Brouwerij Verstraete
Bar
About this Brewery
Place: Diksmuide
Brouwerij Verstraete is the home of Papegaei, an 8% blond beer created by Adam Verstraete and first brewed in 2009. Based in Diksmuide, Verstraete does not own a production brewhouse. Instead, Adam Verstraete works as a guest brewer at Brouwerij Deca in Woesten, where he brews and bottles Papegaei using Deca's installations.
Papegaei is a top-fermented, bottle-conditioned beer brewed with barley and wheat malt, oats and whole hop flowers. It is unfiltered and unpasteurised. For many years it was Verstraete's only beer, but in 2026 it was joined by Wesley, a much lighter 3.5% wheat beer developed by Adam's stepson, Pieter Clement.
The beers are represented from Verstraete's small premises beside the water in central Diksmuide, which serve as the public home of Brouwerij Verstraete and Papegaei.
Brouwerij Verstraete: Grote Dijk 13, 8600 Diksmuide Production brewery: Brouwerij Deca, Woesten
Glasses in this collection
Curator's Note
Brouwerij Verstraete is better understood as the home and public face of Papegaei than as a conventional visitor brewery. There is no brewhouse to tour here: production takes place at Brouwerij Deca in Woesten.
That should not discourage a visit. Verstraete occupies a handsome historic building beside the water in central Diksmuide, only a few minutes' gentle walk from the Grote Markt. The route itself is pleasant, passing the church and old fish market before crossing a small cobbled bridge. On a fine day, tables outside make this a particularly attractive place to stop for a Papegaei.
Inside is a small and decidedly informal shop rather than a conventional brewery visitor centre, selling bottles, branded glasses and a handful of related products. The welcome on our visit was exceptionally friendly — dogs included — and the whole place has an eccentric charm that feels entirely appropriate to Papegaei.
Payment requires a little preparation. On our visit, conventional card payment was not available: payment was by cash or bank transfer, and there is no cash machine on site.
Opening is limited and seasonal. At the time of our visit, the Papegaei shop opened on Sundays and by appointment, with an annual winter closure. Check the brewery's current opening arrangements before making a special journey.
