Brouwerij Wilderen
Wilderen Brewery and Distillery, located in an old farmhouse in Wilderen, Belgium, has a rich history. Parts of the homestead date back to 1665, and a distillery was added in 1890. The brewery itself has been around since 1642, once a small-scale enterprise as there were many at the time.
In 2007, Mike Janssen and Roniek Van Bree acquired this historic farm, which was in a neglected state. They restored the buildings and installed a new Italian-made brewery and distillery.
Since August 2011 they have been producing two beers, a gin, a gin and a third distillate. Later they added two new beers, and in 2014 they also launched a whiskey and a rum.
The brewery produces brews of 22 hectoliters, and with a total of five yeast and lager tanks they have a capacity of 220 hectoliters. In 2013, three more fermentation tanks were added, increasing the capacity to 670 hectoliters.
Products from Brouwerij Wilderen
Brewery Wilderen, a mark of quality since 1642
The history of Brewery and Distillery Wilderen goes back to the mid-17th century. The brewery dates from 1642 and parts of the farmhouse go back to 1665. At that time, the current site housed a self-sufficient farm: cattle provided milk, wool and leather. Drinks flowed especially generously during festive days like local fairs, which in Limburg could easily last several days.
In the following decades, the farm expanded with a bakery, laundry and large timber-frame barn. From 1890 onward, the distillery supplied alcohol to various Belgian genever producers. At the beginning of the 20th century, Emile Nicolaï — then mayor of Wilderen and a skilled distiller — industrialised production. After World War II, the distillery was permanently shut down.
A fresh start for Brewery Wilderen in 2007
In 2007, Mike Janssen and Roniek Van Bree purchased the Nicolaï farmhouse, by then a protected heritage site along with the brewery and distillery — though badly dilapidated. They restored the building and installed an Italian brewery and a German distillery in the former ox stalls. In the ultramodern brewhouse, visitors are immediately drawn to the impressive stainless steel fermentation and lagering tanks. The current total brewing capacity is 670 hectolitres.
Founders Mike & Roniek
Buy Wilderen beers at Belgian Beer Heaven
In August 2011, Brewery Wilderen launched its first products: the Wilderen Tripel Kanunnik, a tripel brewed with barley, wheat, oats and rye; the Wilderen Goud, a blond beer at 6.2% served in its own glass; a genever, a gin and a beer-based eau de vie. Later came the Wilderen Kriek, brewed with spontaneously fermented lambic, and the Wilderen Cuvée Clarisse, a red beer with a seductive character. At Belgian Beer Heaven you’ll also find all the Wilderen beer glasses.
