On a snowy Monday morning in the heart of Brussels in January 2024, my connoisseur friend Nik and I decided to visit Cantillon – one of the world’s oldest breweries in operation in Belgium.
Cantillon is the oldest family run brewery – Lambic, Geuze and Kriek have been made here since 1900.
The brewery is family owned and independently operated (still), making it one of the oldest Lambic sour breweries still in operation.
They are the masters of Gueuze – a particularly famous Belgian style along with Lambic and Faro. Notice how these are not Trappist (abbey style ales: Dubbels, Tripels, Quads) nor Biere de Flanders (classic French Blonde, Brune, Rouge).
What’s most impressive is that you can totally do a tour and a visit to the brewery tasting room on just a layover and breezy stop in Brussels, on the way to other places in Europe. The Brewery is only a five minute walk from the city’s main train station!
Getting to the Brewery
The brewery is located right in the middle of the city, quite literally just five to seven minutes walking from the main train station in Brussels, the Brussels South station.
This is also known as the Gare de Bruxelles-Midi; or Brussel-Zuid Station.
This is the main intercity rail station for Eurostar train services (Thalys is now Eurostar).
The short walk from the central railway station makes Cantillon an ideal place to visit just before or after train rides in and out of Brussels.
If you have a short (or long) layover here, the Cantillon bar is open starting at 10 AM mornings, until 5pm. Cantillon is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SPwDbbkDm7PQTWq2A
Cantillon Brewery Layout
The entrance itself is nondescript and fits right into the city surroundings – it doesn’t even feel like you’re going to a brewery in the middle of the city!
This bar and building has incredible history, and it feels like you’re walking into a production facility right upon entry.
Upon entry it feels like you’re walking into a brewery warehouse instead of a bar, with guest areas intermingled with production.
The entry threshold has the gift shop on the left side. You can also grab bottles to go here.
Growlers of Cantillon sour beer are available to fill on request, for the Europeans able to bring these back home for personal use.
I also walked past stacks of cases of shipments ready to be shipped out, right on the opposite side.
It’s a really cool unique experience how you get a glimpse of the entire Cantillon operation before you even set foot on a tour, just on the way to the upper level tasting room!
There is also the tasting room area for after the tours of the facility, empty bottles stacked on the walls that are lining all the way to the stairs to the nondescript bar.
The real Cantillon tasting room bar is located on the upper level.
In fact, the bar is just a small part of this entire operation.
We didn’t get a chance to try a tour this time, but in a future visit I will I’ll be sure to update this article with information on the tour. Several tours are offered every day.
Cantillon Tasting Room Bar
The Tasting Room and Bar at Cantillon is hidden away behind a maze of hallways and up a hidden stair. Just getting to this bar is a cool experience!
First you’ll walk past the storage and bottling operation at Cantillon. There’s just a few select signs indicating there’s even a bar here.
This sign directs you to the hidden stairwell. Turn left to go down the stairs to the toilets; and turn right to go up the stairs to the bar and tasting room.
After walking upstairs and past the entry door, you’ll find the main bar and tasting room at Cantillon.
This cozy space with a triangular bar is open from 10am to 5pm most days except Wednesday and Sundays.
Looking back, there are many different seating layouts for all sized groups of guests.
There’s a cozy fireplace in the back, along with ancient artifacts. It was perfect on this miserably cold snowy day.
Looking the other way, the space is long with iron steel columns and beams.
A beautiful plaque on the wall describes the history of this operation.
Moving to the bar, the menu is simple and hand written. Taps come straight from the cask.
The bar is triangular shaped, and has a cool variety of bottles on the counter.
75cl Bottles for drinking on site are typically 20-25 Euros, and the menu changes daily depending on what’s ready to drink.
Unfortunately, the bartender didn’t take too kindly to my beer photography – it’s that kind of place!
Trying Some Drinks
On our January 2024 visit there were only two options on the tap for sampling – the Argouzier, and the classic Gueuze (which is like your base lambic style spontaneously fermented sour beer). We chose the glass of the Argousier, which translates to sea-Buckhorn. This is a shrub in this region in Europe that produces wild orange berries.
We also got bottles of the La Corvee and the Old Fashioned.
The last bottle we ordered is called the “La Corvee.” This is a grape pumice that was added to the secondary fermentation and is aged in amphora barrels.
This process is a throwback to Greek and Roman clay pots – done for good color and for its mineral context.
This type of sour beer is kind of a rare but also a great go-to for a snow day. The amphora barrels give a taste more like minerals and not like wood or clay. Because of the lack of availability, this style is always one to look out for.
Brewery Tours
Several tours of the brewery are offered every single day.
We didn’t get a chance to try a tour this time.
In a future visit I will be sure to update this article with information on the tour and our experience.
Relationships with Other Sour Breweries
Cantillon has strong relationships with other world renown sour breweries, including de Garde in Tillamook Oregon, among others.
Final Thoughts
Cantillon is the oldest family run brewery, and one of the oldest Lambic sour breweries still in operation in the heart of Brussels, Belgium.
Lambic, Geuze and Kriek have been made here since 1900. The brewery is still family owned and independently operated. If you are a fan of sour beer, this place is a must visit!
What’s most impressive is that it’s totally possible to do a tour and visit the brewery tasting room on just a layover in Brussels, on the way to other places in Europe. This is due to the brewery’s close proximity to central Brussels and the Midi Train Station.
Pros
- Very cool historical, authentic sour beer operation – one of the core inspirations for others worldwide.
- The brewery is meshed between the production facilities and the tasting areas.
- Close proximity to the Midi train station in central Brussels – easy to do a tour and visit the brewery tasting room on just a layover in Brussels.
- If you’re a fan of sour beers, the drinks are positively delicious.
Cons
- Staff does not seem friendly to travel journalists
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