Traveling to Bruges is always a pleasure. Strolling through its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, allows us to discover exceptionally well-preserved medieval architecture. Known as the 'Venice of the North' (with due respect to Amsterdam), it is also a perfect destination for all those in love who want to enjoy a truly romantic city. And we cannot forget the chocolate and the beer, which reach simply sublime qualities in this city of Belgium.
Today we are going to focus on its star drink, as the country has a rich brewing tradition. As an example, there is a pipeline that runs over 3 kilometers through Bruges, delivering this golden liquid to one of the city's most emblematic and oldest breweries, which was founded in 1856.
An Iconic Brewery in the Center of Bruges
At 26 Walplein street, De Halve Maan welcomes us, a brewery that has seen six generations of the Maes family. But let's take a leap into history and travel back to 1856, when Léon Maes, also known as Henri I, became the owner of the establishment, whose star product was a cloudy, top-fermented beer with a bitter taste. Two decades later, Henri II and his brother Achère ran De Halve Maan, brewing beer in the English style with more modern brewing techniques. They tragically passed away, and their widows took over the brewery during World War I.
Years later, it was Henri III's turn, who will be remembered for launching the bock beer. Thus, the brewery passed from generation to generation until 2016, the year when the construction of an underground beer pipeline was completed.
Thanks to many crowdfunders who fell in love with De Halve Maan's brewing history, it became possible to connect the brewery, located in Bruges' historic center, with the bottling plant located on the outskirts of the city via a pipeline over 3 kilometers long.
A Beer Pipeline Running Through Bruges
As they explain on their website: 'This way we divert much of the heavy traffic from the historic center of Bruges. An important sustainability factor that should not be underestimated, but was also essential for us to maintain production in our brewery. Nowadays, every liter of beer served to customers is still produced here in Walplein.'
Currently, De Halve Maan is a true institution in the city, as evidenced by how they have diversified their business. In addition to the variety of craft beers they offer (you can see them here), they rent beer taps for private events, host events in some of their halls, and offer guided tours of both the brewery and the bottling factory.
De Halve Maan has become one of the most important attractions in Bruges, with around 100,000 visitors each year. And, as one might expect, they have a wide catalog of options if you want to enjoy a guided tour. The classic tour costs 16 euros and begins at the brewery. Then visitors stroll through the numerous brewing facilities that have been used over the centuries. And keep an eye out, as from one of their highest points, you'll have a spectacular panoramic view of the city. The tour ends with a tasting of some of their beers, including the Brugse Zot Blond, Brugse Zot Dubbel, or Straffe Hendrik Tripel unfiltered.
Private excursions for families or groups are also offered and an XL tour that immerses you fully into the beer world for an hour and a half. On this route (costing 26 euros per person), three beers are tasted in the brewery's centuries-old cellars, and all the stories and anecdotes that have made De Halve Maan a world-renowned brewery over six generations are shared.
In short, if you travel to Bruges, do not forget to try their star drink and, of course, walk above that beer pipeline that more than one would wish to have in their own home.