Nearly nothing has changed since Bruegel’s day when he would visit the same gorgeous rolling landscape of farm horses and watermills for inspiration. And there’s no time like Lambic Month – from 25 October to 24 November - to visit on foot and discover the craft of brewing.
The whole region is abuzz with things to see and do. These five breweries invite you to taste their zesty craft beer for yourself.
1. Boon Brewery (Lembeek, Halle)
Frank Boon revived the brewing tradition in the 1970s. Still, the first traces of what we call the Boon Brewery today date back to 1680. Visit one of the region’s biggest family-run lambic breweries for a tour, a souvenir at the beer shop, and a pint at the cosy BOON Bar. This brewery is one of only a handful still using the ‘turbid mashing’ method, lambic’s oldest brewing tradition. It’s pretty goopy, so the Flemish also refer to it – tongue-in-cheek – as the slijmmethode, aka the ‘sludge method’. It sounds icky, but don’t let that put you off. The final flavour is pure gold – go taste for yourself!
The Alambic Walk - 7.1 km
Head out from the heart of Lembeek on this 7.1-km journey to the Malakoff Estate. The tower ruins look authentically medieval, but nothing could be further from the truth. Is Lembeek a bastardisation of the old ‘alembic’, a distilling device? No one knows for sure. Set out and come home via Lembeek Station.
Den Herberg
2. Den Herberg (Buizingen, Halle)
Bart Devillé and his wife and seven kids are brewing wizards. But they don’t stop at geuze: they also brew a whole range of other beers! Drop by for a taste at the pub-brewery Den Herberg. It’s the kind of cosy, mom-and-pop business that has all but disappeared. But don’t underestimate this brewery or its beer: they export their craft beers all the way to Italy, Brazil, and even China!
The Lambiekstoemper Walk - 9.6 km
Get off at Halle station. You’ll find yourself on the winding Zenne Trail in no time, headed towards the trees of Buizingen’s Kluis Forest [Kluisbos]. Eventually, you’ll wind up back in town on your way to the famous St Martin’s Basilica. Curious to know what a lambiekstoemper is? Aside from being a lambic fan club, it originally refers to the tool people used to crush a sugar cube into a cold glass of sour lambic or geuze. Halle Station is the start and end of your journey.
Kestemont Brewery
3. Kestemont Brewery (Schepdaal, Dilbeek)
Born and raised in the Pajottenland, the Kestemont family has called the auspicious former Goossens Brewery site home since 2016. Fast forward five years, and they’d begun brewing their first lambic. A lonely half a century later, and the air in the streets of Pede wafts once again with the heady, earthy undertones of wort cooling down. Brueghel’s nostrils must have been filled with the same scent as he painted Pede’s old mill and chapel nearly 400 years ago, just a few blocks away from the brewery. This inspiring site is a listed monument and was listed as architectural heritage in 2021. Beer and beautiful architecture...what more could you want?
The Wild Yeast Walk – 13.3 km
Does wild yeast swarm? It does here. The air is thick with their heady magic, which is why there’s no shortage of lambic breweries to choose from: Kestemont Brewery, Lindemans Brewery, ’t Guldenhooft Farm Brewery and 4Pajot. Landscapes that look like they sprang from a Bruegelian canvas and Groenenberg and Gaasbeek’s majestic castle estates – get ready for the best of the Pajottenland’s treasures.
Oud Beersel Brewery
4. Oud Beersel Brewery (Beersel)
Creative spirit Gert Christiaens reopened the authentic alehouse next to the Oud Beersel Blendery. These days, the wooden barrels mature more than just traditional lambic. Gert’s concoctions include rhubarb and even walnuts. And he uses unconventional, quirky ingredients to add notes of unexpected goodness to the mix. How would you like to try a lambic infused with rose petals, Szechuan pepper or even olive leaf?
The Kesterbeek Walk - 8.1 km
The Kesterbeek guides you through the rolling green hills of Beersel, Dworp, and Alsemberg. Pass through fields and forests to enjoy the sumptuous views of Brussels and the Pajottenland. This walk starts in Beersel, on the Herman Teirlinckplein.
De Troch Brewery
5. De Troch Brewery (Wambeek, Ternat)
It’s indisputable. De Troch Brewery is one of the region’s loveliest breweries. Dating back to Pieter De Troch’s purchase of a beer vat in 1795, this handsome square farm has long been a family stronghold. It’s remained virtually unaltered and is easily one of archaeology’s prize finds. Around 1984, the brewery caused a minor scandal in the geuze world. Their sin? They’d launched the first exotic beer, e.g. the piquantly controversial lambic infused with banana and mango.
The Pol de Mont Walk - 7.7 km
Writer and poet Pol de Mont (1857-1931) waxed lyrical about the beauty of his home, the Pajottenland. Beginning with his birthplace, you’ll wander through the Kouterbroeken Nature Reserve and past the Klapscheut water mill, following in the poet’s footsteps.
Wondering what the difference is between a geuze and a lambic? It’s the process. Lambic is brewed, while geuze is blended. When you drink geuze, you drink a blend of young and old lambic fermented a second time after bottling.
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