Metro area

Best breweries in Brussels, Belgium

Within 16 miles of Brussels we track 152 breweries. 7 rate Exceptional and 2 rate Great. Brasserie Cantillon in Anderlecht leads the list at 4.79 (Exceptional).

The scale

Exceptional
A short list of extraordinary breweries worth planning a trip around.
Great
Consistently produce world-class beer.
Fine
Make genuinely good beer, if not the pint you will still be talking about next year.
Poor
Not bad beer so much as unremarkable beer.
Limited
Most craft beer drinkers pass these by.

1
Brasserie Cantillon
Anderlecht, Bruxelles, Belgium
Brasserie Cantillon Brewery is a small and local family brewery in the city of Anderlecht in Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1900 by Paul Cantillon, the brewery immediately became popular for its lambic beers. Some of its remarkable lambic beers are the Cantillon Kriek, Gauze and Faro. The brewery depends on raw wheat, malted barley and dried hops. Brasserie Cantillon Brewery takes pride in its long tradition of using organic ingredients of grown cereals that promote fine quality of beers and clean agricultural practice. Spontaneous fermentation is a trademark of lambic beers produced by the brewery. Brasserie Cantillon Brewery also delivers fruit-flavored beers from oaks and wide variety of fruits.
Rating
4.79Exceptional
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
2
Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Beersel, Vlaanderen, Belgium
NL | Traditionele lambikbrouwerij en authentieke geuzestekerij. Meer dan 140 jaar ambacht, passie en kwaliteit. Koppig en puur. Levend erfgoed recht van de Zennevallei! EN | Traditional lambik brewery and authentic geuze blendery. More than 140 years of artisan, passion and quality. Stubborn and pure. Living heritage straight out the Senne Valley!
Rating
4.71Exceptional
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
3
Geuzestekerij De Cam
Pajottegem, Vlaanderen, Belgium
De Oude Cam is een oude boerderij-brouwerij van de vroegere heren van Gooik. In de jaren negentig van de twintigste eeuw werd hier een gemeenschapscentrum opgericht, met onder meer een volkscafé en een muziekinstrumentenmuseum. Willem Van Herreweghen, zoon van de dichter Hubert en op dat ogenblik productiedirecteur bij Palm, richtte hier in 1992 in de bijgebouwen een geuzestekerij in. In 1997 werd de eerste plaatselijk gecoupeerde geuze voorgesteld. Er wordt wort aangekocht bij lambiekbrouwerijen Boon, Girardin en Lindemans. Dit ondergaat een spontane gisting in Gooik. De zo verkregen jonge lambiek rijpt verder in vaten afkomstig van Pilsner Urquell. Vervolgens gebeurt de assemblage van lambiek van verschillende leeftijden, waarna het bier nog minstens een jaar op fles hergist. De langzame, ambachtelijke, productiewijze levert jaarlijks een 100 hectoliter Oude Geuze en Oude Kriek op.
Rating
4.57Exceptional
Popularity
Well rated
4
Gueuzerie Tilquin
Rebecq, Région wallonne, Belgium
Gueuzerie Tilquin is the first gueuze blendery in Wallonia. The blendery is located in Bierghes. It started out in 2009 under the management of Pierre Tilquin. Pierre put his intensive background in brewing science to practice when Gueuzerie Tilquin was established. Lambic and Gueuze beers are some of its finest specialties. Shortly after the blendery began its operations, it started to grow its audience, particularly among craft beer enthusiasts who love sour beers. Gueuzerie Tilquin has great passion for blending beers, oak barrel aging and tedious fermentation that has always produced some of the finest flavors of beers.
