Brouwerij De Brabandere

In Bavikhove, West Flanders, Brouwerij De Brabandere grew from a small farm brewery into one of Belgium’s notable independent family breweries. Its identity is unusually broad: the house makes the Bavik pilsner range, Petrus beers, Kwaremont, Wittekerke and other characterful brands, while retaining a family-led history that reaches back to 1894. The brewery’s heritage is therefore less about one legendary beer than about continuity, expansion and a distinctly Flemish brewing home. From farm brewery to family enterprise Adolphe De Brabandere and his son Jozef founded the brewery in Bavikhove in 1894. The original operation consisted of a brewing hall with copper kettles, a small yard used for logistics and a malt store. Brewing stopped during the First World War, but the family repaired the damage and resumed production. After Jozef’s death in 1929, his widow kept the business operating until Albert De Brabandere took charge in 1950. A wider reach after the war Under Albert, the brewery moved beyond supplying cafés and private customers, expanding distribution to beer merchants. In 1975, his son Ignace brought the fourth generation into leadership and sharpened the focus on hospitality and export. Sponsorship, including Petrus branding on the shirts of Zulte-Waregem, helped the brewery reach new audiences while preserving its local base. A living Bavikhove collection The brewery remains in Bavikhove under fifth-generation leadership. Its range links everyday lager with speciality traditions: the Belgian Beer Glass Museum records Bavik Super Pils, Petrus, Petrus Oud Bruin and Wieze Tripel as beers associated with the brewery. The museum’s Petrus Oud Bruin entry also places the beer within the Flemish oud bruin tradition, while its Wieze material carefully distinguishes De Brabandere’s modern beer from the earlier Van Roy brewery. A multigenerational Bavikhove brewery whose heritage is expressed through both dependable pilsner and distinctive Flemish speciality beers. Bavikhove, West Flanders, Belgium 1894 1894: Adolphe and Jozef De Brabandere founded the brewery in Bavikhove. 1914: Brewing was suspended during the First World War before the family repaired the brewery and resumed production. 1950: Albert De Brabandere took control and expanded distribution to beer merchants. 1975: Ignace De Brabandere took the helm, marking the fourth generation and a stronger focus on hospitality and export. 2013: The fifth generation entered leadership; Albert De Brabandere became officially head of the brewery in 2017.