Brouwerij Deca
Brewery
About this Brewery
Place: Woesten
Brouwerij Deca is a family brewery in Woesten, part of Vleteren in West Flanders. Brewing on the site has roots going back much further, but the modern Deca story began when Joseph Decaestecker took over the brewery in 1926, modernised it and gave it the name by which it is still known. The current buildings themselves date from the period after the First World War.
The Christiaens family later became central to the brewery. Georges Christiaens, the fourth generation of the brewing family, restarted Deca himself in 1991. His son Nicolas Christiaens subsequently joined the business and now runs the brewery with Katrien Sampers.
Deca produces its own range of beers but also brews extensively for guest brewers and private labels, making it an important production brewery for a number of smaller Belgian beer brands. Its shop also operates as a drinks business, selling beer by the bottle and crate alongside products from other breweries.
One of the brewery’s most personal beers is Georges IV. Georges Christiaens died in December 2013 after being involved in the major A19 motorway collision at Zonnebeke. Nicolas introduced Georges IV in 2014 as a tribute to his father. The brewery continues the family naming tradition into a sixth generation.
Glasses in this collection
Curator's Note
Deca sits near the edge of Woesten, although the village is small enough that the brewery is difficult to miss. There is a small car park at the front, while the adjoining warehouse reflects another side of the business: during my visit, local customers were pulling vehicles inside to have crates of beer loaded directly before paying in the shop.
The brewery shop is small but particularly well presented. Deca’s own beers occupy one area alongside homemade pâtés, cheese and charcuterie, while another section carries beers brewed on site for guest brewers. Crates and gift packs are available, together with a selection of spirits from outside producers.
A conversation with the owner led unexpectedly to a short tour of the brewery. The route begins through the attractive Deca Bar, behind which large wooden barrels can be seen through glass walls. These are used for ageing beers and for barrel-aged variations involving spirits or wine. The aroma on entering the barrel area is striking and forms a memorable part of the visit.
Beyond this lies the working brewery, with fermentation and production vessels in a temperature-controlled area. Deca offers organised brewery visits and tastings; its current visitor information lists tours from Tuesday to Saturday for groups, while Saturday visitors can also request a shorter free tour.
The bar is a particularly welcoming space. During my visit, Katrien Sampers prepared a board of cheese, charcuterie and homemade pâté made with Deca brown beer. As I was driving, I accompanied it with the brewery’s homemade lemonade rather than beer.
Visitors should pay attention to opening times. The shop is open Tuesday to Friday from 14:00 to 18:00, and on Saturday from 09:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00. The Deca Bar is officially open on Saturdays from 11:00 to 18:00; weekday visits outside organised tours should not assume the bar will be operating simply because the shop is open.
The Deca Bar has regular Saturday opening, but weekday access appears to be more flexible and may be possible by prior arrangement or when private groups are booked. My own Thursday visit was fortunate: the bar was being prepared for a group arriving later that afternoon, and the owners’ hospitality meant I was able to sit, eat and enjoy the space before they arrived.
For anyone already travelling through the Westhoek, Brouwerij Deca is well worth the detour. Woesten itself is quiet, but the brewery offers a much richer visit than its modest village setting might suggest.
