Top 10 Brewery Cafes/Taps
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#1) DeDolle Brouwers, 12b Roeselaerestraat, Esen
I LOVE THIS PLACE! If I included all cafes together in a favorites list, this would be first or second overall. This is a brewery tasting room extraordinaire. Only open Saturday and Sunday afternoons. They do a brewery tour on Sunday at 2 in French and English and 3 in Dutch. They usually have 3-4 Dolle beers on tap and assorted cheese plate or a homemade pate sandwich (great). In the winter there is a circular fire pit and in summer a back patio facing a nice pasture. Kris and Els are wonderful hosts as is Moes, Kris’s mother who still gives the tour at 89 years of age. She is wonderful.
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#2) In Der Vrede, 13 Donkerstraat, Westvelteren
This is the official brewery tap of Westvleteren beers, brewed by the St. Sixtus monastery.
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This modern building replaced the old farmhouse many years ago. In Der Vrede serves the 3 different Westvleteren beers; Green Cap/Blond, Blue Cap/8 Degree, Yellow Cap/12 degree. They also serve coffee, soft drinks and a selection of snack items.
I do not think they serve any other beers besides the Westvleteren; but why would you drink anything else anyway?
Also, inside the building is the Claustrum an interactive exhibit that tells the story of the life of the Trappist monks across the street in St. Sixtus. St. Sixtus is a closed abbey. They do not accept visitors. Please do not try. They do not allow tours.
Next to the abbey is the ‘Bier Koop’ where you may, on certain days, drive through and buy up to 2 cases of this wonderful beer. You must call ahead for an appointment.
The Abbey of St. Sixtus, where Westvleteren is brewed, is directly across the road from In Der Vrede. Here one will find the 'Bier Koop' where people come from all over to purchase this great beer. Each vehicle is limited to two cases (bak) and must have an appoint,ent in order to purchase.
I recently had the great privilege of a personal tour of the Abbey and brewery by Brother Joris, who is in charge of the brewing operations. This was allowed after years of requesting a visit
Please note that St. Sixtus does not allow visitors to the Abbey and has problems with visitors knocking on the doors and asking for a visit. This is frowned on and I would ask that any reader of this web site refrain from doing so.
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#3) Fantome Brewery, Rue Preal 8, Soy
Dany Prignon and his father started Fantome in 1988. The brewery is a hodge podge of equipment, but Dany works wonders with it and produces some of the most wonderful beer in Belgium. Dany allows tours, but only by appointment. After the tour Dany will bring you into his small café for a taste of 3-4 of his beers.
Dany speaks OK English, but if e-mailing him to ask about visiting, the less words, the better.
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I have had the pleasure of brewing beer with Dany and he is a very dedicated brewer who brews almost every day.
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#4) Achouffe Brewery, Achouffe 32, Achouffe
Achouffe was started in the mid-1980's by Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts in a beautiful part of Belgium. Starting as homebrewers in the early 80's they found many people enjoyed their beers and were encouraged to open a full time brewery.
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Although Achouffe was recently sold to Moortgat (makers of Devel and other fine Belgian beers) the quality and character has remained consistant since the early days. This year marks the 25th year of brewing for Achouffe so raise a glass and toast them!
Brewery tour by appointment only. Medium sized brewery full of stainless steel brewing equipment. They also have a brewery tap and restaurant that serves a full range of lunch and dinner, many cooked with Achouffe beers. The café is quite charming and the beer is fresh!
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#5) Trappisten Café, 487 Antwerpsessteenweg, Westmalle (Oost Malle)
Official Brewery tap across the street from the abbey. Officially, Westmalle does not give tours and in the recent past frowned strongly on anyone even trying to take pictures when the big gates opened to let tractor-trailers in or out.
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I am of the impression that they are loosening the iron reign on this and have heard of numerous people receiving tours of the brewery recently.'
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#6) Huyghe Brewery, Brusselsesteenweg 256, Melle (Ghent)
Actually Huyghe is one of my favorite tours and one of my favorite breweries. I know the owner fairly well and he is a gracious host. This is not an easy tour to set up due to the size of the brewery, but it is possible. Huyghe brews about 50 different beers including the Delirium range, Artvelde, Campus, McGregor, Floris and many others. After the tour, the tasting is great, but might cause one to wander around for a while before getting back in the car.
They have a fantastic brewing museum and on my last visit viewed a very large room that looks like they plan to grow the tour end of the business.
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#7) Ange Gardien, #3 Rue d’Orval, Orval
The Guarding Angel is the official brewery tap of Orval Trappist monastery. After a tour of the ruins of the old abbey, you can pop into the gift shop and buy Orval cheeses and bottles of beer, but if you want to drink a fresh one, you need to go to the ‘garden’. Orval only has one beer they brew for normal consumption, but at the ‘garden’ you can also try the Petit Orval, the monk’s beer. Grab a couple of bottles to go; you’ll never see this beer for sale in any shop.
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They served a nice variety of lunch dishes and snacks.
By the way, the trip to Orval and the surrounding area is absolutely beautiful. There is a hotel, Hostellerie d’Orval about a quarter mile away if you feel you just can’t get enough of the area.
Brewery tours are not standard but are possible by appointment only.
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#8) Kasteelkelder, Oostrozebekestraat 43, Ingelmunster
Official brewery tap of the Van Honsebrouck is in the cellar of the Van Honsebrouck castle. A very cool place to sit and drink for a very long while. They offer a full range of their beers including the range of St. Louis lambics and gueuzes, Brigand and the wonderful Kasteelbiers. They also serve vintage beers that have been perfectly cellared in the castle. Simple snacks are available.
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#9) Moortgat, Breendonkdorp 58, Breendonk-Puurs
A huge brewery with huge output, but this is where Duvel is made and since it is an excellent beer, so is the tour. This is an excellent tour (appointment only) and very informative. After the tour, the group goes into the on-site brewery tap for a small lunch and a taste of 3-4 of the Moortgat branded beers including Maredsous abbey beers.
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#10) Pelgrim, 8 Boomgardstraat, Antwerp
Closed. Replacement coming soon.
Official brewery tap of DeKoninck and is located directly across the street from the brewery. Kind of a British pub feel, but a great place to try all the DeKoninck beers and to become a member of the ‘Gist Club’. When ordering your DeKoninck (ask for a Bolleke – the name of the glass style but also how locals order DeKoninck anywhere in Antwerp). Then also ask for a shot of gist. You will be served a shot glass of fresh yeast, which you shoot and chase with the beer. Sorry, it’s tradition.
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I know it’s cheating, but while you’re in Antwerp, catch a cab to Pakhuis, 76 Vlaamse Kaai, Antwerp’s only brewpub for some excellent fresh beer and wonderful food.
