Saturday 19th of June 2010 09:35:15 PM

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If you like Belgian beers this brewery is a MUST STOP. I was in Heaven. It is a short walk from the town center in Brussels. The outside is very plain but well marked. Once inside the tour is amazing. Very educational for those who want to learn more about open fermentation and true lambic brewing techniques. They are very generous with the samples and the tour is self guided. I could go on, and on, and on. You must go!

Tuesday 16th of February 2010 02:31:44 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

A family-run lambic brewery very close to the Midi train station (where Eurostar arrives) and an easy walk from the town centre.

The tour format is superb: a warm welcome from the staff to find out how much you already know and then fill in the gaps, then you are given an excellent guide leaflet and left to wander through a signposted trail around the brewery, followed by a tasting session. As someone who prefers to explore at my own pace (and look at the equipment as much as the beer) I vastly preferred this approach to the more usual route-march. The openness of this tour was amazing - you really can see the entire process of brewing, blending and bottling going on around you!

The tasting is relaxed - I spent well over an hour working my way through the many varieties (and an excellent Gueze sausage) while sitting in the bar area.

The staff seem used to visitors and don't mind you gawping, although saying hello to the (gorgeous) brewery cat may require fast reflexes! I saw children going round uncomplainingly, so families need not be put off.

Even if you've never heard of lambic beer, I'd suggest that a visit here would make an excellent addition to any trip to Brussels.

Wednesday 9th of January 2008 11:16:39 AM

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No it isn't closed, though it always looks it from the outside. Just push the door and enter the hushed and atmospheric vestibule of a real live lambic brewery which just happens to allow nosy punters in for a look around.

No guided tours: pick up a leaflet and follow the route laid out. Upstairs there are the vast shallow fermentation trays where the wild yeast does its work, and above them the old roof tiles where the yeast lives and breeds, preserved under their more modern replacements. Next there's the acres and acres of barrels of maturing Cantillion beer, minded by the brewery's carefully nurtured community of spiders and their feline supervisor.

The ticket includes one drink, but the pourer seems quite happy to show off several of their wares. Remember to buy a few before you go.

Brewery tours rarely come realer than this.