Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie

Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie was founded in 2012 by Johan Van Dyck and Karen Follens with the aim of bringing a distinctive Antwerp brewing tradition back to life.

The story began several years earlier, when Van Dyck discovered references to Seefbier, once one of Antwerp’s characteristic local beers. It had been widely brewed in and around the city but disappeared during the twentieth century. After a three-year search through archives, historical records and contacts with former brewing families, a historic recipe was recovered and recreated with help from KU Leuven and Biercentrum Delvaux.

Seefbier was relaunched in Antwerp in 2012 and was recognised by the city as an official city beer. The success of the revived beer led Van Dyck and Follens to establish a permanent independent brewery in Antwerp itself.

With support from around one thousand crowdfunders, a new brewery was built in the historic Noorderpershuis, a former harbour building. Brewing began there in 2017, restoring an independent brewing presence to the centre of Antwerp.

The brewery has since expanded its range beyond Seefbier while continuing to draw strongly on Antwerp’s brewing history and local identity.