The Belgian beer landscape is characterized by centuries of tradition and a variety of special styles. While many of these styles are now taken up by craft breweries around the world, there are some that are brewed exclusively in Belgium - such as Lambic, which can only bear this name if it has been fermented using the microorganisms, bacteria and wild yeasts from the air of the Pajottenland around Brussels - or are little known outside the country. Bourgogne des Flandres falls into the second category.
It all began with Pierre-Jacques Van Houtryve: in 1765, the farmer from Loppem started brewing beer. His son Corneille IV followed in his father's footsteps and founded the Den Os brewery in Bruges at the beginning of the 19th century. As was customary at the time, the brewery was passed down from son to son. In 1908, the company expanded when it bought the La Marine brewery. Bourgogne des Flandres was first mentioned in documents in 1911, when it was registered with the Commercial Court, but it is believed that the Van Houtryve family had already been brewing the style for some time by then. Over the course of the following generations, the family sold off its breweries, but the Bourgogne survived: from 1957 onwards, the speciality was brewed by the Verhaeghe brewery , later the recipe passed into the hands of the master brewers at Timmermans and has been brewed there since the 1990s. Today, Bougogne de Flandres has been released as an independent brand and a small brewery has been built in the Kartuizerinnenstraat in Bruges. This new brewery is less than 50 metres from the old La Marine brewery and in a sense closes the circle.
Stylistically, the Bourgogne des Flandres is a Flemish brew. Similar to Lambic, young beers are often married with (barrel) matured brews to achieve the perfect balance between complexity and freshness. For the Bourgogne des Flandres, a Lambic from Timmermans is used, which was previously stored in oak barrels for more than 12 months. While the more mature Lambic brings a full-bodied depth, aromatic spiciness and fruity acidity into play, the young brew delivers a touch of playful freshness. The Lambic is combined with the top-fermented Flemish red beer Den Bruinen Os to create a unique beer creation that brings a masterful balance of sweetness, acidity, depth and freshness to the glass.
Taste this special beer style here with us and fall in love with the sophisticated brewing art of Belgium!