Rating
4.56Exceptional
Popularity
Very widely rated
5
Boerenerf
Beersel, Vlaanderen, Belgium
Boerenerf is an artisanal blendery with a primary focus on the art of fermenting and blending a diverse range of beverages, including lambic, cider, fruit wine, and honey wine. Established in 2020 by visionary founders Senne Eylenbosch and Vincent Alluin, Boerenerf occupies the historic grounds of the esteemed Brouwerij Eylenbosch in Huizingen who closed their doors in 1965. At the heart of our craft lies the tradition of spontaneous fermentation and barrel aging. We are deeply committed to collaborating with local farmers to source exceptional quality ingredients directly from the farm to the barrel. Our dedication to authentic flavors and time-honored techniques defines Boerenerf's mission to create distinctive and memorable beverages that celebrate the rich heritage of fermentation.
Rating
4.56Exceptional
Popularity
Well rated
6
Hanssens Artisanaal
Beersel, Vlaanderen, Belgium
In 1896 koopt Bartholomé Hanssens, burgemeester van Dworp, een oude boerderij-melkerij en verbouwt ze tot brouwerij die de naam "Sint-Antonius" meekreeg. In tegenstelling tot de andere brouwers in Dworp brouwt hij geen lambik, maar een bruin tafelbier. Het nodige water om te brouwen kwam van een beekje, vlak achter de brouwerij. Naast dat beekje was een gemetste steenput, die als filter dienst deed. Dit putsel werd verloren gewaand, maar de kippen legden het in de lente van 2000 bloot. Zoals in zovele brouwerijen werd tijdens W.O.I al het koperwerk door de Duitse bezetter in beslag genomen. Na de oorlog besliste Bartholomé geen lambik meer te brouwen, maar zich te beperken tot het versnijden van aangekochte wort. De brouwerij werd geuzestekerij, een in die tijd veel voorkomend soort bedrijf dat ondertussen nagenoeg verdwenen is, op De Cam (Gooik) na. Vanaf 1929 neemt Theo Hanssens het bedrijf over. Hij breekt de restanten van de brouwerij uit en vormt de vrijgekomen ruimte in 1931 om tot een woonhuis. Hij ontwierp de flessendroogrekken, die nu nog steeds in gebruik zijn: de flessen worden na het manueel reinigen (in een weekkuip en een borstelmachine) omgekeerd op de rekken geplaatst, niet alleen om te laten uitdruppen, maar ook om te voorkomen dat zich eventueel insecten in de flessen zouden nestelen.
Rating
4.42Exceptional
Popularity
Well rated
7
Lambiek Fabriek
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Vlaanderen, Belgium
Lambiek Fabriek produce's world class beer and is ranked #12 in Belgium. They are most well known for "Oude Geuze Brett-Elle", which is a Gueuze Lambic and "Young & Wild Fontan-Elle", which is a Traditional Lambic. Their primary focus is brewing Lambics and Others.
Rating
4.34Exceptional
Popularity
Well rated
8
Geuzestekerij Parrain
Beersel, Vlaanderen, Belgium
Geuzestekerij Parrain produce's high quality beer and is ranked #17 in Belgium. They are most well known for "Oude Geuze Parrain", which is a Gueuze Lambic and "Lambiek Parrain", which is a Traditional Lambic. Their primary focus is brewing Lambics.
Rating
4.22Great
Popularity
Barely rated
9
Stekerij Ambreus
Halle, Vlaanderen, Belgium
Rating
4.18Great
Popularity
Barely rated
10
Brouwerij Girardin
Dilbeek, Vlaanderen, Belgium
On the border between Groot-Bijgaarden and Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle, there is a farm where agriculture and brewery are still being combined. Until World War II, this was the most normal case in the world in the region called 'Pajottenland'. After the war, people left the agriculture behind and decided to focus on the brewing of lambik. Not on the Lindenberg where the Girardin family keeps the tradition alive for four generations yet.
Rating
3.94Fine
Popularity
Well rated
11
La Source Beer Co.
Bruxelles, Belgium
La Source Beer Co. produce's good quality beer and is ranked #27 in Belgium. They are most well known for "Epervier", which is an International IPA and "La Meute", which is a New England IPA. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Dark Beers.
