The Ultimate Guide to Craft Beer in Brussels

By Agnes Aasmaa 

When you think about quality beer, there is one country you can always count on - Belgium. UNESCO has even added the Belgian beer culture under the intangible cultural heritage list. Belgian beer is even older than the country itself and produced before Belgium became independent. 

There are over a thousand types of beers made in Belgium alone. Not only is beer in Belgium for drinking, but there are several cultural events revolving around beer, it is used in cooking, and even the beer glass has huge importance in the beer culture. Each beer has its own glass. Don’t dare to serve it in the wrong glass!

With so many beers and breweries around Belgium, you would need to invest quite some time getting to know them all. But if you are looking for a beer degustation trip, start from the capital, Brussels. Brussels is heaven for all craft beer lovers, with numerous bars and restaurants serving craft beer, a rising number of breweries and even a beer museum to visit.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Brussels for craft beer.

Bars: 

Moeder Lambic 

Moeder Lambic was one of the first bars focused on quality craft beer before it became a trend. Though they started with big producers, the owners realised quickly they don't want to work this way. Thus, they brought in small local craft beer breweries instead. Even the cheese platters they offer have cheese from only local producers. When you visit Moeder Lambic, you can count on good quality artisanal products. The first Moeder Lambic opened at the beginning of the 80s in Saint Gilles. In 2009, the owners opened another in the centre of Brussels.

Delirium Café

Delirium Café is famous for having the most choices of beer available. Can you imagine there are over 2000 beers? In 2004, Delirium Café offered 2004 beers and obtained a Guinness world record for that! If the amount of choices makes you dizzy, the staff will help you out. The Huyghe Brewery is also brewing Delirium beers that have become popular, so don't forget to try them out. 

L’Amère à Boire

L’Amère à Boire is another beer bar in Brussels with a mindset of staying away from the commercial players and working with the little guys. They aim to surprise the taste buds of their visitors with craft beers from small breweries. With a cosy atmosphere and creative decorations, you’ll feel right at home. Many locals also favour this bar, and that’s only a good sign!

Dynamo

In Dynamo, you’ll right away notice a big fridge filled with craft beers. You can lose track of time looking at the different bottles and cans from various microbreweries. They also offer beers from the tap, all described on the wall to help you with your choice. Of course, if you are unsure, ask for the recommendations! 

Gist

Focused 100% on craft beers, this small bar is located in the centre of Brussels. There is a wide variety of beers with different sizes of bottles and always something for everyone. Besides good beer, they also play good music from vinyl records. The bar interior has old Brussels style but with a modern twist. 

Breweries:

Don’t only stick with bars and go straight to the source, the breweries. Many of them have a taproom or bar of their own, where they welcome visitors for a tasty degustation. 

Zenne Bar - Brasserie de la Senne

La Senne brewery is one of the pioneers and worked hard to create a strong craft beer culture in Brussels. Their beers like Taras Boulba, Zinnebir or Jambe de Bois have become some of the top choices by the locals. Thus, you must visit the Zenne Bar, which is right where the brewery is located. 

L’Ermitage

L’Ermitage is a nano-brewery in Brussels that has a taproom, bar and even wine cellars with natural wine. Their bar has a circular economy mentality, where all the brewery beers are produced no further than 2 kilometres from the bar. You can pair the beers with sourdough pizzas or other artisanal products.

Brussels Beer Project

Brussels Beer Project is a brewery with a modern mindset. They think that Belgian beer culture should not stay in writings in history but should continue to be written today and tomorrow. They brew new beers weekly and experiment with the whole community. The brewery also made its mark by creating the first beer made from unsold bread. You'll be sure to have some fun and good surprises at the Brussels Beer Project.

Restaurants:

Hungry and thirsty? Check out these restaurants that serve craft beer with their food.

Nüetnigenough

Nüetingenough is welcoming all the greedy gluttons and beer lovers. They serve beers from all the top Belgian craft beer breweries like De Ranke, Verzet or de la Senne, to name a few. And get ready for some mind-blowing food pairing. You will receive excellent advice for which beer goes best with which dish. 

Pasta Madre

Pizza and craft beer? Say no more! The best of Italy and Belgium has been brought together in Pasta Madre. Naturally fermented pizza dough and beers are a match made in heaven. The pizzas are beautifully presented, and there is a wide choice of beers to accompany them. 

Beer Festivals:

You might want to plan your visit around beer festivals. There is nothing more fun than discovering great beers in a festive atmosphere. 

BXLBeerFest

At the end of August, beer lovers from all over the world join the BXLBeerFest for discoveries. Not only do the beers come from Belgian breweries, but also the rest of the world. It might sound like a commercial event, but fear not, the festival organisers have chosen independent breweries that produce quality craft beer. You will have two days to find out about 60 breweries and 120 beers. 

Swafff!

Set at an iconic industrial building and hosted by beer bars and shops, you can join this wild party in June. Belgium breweries are joined by other breweries from Europe. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to find out about their iconic brewery list and venue. 

Guided Tours:

Finally, you can always join a beer-themed guided tour. It is a perfect way to be a proper beer tourist. 

Beer Secret

The Beer Secret tasting tour offers a unique way to experience beers. The tasting tours are very interactive, and you can ask them any questions and learn all about the Belgian beer culture. Even non-beer drinkers who have joined their friend or partner at the tour have been surprised by the flavours beers can have and joined the beer enthusiast crew. 

Brussels Beer Bus

Why not discover the city and the beers at the same time? Firstly, you will hop on a vintage ambulance bus, which will create a special atmosphere. The Brussels Beer Bus will take the passengers to see some of the treasures in Brussels while tasting three different beers brewed in the capital. 

The good news is, all the places mentioned above are easily accessible by public transportation or by bike. There are several bike hire places or bicycle stations for bike share. Several of the bars are even within walking distance from each other, so you can easily visit them all. And with so many places to visit, you might want to extend your trip!