Museum of Thirst –
Malthouse &
Brewery de Snoek
Location: Fortem 40, 8690 Alveringem, West Flanders
Website: www.desnoek.be Don't be put off by the home page being in Dutch. Just click on all the links and you'll find that many of the important items are translated into English, and much of the rest is fairly self-evident.
Description (from the museum’s website): Those who want to experience the history of thirst, must visit this unique historic site of the Malt-house and Brewery Museum De Snoek. Here you can still find a complete, authentic brewery and malt-house dating from the nineteenth century.
This outstanding example of our industrial heritage, takes you back to the pre-industrial time of hot ovens, steamy breweries and chilly fermenting cellars. In the ancient Brouwershof you can sample some delicious, traditional brews.
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De Snoek means
'The Pike', and you can see the eponymous fish on the beer labels. Although there is no brewing carried out there today
you can find the specially commissioned Snoek beers (and a stuffed pike!) in the adjoining
Brouwershof, the museum's bar,
frequented by locals and run by a friendly lady with a 9-syllable name -
Liselotte Vangampelaere.
The Snoek range comprises a
Bruin 5.5%
brewed by Strubbe of Ichtegem and
Blond 7.5% brewed by Bavik – and don’t
forget to buy a souvenir glass if you’re a collector.
The bar's web page, part of De Snoek's site, shows the impressive (30+) beer list and also the snacks menu, which ranges from cheese nibbles through to substantial open sandwiches and spaghetti. Anyone feeling really brave (or rash!) can try one of Liselotte’s specials, called a Tweespan. It consists of a glass of Blond Snoek beer, with a glass of hop flavoured jenever spirit inside it. I haven't yet tried one, but I guess the trick must be to avoid letting the inner glass slide down and knock your teeth out - while you drain the beer and spirit together and knock your brains out! But only try it when you’re not driving! |
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Thanks to Filip Geerts of the Belgian Beer Discussion Group for permission to use his pictures of de Snoek |
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