Gueuzerie Tilquin

Gueuzerie Tilquin, based at Bierghes in Rebecq, began operating in 2009 and describes itself as the first and only gueuze blendery in Wallonia. Founder Pierre Tilquin is a bio-engineer with a doctorate in statistics and genetics who later trained in brewing science and gained experience at Huyghe, 3 Fonteinen and Cantillon.

A gueuzerie is not a brewery in the usual sense. Tilquin buys freshly brewed wort from lambic producers in Pajottenland and Brussels, transfers it into oak barrels at Bierghes, and allows it to ferment and mature for one, two or three years. The resulting lambics are then blended and bottled, with further refermentation creating Gueuze Tilquin à l’ancienne.

Tilquin’s creation was itself collaborative. The company states that it was established through partnerships with Brasserie de Rulles, En Tandem and the SRIW investment group. The Rulles connection did not end there: later collaborations produced beers including Rullquin and Cassis-Rullquin, combining Tilquin’s lambic expertise with Brasserie de Rulles’ brewing.

Since 2012, Tilquin has been a member of HORAL, the High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers. Its location, only around 200 metres from the linguistic border, makes it a particularly interesting bridge between the lambic traditions of Brussels and Flemish Brabant and the brewing culture of Wallonia.