Rating
3.89Fine
Popularity
Well rated
12
Brouwerij Bosteels
Buggenhout, Vlaanderen, Belgium
In the hands of the Bosteels family for over 200 years, the brewery relies today on the craftmanship of seven generations. In 1791, Jean-Baptist Bosteels established the brewery, and has been followed by generations who took over the brewery and never stop brewing, even during the world wars. At that time, the brewery played such an important role in the town, the family Bosteels were such influential people that we are not surprised that 3 of the 7 generations have been Town Mayors. In the year 1930’s Antoine Bosteels, 5th generation, carried on the brewing dynasty and played an important role expanding the sales of the Bosteels Pils into other regions such as Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels. His son Ivo Bosteels honored the iconic beer of Pauwel Kwak by bringing it back to the market in 1980; this is the beginning of the strong beers for Brewery Bosteels. In the year 1990, Ivo’s son, Antoine Bosteels, the 7th generation, understood the potential of strong speciality beers and especially the trend for blond ones. Driven by passion of the art of brewing and guided by his creativity, Antoine is at the roots of the succes of Tripel Karmeliet and DeuS Brut des Flandres.
Rating
3.89Fine
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
13
Oud Beersel
Beersel, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
y Oud Beersel, which started in 1882, is located in Beersel at 10 km from the Brussels city centre, in the southwest of the capital. It is one of the last remaining authentic lambic blenderies of Belgium and well known for its lambic beer brewed along traditional brewing methods. Lambic matures up to three years in wooden barrels, whereupon it is blended to make Oude Geuze. Sour cherries undergo fermentation in lambic beer and after a second fermentation in the bottle Oude Kriek is born. This unique brewing process with spontaneous fermentation is possible in Belgium in the Pajottenland region, the Zenne Valley and in Brussels, because of the presence of a specific microflora. In the recent years, Oud Beersel innovated with the launch of the BEER BOX and BEER BOX FRIDGE, as well as by creating lots of infused lambics.
Rating
3.86Fine
Popularity
Widely rated
14
Brouwerij Kestemont
Dilbeek, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
The site of Brewery Goossens was purchased by the Kestemont family in 2016, a family born and bred in the Pajot region. After three years, the first batch of lambic is put into wooden casks to start aging. A new brewing hall was installed early 2021 to start brewing again after almost half a century of absence. Finally, it is once more possible to smell the aroma of lambic through the streets of Pede. A return of a centuries old tradition to the quaint town where Brueghel used to paint the old watermill and little chapel some 400 years ago.
Rating
3.83Fine
Popularity
Lightly rated
15
Brouwerij Boon
Halle, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Since 1975, Boon Brewery has been owned and run by Frank Boon, one of the pioneers of the authentic lambic and gueuze revival. But the first signs of the brewery date back to 1680, as a farm-brewery and distillery in the village of Lembeek. In 1860 Louis Paul bought the brewery to brew only lambic and faro. From 1875, he began bottling gueuze lambic. In 1898, Pierre Troch bought the brewery. But after the economic crisis of 1927, it came into the hands of Joseph De Vits. His son, Rene is renowned for the production of soft and fine gueuze lambic. As Rene De Vits had no children, he sold the brewery to Frank Boon.
Rating
3.83Fine
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
16
Brouwerij Het Anker
Mechelen, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Het Anker continuously strives for an authentic and unique taste experience. Through our age-old history we developed into an internationally noted brewery. We mainly thank that success to our authenticity. To this day we use traditional recipes as the foundation of our brewing process and a variety of hops and herbs that give our beers that characteristic taste and aroma. Stop by, and discover how we – as one of the oldest breweries in Belgium (1471) - preserved the authenticity of far-off days.
Rating
3.81Fine
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
17
Donder
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Flanders, Belgium
Rating
3.75Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
18
Brouwerij Lindemans
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
At Lindemans Brewery, we apply the traditional spontaneous fermentation method to brew our authentic lambic and produce our specialty beers. These include the authentic Oude Gueuze Cuvée René and Oude Kriek Cuvée René, with their sparkling and slightly dry flavour, our best-selling Kriek with refreshing cherries, and award-winning, mixed fermentation blends Tarot Noir and Tarot d'Or.
