Brasserie Union

Brasserie Union was founded in Jumet in 1864 by Jean-Baptiste Biernaux and Léopold Deponson. It later became Brasserie de Jumet and, after the First World War, adopted the name Brasserie de l’Union. By the mid-20th century it had become one of the important breweries of the Charleroi region.

The brewery specialised in top-fermented beers and was acquired by the Maes group in 1978. Production at Jumet was modernised, and the site went on to brew not only local Union beers but also major brands including Grimbergen, later joined by beers such as Ciney, Hapkin, Judas and others within the Alken-Maes portfolio.

One of Union’s own specialities was Cuvée de l’Ermitage, a beer closely associated with the Jumet brewery and now discontinued. Contemporary beer writing described it as a local speciality of the old Union brewery.

The Jumet brewery finally closed in 2007, with production of the surviving Alken-Maes brands transferred elsewhere.