To be honest, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the beer list. It was like stepping back in time, as if nothing had happened between 1990 and 2024. The craft beer movement? Forget. The breweries that renewed the Belgian brewery landscape, such as De Ranke, Brasserie de la Senne or Dupont? It’s as if they never existed. There was also no trace of Brussels references such as Brasserie de la Mule, En Stoemelings, the historic Cantillon or even L’Ermitage.
The lobby group Belgian Brewers, which manages the project, brings an industrial version of our heritage: Leffe (5.90 euros for 33 cl), Liefmans On the Rocks (5.70 euros for 33 cl), Jupiler (4.70 euros for 33cl). A disaster for the ‘land of beer.’ Help! In desperation, we asked for a bitter beer with body. The proposed St-Feuillien (6.40 euros), watery and flat, did not meet demand.
The delicious sausage (9 euros) and the olives (4 euros), correct but cold, were not enough to change our opinion. It’s better to come here for a glass of wine, such as the very good Tète Blanche from Nicolas Grosbois for 5 euros. It doesn’t get any better here.
Anspachlaan 80, Brussels, Instagram: thebeerlab.brussels
