Breweries
De Halve Maan
This Bruges city brewery in its idyllic location close to the beguinage and Minnewater lake is proud of its centuries-old tradition. Popular beers brewed by De Halve Maan include the well-hopped Brugse Zot that comes in a blond and a brown variety. Maximilian of Oostenrijk gave the citizens of the city the nickname, ‘Brugse Zot’, when, during an official visit, they asked for a new lunatic asylum. There are now various versions of the degustation beers known as De Straffe Hendrik. Straffe Hendrik Tripel has grown into a classic. If you like your beer dark and strong, the Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel is the one for you. A new addition to the family is the Straffe Hendrik Wild. For the very first time, the brewery veered off the tried and trusted path of top-fermented beers in favour of a – successful – experiment with spontaneous or wild fermentation. To produce the Straffe Hendrik Wild, wild yeasts (Brettanomyces) are introduced just before bottling. When the beer re-ferments in the bottle these yeasts will remain active for a long time, working to convert the residual sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This beer style has a typically sweet and sour touch.
