A true cradle of beer, Belgium combines centuries-old tradition with modern creativity. Flanders, particularly the Westhoek region, remains a major hop-growing area. Since the Middle Ages, monks and family brewers have passed down their expertise, giving rise to a unique diversity of styles: lambics, gueuzes, abbey beers, tripels, saisons, and more. Today, a new generation of craft brewers is perpetuating this tradition while innovating. What makes Belgian beer exceptional is the combination of great variety, remarkable quality, and unparalleled service, with each beer having its ideal glass and serving temperature. Beer plays a central role in the gastronomy, social life, and culture of traditional bars, the “brown cafés.” Between tradition and innovation, the Belgian brewing scene continues to inspire the world and reinvent itself with passion.
Experiencing Belgium beer is a must when you visit Europe.
Visit a unique micro-brewery
Kazematten brewery in Ypres is housed within the historic ramparts (city walls) of this quaint city, easy walking distance from The Menin Gate – where a moving Last Post service is performed each evening at 8pm. At Kazematten, you can taste the ‘Wipers Times’ brews, brewed in the same vault as the WWI trench newspaper it’s named after. https://www.kazematten.be/en/
Learn the art behind beer – explore a hop museum
The Hop Museum in Poperinge is located not far from the town of Ypres, and close to Talbot House living museum – a WWI ‘everyman’s club’. The Hop Museum is in an impressive building which use to house the town’s hop weighing and inspection scales. The historic atmosphere still lingers, but the building has also been beautifully updated. The museum offers insights into the history of hop cultivation, harvesting and processing, complemented by films showcasing farming and brewing practices. Admire the Belgian Beer Collection, which features more than 2,500 beers that have been digitised and displayed on the “beer table”. Children can enjoy various treasure hunts adapted to their age. Open: Mid-February to 30 November: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 10 a.m.-5.30 p.m.
On the first Sunday of every month, the museum comes to life with a brewery experience. On this day, visitors can enjoy free entry and fascinating guided tours and activities.
https://www.toerismewesthoek.be/en/hop-museum
Do a hop bike tour in Flanders Fields
Hire an e-bike and set off on a self-guided tour that will take you to hop museums, Trappist breweries where the beer is brewed by Monks, and past some moving WWI sites in the former battlefield and hop growing region of Flanders Fields. https://www.visitflanders.com/en/flandersfinestcycleroutes/hop-bike-tour-flanders-fields
Beer festivals to choose from
Craft Beer festival in Antwerp 13-14 November 2026, Christmas Beer festival in Essen 12-13 December 2026, Belgium Beer Week 23-29 August 2027, Belgian Beer Weekend in Brussels is 3-5 September 2027, Bruges Beer Festival is 11-12 September 2027.