Rating
3.74Fine
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
19
Huisbrouwerij Karrelees
Mechelen, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Rating
3.73Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
20
Brouwerij Malheur
Buggenhout, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
In August 1997 in the Mandekensstraat in Buggenhout (Baasrode-Zuid) the old De Landtsheer family brewery was started up again by Manu De Landtsheer, Adolf’s son, under the name “Brewery Malheur”. So the family’s brewing tradition has been restored. Manu De Landtsheer’s objectives were threefold: to create an original brand of beer to determine the flavour and ingredients himself to export and sell his beers on the European markets and in the United States. The name “Malheur” was not chosen “by accident”. Market research revealed that with its playful double meaning “Malheur” conjured up pleasant connotations and in brief was a name that stuck in people’s minds. Brewery Malheur is an independent, family brewery. The brewery’s old vaulted cellar and the antique coolship, a large shallow pan into which the wort is poured to quickly cool it, are witnesses of the brewery’s rich past. The blonde Malheur beers are brewed according to an old traditional method with barley, hops and yeast but hypermodern equipment is now used in the process. The brown Malheur beers are brewed according to an old Flemish tradition with hops and spices.
Rating
3.73Fine
Popularity
Widely rated
21
L'Ermitage
Kuregem, Brussel, Belgium
Autonome, indépendant, et empli d'intériorité, l'Ermite est en mouvement bien qu'il soit lent. Nous sommes destinés à évoluer, mais la gestation se doit d'être lente et profonde. Puisse la lanterne nous guider dans notre créativité, dans notre recherche de la qualité et dans le partage de notre passion brassicole.
Rating
3.73Fine
Popularity
Well rated
22
Mazette
Bruxelles, Belgium
We don’t drink to forget, we raise our glasses to remember… It is in this spirit that we will propose a diversified range of beers with a focus on: thirst-quenching beers (dry beers with a low alcohol content); dark beers; fruit beers; sour beers, bitter beers, barrique beers, etc). Balance and drinkability are the two keywords for our style! Natural sourdough beer is our signature beer, reflecting the marriage between bread and beer.
Rating
3.72Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
23
Duvel Moortgat
Puurs-Sint-Amands, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
It all began when Jan-Léonard Moortgat and his wife founded the Moortgat brewery farm in 1871. Around the turn of the century, Moortgat was one of the over 3,000 breweries operating in Belgium. Jan-Leonard experimented by trial and error, and his top-fermented beers were soon greatly appreciated in the brewery's home town of Puurs and far beyond. Before long, the Brussels bourgeoisie was also won over by his beers. Business was booming and Jan-Leonard's two sons, Albert and Victor, joined the company. There was a clear division of labour: Albert became the brewer, Victor was responsible for delivering the beer to Brussels by horse and dray. In 1923 the production of Duvel began with just a few crates. Today, Duvel is enjoyed literally all around the world (in over 50 countries) by countless beer lovers. The beer is still brewed with profound respect for the original recipe and the time it needs to mature.
Rating
3.72Fine
Popularity
Extremely widely rated
24
La Jungle
Anderlecht, Bruxelles, Belgium
Fermentation and blending of wild beers, brewed with raw cereals and European hops, inspired by Belgian and English brewing traditions. Sometimes barrel aged, sometimes macerated on fruit, always balanced.
Rating
3.71Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
25
De Smidse
Beersel, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Rating
3.61Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
26
Brasserie Surréaliste
Bruxelles, Belgium
“Releasing the creative potential of the unconscious mind, fighting the establishment” these words express the values of the surrealist art movement and equally the craft beer movement. We are proud of our Belgian roots and we aim to add our twist to the beer scene, letting people discover new tastes and stimulating their palate like an artist would stimulate the mind. Beyond rules, rabbits & reality, We create the beers of our dreams.
Rating
3.53Poor
Popularity
Well rated
27
Den Herberg
Halle, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Den Herberg produce's unproven beer and are regularly brewing different ones. They are most well known for "Cuvée Devillé", which is a Belgian Pale Ale and "Oude Lambiek", which is a Traditional Lambic. Their primary focus is brewing Belgian Ales and Lambics.
