Brussels. For me, this is the mecca of Belgian brewing (although Trappist Westvleteren is right up there too!). The brewery was founded in 1900 by Paul Cantillion and his wife Marie Troch. Fourth generation Jean-Pierre Roy took over the reins of the brewery in 1969. They brew the traditional Lambic/gueze style beer with a grain bill of 2/3 malted barley and 1/3 unmalted wheat. It is spontaneously fermented in open topped vats called coolships and aged in oak or chestnut barrels. Blending is a key to the final product.

Today it is more than a brewery, it also houses the Gueuze Museum. I first visited here in 2010 when I was celebrating my 50th birthday (tasting 125 Belgian beers in a little over 2 weeks!). I had a special introduction from Yvan De Baets, head brewer and co-founder of Brasserie de la Senne (more on him in a later post) sent to Jean-Pierre regarding my visit. I took the normal tour (which was fabulous) and sat down for my post-tour beer tasting. As I was there, two of Jean-Pierre's grandchildren were playing in the tasting room and I

began playing and singing with them. This made grandfather so happy he took me on a personal guided tour to parts of the brewery not on the regular tour. Standing in front of the coolship filled with fermenting beer was a special moment. Afterwards there was some special beer tasting along with sausages and cheeses produced by the brewery. And upon leaving I was presented with a 15+ year old bottle of Gueuze - with no label and covered in cobwebs. I opened this bottle years later when we paid off our mortgage, and to this day it is the most delicious beer I have ever had.

I took no tour this time - straight up to the new tasting room (things have changed quite a bit since the last time I was here!). I enjoyed a delicious 15 year old Gueuze and reflected back on the incredible day I had here 14 years ago. Life is good!