The Ardennes
Beer Route

Founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian canons on the banks of the Meuse, the Abbey of Leffe is the birthplace of the most famous beer in the world. Maison Leffe in Dinant offers an interactive museum tracing 9 centuries of brewing history, a beer garden on a terrace overlooking the Meuse, and a tasting included.

Nestled in an Ardennes village on a hillside, Caracole Brewery has been brewing since 1873 in a building classified as Walloon heritage. It is one of the rare breweries to still use a wood-fired cauldron. The sign bears the snail ("caracole") — a symbol of slowness and care — a nod to their artisanal philosophy.

Founded in 1858, Brasserie du Bocq is one of the oldest family breweries in Belgium still in operation. On the banks of the Bocq river, it perpetuates traditional recipes by adapting them to craft trends. Its Blanche de Namur is the reference wheat beer of the province.

The Cistercian monks of Saint-Rémy Abbey have been brewing since 1595. Recognized as among the best beers in the world, Rochefort 6, 8, and 10 stand out for their unique aromatic complexity. The brewery is not open to the public, but Rochefort 10 can be tasted at the cafe La Gourmandise just a stone's throw away.

In the small village of Ambly, the Saint-Monon Brewery pays homage to the Irish monk who evangelized the region in the 7th century. A human-scale brewery, it uses local cereals grown in the neighboring Ardennes fields and pure spring water. A fine example of a short brewing supply chain.

At the foot of the medieval castle of La-Roche-en-Ardenne, this craft brewery produces 100% Ardennes beers using local ingredients. The medieval setting of the city, surrounded by the Ourthe river, gives the tasting an incomparable historical dimension. The brewery has a panoramic terrace overlooking the castle.

Founded in 2007, Lupulus (the Latin name for hops) quickly became a benchmark for Belgian craft beer. Its world-championship-winning beers combine Belgian tradition and international craft influences. The brewery is housed in the old farm of the High Fens, on the German-Belgian border.

In the High Fens, Bellevaux Brewery brews its ales at an altitude of over 400m, using pure water from the Ardennes peat bogs. Its beers have a unique mineral and mountainous character that reflects the terroir of the Belgian fens. The Malmedy region is also known for its carnival and German-speaking history.

Founded in 1215 by Cistercians, Val-Dieu Abbey is one of the rare Belgian abbeys still inhabited by monks maintaining a brewing activity. The estate is open for visits and the abbey's restaurant offers dishes cooked with beer. An exceptional medieval setting in the Gulpe valley.

The Abbey of Orval, founded in 1132, produces a single beer — and it is one of the most original in the world. Its unique fermentation with Brettanomyces yeast gives it wild, earthy, and slightly acidic notes that intensify with aging. The 12th-century Gothic ruins are open to visitors. A place of pilgrimage for beer lovers.

In the village of Rulles, in the heart of the Ardennes Gaume, La Rulles Brewery has been brewing craft ales with a distinct personality since 2000. Its beers stand out for their generous hopping and thirst-quenching character, going against the grain of overly sweet beers. Rulles Estivale is one of the best session beers in Belgium.

A stone's throw from Bastogne, a mecca of the Battle of the Bulge (1944–45), Ardenne Brewery produces robust beers reflecting the Ardennes character. Its Bastogne range pays tribute to the region's historical resistance. The brewery also offers combined tours with the Bastogne War Museum.

The Abbey of Scourmont (Chimay), founded in 1850, is the only Trappist abbey in the world to also produce its own PDO cheese. Its red, blue, and white beers are the most widely distributed Trappist beers in the world, but tasting them on site at the Café de l'Auberge remains an incomparable experience. Chimay Blue ages exceptionally well.

Located in Mariembourg, the founding town of the game of checkers, Brasserie des Fagnes has been brewing since 1997 in a green setting on the French-Belgian border. Its Super des Fagnes range is one of the most recognized in Wallonia. It also features a brewery-restaurant with a terrace to taste its creations accompanied by regional dishes.

The Walloon capital rounds off the route beautifully. Brasserie de Namur, located in the historic districts below the citadel, offers urban beers celebrating the city. The Cuvée de la Citadelle is brewed annually as a tribute to the fortress overlooking the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. End your route in a cafe on the Grand-Place.