Rating
3.52Poor
Popularity
Modestly rated
28
Fugu Brewing Co.
Uccle, Bruxelles, Belgium
Fugu Brewing Co. is Belgium's go-to craft brewery for IPAs. Founded in 2021, we're on a mission to shake up Belgian beer culture with bold, hop-forward IPAs in cans and a striking illustrated universe. Our flagship Fugushima is an aromatic citrus bomb dry-hopped with Citra & Simcoe. Full lineup: Cosmos, Samurai, Squizz and Hop Circle. Brewed in Belgium. Built for IPA lovers.
Rating
3.50Poor
Popularity
Modestly rated
29
Monstruo
Braine-l'Alleud, Région Wallonne, Belgium
Monstruo is the story of two young beer lovers who wanted to create a beer that reflected their generation. Spring Equinox is their first beer. This blond beer with citrus and passion fruit flavours will transport you into a whole new world. Let's discover new flavours together!
Rating
3.48Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
30
Kapsuul Beer Co.
Lebbeke, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Rating
3.48Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
31
Moeder Lambic
Bruxelles, Belgium
Rating
3.46Poor
Popularity
Lightly rated
32
NovaBirra
Braine-l'Alleud, Région Wallonne, Belgium
NovaBirra produce's unproven beer and chooses to limit their brewing to a select few. They are most well known for "Big Mama Stout", which is an American Stout and "HOLY IPA", which is an American IPA. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Belgian Ales.
Rating
3.45Poor
Popularity
Modestly rated
33
Innova Brewery
Haaltert, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Innova Brewery produce's unproven beer and has a limited variety of different ones to choose from. They are most well known for "Nova", which is a New England IPA and "Unreal - Bourbon Barrel-Aged", which is a Belgian Tripel. Their primary focus is brewing Belgian Ales and IPAs.
Rating
3.45Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
34
Dr Blues Belgian Brews
Leuven, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
DR BLUES BELGIAN BREWS® are hand-crafted BEERS produced in DR BLUES BEER CLINIC™ in Belgium with pharmacy-like attention to detail. DR BLUES prescribes the beer treatment, the PHARMACIST (brewer) makes the beer prescriptions, and Dr. Blues' NURSE (Emily) dispenses them. Gifts of pure nature, DR BLUES' beers mature with music & aspire to be the very best in luxury and quality. DR BLUES is an American doctor and scientist who with top Belgian Master Brewers developed the magic of beer in 5 prescriptions: SuperPills™, NerveBlock™, PaceMaker™, PainKiller™, and non-alcoholic Placebo™. DR BLUES does not promote drinking. Instead, he brews his recipes for the lucky, consenting few, who like him, insist on a unique story & experience for special occasions.
Rating
3.44Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
35
Sako Brewery
Pepingen, Flanders, Belgium
Brouwerij-Stokerij Sako produce's unproven beer and chooses to limit their brewing to a select few. They are most well known for "Bogaerden", which is a Wheat Beer and "Monnikbosbier", which is a Belgian Tripel. Their primary focus is brewing Belgian Ales and Wheat Beers.
Rating
3.44Poor
Popularity
Lightly rated
36
Brouwerij Deneef-Moortgat
Puurs-Sint-Amands, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Rating
3.41Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
37
Thermae Boetfort
Steenokkerzeel, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Rating
3.38Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
38
Brasserie Marcelin
Evere, Bruxelles, Belgium
Rating
3.37Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
39
Eau Contraire Vzw
Mechelen, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Eau Contraire vzw was founded in 2017 with the goal of forming a community of practice on small-scale and artisanal production. At the moment we focus exclusively on craft beers. Our purpose is not to earn a living, but rather to have fun with brewing and tasting. We experiment with different recipes and ingredients and do not limit ourselves to particular styles of beer. This means that every beer lover can hopefully discover something to her or his taste.
Rating
3.33Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
40
Mish Mash Brewers
Forest, Bruxelles, Belgium
Rating
3.20Poor
Popularity
Barely rated