Brouwerij Westvleteren is one of the most renowned and highly regarded Trappist breweries in the world, located within the walls of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in the village of Westvleteren, in the Belgian region of West Flanders. The brewery was founded by Cistercian monks in 1838 and has remained true to a tradition of modest, limited, and uncommercialized production. Unlike commercial breweries, this Trappist community brews beer solely to support monastic life and charitable activities, in accordance with the principles of the International Trappist Association. The brewery is especially famous for its beers Westvleteren 12 and Westvleteren 8, both frequently ranked among the best beers in the world. What further sets this brewery apart is its unique distribution system: the beer can only be purchased through advance reservation and directly from the abbey, with no commercial labels – the bottles are marked only by a cap indicating the beer type. Its limited availability, strict purchasing rules, and unwavering commitment to quality have contributed to the near-legendary status of this small monastic brewery.
Brouwerij Rodenbach, was founded in 1821 in Roeselare, West Flanders, and is now part of Palm Belgian Craft Brewers. Rodenbach primarily produces Flemish red-brown sour ales through a process of mixed fermentation and aging in large oak barrels known as foeders. The beer is first fermented and then aged for a minimum of 18 months in wood, which gives it a unique fruity-sour aroma and rich flavor. With an annual production of around 180,000 hectoliters, Rodenbach is a regional icon and a cornerstone of the oak-aged sour ale tradition in Belgium. Visitors can tour the authentic foeder cellars and taste the beers directly at the brewery or at the adjoining brasserie restaurant "Het Foederhuis".
The St. Bernardus Brewery was founded in 1946 in the village of Watou, near Poperinge, on the grounds of the former cheese dairy “Refuge de Notre-Dame de St. Bernard” which once served as a refuge for monks from the Mont des Cats monastery in France. After World War II, the brewery signed a licensing agreement with the Trappist monastery of Saint Sixtus in Westvleteren and began producing their beers - using the original recipes, yeast strain, and brewmaster Mathieu Szafranski. That agreement lasted until 1992, when the Trappist Association ruled that Trappist beers must be brewed within the walls of the monastery. As a result, St. Bernardus rebranded its beers under its own name. Today, St. Bernardus continues to brew several outstanding beers based on those original recipes. Their most renowned beer is Abt 12, often considered one of the world’s best, known for its rich fruity aromas and long bittersweet finish. In addition to brewing, the brewery has developed a strong focus on tourism – with the rooftop "Bar Bernard" a brewing museum, guest accommodations in the "Brest House" and "Brouwershuis," as well as guided tours and audio-visual experiences that showcase the brewing process and the history of the brewery.
Brouwerij Alvinne is an independent Belgian brewery founded in 2004 and located in Moen, West Flanders, known for its focus on sour and mixed-fermentation beers. Their key distinction is the use of a proprietary yeast culture called Morpheus yeast, isolated from the natural environment, which contributes a recognizable profile of gentle acidity, dryness, and subtle minerality. Alvinne does not use commercial yeasts or additives; fermentation and maturation rely entirely on their Morpheus culture and on aging in wooden vessels. The beers spend time in foeders and used wine barrels, allowing slow micro-oxidation and the development of layered aromas. Production is small and quality-driven, and many releases are limited editions available only in selected bars and specialty bottle shops. For their fruited ales they use real fruit, never concentrates or flavorings, ensuring authenticity in both aroma and taste. Their portfolio includes sour ales, barrel-aged releases, and experimental batches featuring uncommon fruits such as quince or rhubarb. Their brewing approach blends scientific precision in fermentation control with creativity in ingredient and barrel selection. Alvinne frequently collaborates with other craft breweries and wineries, producing unique one-off editions. Within the European craft scene, they are regarded as a reference point for modern sour beer innovation.
De Dolle Brouwers is an independent Belgian brewery located in Esen, West Flanders, founded in 1980 by brothers Kris and Jo Herteleer. They revived an abandoned brewery originally established in 1835, thus initiating one of the first renaissance waves of craft brewing in Belgium. Their first and most iconic beer is Oerbier, brewed with a variety of malts and known for its subtly sour finish thanks to wild yeasts, matured in wine barrels. Its cult status is earned through ever-evolving recipes, intense aroma, and a fine balance of strong and tart notes.
The brewery produces only around 1,000 hectoliters per year, all crafted in a troubadour style - handmade, finely tuned, and with a uniquely artistic approach. Their philosophy combines tradition, artistic spirit, and innovation, preserving the "wet & strong" ethos of Belgium’s first craft wave. Visiting the brewery is a truly authentic experience: tours of their handmade brewing setup, tastings in the taproom, and a deep dive into the rich local brewing history.
De Struise Brouwers is an innovative Belgian microbrewery founded in 2001 and located in Oostvleteren, in the West Flanders region. The founders, Urbain Coutteau and Philippe Driessens - originally ostrich farmers - began brewing beer for guests at their rural estate before expanding into a full-scale brewing operation that soon captured the attention of beer enthusiasts worldwide. They quickly gained recognition for their strong and complex dark beers, most notably the iconic Pannepot, inspired by traditional coastal Belgian beer styles. Since 2005, the brewery has specialized in barrel-aging, producing exceptional series such as Pannepot Reserva and Black Damnation. De Struise was one of the first in Belgium to pioneer such innovations in the craft beer scene. The brewery now operates in a carefully restored former school building known as “Het Oud Schooltje”, which houses both the brewing facility and a tasting room. This unique space not only preserves local heritage but also serves as a gathering place for beer lovers from around the world. Through constant experimentation and collaborations with renowned European and American craft breweries, De Struise has earned cult status among connoisseurs. Their work combines the art of fermentation, a dedication to quality, and a fearless approach to pushing the boundaries of flavor.
Urthel is an independent Belgian brewery founded in 2000 in the town of Ruiselede, in the province of West Flanders, by husband-and-wife duo Hildegard and Bas van Ostaden. Hildegard, a trained brewmaster, became known for her innovative take on traditional Belgian styles, while Bas, a graphic designer, created the brewery’s distinctive visual identity featuring whimsical elf-like characters called “Erthels”, giving the brand a unique aesthetic and storytelling dimension. From the beginning, Urthel has blended deeply rooted Flemish brewing craftsmanship with modern stylistic experimentation, evident in recipes that combine classic Belgian yeast profiles with a pronounced hop character - uncommon in the local brewing scene at the time. Although the brewery maintained its Belgian identity, production was moved in 2007 to the Dutch Trappist brewery De Koningshoeven, allowing for increased capacity while preserving the original formulations. Today, Urthel is considered a pioneer of the Belgian craft beer scene, successfully bridging the gap between tradition and contemporary brewing through its artistic vision and technical precision.
Brouwerij De Halve Maan is a historic Belgian brewery located in the heart of Brugge, Belgium. Founded in 1856, it is one of the oldest and most famous family-owned breweries in the region. The brewery is well-known for producing traditional Belgian beers and for its unique blend of innovation and historical brewing techniques.
Awards
European Beer Star - Gold
(2023, 2021)
World Beer Awards - World’s Best Wheat Beer
(2021)
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For the “Top 9 Local Beer Styles in West Flanders Province” list until June 10, 2026, 46 ratings were recorded, of which 45 were recognized by the system as legitimate.
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