Catalogue no. BBG104
Glasses
Exhibit information
Capacity 25cl
Manufactured 2013 Curator’s Notes This substantial De Koninck glass has several features reminiscent of the classic Belgian Pilsner glass: a tall body, restrained ribbing towards the base and a heavy, faceted foot. Its more pronounced flare towards the rim, however, gives it a distinctive profile.
The branding rewards closer inspection. The De Koninck name and fine-lined graphic dominate the front in muted tones, while “Antwerp City Brewery since 1833” appears in red on the reverse. “Brewed in Antwerp” is moulded into the heavy base, becoming particularly visible as the glass is emptied.
Those Pilsner-like characteristics are slightly deceptive. De Koninck is associated above all with its amber Bolleke, a Spéciale Belge, rather than Pils. Subsequent research has, however, shown De Koninck serving an unfiltered version of Bolleke in this same distinctive style of tall, flared glass at its Antwerp brewery bar. Bolleke Unfiltered appears to have been offered there periodically since at least around 2019, drawn fresh from the brewery tanks before filtration and pasteurisation.
This glass itself was manufactured in 2013, several years before we can currently document Bolleke Unfiltered. It would therefore be tempting to identify it as an early glass intended for that beer, but the evidence does not quite allow us to do so. It may simply have been an existing De Koninck house design that was later adopted for the unfiltered Bolleke. What we can say is that the brewery’s later use of this form shows that its unusual shape was not accidental: De Koninck has deliberately used it as an alternative presentation for its signature Spéciale Belge.
Marked CEM13 and surviving in excellent condition, I bought this glass at a Brussels brocante for the princely sum of 30 cents.
