A brewing dynasty has left its mark on the brewing tradition
Bourgogne des Flandres: how a beer returned to its home town of BrugesThe Van Houtryve brewing dynasty, made up of no fewer than three breweries, has left its mark on the Bruges brewing tradition. Records from 1765 mention a farm-brewery in Loppem belonging to Pierre-Jacques Van Houtryve. However, it was his son who obtained permission from the representative of the States of Flanders to set up a brewery within the city walls of Bruges in 1825. Den Os Brewery was born.
On the eve of WWI, three members of the Van Houtryve family stood at the helm of their respective breweries: Den Os, La Marine and Ten Ezele. This is no surprise as the number of breweries in Bruges peaked in this period with 34 active breweries, only two of which remain today. It was during this heyday just before the First World War that the flagship beer of Den Os Brewery came into being.
Bourgogne des Flandres is an authentic West Flemish red-brown beer that has survived the long-term competition from the hugely popular lager beers since WWI as well as the destruction caused by WWII. However, Den Os Brewery finally had to close down in 1957.
A brewing dynasty
Bourgogne des Flandres The real taste of Bruges
A Bruges beer with a rich history. This is how local residents remember Bourgogne des Flandres or the related breweries.
From old to new
Pierre-Jacques Van Houtryve began brewing in a farm in Loppem.
To fulfil his ambitions, brewer’s son Corneille IV Van Houtryve moved to Bruges, where his application to establish Den Os Brewery was approved.
True to tradition, the brewery was continued by the eldest son from 1825 onwards. Corneille was succeeded by Liévin Van Houtryve, and Oscar Van Houtryve subsequently passed on the Den Os Brewery to Jean Van Houtryve.
Oscar Van Houtryve purchased La Marine Brewery in Wollestraat for his second son. Etienne Van Houtryve brewed here until 1921. For a short time, Etienne followed his brother’s lead and ventured to produce Bourgogne des Flandres. This means that the beer was brewed at two different places in the city centre of Bruges.
Only the cellars of ‘t Bourgondisch Cruyce now bear witness to the fact that beer was once brewed here.
Bourgogne des Flandres was registered with the commercial court of Bruges.
After Oscar Van Houtryve had given his two sons a brewery, his daughter Hélène’s husband also got his own place to brew beer. Albert Van Caillie was the last brewer at De Sterre/Ten Ezele, a brewery dating back to 1415. A historical source mentions:
“...to install a lead pipe in the street near Ezelbrug bridge to be used by the local “Ten Ezele” house, which was a brewery ... “ [Free translation]
De Sterre/Ten Ezele closed under Van Caillie in 1952. He brewed Phenix here.
Den Os brewery closed its doors. The emergence of German lagers and the damage after the two world wars made it difficult to survive on specialty beers. Den Os brewery was well known for its Dubbel, Trippel, Uytzet, Pitthem wheat beer and Bourgogne des Flandres. However, this wasn’t the end of Bourgogne des Flandres. Michel Van Houtryve did not have a brewery anymore, but under his supervision different breweries continued to brew the beer according to the family recipe throughout the years.
Michel Van Houtryve launched Bourgogne des Flandres with Timmermans Brewery in Itterbeek near Brussels, where lambic was given a prominent role in the brewing process.
John Martin, the oldest distributor of Guinness and known for Martin’s Pale Ale in Antwerp, took over Timmermans Brewery. As a result, Bourgogne des Flanders ended up in the Martin’s Finest Beer Selection along other classics.
The works for a new microbrewery in Bruges commenced in Kartuizerinnenstraat, barely 50 metres away from the former La Marine Brewery. Bourgogne des Flandres is once more brewed here.
Brasserie de Waterloo BVBA
Kartuizerinnenstraat 6
8000 Brugge
BE 0839 809 964
Bourgogne des Flandres Finest Brewery Shop, in the heart of Bruges.
How to find us?
Opening Hours
|
Tuesday - Sunday Closed on Monday except during belgian school holidays
|
10:30 – 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Ale House | 10:30 - 18:30 |
