Cantillon is Brussels’ most famous brewery. It was founded in 1900 and is today owned by a fourth-generation brewer. Cantillon is known for Lambic beers, a variety of traditional Belgian beer that uses wild yeasts and bacteria to create a distinctive flavor unique to the area. Visit the functioning brewery for a rare behind-the-scenes look at the traditional methods employed to create beer in Belgium.
Belgium has long been known for its rich and hearty beers. Very little has changed at Cantillon Brewery in more than a century. The techniques, machinery and most of the ingredients are the same today as they were in 1900. Walk through the brewery’s big yellow doors and you’ll step back in time. Self-guided tours are available daily. A detailed pamphlet will lead you through the history and beers of Cantillon. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Walk past the wooden barrels used for fermentation and smell the thick aromas of yeast and fruit in the air. There are no restricted areas at the brewery so visitors can see all stages of the brewing process.
As with any good brewery tour, your admission fee includes a beer of your choice. Deciding which one is the hardest part for many visitors to Cantillon, since the range is extensive. The brewery is best known for the Gueuze, a beer constructed from three different years of Lambic. Try the exceptionally sour Kriek, brewed with cherries, which is a beer like no other. Before you leave, purchase a mixed pack of beers from the shop to try on your own time.
Cantillon is located on rue Gheude, just outside the city center. It can be reached by metro or car, and there is some street parking in the area. Cantillon Brewery is closed on Sundays and public holidays. There is a small admission fee.
