 400,000hl.

Bellegems Bruin, Bockor, Jacobins, Framboise Max, Kriek Max, Omer Traditional Blond, Passion Max, Rosé Max.The Bockor brewery was founded in 1892 in Bellegem, a typical West Flanders village close to the French border. Its founder, Omer Vander Ghinste, brewed a brown beer called Ouden Tripel. This beer is still brewed today under the name of Bellegems Bruin and is a sour beer typical of its region. There is still an Omer Vander Ghinste running Bockor today. It is said that the founder passed his name on to his son to save money on advertising costs and the current Omer is the fifth generation to carry the name.Much of Bockor's reputation rests on its excellent pils, but there are many other beers too. La Blauw is an export version of the pils. The top-fermentation golden Omer traditional blond won a gold medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup in America and Rosé Max was created in 2009.The Jacobins gueuze first appeared in 1970 and takes its name from a local religious order. It was joined in 1983 by a kriek and in 1986 by a framboise. More recent additions to the range are Kriek Max, Framboise Max and even Passion Max (made with the juice of passion fruit) which are sweetened beers catering for a younger market. Kriek Max is available both in 25cl and 37.5cl bottles.The gueuze beers are unusual for being made outside the Senne Valley - a fact that has provoked lively debate (to put it mildly) among traditionalists.

If lace doesn't tempt you as a souvenir gift, succumb to Belgian craft beers! This temple of hops features over eight hundred different beers. The beers are categorized for easy reference, with collections of local beers, craft beers, discovery beers, Trappist beers, fruity beers, gluten-free beers and, of course, gift baskets to complete the range! There's also a selection of other souvenirs... A classic address on the Venice of the North tourist circuit.

Blondje, Bruintje, Bruin 12, Paasbier, Kerstbier, Kriek, Zingende Blondine, Koerseklakske Produces a wide range of top-fermentation beers, some of which, such as Extra (12% abv) are particularly appreciated in export markets. One beer, Bitter Sweet Symphony, was created in collaboration with an American brewer.The brewery has been run by Bruno Delrue and Gudrun Vandoorne (who is also the brewer) since October 2007.

Brasserie De Brabandere is a Belgian family brewery located in Bavikhove in the province of West Flanders. Its main beers are Bavik, Petrus and Wittekerke.

This address is sure to attract the attention of beer lovers. 900 different beers are on offer, with the emphasis on craft brews. It's the ideal place to make a few gifts, or to treat yourself. The place also welcomes groups of up to 40 people for birthday parties, beer and cheese tastings... In fact, a cheese bar has officially opened above the brewery. It's also possible to visit the small brewing facility on site. The hardest part will be choosing.

Wipers Times (Blond, Dubbel, Tripel), Tremist, Grotten Santé, Epica

In the spring of 2014, the Sint-Bernardus brewery in Watou, in association with other professionals in the brewing world, set up a tavern and a brand new microbrewery in the historic setting of the Ypres Casemates, built in 1680 to Vauban's plans. The Wipers Times is brewed on the basis of four grains and four spices. It evokes the presence of English soldiers in the city during the First World War. The constant temperature of the casemates is used to mature the Grottenbier, renamed Grotten Santé. This beer was originally created by Pierre Celis. The famous brewer from Hoegaarden wanted to mature his new creation in a cave in order to guarantee a constant temperature for the beverage.

Since 1821, the Rodenbach brewery has gone from strength to strength, and its reputation has spread far and wide. You'll be welcomed into the "Het Foederhuis" visitors' center, a perfect blend of industrial archaeology and contemporary design. Here you'll learn the fabulous secrets behind the making of Rodenbach beer. You'll be amazed by the tour of the touraille and the Rodenbach tuns cathedral. And, of course, the tour ends with a tasting! Don't hesitate to grab a bite to eat in the brewery and browse around the store, both of which are brand-new!

When leaving De Panne via Aduinkerke, alcohol and tobacco are cheaper everywhere! The choice is wider and the prices lower here than elsewhere. The welcome is also better... More than 100 different beers and their matching glasses are on the shelves. It is possible to order on the Internet and to organize your own gift basket. And to top it all off, a coffee, tea, cappuccino, espresso or chocolate is offered with every visit.