Brouwerij Boon
Description
The first mention of what is currently Brouwerij Boon can be retraced to the year 1680 when J.B. CLAES(I) purchased a farm with the intent of setting up a brewery/distillery. In 1860 the brewery buildings with all its equipment were bought from the Claes family by a man named Louis Paul. At that time the brewery only produced Lambic and Faro beers. It was subsequently renamed "Brasserie de Saint Roch" and a new malt house was added around 1890. Spurred on by engineer Cayaerts the brewery had meanwhile decided to experiment with the bottling of Geuze Lambic beers. This was around the year 1875. Without an heir, Louis Paul decided to sell the flourishing brewery to Pierre Troch in 1898. The financial crisis of 1927 finished off his son René Troch and the whole place was put up for auction. The part of the business containing the brewery and the warehouse was bought by Jean De Vits, a close neighbour and publican/Geuze blender. The malt house and the remainder of the buildings were cut up into lots and were subsequently turned into private residences. René De Vits, the son of Jean, was well-known for his smooth Lambic beer and his refreshing bottled Geuze. However, being unmarried and not having any successors, René decided to sell the brewery to Frank Boon in 1978. Frank Boon himself had already set up a modest business as Geuze blender and regional beer merchant in 1975. The main task during his first years was to replenish the Lambic stocks. Semi-automatic machines were bought in to wash and fill the bottles, a task previously carried out by hand. In 1986 the entire brewery was moved to the centre of Lembeek due to lack of space. The brew-house, equipped with traditional second-hand material, became operational in 1989. Apart from that, the brewery disposes of relatively up-to-date equipment. Lambic beer of excellent quality must be stored and matured in wooden casks. To this end, the brewery possesses 62 oak barrels, on average containing 8,000 litres, and some two hundred smaller casks. The total production for 2005 amounted to 9,400 hectolitres.
Location
Lembeek - Vlaams-Brabant
Beers
Oude Geuze Boon: 100% soft Lambic beer. Thanks to the spontaneous fermentation and the two years of maturing in oak casks, this beer possesses a very special champagne-like quality and flavour.
Geuze Mariage Parfait: a blend of the best casks carefully selected by the brewer himself. This Geuze has an alcohol content of 8%.
Faro Boon: a mix of 50% old Lambic and 50% young Lambic, with an addition of sugar and spice.
Kriek Boon: this is a beer with a spontaneous fermentation, containing both young and old Lambic beers from Lembeek, matured in oak casks. Its quality is guaranteed by the use of 240 grams of cherries for each litre of beer.
Oude Kriek Boon: a traditional unsweetened cherry beer with secondary fermentation taken place in the bottle. The brewery guarantees the use of at least 300 grams of cherries per litre of beer.
Framboise Boon: a beer with spontaneous fermentation, made from young and old Lambic beers from Lembeek, matured in oak casks. Its quality is guaranteed by the use of 250 grams of raspberries per litre of beer. The Framboise Boon Millésime 1986 was voted "best beer of the year" by the trade journal "Malt Advocate" from the US in 1995.
Duivels Bier: a heavy beer, dark in colour. Originally produced specifically for the pilgrims, this beer has been brewed in Halle since 1883. Its taste bears resemblance to some of the heavier abbey beers and reveals the use of special dark malts and sugar. “Duivel” contains 2 types of aromatic hops and some delicate spices. Its aroma is lightly fruity, with a hint of coffee and chocolate.
Brewery visits
Open to visitor groups all year round. Appointments and rates: contact the tourist office in Halle on +32 (0)2 3564259.
Languages
To be agreed with the Tourist Information Office. Choice of Flemish, French, English and German.
Entrance fee
€3. Tasting session and guide included.
Address
Fonteinstraat 65 - 1502 Lembeek
Telephone number / Contact
Frank Boon
Tel. +32 (0)2-356 66 44
Fax +32 (0)2-356 33 99
Open Day
26 April 2009 from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.
Food pairing information / Recipes
Yes, recipes are available on the website.