VANHONSEBROUCK

Kasteel (Blond, Donker, Tripel, Rouge, Hoppy), Cuvée du Château, Saint-Louis (Premium Kriek, Premium Faro, Premium Framboise, Gueuze, Kriek Lambic), Brigand, Bacchus, Passchendaele, Trignac, Filou

Built in the 11th century by the Count of Flanders, who wanted to benefit from this strategic location between Kortrijk and Bruges, Ingelmunster Castle was then converted into a luxurious seigneury. It was rebuilt in 1736. Over the centuries, it has belonged to the Counts of Flanders and the Dukes of Burgundy. The Van Honsebrouck family has been brewing in Ingelmunster since 1900.

Luc Van Honsebrouck took over the brewery in 1953 and did not leave it until the end of 2008. Under his direction, the company embarked on a truly professional turnaround, and he was the one who launched most of the beers currently produced by the brewery. The family acquired the château in 1986, and three years later, the Kasteelbier (Château beer) was launched. Kasteel Donker and Tripel slowly mature in the castle's cellars. For the Donker, which is to be enjoyed calmly, far from any hustle and bustle, this ageing in barrels lasts between six and twelve weeks. While the Donker and Tripel have 11% alc. vol., the Kasteel Blond has 7%.

In 2006, the Kasteel Rouge was introduced in the range. This amazing beer is a blend of Donker and cherry liqueur. It matures for at least six months before bottling. Two beers have recently completed the Kasteel panel: Cuvée du Château (11%), whose aromatic notes are comparable to those of a Kasteel Donker that has been resting for several years, and Kasteel Hoppy (6.5%), which gives pride of place to Belgian hops. Another of the house's flagship brands, the Brigand, which landed on the tables in 1980. Thanks to its high alcohol content, this characterful beer can easily withstand a few years in the cellar. Finally, if lambic is traditionally produced in Brussels and the Senne Valley, there is every reason to believe that a micro-region around Kortrijk would benefit from the same characteristics. Brewing regulations, which are so picky in other respects, remain quite discreet on the subject anyway.

But, after all, since when do windblown microorganisms have borders? Van Honsebrouck therefore does not hesitate to offer an assortment of lambic beers: the Saint-Louis. They are divided into two ranges, one rather traditional and the other low in alcohol (3.5%) and above all intended for a young audience. Another example is Bacchus, a flamboyant reddish-brown with 4.5% alc. vol. which has been somewhat revived recently by the brewery, which has added two fruity versions (Kriek and Framboise).

At the helm of the company since the departure of his father, Xavier Van Honsebrouck, very attached to the history of the First World War, which left deep scars in this region of West Flanders, paid tribute to the foreign belligerents who came to fight on our land. In the winter of 2013, he launched Passchendaele, a beer named after a town about 20 kilometres from Ingelmunster that was the scene of a fierce battle in 1917. The presentation of the product was not so much in Belgian style but rather in the minds of the Commonwealth nations, whose populations paid a heavy price in this battle. Beer is thus available in kegs or half-litre bottles, a format that is quite common in these countries. As for the content, it is a blonde (5.2%) of high fermentation brewed with Belgian hops. More anecdotal but very trendy, the West Flanders brewer ages his Kasteel Tripel in barrels where cognac used to rest. The Trignac was launched in 2013 and is available in nine thousand seventy-five centilitre bottles.

In August 2016, the Van Honsebrouck brewery invested a new space, close to the old one, which will enable it to double its production, which is now estimated at one hundred thousand hectolitres per year and of which 45% is destined for foreign countries (France, Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Italy, North America, Israel, Russia, Japan, etc.).