Brasserie de la Lesse
Brasserie
About this Brewery
Place: Éprave
Brasserie de la Lesse is an independent, cooperatively owned brewery in Éprave, near Rochefort in the Belgian Ardennes. Established in 2011, it grew out of the Confrérie du Busson, a group of friends and former youth-group members from nearby Buissonville who shared an enthusiasm for beer. What began as informal tastings and experiments in homebrewing gradually developed into a more ambitious project.
In 2011, members of the group revived the former Brasserie Rezette in Éprave, which had previously produced beers under the name La Rochefortoise. They adopted the name Brasserie de la Lesse, recalling an earlier brewery that had operated in the neighbouring village of Lessive during the twentieth century. The new enterprise began brewing commercially in 2012, initially using the old brewery's equipment.
From the outset, the founders wanted to create something more than a conventional commercial brewery. They established a cooperative with a social purpose, seeking to support local employment, strengthen the regional economy and give members a meaningful role in the business. Rather than treating financial growth as an end in itself, the cooperative emphasises sustainable development, community participation and fair relationships with local suppliers. Today, it has nearly 500 cooperative members.
The brewery's environmental ambitions are reflected in its production methods. It uses organic ingredients, prioritises locally sourced raw materials, including Belgian malt and hops, and seeks to minimise its environmental impact. In late 2017, production moved into a renovated former farm building in Éprave, equipped with modern brewing machinery and designed to operate with reduced energy consumption. Measures include heat recovery, improved insulation, solar energy and systems for managing water use.
Brasserie de la Lesse produces a varied range of organic beers, including Top Lesse pils, Saison de Han and several traditional Belgian styles. Its approach combines established brewing methods with an interest in making good-quality beer accessible, rather than concentrating exclusively on stronger or more elaborate speciality beers.
The brewery welcomes visitors to its shop and bar in the heart of Éprave, with guided brewery tours also available by arrangement. Its combination of traditional brewing, cooperative ownership and environmental commitments makes it an interesting example of a Belgian brewery pursuing a different approach to business.
Glasses in this collection
Curator's Note
Brasserie de la Lesse is an appealing place to visit, occupying a beautifully renovated building in the small village of Éprave. The brewery shop and bar are modern, welcoming and pleasantly informal, while a recently constructed timber terrace, opened in July 2026, provides an attractive outdoor space. It would be an easy place to linger over a beer, particularly in warmer weather.
The shop offers the brewery's beers individually, in prepared gift packs or by the mixed case, allowing visitors to choose their own selection. Several styles of branded glassware are also available. The presentation is straightforward and unpretentious, with the brewery's colourful branding providing a consistent visual identity.
This is very much a working brewery.
During my visit in October 2026, the shop and bar were open but initially unattended. After a little searching, a member of staff emerged from the brewery, still wearing his heavy-duty rubber gloves, and cheerfully helped me assemble two mixed six-packs of beer. It was a small illustration of the practical realities of running a relatively modest operation.
The beers themselves deserve particular mention. I tried the brewery's pils, saison and blonde, and found all three impressively well made. Brasserie de la Lesse's cooperative principles and environmental ambitions are interesting in their own right, but the beer confirms the thing that matters: they are excellent!
Dogs are welcome to join you on the outside decking. Check with the brewery about other canine-related access, especially before booking a brewery tour.
