Brouwerij Hoegaarden

Brouwerij Hoegaarden is closely associated with Belgium’s classic wheat beer, or witbier. Brewing in the village is said to date back to 1445, and by the eighteenth century Hoegaarden had dozens of breweries and malt-houses. The last local brewer closed in 1957, seemingly ending the tradition.

In 1966, local milkman Pierre Celis revived the style, brewing a spiced wheat beer in his dairy with coriander and dried Curaçao orange peel. He expanded into the De Kluis brewery, and Hoegaarden Wit became an international success. A devastating fire in 1985 led to Interbrew’s involvement; the brewery is now part of AB InBev. The familiar range includes Hoegaarden Wit, Grand Cru, Rosée and Verboden Vrucht, helping to preserve and popularise a beer style once close to extinction.

Address: Brouwerij Hoegaarden, Stoopkensstraat 24, 3320 Hoegaarden