Wallonie

Nathalie and Jacques Pougin set up their micro-brewery in 1998 in the town of Bouillon, a tourist jewel of the Belgian Ardennes. After a move necessitated by the crampedness of the first building, the brewery was able to increase its production capacity. Today the couple brews several beers, including La Cuvée de Bouillon blonde, La Médiévale ambrée, La Bouillonnaise brune, and a Blanche. They also make seasonal brews and custom beers. The brewery's shop, the adjacent Marché de Natalie, offers more than 300 beers.

In this shop, located in the historical centre of the city, you will find several hundred references of artisanal beers only, but not necessarily Belgian beers. The national references are the most numerous with a particular affection for small structures. It is also the only real beer shop in the centre of the Walloon capital. Ideal for shopping for gourmet gifts. Organisation of tastings, gift baskets and gift packages such as the amusing Crafty XMas Box, the brewery version of the Advent calendar.

More than 400 different beers, impeccably arranged, gift baskets, glasses, await the barge in this shop a stone's throw from the cathedral. The owner buys her beers directly from local brewers, which gives an idea of her passion for hopped beverages. Anyone with a little nonnette will be in a hurry to make her blush with envy! Passing through the City of the Five Bell Towers, pay a little visit to Marianne, which offers a very friendly welcome to visitors. And it's been going on for thirty years!

It can be found in all the festivities in Liège such as the Christmas Village, the Gallic Village and of course during the 15th of August in Outremeuse... What's that? The Lilimus, of course! This "liqueur", if we can call it that, is Lionel Graindorge's idea. Typically manufactured in Liège, Lilimus is the result of a clever blend of pecan and lime juice (without the addition of any additives or chemicals!). With a temperature of 17.5°, this drink is consumed very cold and can therefore be drunk on ice or in a cocktail preparation. Cheers!

Certainly one of the best-known names in Namur, but also one of the most discreet, nestled in a corner of the Place Saint-Aubain. The Grafé-Lecocq house has been selecting, maturing and bottling wines from the most prestigious regions of France for four generations. Some of the 500 wines in the catalogue are aged for 24 months in one of the 1,200 oak barrels. In its 16th century building, the Oenotheque offers, in addition to the range of wines and champagnes, 200 fine spirits and numerous accessories, books and other documents.

De Marche in Namur. In addition to their boutique, WINE&MORE also offers events and Master Classes to deepen your knowledge of wine. Check out their website for upcoming events. Don't hesitate to visit this wine cellar for a unique tasting experience.

A flagship winery in the province of Namur, its success is resounding! Jeannette moved to Lustin (Profondeville) with her family from her native Holland in the early 2000s. The first female cellar master in Belgium, she has raised her wines to international level. Starting with a few basic skills, Jeannette is recognized by her peers. Her wines are made from 14 grape varieties, the most famous of which are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Acolon. Present on the region's finest tables, her wines can be enjoyed on tours with or without a meal.

The restaurant is located in the lower town on the banks of the Vesdre river and has a pleasant terrace. The owner can't stop talking about the wines. No wonder, since Bernard Visé is a sommelier and also has a wine library. He also organises a monthly wine tasting, the theme of which is posted a few months in advance on the website (French country wines, summer wines, European wines...). As for the main course, the sole meunière with caper butter melts in your mouth. The menus also give the opportunity to taste a nice selection of wines.

Roger Caulier and his three sons are the heirs to a family business, founded in 1933 and since 1980 housed in the former Tensier tannery in Peruwelz. They immediately made a name for themselves by selling their production in retro bottles with mechanical corks. Classics include Bon Secours and Paix-Dieu, billed as the first abbey beer brewed every full moon. It's served in a rather original glass, featuring the roundness of the moon but cut at an angle, "to highlight its aromas", explains the brewer.

With about 180 different beer references on offer: Pils, flavoured beers, special beers... Everyone will find what they are looking for. Different capacities are proposed, just like these 6-liter kegs adaptable to private machines. Other alcoholic beverages such as aperitifs, wines and softs are also available. Finally, the gift boxes and baskets will please in any circumstance. Beware, the abuse of bad beers is dangerous for your health, the consumption of good beers in moderation is recommended.

Rochefort 6, Rochefort 8, Rochefort 10 There are three versions of this admirable Trappist beer: the 6, the 8 and the 10. Rochefort 10 is the most celebrated; Rochefort 6 is the rarest, sold mainly in shops near the abbey; Rochefort 8 is the most widely available.Production has doubled in recent years to meet the strong growth in demand, both in Belgium and overseas. 26,000 hl were produced in 2010. The whole brewing process, including the bottling, takes place inside the abbey walls.The brewery is the abbey's main economic activity, but for all its success, its role remains one of supporting the monks' main devotional activities. The abbot himself has said that the abbey is first and foremost an abbey, one of whose activities is brewing beer.The abbey, or l'Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy (to give its full name), is about a mile (2 km) from the Ardennes town of Rochefort, halfway between Brussels and Luxembourg. It has been on the site for centuries and there is evidence to show that monks started brewing Rochefort beers as long ago as the 16th century.The brewery is not open to visitors, but the services at the abbey church are open to all.