Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen is one of the last traditional lambic breweries and gueuze blenderies in Belgium. With a deep conviction, they brew lambic the way it should be: spontaneously fermented, 100% natural, and with respect for tradition - as founders Gaston and Armand Debelder once started.

Their story begins in 1953, when Gaston and Raymonde Debelder take over a café and gueuze blendery in Beersel. Without any experience but with passion, Gaston quickly masters the trade. His son Armand joins the business at a young age. In 1998, he starts brewing himself, and 3 Fonteinen officially becomes a brewery and blendery. The classic craft of gueuze blending and lambic brewing remains the core, despite the difficult years in which the beer almost goes out of fashion.

In 2009, disaster strikes: a defective thermostat destroys almost the entire stock. Armand is about to give up, but with the help of friends, brewers and volunteers, and the creation of a surprising eau de vie of geuze, the brewery recovers. Shortly after, successful releases follow, such as the Armand’4 series, which once again secures the confidence and future of 3 Fonteinen.

Armand finds reinforcement in Michaël Blancquaert and later also Werner Van Obberghen. Together they build a sustainable future for 3 Fonteinen, with attention to terroir, craftsmanship and collaboration. In Lot they find a new home base: a large, quiet place for barrels, bottling and maturation, close to the Zenne.

While the team grows, the philosophy remains: slow, natural, artisanal. Experiments are given space, under the name Speling van het Lot. Local fruit varieties are returning, ancient grains are being rediscovered, and collaborations with artisans are strengthening the cultural heritage.

Armand was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. He remained involved with the brewery for as long as he could, passing away in March 2022. His legacy lives on in the spirit, values, and beer of 3 Fonteinen. The story is far from over – but it will always be Armand’s story.