Brouwerij Contreras

At Gavere’s highest point, Brouwerij Contreras has kept a distinctly local brewing identity alive across more than two centuries. Its story begins with a farm-brewery and a well dug in 1818, passes into the Contreras family in 1898, and continues today through traditional brewing equipment, family stewardship, and beers tied closely to Gavere’s landscape and history. From Latte to Contreras The brewery traces its origins to 1818, when Valère Latte established a farm-brewery in Gavere and arranged a well to secure brewing water. In 1898, René Contreras purchased the business from the Latte family. Ownership later passed to his nephew Marcel Contreras in 1920, keeping the brewery within the Contreras family. A working piece of brewing heritage Contreras still brews in the brewing hall renovated in 1952 and continues to use water from the historic well. The brewery’s product history includes Tonneke, launched in 1925 and recognised as a traditional regional product from 2008, and Contrapils, first brewed in 1957 after Willy Contreras joined the business as a brewery engineer. Beers rooted in Gavere The Valeir range, begun in 2004 with Valeir Blond, takes its name from the brewery’s founder and from Gavere’s statue of a knight associated with the Battle of Gavere in 1453. Later additions included Valeir Dark, Valeir Divers, and Valeir Extra. In 2018, the brewery marked its bicentenary with Saison 1818. A family brewery whose identity is anchored in Gavere, an enduring brewing hall, and water drawn from its original well. Gavere, East Flanders, Belgium 1818 1818: Valère Latte establishes a farm-brewery in Gavere and a well is dug for its water supply. 1898: René Contreras purchases the brewery from the Latte family. 1925: Tonneke is launched. 1952: The brewing hall is renovated and remains in use. 2004: The Valeir range begins with Valeir Blond.