Brewery+De+Halve+Maan

The Brewery De Halve Maan in Bruges began brewing beer in 1564. The brewery did not become famous until Leon Maes took over in 1856. He had support from his family and began using an authentic recipe. In 1876 Henri II and his brother inherited the brewery. Henri travelled to England to learn about modern brewing techniques. The brewery continued under that ownership and survived the First World War. After the First World War in the 1930’s Henri the third took control. He began to produce his bock beer, and the light lager became an instant hit. As the Second World War ended, soft drinks became very popular in Europe. Henri began making and shipping lemonade and colas across Belgium.

Throughout many generations the brewery continued strong keeping its traditions and the structure didn’t change much until 1997. Veronique Maesfound, the new owner found it necessary to remodel. After the remodel, many rooms and lounges were added and the brewery was officially named Brewery De Halve Maan. In the late 2000s a new recipe was invented by Xavier Vanneste. He used modern techniques and modern equipment to create an authentic tripel beer. The beer was produced in Bruges town square and was released in 2005 and was called Bruges Zot. The beer was an immediate success and was known as the true town's beer of Bruges. After this huge success, the brewery needed to expand including new bottling plants and completely upgrading their equipment. Now the brewery is ready for future generations and many success to come. Overall, the brewery is famous for being one of the oldest family run businesses in Belgium and for having some of the most bestselling beers in Belgium and the world.

Today, the brewery is busier than ever. There is expanded dining space in addition to their famous beers. The brewery offers guided tours of its brewing process and history in three different languages. The tours cost eight euros and take about 45 minutes. The brewery has many beers but its two most famous are Bruges Zot and Straffe Hendrik. The brewery is a great place to get lunch and something to drink while learning about the history of beer.